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SimScale DocumentationKnowledge BaseHow to Generate Particle Traces and Slices in PWC Analysis?

How to Generate Particle Traces and Slices in PWC Analysis?

Created On
byMehmet Oezcan

In PWC analysis, the main goal is to generate pedestrian wind comfort results. To be able to see the flow results for other regions within the domain, the user has to set “Additional results”. This article explains how to set a PWC analysis to be able to generate particle traces (streamlines) and slices.

Please visit the documentation page to learn more about the Pedestrian Wind Comfort Analysis type.

this picture shows the particle traces or streamlines and pressure slice around a building in pwc analysis results
Figure 1: Particle traces (velocity) and a slice (pressure) around the main building in a PWC.

Solution

1. Region of Interest and Flow Domain

Region of interest defines the area around the main building on which the pedestrian comfort should be evaluated.

how to define the region of interest around a building in pwc analysis
Figure 2: Setting ROI (Region of Interest) marked by a transparent blue disc.

Once it’s defined, the Flow domain (Wind tunnel) around it is automatically created. You can see the flow domain by clicking the eye icon.

This picture shows how to make the flow domain visible and define the North angle
Figure 3: Flow domain is created for every direction of wind but is shown only for the North angle.

In PWC analysis, the LBM solver calculates the aerodynamics effects inside the flow domain and generates a comfort map. Even though the velocity, pressure, and turbulence values are calculated, these data are not saved as default. The user needs to define a region and set additional results for export.

2. Geometry Primitives

2.1 Local Cartesian Box

The aim of particle traces is to track the flow path in three dimensions. Therefore, we need a 3D domain to generate them.

Create a Local cartesian box where you would like to visualize the particle traces. Change the Orientation reference to the External flow domain. This will ensure the box to align itself automatically, with respect to different wind directions.

This picture shows how to create a local cartesian box around a building of interest
Figure 4: Make sure your local cartesian box captures your building of interest well and enough as 3D results are computationally expensive.

Saving the additional data in 3D creates a larger results file. You may run out of disk space. Therefore, we strongly recommend keeping the box as small as possible to prevent an increase in simulation time and costs.

2.2 Local Slice

Particle traces is not the only way to observe the flow effects. Similarly, you can create 2D planes and visualize the data on them. Create a Local slice, where you would like to place the contours. Similarly, change the Orientation reference to the External flow domain.

This picture shows how to create a local slice inside the flow domain
Figure 5: Creating slices will allow to visualize results in 2D which is computationally less expensive.

3. Additional Result Export

As a default, flow parameters are not saved. You need to save them additionally. You can either save transient results (Transient output) or steady-state results (Statistical averaging). Statistical averaging uses the results from last time steps, takes the average, and saves them for one time. Due to the storage, computation time, and cost concerns, we strongly recommend saving the results only in statistical averaging.

Activate the local cartesian box and/or the local slice you created before. Saving these results will allow you to create particle traces and slices in PWC analysis.

This picture shows how to save the statistical average additional data in a box and on a plane
Figure 6: Saving additional statistical average results to a 3D box and a 2D plane.

4. Results

You can see the results once the simulation is finished. Additional results are always saved per wind direction. Therefore, you need to choose a wind direction and navigate to Additional results.

this picture shows how to access the additional results in pwc analysis
Figure 7: Access to the additional results.

4.1 Generate Particle Traces

Once you are in solution fields, you will see a green box. This is the Local cartesian box you defined under Geometry primitives. Velocity and pressure values are saved in this region.

  1. Click the ‘+’ button to create a particle trace. The flow domain will disappear automatically.
  2. Click on Surface Outline Mesh to visualize flow domain surfaces again.
  3. Adjust the number of seeds and space in between them.
  4. Click the Pick button.
  5. Place the seeds on a flat surface. This surface should be on or inside the flow domain.
this picture shows how to create particle traces and place the seeds on flow domain
Figure 8: Creation of particle trace and placement of the seeds.

Particle traces are generated inside the fluid domain. Next, hide the fluid volume or make it transparent to see the particle traces.

this picture shows how to hide the fluid domain and visualize the particle traces or streamlines
Figure 9: Particle traces for velocity around a building.

After capturing a nice view, you can animate the particle traces. First, click on Animations, and then the APPLY button.

this picture shows how to animate the particle traces in pwc analysis
Figure 10: Animation of particle traces. This is only possible for if transient are exported.

4.2 Generate Contours on a Slice

  1. Firstly, ensure that your Local slice is visible.
  2. Secondly, select Results.
  3. Finally, select a scalar of interest. For instance, All velocity_e means element values of velocity magnitude.
This picture shows how to visualize the local slice and create velocity contours on it
Figure 11: Local slice with averaged velocity contours.

4.3 Generate Vectors on a Slice

In addition to the above steps, ensure the following steps are performed:

  1. Under Results Config, select the VEC tab.
  2. Make Velocity_e visible.
  3. Under the Results tab, select VEC: Velocity_e.
  4. Adjust the visibility options of the vectors.
this picture shows how to add vectors and adjust the vector sizing on a local slice in pwc analysis
Figure 12: Add vectors on a local slice. Vectors will be closely packed in dense mesh regions.

Visit this knowledge base article to learn how to adjust vector visualization settings.

Best Practices

  • Firstly, make sure the Orientation Reference for the geometry primitives selected is selected as the External flow domain.
  • Secondly, avoid large boxes due to the storage and simulation costs concerns.
  • Finally, statistical averaging is useful enough for additional results. Above all, the transient output might cause storage issues or an increase in simulation costs.
pressure gradient on a local slice and velocity vectors in pwc analysis
Figure 13: Pressure contours and velocity vectors on a slice.

Note

If none of the above suggestions solved your problem, then please post the issue on our forum or contact us.

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Last updated: December 14th, 2020

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