Ansys TurboGrid Tutorials 2021 R2
Ansys TurboGrid Tutorials 2021 R2
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Ansys TurboGrid Tutorials
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Tutorials
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List of Figures
2.1. ATM Topology and 2D Mesh on the Hub ................................................................................................ 14
2.2. Hub-to-Shroud Element Distribution ..................................................................................................... 17
2.3. Surface Group: Tip Near Trailing Edge .................................................................................................... 18
3.1. Incorrect Hub and Shroud Representations ........................................................................................... 24
4.1. Hub and Shroud of Radial Compressor .................................................................................................. 33
5.1. Mesh at Blade-Hub Intersection ............................................................................................................ 45
5.2. Mesh at Blade-Hub Intersection After Y+ Specification ........................................................................... 47
5.3. Edge to be Refined in Shroud Tip Layer .................................................................................................. 48
5.4. After Refinement .................................................................................................................................. 49
7.1. Passage Outlet at Downstream Edge of Shroud Cavity ........................................................................... 63
7.2. Meridional View of Mesh (with Blade LE and TE) ..................................................................................... 65
7.3. Upstream Shroud Cavity Interface with Inlet Block - Misaligned Topology .............................................. 66
7.4. Upstream Shroud Cavity Interface with Inlet Block - Aligned Topology ................................................... 67
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Chapter 1: Introduction to the Ansys TurboGrid
Tutorials
The Ansys TurboGrid tutorials are designed to introduce general mesh-generation techniques used in
Ansys TurboGrid.
Note:
Unless otherwise stated, each tutorial assumes that you are using Ansys TurboGrid in stand-
alone mode.
You should review the following topics before attempting to start a tutorial for the first time:
1.1. Setting the Working Directory and Starting Ansys TurboGrid
1.2. Changing the Display Colors
1.3. Editor Buttons
1.4. Using Help
3. Click OK.
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Introduction to the Ansys TurboGrid Tutorials
• Apply applies the information contained within all the tabs of an editor.
• Cancel and Close both close the editor without applying or saving any changes.
• Reset returns the settings for the object to those stored in the database for all the tabs. The settings
are stored in the database each time the Apply button is clicked.
• Defaults restores the system default settings for all the tabs of the edited object.
Context-sensitive help is provided for many of the object editors and other parts of the interface. To
invoke the context-sensitive help for a particular editor or other feature, ensure that the window is
active, place the mouse pointer over the feature, and press F1. Not every area of the interface supports
context-sensitive help.
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Chapter 2: Rotor 37
This tutorial includes:
2.1. Overview of the Mesh Creation Process
2.2. Preparing the Working Directory
2.3. Defining the Geometry
2.4. Creating the Topology and Mesh
2.5. Reviewing the Mesh Data Settings
2.6. Reviewing the Mesh Quality on the Hub and Shroud Tip Layers
2.7. Looking at Mesh Data Values
2.8. Analyzing the Mesh Quality
2.9. Visualizing the Hub-to-Shroud Element Distribution
2.10. Observing the Shroud Tip Mesh
2.11. Examining the Mesh Qualitatively
2.12. Creating a Legend
2.13. Saving the Mesh
2.14. Saving the State (Optional)
This tutorial demonstrates the basic workflow for generating a CFD mesh using Ansys TurboGrid. As
you work through this tutorial, you will create a mesh for a blade passage of an axial compressor blade
row. A typical blade passage is shown by the black outline in the figure below.
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Rotor 37
The blade row contains 36 blades that revolve about the negative Z axis. A clearance gap exists between
the blades and the shroud, with a width of 2.5% of the total span. Within the blade passage, the max-
imum diameter of the shroud is approximately 51 cm.
You will save the mesh in a format that can be used by Ansys CFX in a CFD simulation.
If this is the first tutorial you are working with, it is important to review Introduction to the Ansys Tur-
boGrid Tutorials (p. 7) before beginning.
The Ansys TurboGrid user interface organizes the CCL objects in a tree view known as the object selector.
You can use the object selector to select and edit the CCL objects; the objects are listed from top to
bottom in the standard order for creating a mesh. The user interface also has a toolbar for selecting
and editing the CCL objects; the icons are arranged from left to right in the standard order for creating
a mesh.
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Defining the Geometry
Regardless of whether you use the object selector or the toolbar, you should generally follow this se-
quence when creating a mesh:
2. Optionally choose a topology method, then unsuspend the Topology Set object if necessary.
3. Optionally modify the Mesh Data settings that govern the number and the distribution of nodes
in various parts of the mesh.
If you plan to make a fine (high-resolution) mesh, you can optionally set the mesh density at a
later time in order to minimize processing time while establishing other aspects of the mesh. Note
that changing the mesh density can affect the mesh quality.
4. Optionally add intermediate 2D layers that guide the 3D mesh in the spanwise direction. By default,
layers are added as required when you generate the topology or the 3D mesh.
5. Check the mesh quality. As required, make adjustments to the Mesh Data settings and the
number and distribution of layers.
Ansys TurboGrid uses a working directory as the default location for loading and saving files for a
particular session or project.
Ensure that the following tutorial input files are in your working directory:
• BladeGen.inf
• profile.curve
• hub.curve
• shroud.curve
For details, see Setting the Working Directory and Starting Ansys TurboGrid (p. 7).
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Rotor 37
file. Ansys TurboGrid uses this file to set the axis of rotation, the number of blades, and a length unit
that characterizes the scale of the machine. It also uses this file to identify the curve files, which it then
loads to define the curvature of the hub, shroud, and a single blade. The geometric data from the input
files is processed to generate a geometric representation, an outline of which appears in the viewer.
After the geometry has been generated, you are invited to browse through the objects created under
the Geometry object in the object selector.
Initially, the blades extend from the hub to the shroud. After inspecting the geometry, you will create
the required gap between the blade and the shroud.
The progress bar at the bottom right of the screen shows the geometry generation progress. After
the geometry has been generated, the viewer in the Mesh workspace shows the hub, shroud, and
blade for one passage. Along the blade, you can see the leading and trailing edge curves (green
and red lines, respectively). An outline drawing (the Outline object) traces the 3D space that is
available for meshing; the latter consists of an inlet domain, passage, and outlet domain. In this
tutorial, you will generate a mesh for the passage only.
Note:
It is possible to adjust the upstream and downstream extents of the hub and shroud
surfaces (by changing the Inlet and Outlet geometry objects). It is also possible to
create an extended mesh that includes the inlet and outlet domains (by editing the
Mesh Data settings).
1. In the Mesh workspace, toggle the visibility check box next to each object in the object selector
and observe the change in the viewer.
Note the correlation between the geometry objects listed in the object selector and the locations
in the geometry.
2. In order to avoid cluttering the view, ensure that the visibility is turned on only for these objects:
Hub, Shroud, Blade 1, Outline.
1. Open Geometry > Machine Data from the object selector by double-clicking Machine Data
in the object selector, or by right-clicking Machine Data and selecting Edit from the shortcut
menu that appears.
Here you can see basic information about the geometry. Note that the units specified for Base
Units represent the scale of the geometry being meshed; these units are not used for importing
geometric data nor do they govern the units written to a mesh file; they are used for the internal
representation of the geometry to minimize computer round-off errors.
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Creating the Topology and Mesh
Setting the machine type helps TurboGrid choose appropriate topology templates later in the mesh
creation process.
3. Click Apply.
Here you can see information about which file was used for hub data and how the file was inter-
preted. Similar information can be seen by opening the Shroud and Blade 1 objects. Note that,
for the Hub and Shroud objects, the Curve Type parameter is set to Piece-wise linear;
this is a result of loading a BladeGen.inf file.
2. Click Display all blade instances to obtain a view of the entire geometry.
3. Click Display single blade instance to show a single blade instance once again.
To complete the geometry, create a small gap between the blade and the shroud. The blade should
be shortened to 97.5% of its original span because the gap width, as specified in the problem description,
is 2.5% of the total span.
4. Click Apply.
The names of the objects in the Geometry branch of the object selector are shown in black non-italic
text, indicating that the Geometry objects are all defined. This completes the geometry definition.
The Topology Set object name in the object selector changes to black non-italic text, indicating
that this object is generated. The topology appears on the hub and shroud as a structure of thick
lines. Thinner lines show where individual mesh elements are located.
The 3D mesh is also generated. The number of nodes and elements are displayed at the bottom
left.
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2. Turn on the visibility of Layers > Hub to show the topology on the hub.
4. Right-click a blank area in the viewer, and click Predefined Camera > View From +X from the
shortcut menu.
The heavy lines in Figure 2.1: ATM Topology and 2D Mesh on the Hub (p. 14) indicate the topology
lines; the thinner lines show the 2D mesh for the hub.
2. Note that Method is set to Global Size Factor and Size Factor is set to 1.
In the status bar in the bottom-left corner of Ansys TurboGrid, you can see that the number of
mesh nodes is on the order of 200000.
2.6. Reviewing the Mesh Quality on the Hub and Shroud Tip Layers
Layers are constant-span surfaces. You can display the topology on a layer. You have already seen the
hub layer in Figure 2.1: ATM Topology and 2D Mesh on the Hub (p. 14). At this point, there are two
layers: Layers > Hub, and Layers > Shroud Tip.
If the topology were grossly skewed or distorted on the hub or shroud tip layer, the Layers object
would be shown with red text in the object selector.
Now the topology is defined and the mesh quality is acceptable on all layers.
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Analyzing the Mesh Quality
The mesh is generated automatically after the Layers object is processed. Later in this tutorial, you
will check 3D mesh measures and inspect the mesh visually.
Look in the Spanwise Blade Distribution Parameters frame. Method is set to Proportional
with a factor of 1.0. The other boxes in the frame are disabled, but show the current value for
each option that Ansys TurboGrid has calculated.
Look in the Shroud Tip Distribution Parameters frame. Method is set to Match Expansion
at Blade Tip. You can see that the number of elements from shroud tip to shroud is 16.
Mesh measures of some mesh elements may fall outside the criteria. When any mesh measure fails to
meet the criteria, Mesh Analysis (Error) > Mesh Statistics (Error) will appear in red
text in the object selector. You can open Mesh Analysis (Error) to display the Mesh Statistics
dialog box. In the Mesh Statistics dialog box, you can select one of the items in red and click Display
to see the locations in the mesh where the statistics fail to meet the corresponding criterion.
Not all of the mesh measures carry the same importance. For example, it is necessary to have a mesh
with no negative volumes. Generally, poor angles should also be fixed, but the Maximum Element
Volume Ratio and Maximum Edge Length Ratio values should be judged based on your re-
quirements.
1. For a visual frame of reference, ensure that Layers > Hub and Layers > Shroud Tip are visible.
The Mesh Statistics dialog box appears, and shows that the mesh statistics are acceptable based
on the current quality criteria.
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• HIGHPERIODIC.
4. Observe the element distribution from hub to shroud tip and from shroud tip to shroud.
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Observing the Shroud Tip Mesh
Figure 2.3: Surface Group: Tip Near Trailing Edge (p. 18) shows this mesh at the trailing edge of
the blade. Note how the nodes do not line up along the middle of the blade, due to the default
use of a general grid (GGI) interface along the shroud tip of the blade.
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Rotor 37
K is equal to the node number in the spanwise direction, ranging from 1 at the hub to a positive
integer value at the shroud.
4. Set Value to 1.
This will cause the range of colors in the color map to be distributed over the range of values found
on the turbo surface, rather that over the global range or a user-defined range.
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Creating a Legend
12. To avoid visual conflicts between the turbo surface and the hub, which are coincident, turn off the
visibility of Geometry > Hub.
Note that you can edit the rendering properties of the hub to achieve a similar result. The advantage
of using a turbo surface is that you can redefine its location. For example, you could change the value
of K in the current turbo surface to see Edge Length Ratio on a different nodal plane.
Note:
You can create new turbo surfaces. To begin the process of creating a new turbo surface,
click Insert > User Defined > Turbo Surface.
Note:
To show distinct color bands, you could make a contour plot object that applies to an existing
locator (geometric surface, turbo surface, or other graphic objects that involve surfaces). To
begin the process of creating a contour plot, ensure that you have a suitable locator already
defined, then click Insert > User Defined > Contour.
Tip:
For objects that are colored by a variable, it is best to view them with lighting turned off so
that the colors are not altered according to the angle of view. The lighting is controlled by
a setting on the Render tab.
5. Click Apply.
A legend appears in the viewer, showing the correspondence between values of Edge Length
Ratio and colors for the Show Mesh object.
You may want to modify 3D Mesh > Show Mesh to plot it on different locations, or to color it by
different variables. The legend will be updated automatically whenever you make changes to the turbo
surface.
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Rotor 37
6. Click Save.
3. Click Save.
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Chapter 3: Steam Stator
This tutorial includes:
3.1. Preparing the Working Directory
3.2. Defining the Geometry
3.3. Creating the Topology and Mesh
3.4. Reviewing the Mesh Data Settings
3.5. Reviewing the Mesh Quality on the Hub and Shroud Layers
3.6. Analyzing the Mesh
3.7. Saving the Mesh
3.8. Saving the State (Optional)
• Import hub, shroud, and blade geometry from individual curve files.
• Change the method of constructing the hub and shroud curve types.
• Make colored surfaces to show variations in mesh measures (such as Minimum Face Angle).
As you work through this tutorial, you will create a mesh for a blade passage of a steam stator. A typical
blade passage is shown by the black outline in the figure below.
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Steam Stator
The stator contains 60 blades distributed about the Z axis. A clearance gap exists between the blades
and the shroud, with a width of 2% of the total span. Within the blade passage, the maximum diameter
of the shroud is approximately 97.5 cm.
If this is the first tutorial you are working with, it is important to review Introduction to the Ansys Tur-
boGrid Tutorials (p. 7) before beginning.
TurboGrid uses a working directory as the default location for loading and saving files for a partic-
ular session or project.
Ensure that the following tutorial input files are in your working directory:
• BladeGen.inf
• shroud.curve
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Defining the Geometry
• hub.curve
• profile.curve
For details, see Setting the Working Directory and Starting Ansys TurboGrid (p. 7).
The geometry browser (the main object editor of the Geometry workspace) appears. TurboGrid
fills in the names of the curve files based on the files that are present in the working directory;
The first .crv or .curve file found that has a name containing “hub”, ”shroud”, or
“blade”/”profile” is selected as the hub, shroud, or blade file, respectively.
2. Ensure that, under Point Data Definition > TurboGrid Curve Files, Hub is set to ./hub.curve,
Shroud is set to ./shroud.curve, and Blade is set to ./profile.curve.
3. Set Point Data Definition > Coordinates and Units > Coordinates to Cartesian and Length
Units to cm.
These units are used to interpret the data in the curve files.
4. Set Geometry Setup > Rotation > Method to Principal Axis and Axis to Z.
The progress bar at the bottom right of the screen shows the geometry generation progress. After
the geometry has been generated, you can see the hub, shroud, and blade for one passage. Along
the blade, you can see the leading and trailing edge curves (green and red lines, respectively). Near
the blade, you can see the inlet and outlet markers (white octahedrons).
• Rotate the geometry into the position shown in Figure 3.1: Incorrect Hub and Shroud Representa-
tions (p. 24).
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Steam Stator
As shown in Figure 3.1: Incorrect Hub and Shroud Representations (p. 24), the hub and shroud are
greatly distorted. This is the result of using spline curves to construct the hub and shroud based on
relatively few data points. This problem will be corrected in the next section.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Apply.
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Reviewing the Mesh Data Settings
1. Click Hide all geometry objects to turn off the visibility of the geometry.
3. Turn on the visibility of Layers > Hub to show the topology on the hub.
4. Turn on the visibility of Layers > Shroud Tip to show the topology on the shroud tip.
Note:
It may be useful to keep the same topology when studying a range of blade geometries, or
the same blade on different computers. To keep the same topology, use the Manual (Ad-
vanced) setting for the topology. This setting is available after clicking Edit > Options and
selecting Enable Advanced Features.
Each unique mesh dimension has an edge refinement factor that is multiplied by the base mesh dimen-
sion and global size factor to determine the final mesh size. The overall mesh size is controlled using
the Method setting in the Mesh Data object editor on the Mesh Size tab. Setting the Method to
Target Passage Mesh Size enables you to specify a Node Count. Using this method specifies
an approximate mesh size (in nodes) and lets TurboGrid compute the mesh dimensions automatically.
Setting the Method to Global Size Factor enables you to specify a Size Factor. Increasing this
factor will increase the overall mesh size, and decreasing it will decrease the overall mesh size. The
change is nonlinear.
The Boundary Layer Refinement Control settings affect the mesh in the O-Grid region around the
blade:
• Note that, when Boundary Layer Refinement Control > Method is set to Proportional to
Mesh Size, the number of elements across the boundary layer is calculated as Base Count * Global
Size Factor * (Factor Base + Factor Ratio * Global Size Factor). The default values of Factor Base and
Factor Ratio are 3 and 0 respectively.
• The Target Maximum Expansion Rate setting affects the expansion rates that are used just outside
the blade profile.
• The Near Wall Element Size Specification settings control the method by which the near-wall node
spacing is specified on the Passage, Hub Tip, and Shroud Tip tabs. The near-wall node spacing is
the distance between a wall (for example, hub, shroud, or blade) and the first layer of nodes from
the wall. The Method setting has these options:
– Y Plus — The y+ method sets the near-wall spacing to a target value, y+, in relation to a set
Reynolds number.
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Steam Stator
– Absolute — The Absolute method enables you to set the near-wall spacing directly on the Pas-
sage, Hub Tip, and Shroud Tip tabs.
• The Inlet Domain and Outlet Domain check boxes enable you to generate the inlet and outlet do-
mains as part of the mesh. Settings that affect these grid regions are found on the Inlet/Outlet tab.
Selecting the Lock mesh size check box forces the total number of nodes and elements to remain
constant.
On the Shroud Tip tab, you can use the Blade Tip > Override Target Maximum Expansion Rate
setting to override the Target Maximum Expansion Rate value set on the Mesh Size tab, to govern
the expansion rate of elements that cross the tip mesh.
3.5. Reviewing the Mesh Quality on the Hub and Shroud Layers
If the topology were grossly skewed or distorted on the hub or shroud layer, the Layers object would
be shown with red text in the object selector. Since the Layers object is shown in black text, the mesh
contains no regions with high skew on the hub or shroud.
By default, TurboGrid automatically generates the recommended number of layers before the mesh is
generated. This default behavior can be disabled by editing the Layers object so that Insertion Mode
is not set to Automatic - Adaptive.
A turbo surface of constant "K" (a nodal coordinate) appears. This surface is listed in the object selector
as 3D Mesh > Show Mesh. You can change the location and coloring of this surface to explore the
mesh.
The mesh statistics are acceptable based on the current quality criteria.
In the following section, you will color 3D Mesh > Show Mesh by Minimum Face Angle. You
will then create a legend for that object.
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Saving the State (Optional)
This will cause the range of colors in the color map to be distributed over the range of values
found on the turbo surface, rather that over the global range or a user-defined range.
6. Click Save.
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Steam Stator
3. Click Save.
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Chapter 4: Radial Compressor
This tutorial includes:
4.1. Preparing the Working Directory
4.2. Defining the Geometry
4.3. Creating the Topology and Mesh
4.4. Mesh Data Settings
4.5. Analyzing the Mesh
4.6. Saving the Mesh
4.7. Saving the State (Optional)
As you work through this tutorial, you will create a mesh for a blade passage of a radial compressor
blade row. A typical blade passage is shown by the black outline in the figure below.
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Radial Compressor
The blade row contains 9 main blades and 9 splitter blades that revolve about the negative Z axis. The
blades have cut-off trailing edges. A clearance gap exists between the blades and the shroud, with a
width of 5% of the total span. Within the blade passage, the maximum diameter of the shroud is ap-
proximately 125 mm.
If this is the first tutorial you are working with, it is important to review Introduction to the Ansys Tur-
boGrid Tutorials (p. 7) before beginning.
Ansys TurboGrid uses a working directory as the default location for loading and saving files for a
particular session or project.
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Defining the Geometry
Ensure that the following tutorial input files are in your working directory:
• BladeGen.inf
• profile.crv
• hub.crv
• shroud.crv
For details, see Setting the Working Directory and Starting Ansys TurboGrid (p. 7).
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Radial Compressor
2. Set # of Bladesets to 9.
3. Ensure that File Name is set to ./hub.crv from your working directory.
4. Click Apply.
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Defining the Geometry
3. Ensure that File Name is set to ./shroud.crv from your working directory.
4. Click Apply.
Note:
If you had loaded the BladeGen.inf file, the Curve Type settings for the Hub and
Shroud objects would have been set to Piece-wise linear instead of the default:
Bspline. Either setting will work for this geometry.
At this point, the entire hub and shroud surfaces are shown. After a blade is defined (in the next step),
the hub and shroud will be trimmed to show only one passage.
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Radial Compressor
9. Click Apply.
The progress bar at the bottom right of the screen shows the geometry generation progress. After
the geometry has been generated, you can see the hub, shroud, and blade for one passage. Along
the blade, you can see the leading and trailing edge curves (green and red lines, respectively).
4. Click Apply.
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Mesh Data Settings
4. Click Apply.
ATM Topology > Method provides a list of topology families from which you can manually choose.
When you mouse over or cursor through the list, the Topology Viewer shows a picture of the
highlighted topology family and a description of the type of blade that the family best fits.
3. Open one of the Boundary Layer Control objects under Mesh Data.
Note that the near wall expansion rate is outside the established limit within the boundary layer region.
The affected mesh regions are colored red in the viewer.
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Radial Compressor
2. On the Mesh Size tab, ensure that Boundary Layer Refinement Control > Method is set to
Proportional to Mesh Size.
3. Set Boundary Layer Refinement Control > Parameters > Factor Base to 4.0.
4. Click Apply.
The Mesh Data object no longer indicates that there is a problem with mesh quality.
As an exercise, change the distribution of elements across the cut-off edge as follows:
2. Click Apply.
Note that, for a blade that has one rounded edge and one cut-off edge, the distribution of elements
across the blade tip mesh is governed by the distribution across the cut-off edge.
The mesh statistics are acceptable based on the current quality criteria.
6. Click Save.
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Saving the State (Optional)
3. Click Save.
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Chapter 5: Axial Fan
This tutorial includes:
5.1. Preparing the Working Directory
5.2. Defining the Geometry
5.3. Creating the Topology and Mesh
5.4. Decreasing the Mesh Density
5.5. Observing the Mesh
5.6. Using the Locking Feature
5.7.The Y+ Functionality
5.8. Using Local Mesh Refinement
5.9. Analyzing the Mesh
5.10. Adding Inlet and Outlet Domains
5.11. Analyzing the New Mesh
5.12. Saving the Mesh
5.13. Saving the State (Optional)
• Change the shape and position of the Inlet and Outlet geometry objects that bound the blade
passage in the streamwise direction.
As you work through this tutorial, you will create a mesh for a blade passage of a fan. A typical blade
passage, inlet domain, and outlet domain, are shown by the black outline in the figure below.
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Axial Fan
The fan contains 10 blades that revolve about the negative Z axis. A clearance gap exists between the
blades and the shroud, with a width of 2% of the total span. The shroud diameter is approximately 26.4
cm.
If this is the first tutorial you are working with, it is important to review Introduction to the Ansys Tur-
boGrid Tutorials (p. 7) before beginning.
Ansys TurboGrid uses a working directory as the default location for loading and saving files for a
particular session or project.
Ensure that the following tutorial input files are in your working directory:
• BladeGen.inf
• shroud.curve
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40 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Defining the Geometry
• hub.curve
• profile.curve
For details, see Setting the Working Directory and Starting Ansys TurboGrid (p. 7).
Load the BladeGen.inf file, then inspect the geometry by viewing it in axial-radial coordinates:
3. In the Mesh workspace, right-click a blank area in the viewer, and click Transformation > Meridi-
onal (A-R) from the shortcut menu.
The passage inlet, which appears in the object selector as Geometry > Inlet, is the upstream end
of the blade passage (but not necessarily the upstream end of the mesh, since, as you will see in this
tutorial, you can add an inlet domain upstream of the passage inlet). The passage inlet is generated by
revolving a curve, which is defined in an axial-radial plane, about the machine axis. That curve, in turn,
is generated according to a set of points, known here as inlet points. These points appear as white oc-
tahedrons in the viewer. The passage outlet is analogous to the passage inlet, and is downstream of
the blade passage.
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Axial Fan
Notice that, in this case, there are two inlet points and they are located at different distances from the
blade. In order to obtain a high-quality mesh topology for the blade passage, the inlet points should
be repositioned.
Reposition the inlet and outlet points as follows, and observe the movement of the inlet and outlet
points in the viewer:
3. Select Low Hub Point, then set Method to Set A and Location to -0.008.
4. Click Apply.
5. Select Low Shroud Point, then set Method to Set A and Location to 0.002.
6. Click Apply.
9. Select Low Hub Point, then set Method to Set A and Location to 0.03.
11. Select Low Shroud Point, then set Method to Set A and Location to 0.03.
To complete the geometry, create a small gap between the blade and the shroud. The blade should
be shortened to 98% of its original span because the gap width is 2% of the total span, as specified in
the problem description.
4. Click Apply.
This gives you an unobstructed view of the topology, and later the mesh.
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Decreasing the Mesh Density
4. Turn on the visibility of Layers > Hub to show the topology on the hub.
5. Turn on the visibility of Layers > Shroud Tip to show the topology on the shroud tip.
Note:
• Changing the number of mesh elements in the spanwise direction in the passage.
• Changing the edge refinement on a specific edge, including within the boundary layer.
Begin by changing the global size factor and the amount of refinement in the boundary layer:
An overall decrease in mesh size can be useful in reducing the computational resources required
for simulation.
4. Ensure that Boundary Layer Refinement Control > Method is set to Proportional to Mesh
Size.
6. Click Apply.
Observe that the number of nodes has been reduced and the element size has increased in the
boundary layer mesh. With proportional refinement enabled, the relationship between the height
of the first element in the boundary layer and the global size factor should be approximately in-
versely proportional (that is, an increase in the global size factor will cause a decrease in the element
height).
7. Right-click a blank area in the viewer, and select Predefined Camera > Isometric View (X Up).
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Axial Fan
• HUB
• SHROUD
• Show Mesh
2. Note that the mesh element density is higher near the blade and hub, as can be seen in Fig-
ure 5.1: Mesh at Blade-Hub Intersection (p. 45).
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Observing the Mesh
The number of mesh elements in the spanwise direction is automatically changed depending on
the global size factor and the mesh element size at the boundary layer.
Next, increase the mesh size in the spanwise direction by a factor of 1.5:
4. On the Passage tab, set Spanwise Blade Distribution Parameters > Method to Proportional
and Factor to 1.5.
Note that the disabled # of Elements field indicates the total number of elements in the spanwise
direction. This will now increase.
5. Click Apply.
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Axial Fan
Note:
This section is for information only. Do not use the locking feature in this tutorial.
When you are using Ansys Workbench, Ansys TurboGrid enables you to use the Lock mesh size feature.
Once activated, the total number of nodes and elements will remain constant. This holds true even if
the geometry of the blade is changed. The size of the mesh elements will be readjusted, but the total
number will not be changed. The Lock mesh size check box is in the Mesh Data object editor on
the Mesh Size tab.
You will enable the option for y+, then set the offset to 15. You will also set the Reynolds number to
500,000.
2. On the Mesh Size tab, set Boundary Layer Refinement Control > Near Wall Element Size Spe-
cification > Method to y+.
4. Change Boundary Layer Refinement Control > Method to First Element Offset.
6. Click Apply.
You should see an increase in the mesh density at the boundary layer.
The mesh now has smaller elements near the boundary layer, as shown in in Figure 5.2: Mesh at
Blade-Hub Intersection After Y+ Specification (p. 47).
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Using Local Mesh Refinement
To be able to see which boundary to modify, it is best to hide the currently generated mesh. Ulti-
mately, only the topology will be visible when refinements are made.
2. Right-click a blank area in the viewer and select Predefined Camera > View from +X from the
shortcut menu.
4. Right-click the edge of the shroud tip layer, marked A in Figure 5.3: Edge to be Refined in Shroud
Tip Layer (p. 48), and select Increase Edge Refinement > 100%.
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Axial Fan
After a few seconds of processing, you should observe the mesh size increasing by a factor of 2 at
the edge you selected. Only topologically parallel edges are affected by this change.
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Analyzing the New Mesh
The mesh statistics are acceptable based on the current quality criteria.
2. On the Mesh Size tab, ensure that Inlet Domain and Outlet Domain are selected.
3. Click Apply.
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Axial Fan
Note that the Maximum Edge Length Ratio mesh measure is extremely large. By displaying
this mesh measure, you will see that some of the mesh elements that exceed the criterion are at
the inlet where the mesh meets the rotation axis. This is to be expected wherever the hub reaches
the axis of rotation because at these locations the element edges have zero length.
2. View the mesh on the inlet and outlet (not the passage inlet and outlet, but the inlet and outlet
of the entire mesh) by turning on the visibility of the corresponding 3D Mesh objects.
6. Click Save.
3. Click Save.
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Chapter 6: Tandem Vane
This tutorial includes:
6.1. Preparing the Working Directory
6.2. Defining the Geometry
6.3. Creating the Topology and Mesh
6.4. Setting the Mesh Density
6.5. Saving the Mesh
6.6. Saving the State (Optional)
As you work through this tutorial, you will create a mesh for a blade set of a radial machine component
that has tandem vanes. A typical blade set is shown by the black outline in the figure below.
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Tandem Vane
The component has 16 blade sets, each containing one main blade and one tandem vane. Within the
blade passages, the maximum diameter of the shroud is approximately 52.2 cm.
You will begin by loading the geometry from a BladeGen.inf file. You will then select a topology
template and set the mesh density.
If this is the first tutorial you are working with, it is important to review Introduction to the Ansys Tur-
boGrid Tutorials (p. 7) before beginning.
Ansys TurboGrid uses a working directory as the default location for loading and saving files for a
particular session or project.
Ensure that the following tutorial input files are in your working directory:
• BladeGen.inf
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Saving the Mesh
• shroud.curve
• hub.curve
• profile.curve
For details, see Setting the Working Directory and Starting Ansys TurboGrid (p. 7).
3. Click Apply.
The error indicated for Mesh Data > Main Blade Boundary Layer Control is caused by the
near-wall expansion rates. This will be resolved in the next section.
4. Click Apply.
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Tandem Vane
6. Click Save.
3. Click Save.
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Chapter 7: Secondary Flow Path Meshing
This tutorial includes:
7.1. Preparing the Working Directory
7.2. Preparing the Geometry in BladeEditor
7.3. Defining the Geometry in TurboGrid
7.4. Creating the Topology and Initial Mesh
7.5. Aligning Topology at the Upstream Shroud Interface
7.6. Reviewing the Shroud Interfaces
7.7. Secondary Flow Path Mesh Parameters
This tutorial demonstrates the basic workflow for generating a CFD mesh for a shrouded centrifugal
compressor using Ansys BladeEditor and Ansys TurboGrid. Part of the shroud is attached to the blades.
An axisymmetric shroud cavity separates the stationary parts of the shroud from the rotating part. As
you work through this tutorial, you will use BladeEditor to outline a cross section of the shroud cavity
on an axial-radial plane. You will then use TurboGrid to produce a mesh that includes a secondary flow
path. The resulting mesh is usable by Ansys CFX in a CFD simulation.
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
If this is the first tutorial you are working with, it is important to review Introduction to the Ansys Tur-
boGrid Tutorials (p. 7) before beginning.
Ansys TurboGrid uses a working directory as the default location for loading and saving files for a
particular session or project.
Ensure that the following tutorial input file is in your working directory:
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Preparing the Geometry in BladeEditor
Alternatively, if you want to run TurboGrid in stand-alone mode (without having to run DesignModel-
er/BladeEditor), the following files are needed:
• secondarypath_turbogrid.tginit
• secondarypath_turbogrid.x_b
1. Launch TurboGrid.
You can expect a message stating "Geometry filepath was not specified". Click OK to dismiss it.
3. Continue this tutorial from Associating CAD Objects with Topology in TurboGrid’s Geometry
Workspace (p. 61).
• To launch Ansys Workbench on Windows, click the Start menu, then select All Programs >
ANSYS 2021 R2 > Workbench 2021 R2.
• To launch Ansys Workbench on Linux, open a command line interface, type the path to runwb2
(for example, ~/ansys_inc/v212/Framework/bin/Linux64/runwb2), then press
Enter.
3. Browse to the working directory, set File name to shrouded impeller with cavity.wbpz,
and click Open.
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
A secondary flow path can have one or more interfaces to the shroud or hub. In this tutorial, there
are two interfaces to the shroud. In order to define any given interface to the shroud, the outline
must not simply run closely along the shroud curve for the extent of the interface. Instead, to avoid
an ill definition (sensitive to numerical round-off ) of the interface location, the outline is required to
cross the shroud curve into the main passage at one end of the interface, then cross back over the
shroud curve at the other end of the interface. For meshing purposes, the outline will be, in effect,
trimmed by the shroud curve. For an interface of a secondary flow path to the hub, a similar require-
ment applies.
1. Right-click the Geometry cell, and select Edit Geometry in DesignModeler... to launch Design-
Modeler.
You are now ready to edit the geometry using BladeEditor (which is accessed via DesignModeler).
The details view shows the properties for a new line object. The Base Objects property is ready
to be defined.
3. In the tree view, select A:Shrouded Impeller > MerPlane1 > S1_ShroudCavity.
Property Base Objects is now set to 1 Sketch. The selected sketch, S1_ShroudCavity, will appear
in the tree view under the line object after you generate the latter.
5. Click Generate.
The details view shows the properties for a new attribute object.
9. For property Geometry, select all 12 of the curves (edges) of the sketch for the secondary passage
(S1_ShroudCavity) that are between the shroud interfaces and that are on the main passage side
of the cavity, as shown below.
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Preparing the Geometry in BladeEditor
a. Start by clicking the field, beside property Geometry, that currently states "None (Document
Level Attribute)".
The field will change into two buttons: Apply and Cancel.
c. Click the selection filter for edges to finish preparing for the selection of curves from
the viewer.
d. Click a curve in the viewer, then, while holding Ctrl, click each of the other 11 curves to add
them to the selection.
With the appropriate curves selected for property Geometry, click Apply, then click Generate.
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
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Defining the Geometry in TurboGrid
A new TurboGrid system appears with a link from the upstream Geometry system.
2. Right-click the Turbo Mesh cell, and select Edit to launch TurboGrid.
Before a mesh can be generated in TurboGrid, the geometry must be defined as per the following
sections:
7.3.1. Associating CAD Objects with Topology in TurboGrid’s Geometry Workspace
7.3.2. Completing the Geometry Definition in TurboGrid’s Mesh Workspace
2. In the object selector, right-click Topological Entity Instances > Secondary Flow Paths and
select Insert Secondary Passage.
Incomplete secondary flow path object Shroud Cavity appears in the tree under Secondary
Flow Paths. This object requires boundary entity definitions. In this case, you will add four
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
boundary entity definitions: one for each of the two interfaces with the shroud, and one for each
side of the cavity (casing side and shroud side).
4. Right-click CAD Families > CASING2D and select Create Entity and Assign Family > Shroud
Cavity.
Boundary entity CASING2D1 is listed in the tree under Shroud Cavity. Incomplete secondary
flow path object Shroud Cavity indicates an error (via red text) because it does not currently
represent a closed loop.
6. Using the same technique as for the previous two steps, create three other boundary entities
under Shroud Cavity: IMPELLERSHROUD2D1, INTERFACELE2D1, INTERFACETE2D1.
For example, create boundary entity IMPELLERSHROUD2D1 using CAD Family IMPELLER
SHROUD2D.
When you are finished this step, secondary flow path object Shroud Cavity will represent a
closed loop and will no longer indicate an error.
2. In the object selector, under Geometry > Secondary Flow Paths > Shroud Cavity:
a. Open CASING2D1 and ensure that its Boundary Type is set to Wall.
b. Open IMPELLERSHROUD2D1 and ensure that its Boundary Type is set to Wall.
c. Open INTERFACELE2D1, set its Boundary Type to Shroud Interface and click Apply.
d. Open INTERFACETE2D1, set its Boundary Type to Shroud Interface and click Apply.
Switch to the axial-radial view so that you can better see the location of the cavity with respect to
the main passage:
• In the upper-left corner of the 3D Viewer, select View 3, then click Fit View .
The inlet and outlet blocks should preferably contain the interfaces to the cavity:
• This is the case for the inlet block, which contains INTERFACELE2D1. As a result, the shroud can
be (and will be, later in this tutorial) automatically divided into regions that align with the edges
of INTERFACELE2D1. Such alignment helps to improve mesh quality near the interface.
• This is not the case for the outlet block, which fails to contain INTERFACETE2D1. In this case, the
upstream edge of INTERFACETE2D1 is already aligned with the topology in the main passage
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Creating the Topology and Initial Mesh
(the cut-off trailing edge). In order to create topological alignment between the other edge of
INTERFACETE2D1 and the topology in the main passage, you will next move the passage outlet
to that edge.
3. Select Low Hub Point, then set Method to Set R and Location to 0.054.
4. Click Apply.
5. Select Low Shroud Point, then set Method to Set R and Location to 0.054.
6. Click Apply.
The passage outlet should now be located as shown by Figure 7.1: Passage Outlet at Downstream
Edge of Shroud Cavity (p. 63).
Make changes to the Topology Set, Layers, and Mesh Data objects as follows:
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
This causes the shroud region in the main passage to be subdivided so that the cavity can be
joined downstream of the cut-off trailing edge to a mesh region called "SHROUD DOWNSTREAM".
3. Open Layers.
5. Set Count to 1.
6. Click Apply.
8. On the Mesh Size tab, set Method > Size Factor to 1.3 and Parameters > Factor Base to 4.0.
The 3D mesh is generated. The number of nodes and elements are displayed at the bottom left.
Figure 7.2: Meridional View of Mesh (with Blade LE and TE) (p. 65) shows the current mesh.
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Aligning Topology at the Upstream Shroud Interface
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
Figure 7.3: Upstream Shroud Cavity Interface with Inlet Block - Misaligned Topology
1. Open Geometry > Secondary Flow Paths > Shroud Cavity > INTERFACELE2D1.
A new shroud region, AUTO INTERFACELE2D1, is generated and can be reviewed in the Geo
metry > Shroud object editor on the Shroud Regions tab.
As shown in Figure 7.4: Upstream Shroud Cavity Interface with Inlet Block - Aligned Topology (p. 67),
the cavity and main passage meshes are now topologically aligned at the edges of the interface.
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Secondary Flow Path Mesh Parameters
Figure 7.4: Upstream Shroud Cavity Interface with Inlet Block - Aligned Topology
– AUTO INTERFACELE2D1
– SHROUD DOWNSTREAM
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Secondary Flow Path Meshing
2. Increase the overall mesh refinement by increasing Default Boundary Edge Refinement
Factor to 2.
3. Increase boundary layer refinement and decrease the height of the first layer of elements along
all shroud cavity boundaries by increasing Inflation Options > Default Number Of Boundary
Layers to 6.
You can review the height of the first layer of elements along a shroud cavity boundary by looking
in the object editor for Mesh Data > Shroud Cavity > [Boundary name].
4. Decrease the boundary layer element growth rate by decreasing Inflation Options > Default In-
flation Growth Ratio to 1.3.
5. Increased refinement in the labyrinth seal tooth gaps by increasing Advanced Options > Default
Cells Per Gap (Proximity Refinement) to 6.
6. Click Apply.
The current design only requires a thin mesh. For cases that require a mesh that is thicker in the circum-
ferential direction, 3D options are available.
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