• CFD

Visualize the flow with traces in a valve model

Create particle traces for a complete 3D view of the flow through a valve model.


00:03

In Autodesk CFD, you can create particle traces to visualize simulation results in 3D.

00:10

This complete view can help you to better understand the flow through your valve model.

00:16

In this case, a previously created results plane needs to be deleted.

00:21

To delete a plane, on the ribbon, Results tab, in the Planes context panel, click Remove.

00:28

Now, create the traces.

00:31

On the Results tab, Results Tasks panel, select Traces.

00:36

On the Create Set context panel, set the Seed Type to Circular, and set the Seed Pattern to Grid.

00:43

Then, click Add.

00:46

While you can create traces on nearly any surface in the model, the inlet valve is often the most convenient place.

00:53

To create the trace seed grid, click in the center of the inlet, then use your mouse to drag the grid to the outer edge of the inlet.

01:01

In the resulting view, you see only the traces, but it would be better to see how the traces interact with the solid parts.

01:09

This can be accomplished by displaying the pipe and poppet transparently.

01:14

In the Design Study Bar, under Results, expand Parts.

01:19

Right-click Steel and select Transparent.

01:23

Right-click Steel again, and this time, select Set Transparency.

01:28

In the Transparency popup, drag the slider to 80%.

01:32

You can now see how the flow moves through the valve.

01:36

The traces are colored by velocity magnitude, so you can also see how the flow accelerates as the water enters the outlet pipe.

01:45

Now that you know how to create and configure the display of particle traces,

01:49

you can set up this complete 3D view for a better understanding of flow through the model.

Video transcript

00:03

In Autodesk CFD, you can create particle traces to visualize simulation results in 3D.

00:10

This complete view can help you to better understand the flow through your valve model.

00:16

In this case, a previously created results plane needs to be deleted.

00:21

To delete a plane, on the ribbon, Results tab, in the Planes context panel, click Remove.

00:28

Now, create the traces.

00:31

On the Results tab, Results Tasks panel, select Traces.

00:36

On the Create Set context panel, set the Seed Type to Circular, and set the Seed Pattern to Grid.

00:43

Then, click Add.

00:46

While you can create traces on nearly any surface in the model, the inlet valve is often the most convenient place.

00:53

To create the trace seed grid, click in the center of the inlet, then use your mouse to drag the grid to the outer edge of the inlet.

01:01

In the resulting view, you see only the traces, but it would be better to see how the traces interact with the solid parts.

01:09

This can be accomplished by displaying the pipe and poppet transparently.

01:14

In the Design Study Bar, under Results, expand Parts.

01:19

Right-click Steel and select Transparent.

01:23

Right-click Steel again, and this time, select Set Transparency.

01:28

In the Transparency popup, drag the slider to 80%.

01:32

You can now see how the flow moves through the valve.

01:36

The traces are colored by velocity magnitude, so you can also see how the flow accelerates as the water enters the outlet pipe.

01:45

Now that you know how to create and configure the display of particle traces,

01:49

you can set up this complete 3D view for a better understanding of flow through the model.

Was this information helpful?