nTopology 3.40.2

Version 3.4
nTopology 3.4 is here! This release features Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Boundary Zones, IGES part export, an extensive list of simulation results that are now properties, usage improvements, and bug fixes. With 3.4, you have the ability to identify CFD boundary zones on a mesh and export the mesh to a downstream CFD application where the zones will be available to specify as boundary condition details. In addition, this release gives you the ability to export parts in an IGES file format and the ability to access simulation results as properties, so that they can be used directly as fields to modify your designs. As with every release, nTopology’s dedicated support team is ready to answer your questions. Please visit support.ntopology.com to gain access to helpful tutorials and support articles.

CFD Boundary Zones
Export Part now supports IGES file format
Simulation Results as Properties
Usage Improvements
Bug Fixes
CFD Boundary Zones
With Release 3.4, you can identify CFD boundary zones on a mesh and export the mesh to a downstream CFD application where the zones will be available to specify boundary conditions details. Setting up CFD boundary zones allows you to modify the underlying geometry in nTopology without having to manually update the boundary conditions in the CFD application, thereby enabling automated design workflows.

The CFD boundary zones are defined in the new CFD Boundary on FE Mesh block by specifying a Boundary, a set of element faces representing the zone, and a Boundary type from a drop-down selection.

CFDBoundary01.png

Below is an outline of the new block:

Name: CFD Boundary on FE Mesh (Beta)
Location: Beta > Simulation
Description: Identifies a CFD boundary on an FE mesh, which then can be exported to an external CFD file format.
Input 01: Boundary
Type: FE Boundary
Description: Element set on which the CFD boundary should be applied.
Input 02: Boundary Type
Type: CFD Boundary Enum
Description: CFD boundary type. Parameters of the boundary condition are specified in the external CFD application.
Output: CFD Boundary
To export the mesh to the CFD application, use the new Export FE Mesh to CFD block, which takes a mesh and a list of CFD Boundary on FE Mesh instances. The final mesh file will include the nodes and mesh connectivity, as well as the zones for the CFD boundary conditions.

CFDBoundary02.png

Below is an outline of the new block :
Name: Export FE Mesh to CFD (Beta)
Location: Beta > Simulation
Description: Exports an FE mesh and optional CFD boundary zones to an external CFD file format.
Input 01: Path
Type: File Path
Description: System path of exported CFD mesh file.
Input 02: Mesh
Type: FE Mesh
Description: The mesh to export.
Input 03: Units
Type: Length Unit Enum
Description: The target units.
Input 04: Boundaries
Type: CFD Boundary List
Description: The CFD boundary conditions to export with the mesh.
Output: FE Mesh File Data
Export Part now supports IGES file format
With Release 3.4, you can export curves, curve lists, parts, and part lists as an .IGES file.
You can view the support file formats and select your desired file type in the Export Part block using the Select Export Path dialogue pop-up.
Simulation Results as Properties
Most simulation results are now available as properties and can be used directly as fields to modify designs. The fields are generated from the FE nodal data using Barycentric interpolation, and the values on the surface nodes are used for extrapolation. The resultant field is more accurate than the traditional point map approach and computationally more efficient.
The following table outlines the available properties in each simulation analysis block: