Step 8: Show Velocity on the Symmetry Plane

Create a contour plot of velocity on the symmetry plane:

1.   From the menu bar, select Insert/Contour. In the Insert Contour dialog box, accept the default name, and click OK.

2.   In the Details view for Contour 1, set the following:

Tab	Setting	Value
Geometry	Locations	symmetry $^*$
	Variable	Velocity $^{**}$

   $^*$ Notice how the available locations are highlighted in the viewer as you move the mouse over the objects in the Locations drop-down list. You could also create a slice plane at a location of your choice and define the contour to be at that location.

$^{**}$ Velocity is just an example of a variable you can use.

3.   Click Apply. The contour plot for velocity appears and a legend is automatically generated.

4.   The coloring of the contour plot may not correspond to the colors on the legend because the viewer has a light source enabled by default. There are several ways to correct this:

• You can change the orientation of the objects in the viewer.

• You can experiment with changing the position of the light source by holding down the Ctrl key and dragging the cursor with the right mouse button.

• You can disable lighting for the contour plot. To disable lighting, click on the Render tab and clear the check box beside Lighting, then click Apply.

Disabling the lighting is the method that provides you with the most flexibility, so change that setting now.

5.   Click on the Z on the triad to better orient the geometry (the 3D Viewer must be in viewing mode, not select mode, to do this).

Figure 1.5: Velocity on the Symmetry Plane

6.   Improve the contrast between the contour regions:

(a)   On the Render tab, select Show Contour Lines and click the plus sign to view more options.

(b)   Select Constant Coloring.

(c)   Set Color Mode to User Specified and set Line Color to black (if necessary, click on the bar beside Line Color until black appears).

(d)   Click Apply.

Figure 1.6: Velocity on the Symmetry Plane (Enhanced Contrast)

7.   Hide the contour plot by clearing the check box beside User Locations and Plots / Contour 1 in the Outline tree view.

  You can also hide an object by right-clicking on its name in the Outline tree view and selecting Hide.