4.14.9 EnSight Case Gold Files

When exporting to EnSight, you can choose to export the data associated with a single data file, or you can export the data associated with multiple files that were generated by a transient solution.

• To export the solution data from a single data file, read in the case and data file and open the Export dialog box.

  File $\rightarrow$ Export $\rightarrow$ Solution Data...

  Then perform the following steps in the Export dialog box:

  1.   Select EnSight Case Gold from the File Type drop-down list.

  2.   Select the Location from which the values of scalar functions are to be taken. If you specify the data Location as Node, then the data values at the node points are exported. If you choose Cell Center, then the data values from the cell centers are exported. For boundary faces, it is the face center values that are exported when the Cell Center option is selected.

  3.   Specify the format of the file by selecting either Binary or ASCII from the Format list. The advantage of the binary format is that it takes less time to load the exported files into EnSight.

  4.   (optional) Select the Interior Zone Surfaces from which you want data exported. By default, the data being exported is taken from the entire ANSYS FLUENT domain. The Interior Zone Surfaces selection list allows you to also specify that the data be taken from selected zone surfaces whose Type is identified as interior in the Boundary Conditions task page.

  5.   Select the scalars you want to write from the Quantities selection list.

  6.   Click the Write... button to save the file for the specified function(s), using the Select File dialog box.

• To export solution data associated with multiple files that were generated by a transient solution, you must first make sure that the following criteria are met:
  • All of the relevant case and data files must be in the working folder.

  • The data files must be separated by a consistent number of time steps.

  Next, enter the following text command in the console:

  file $\rightarrow$ transient-export $\rightarrow$ ensight-gold-from-existing-files

  Then, enter responses to the following prompts in the console:

  1.    EnSight Case Gold file name

  Enter the name you want assigned to the exported files.

  2.    Case / Data file selection by base name?

  Enter yes if the case and data files share a "base name'' (i.e., a common initial string of characters). The alphanumeric order of the full names must correspond to the order in which the files were created. You will then be prompted to enter the base name at the Case / Data file base name prompt that follows. For example, with a set of files named elbow-0001, elbow-0002, elbow-0003, etc., enter elbow- for the base name.

  Enter no if you have created an ASCII file in the working folder that lists the names of the data files in order of when they were created. The file should list one data file name per line. You will then be prompted to enter the name of this file at the Provide the file name which contains the data file names prompt that follows. Note that if the file has an extension, you must include this extension in your entry at the prompt.

  3.    Specify Skip Value

  Enter an integer value to specify the number of files you want to skip in between exporting files from the sequence. For example, enter 1 to export every other file, enter 2 to export every third file, etc.

  4.    Cell-Centered?

  Enter yes if you want to export the data values from the cell centers (or face center values, for boundary faces).

  Enter no if you want to export the data values from the node points.

  5.    Write separate file for each time step for each variable?

  Enter yes if you want separate EnSight Case Gold files written for each time step. Otherwise, all of the data for the .scl1 and .vel files will be combined into a single file for each.

  6.    Write in binary format?

  Enter yes to write the files in binary format. Otherwise, they will be written in ASCII format. The advantage of the binary format is that it takes less time to load the exported files into EnSight.

  7.    Specify Data File Frequency

  Enter the number of time steps between the data files being exported.

  8.    Separate case file for each time step?

  Enter no if all the data files were generated from the same case file (i.e., the simulation involved a static mesh). Note that the name of the case file must be the same (not including the extension) as the name of the first data file in the sequence.

  Enter yes if the data files were generated from the different case files (i.e., the simulation involved a sliding or dynamic mesh). Note that the names of the case files must be the same (not including the extension) as the names of the corresponding data files.

  9.    Read the case file?

  Enter no if the first (or only, for a static mesh) case file is already in memory.

  Enter yes if the first (or only, for a static mesh) case file is not already in memory.

  10.    Interior Zone Surfaces(1)

  Enter the name of any interior zone surface from which you want data exported. By default, the data being exported is taken from the entire ANSYS FLUENT domain. This prompt allows you to also specify that the data be taken from selected zone surfaces whose Type is identified as interior in the Boundary Conditions task page. After you enter the first interior zone surface, you will be prompted to enter the second one, and so on, until you press <Enter> without typing any characters.

  11.    EnSight Case Gold scalar(1) else q to continue

  Enter in the first scalar quantity you want exported. You can press the <Enter> key to print a list of available scalar quantities in the console. After you enter the first quantity, you will be prompted to enter the second quantity, and so on, until you enter q. The EnSight Case Gold files will then be written.

When exporting to EnSight Case Gold, files will be created with the following four formats:

• A geometry file (e.g., file.geo) containing the coordinates and connectivity information.

• A velocity file (e.g., file.vel) containing the velocity.

• A scalar file (e.g., file.scl1) for each selected variable or function.

• An EnSight case file (e.g., file.encas) that contains details about the other exported files.

For non-stationary reference zones, all the velocities are exported to EnSight as velocities relative to the selected reference zone. See the informational note in Section  4.14.8 for further details.

ANSYS FLUENT supports exporting polyhedral data to EnSight.

You also have the option of exporting data at specified intervals during a transient calculation through the Automatic Export dialog box. See Section  4.16 for the complete details.