Duct network meshing

A duct network is an arrangement of connected 1D elements that model 1D fluid flow through long, thin, narrow, fluid-carrying constructions such as ducts, channels, tubes, and pipes. The network can also model thermal effects. The fluid material can be a liquid or a gas.

You create duct networks by meshing curves or edges that model the center line of the duct using 1D duct type elements. The free ends of duct networks model known flow boundary conditions or openings to a fluid environment.

Defining 1D duct type element properties

You use options in the Mesh Collector dialog box to define and manage properties for 1D duct type elements. In the Mesh Collector dialog box, with the Element Family option set to 1D and the Collector Type option set to Duct, you can use the Type list to create the following type collectors:

Duct

Models long, thin, narrow fluid-carrying structures, such as ducts, channels, and pipes using a defined cross section.

With a Duct type collector, you do the following:

• You assign only a fluid material.

• You define the beam cross section to represent the fluid, not the duct.

• The perimeter and area of the section should match the cross section of the fluid in the duct and not the duct itself.

• You model convection from the fluid in the duct by defining convection couplings to nearby elements that have thermal properties. You use Thermal Coupling — Convection simulation objects to do this.

Duct with Thick Wall

Models long, thin, narrow fluid-carrying structures, such as ducts, channels, and pipes. It also allows you to model convection and thermal effects on the duct material with the same mesh.

With a Duct with Thick Wall type collector, you do the following:

• You assign both a fluid and a thermal material.

• You define the section with a fluid cross section and a duct wall thickness.

• Convection couplings are automatically created between the fluid and the thermal aspects of the elements associated with a Duct with Thick Wall type collector.

Duct with Mass Flow

Models long, thin, narrow fluid-carrying structures, such as ducts, channels, and pipes with fixed mass flow. In such fluid networks, the pressure solution that is performed for normal duct elements is disabled.

With a Duct with Mass Flow type collector, you do the following:

• You assign only a fluid material.

• You model convection from the fluid in the duct by defining convection couplings to nearby elements that have thermal properties. You use Thermal Coupling — Convection simulation objects to do this.

Duct Axisymmetric

Models annular ducts using axisymmetric curves in a thermal model that has both axisymmetric elements and non-axisymmetric elements. The axisymmetric elements cannot share nodes with the non-axisymmetric elements.

With a Duct Axisymmetric type collector, you do the following:

• You assign only a fluid material.

• You define the thickness of the annular duct using the Duct physical property.

• You define the axis of revolution and the number of axisymmetric segments.

• You model convection from the fluid in the duct by defining convection couplings to nearby axisymmetric elements that have thermal properties. You use Thermal Coupling — Convection simulation objects to do this.

Duct with Mass Flow Axisymmetric

Models annular ducts with fixed mass flow using axisymmetric curves in a thermal model that has both axisymmetric elements and non-axisymmetric elements. The axisymmetric elements cannot share nodes with the non-axisymmetric elements.

With a Duct with Mass Flow Axisymmetric type collector, you do the following:

• You assign only a fluid material.

• You define the axis of revolution and the number of axisymmetric segments.

• You model convection from the fluid in the duct by defining convection couplings to nearby axisymmetric elements that have thermal properties. You use Thermal Coupling — Convection simulation objects to do this.

How do I

Create a primitive

Learn more

Thermal meshing

Fluid meshing

Immersed boundary meshing

Primitives for Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal

Duct analysis workflow

Specifying cross sections for 1D elements (Simcenter 3D Thermal/Flow, Electronic Systems Cooling, and Space Systems Thermal)

Thermal Coupling — Convection

Axisymmetric thermal modeling in non-axisymmetric solutions

Look up more details

Meshing for Simcenter 3D Thermal/Flow, Electronic Systems Cooling, Space Systems Thermal

Special considerations for thermal meshing

Working with multi-layer shell elements

Geometry creation for body-fitted fluid meshing

Geometry preparation for immersed boundary method

Defining the mesh size for fluid modeling

Node to geometry matching in large dimension models

Meshing for turbulence modeling

Meshing consideration and wall functions

Thermal and flow element quality

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Simcenter 3D Thermal/Flow, Electronic Systems Cooling, and Space Systems Thermal boundary conditions

Thermal/Flow, Electronic Systems Cooling, and Space Systems Thermal

Duct network meshing, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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