Multi-configuration simulations involve the sequential and sometimes repeated execution of defined configurations. The CFX-Solver generates a multi-configuration CFX-Solver Output file to summarize the global problem definition and execution of configurations.
The CFX-Solver will generate a multi-configuration CFX-Solver Output file with a name based on
the CFX-Solver Input file. For example, running the CFX-Solver using the input file
named file.mdef in a clean working directory will generate
a multi-configuration CFX-Solver Output file named file_001.out.
The header is written at the start of every multi-configuration CFX-Solver Output file and contains information regarding the command that started the simulation. This information is useful to check which files were used to start the run.
The CFX Command Language section describes the global (that is, simulation level) problem, which includes library definitions (such as materials, expressions, and so on) and simulation control specifications (such as configuration definitions).
The section for the command file looks similar to the following:
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| CFX Command Language for Run |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
LIBRARY:
MATERIAL: Air at 25 C
Material Description = Air at 25 C and 1 atm (dry)
Material Group = Air Data, Constant Property Gases
Option = Pure Substance
Thermodynamic State = Gas
PROPERTIES:
Option = General Material
EQUATION OF STATE:
Density = 1.185 [kg m^-3]
Molar Mass = 28.96 [kg kmol^-1]
Option = Value
END
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY:
Option = Value
Specific Heat Capacity = 1.0044E+03 [J kg^-1 K^-1]
Specific Heat Type = Constant Pressure
END
REFERENCE STATE:
Option = Specified Point
Reference Pressure = 1 [atm]
Reference Specific Enthalpy = 0. [J/kg]
Reference Specific Entropy = 0. [J/kg/K]
Reference Temperature = 25 [C]
END
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY:
Dynamic Viscosity = 1.831E-05 [kg m^-1 s^-1]
Option = Value
END
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY:
Option = Value
Thermal Conductivity = 2.61E-02 [W m^-1 K^-1]
END
ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT:
Absorption Coefficient = 0.01 [m^-1]
Option = Value
END
SCATTERING COEFFICIENT:
Option = Value
Scattering Coefficient = 0.0 [m^-1]
END
REFRACTIVE INDEX:
Option = Value
Refractive Index = 1.0 [m m^-1]
END
THERMAL EXPANSIVITY:
Option = Value
Thermal Expansivity = 0.003356 [K^-1]
END
END
END
END
SIMULATION CONTROL:
CONFIGURATION CONTROL:
CONFIGURATION: Both Boxes Transient
Flow Name = Copy of Both Domains
ACTIVATION CONTROL:
CONTROL CONDITION: After Top Box Steady State
Configuration Name List = Top Box Steady Only
Option = End of Configuration
END
END
CONFIGURATION EXECUTION CONTROL:
INITIAL VALUES SPECIFICATION:
INITIAL VALUES CONTROL:
Use Mesh From = Solver Input File
END
INITIAL VALUES: Initial Values 1
Configuration Name = Top Box Steady Only
Option = Configuration Results
END
END
PARTITIONER STEP CONTROL:
Multidomain Option = Independent Partitioning
Runtime Priority = Standard
EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
Double Precision = No
END
PARTITIONING TYPE:
MeTiS Type = k-way
Option = MeTiS
Partition Size Rule = Automatic
END
END
SOLVER STEP CONTROL:
Runtime Priority = Standard
EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
Double Precision = On
END
PARALLEL ENVIRONMENT:
Start Method = Intel MPI Local Parallel
END
END
END
END
CONFIGURATION: Top Box Steady Only
Flow Name = Top Domain Steady State
ACTIVATION CONTROL:
CONTROL CONDITION: Cyclical Activation
Configuration Name List = Both Boxes Transient
Option = End of Configuration
END
CONTROL CONDITION: Start of Sim
Option = Start of Simulation
END
END
CONFIGURATION EXECUTION CONTROL:
INITIAL VALUES SPECIFICATION:
INITIAL VALUES CONTROL:
Continue History From = Initial Values 1
Use Mesh From = Solver Input File
END
INITIAL VALUES: Initial Values 1
Configuration Name = Both Boxes Transient
Option = Configuration Results
END
END
PARTITIONER STEP CONTROL:
Multidomain Option = Independent Partitioning
Runtime Priority = Standard
EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
Double Precision = No
END
PARTITIONING TYPE:
MeTiS Type = k-way
Option = MeTiS
Partition Size Rule = Automatic
END
END
SOLVER STEP CONTROL:
Runtime Priority = Standard
EXECUTABLE SELECTION:
Double Precision = On
END
MEMORY CONTROL:
Memory Allocation Factor = 2
END
PARALLEL ENVIRONMENT:
Start Method = Intel MPI Local Parallel
END
END
END
END
END
TERMINATION CONTROL:
CONTROL CONDITION: Control Condition 1
Configuration Name = Top Box Steady Only
Maximum Number of Configuration Steps = 2
Option = Maximum Number of Configuration Steps
END
END
EXECUTION CONTROL:
RUN DEFINITION:
Solver Input File = mcfg1.mdef
END
END
END
The body of the multi-configuration CFX-Solver Output file summarizes the configuration execution sequence. The output is divided into simulation and configuration steps.
At each simulation step, the simulation step counter is incremented and the activation conditions for all configurations are evaluated. All active configurations are executed, but in no particular order. Once all active configurations have finished their execution for the current simulation step, a new step begins. Subsequent simulation steps are executed until any of the following occurs:
There are no active configurations in a simulation step
Any simulation termination control conditions are satisfied
You stop the simulation while in progress by using Stop Current Run in the multi-configuration simulation workspace, or by executing the
cfx5stopcommand for the simulation run directory.
Additional details regarding configuration activation conditions and simulation termination controls are provided in Configurations in the CFX-Pre User's Guide and Termination Control in the CFX-Pre User's Guide, respectively.
A new configuration setup occurs, and the configuration step counter is incremented, each time a given configuration is executed. Configuration step output includes the following information:
The configuration step counter value
The name of the configuration
A listing of all configuration activation conditions that were satisfied
The status at the end of the run (for example, whether it succeeded or failed, or whether you stopped the run while it was in progress)
Notes regarding any CFX Command Language (CCL) changes made using Edit Run In Progress during the run.
A sample simulation execution summary is provided below. This summary presents the execution of three simulation steps.
Only the Top Box Steady Only configuration was active and ran. This configuration was activated by the Start of Sim condition defined in Simulation Control > Configuration > General Settings > Activation Condition(s) and ran successfully.
Only the Both Boxes Transient configuration was active and ran. This configuration was activated by the After Top Box Steady State condition, and ran successfully. During this run, changes to both
LIBRARYandFLOW CCLwere made using Edit Run in Progress, and the included notes indicate how these changes will be propagated to subsequent configuration runs.On the Top Box Steady Only configuration was active and ran. Notice that the configuration step counter for this run indicates that this is the second time this configuration has been run, and that the configuration was activated by the Cyclical Activation condition. This run also completed successfully.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | Simulation Execution | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ ====================================================================== SIMULATION STEP = 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | Config. | Configuration Name | | Step | * Execution Details | +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+ | 1 | Top Box Steady Only | | | * Act. by : Start of Sim | | | * Status : Succeeded | +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+ ====================================================================== SIMULATION STEP = 2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | Config. | Configuration Name | | Step | * Execution Details | +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+ | 1 | Both Boxes Transient | | | * Act. by : After Top Box Steady State | | | * Status : Succeeded | | | * NOTE : The LIBRARY definition changed during this | | | run. These changes will be applied to all | | | remaining configuration runs. | | | * NOTE : The FLOW definition changed during this | | | run. These changes will be applied to all | | | remaining runs of this configuration. | +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+ ====================================================================== SIMULATION STEP = 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | Config. | Configuration Name | | Step | * Execution Details | +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+ | 2 | Top Box Steady Only | | | * Act. by : Cyclical Activation | | | * Status : Succeeded | +-----------+--------------------------------------------------------+
This section of the multi-configuration CFX-Solver Output file identifies the reason(s) for terminating the simulation. In the example provided below, the user defined condition named Control Condition 1 was satisfied. For information regarding how this condition was defined, refer to the discussion in Termination Control in the CFX-Pre User's Guide.
====================================================================== TERMINATION CONDITION SUMMARY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * User: Control Condition 1