Step 2: Creating the Initial Blocking

The blocking strategy for the 3D pipe geometry involves creating two blocks from the initial block—one each for each half cylinder, forming an L-shaped configuration. Later, you will create an Ogrid to improve the mesh quality.

The blocking functionality in Ansys ICEM CFD provides a projection based mesh generation environment. All block faces between different materials are projected to the closest CAD surfaces. Block faces within the same material may also be associated to specific CAD surfaces to allow for the definition of internal walls. In general, there is no need to perform any individual face associations to underlying CAD geometry which reduces the time for mesh generation.

  1. Create an initial block.

    Blocking > Create Block   > nitialize Blocks  

    1. Ensure that Part is set to the correct material (FLUID).

    2. Retain the selection of 3D Bounding Box in the Type drop-down list.

      You need not select entities when creating a bounding box around the entire geometry.

    3. Click Apply.

  2. Split the initial block into sub-blocks.

    Blocking > Split Block   > Split Block  

    1. Enable Curves and Surfaces.

       Geometry > Curves

       Geometry > Surfaces

    2. Display the left view for better visualization

      The L-shaped topology is best seen in a side view.

      View > Left

      You can also select the X-axis in the display triad in the lower right hand corner to reorient the model as it appears in Figure 51: Geometry Showing Split Locations.

    3. Create a vertical split.

      1. Click   (Select edge(s)) and select one of the horizontal edges.

      2. Position the new edge near the front end of the small cylinder (Figure 51: Geometry Showing Split Locations) and click the middle-mouse button to accept the new position.

    4. Create a horizontal split.

      1. Click   (Select edge(s)) and select one of the vertical edges.

      2. Position the new edge near the top of the large cylinder (Figure 51: Geometry Showing Split Locations) and click the middle-mouse button to accept the new position.

        Figure 51: Geometry Showing Split Locations shows the split block.

        Figure 51: Geometry Showing Split Locations

        Geometry Showing Split Locations

  3. Delete the unnecessary upper block.

    Blocking > Delete Block  

    1. Click   (Select block(s)) and select the block to be deleted as shown in Figure 52: Block to be Deleted.

    2. Ensure that Delete permanently is disabled.

    3. Click the middle-mouse button and then Apply in the Delete Block DEZ.

      Figure 52: Block to be Deleted

      Block to be Deleted