Mesh leak detector
When using CFD to solve real-world engineering problems, it can be a challenge to take over complex CAD geometry and create a good quality mesh for the CFD simulation. While meshing is largely an automatic process today (using tools such as OpenFOAM snappyHexMesh), it is still necessary to clean up the geometry and generate quality surface mesh, so that the volume mesh does not „leak“ to unwanted regions, such as inside walls.
At ENGINN, we are currently developing a prototype of a tool that is designed to help the CFD engineer solve such mesh leaking issues. Our tool can visualize path inside the volume from the unwanted cells to the origin (a point inside the volume used to define it). Using this, the engineer can then see where the leaking occurs and can easily fix the surface mesh or modify the problematic geometry (e.g. gap between parts, missing part etc.).
In the picture below is an example of a complex geometry, which has an issue with volume mesh leaking inside the passanger compartment. Even under thorought inspection, it is almost impossible to find the problematic spot which causes the leaking. Out tool has visualized a path to the leaking and helped our engineers to easily fix the surface mesh inside the enginn bay and performe an aerodynamic study of a DrivAer model.