[kdarc]

for the purposes of matching some reference points to data, I would like to be able to specify a geometrical point ie; (x,y,z) coordinate values, and have a cell index corresponding to that position returned.

Any ideas on how to do this would be most appreciated.

[hjasak]

Have a look at Probe and related classes - they will give you a data stream for selected field in a specified point in space.

Hrv

[kdarc]

what I wanted to add to the above message is something along the lines of:

the above question is surely a typical wish of a lot of new OF users, and it must have already been asked on this forum, but I'm NEVER able to find simple tips like this when I search this site. Same thing with
the simple thing like using Foam::pow(a,b) for real exponents, the manual just says pow(a,b) and doesn't make the explicit distinction between integer and real cases. As everyone knows, simple simple problems like this are enough to halt work, and I'm frustrated that I always know exactly WHAT to do, but often cannot find HOW to do it.

are there some tips on searching this site, or some kind of searchable archive of this kind of practical tips for OF??

thanks.

[kdarc]

probe seems to extract FIELD values at points, I don't want that, I want the CELL NUMBER at a given point?

Is it possible to get the cell index with probe??

[hjasak]

Much easier:

mesh.findCell(point(1, 2, 3));

This gives you the cell index nearest to the point (1 2 3) or -1 if the point is outside of the mesh.

Enjoy,

Hrv

P.S. Fantastic code, huh?

[kdarc]

Thanks!

back on the rails, headed for the next crash...

[heavy_user]

Hi Kdarc,

if you stop by here once in a while...would you mind posting the file in which you used the "mesh.findCell(point(x,y,z));" command ?

regards

[dmoroian]

This was a need for me too, so here is the snippet:

#include "fvCFD.H"
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
   # include "setRootCase.H"
   # include "createTime.H"
   # include "createMesh.H"
　
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
   Info<< "\nindex of the closest cell to (0,0,0): " << mesh.findCell(point(0,0,0)) << "\n" << endl;
   return(0);
}
　
//************************************************************ //

[dmoroian]

How does the mesh.findCell(point(0,0,0)) work in parallel?
It returns -1 if the point is not inside the partition, which obviously will happen for all the partitions but one.
What is the usual way to set the reference pressure for a parallel computation?

Dragos

[gironidegirona]

Hi!

I'm quite new to on all this OpenFoAM thing and I need you help. When you talk about getting the cell index by the reference of a point, if it is contained in any cell, how do you send the command.

I've been working with python to execute the simulation, stop it, rewrite some files etc.. but I dunno how to launch the command to get those. Where do I have to put the lines you told?

Thank you in advantage, and sorry for that elementary question.

[dmoroian]

Originally Posted by gironidegirona

Hi!

I'm quite new to on all this OpenFoAM thing and I need you help. When you talk about getting the cell index by the reference of a point, if it is contained in any cell, how do you send the command.

I've been working with python to execute the simulation, stop it, rewrite some files etc.. but I dunno how to launch the command to get those. Where do I have to put the lines you told?

Thank you in advantage, and sorry for that elementary question.

Hello... do you have a name?
The line "mesh.findCell(point(0,0,0))" is usually put in a solver or utility, then it is compiled, and finally executed. What you mention about python is usually related to the execution stage (and most likely not yet implemented).

Dragos

[gironidegirona]

Hi and thanks Dragos,

Sorry for not presenting myself, I'm Sergi.

Ok I see how it works, but what I was really looking for is a command to be thrown from the terminal like I say "setFields" or "icoFoam". Isthere anything like that??

Thanks again!

Sergi

[dmoroian]

Not as far as I'm aware, but just for that, I think it would be very easy to write your own utility. One that gets as input the coordinates and outputs the index. However, I'm not sure what would you do with that index.

Dragos

[gironidegirona]

Thanks again Dragos,

Actually I'm using interFoam to run a multiphase simulation, and i want to substract and add fluid to certain points. Adding it is easy, i've done it using setfields, but the thing substracting it. The alphas are ordered by cell index, if I know the coordinates from where I've to substract the fluid i can find the cell and it's index.

Maybe there other ways to sort it out.

Thanks anyway, I'll give another thought to all of that.

Thanks,
sergi

[DominicTNC]

Dear dmoroian,

How about inputting the cell index and getting the cell center's coordinates returned ?

Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.

Dominic

[dmoroian]

It's a long time since I've touched any openFoam codes, but I think it should be something like:

mesh.C().internalField()[i].component(0)

where "i" is the cell index and "0" is specifying the x coordinate. The mesh is one example, you could use instead any vector field you have in your calculation, usually is the velocity "U".

[DominicTNC]

Thank you for your quick reply!
I will give it a try!

[DominicTNC]

Dear dmoroian,

It really works! Thanks so much!

[Fann]

Originally Posted by dmoroian

It's a long time since I've touched any openFoam codes, but I think it should be something like:

mesh.C().internalField()[i].component(0)

where "i" is the cell index and "0" is specifying the x coordinate. The mesh is one example, you could use instead any vector field you have in your calculation, usually is the velocity "U".

Dear DominicTNC，
How do you enter the velocity U in this code to get the grid center coordinates？

Thanks，
Fann

[aluchko]

In parallel one can get find the processor (or processors) containing a cell using the following snippet.


Note this code runs on every processor, but only processor 0 will print Info statements.

    List<int> containing_cells(Pstream::nProcs());

    int cell_index = mesh.findCell(point(10, .5, 0));
    containing_cells[Pstream::myProcNo()] = cell_index;
    Pstream::gatherList(containing_cells);

    for (int proc = 0; proc < Pstream::nProcs(); proc++)
    {
        if (containing_cells[proc] != -1)
        {
            Info << "Proc " << proc << " has cell " << containing_cells[cell_index] << endl;
        }
    }