most common mesh format.

zampa · October 12, 2011, 17:40

Hi.

I am working on a hexa-mesher (block structued) and now it's time to finish the mesh-export. I want to export an unstructed hexa mesh.
For the mesh export, I want to use the most common mesh format. I thought that Nastran is one of the most general grid formats, but I don't know how to define family names (for the faces).

The other format I use is TecPlot, but even though Tecplot is able to read the mesh, ICEM is not able to import the mesh and I only get silly messages with no meaning.

So, which other mesh format would you recommend?

Far · October 15, 2011, 22:24

go for the .msh for fluent and .cfx or cfx5 for the CFX. Use CGNS if you want to get the global type mesh format which is supported by all CFD programs.

zampa · October 16, 2011, 05:21

Thanks.

What dou you think about the Nastran or Patran format?

Far · October 16, 2011, 07:19

are you asking for the FEA or CFD analysis? I assume you are meshing with ICEM CFD

zampa · October 16, 2011, 07:25

Hi.

I usually used Icem.

But no. I am writing my own hexa mesher, with almost the same functions as icem-Hexa.

My output is an unstructed mesh. Now I export Nastran and Tecplot.

jchawner · October 16, 2011, 19:06

The de facto standard block structured mesh file format is PLOT3D. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/wind/valid/plot3d.html

Your next best choice is CGNS. It's a standard for a reason. http://cgns.sourceforge.net/

Good Luck

zampa · October 17, 2011, 05:10

Thanks.

Shure, it´s not trivial. But algebraic grid-generation is not so complex.

Thanks again. I will take a look at the Plot3D and CGNS format.

October 12, 2011, 17:40	most common mesh format.	#1
zampa New Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 16	Hi. I am working on a hexa-mesher (block structued) and now it's time to finish the mesh-export. I want to export an unstructed hexa mesh. For the mesh export, I want to use the most common mesh format. I thought that Nastran is one of the most general grid formats, but I don't know how to define family names (for the faces). The other format I use is TecPlot, but even though Tecplot is able to read the mesh, ICEM is not able to import the mesh and I only get silly messages with no meaning. So, which other mesh format would you recommend?

October 16, 2011, 19:06		#6
jchawner Senior Member John Chawner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Posts: 275 Rep Power: 18	The de facto standard block structured mesh file format is PLOT3D. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/wind/valid/plot3d.html Your next best choice is CGNS. It's a standard for a reason. http://cgns.sourceforge.net/ Good Luck __________________ John Chawner / jrc@pointwise.com / www.pointwise.com Blog: http://blog.pointwise.com/ on Twitter: @jchawner

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October 15, 2011, 22:24		#2
Far Senior Member Sijal Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Islamabad Posts: 4,558 Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 54	go for the .msh for fluent and .cfx or cfx5 for the CFX. Use CGNS if you want to get the global type mesh format which is supported by all CFD programs.

October 16, 2011, 05:21		#3
zampa New Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 16	Thanks. What dou you think about the Nastran or Patran format?

October 16, 2011, 07:19		#4
Far Senior Member Sijal Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Islamabad Posts: 4,558 Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 54	are you asking for the FEA or CFD analysis? I assume you are meshing with ICEM CFD

October 16, 2011, 07:25		#5
zampa New Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 16	Hi. I usually used Icem. But no. I am writing my own hexa mesher, with almost the same functions as icem-Hexa. My output is an unstructed mesh. Now I export Nastran and Tecplot.

October 17, 2011, 05:10		#7
zampa New Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 16	Thanks. Shure, it´s not trivial. But algebraic grid-generation is not so complex. Thanks again. I will take a look at the Plot3D and CGNS format.