[Jinjolee]

I am a Windows 10 user and have never used Linux before. Currently I am working on a final year project, which needs to generate a fluid flow simulation of track cycling. I have created a cyclist and bike model in SolidWorks, and I would like to export the model and use in OpenFOAM. I have installed OpenFOAM on my Windows 10 using Ubuntu. I followed the guide from https://openfoam.org/download/windows/ . By the way, I am a completely newbie in OpenFOAM and Ubuntu.

I first export the SolidWorks model to .stl file with in ASCII. And it is in a single file, namely Model.STL. And now I would like to do meshing on this STL model using SnappyHexMesh. However, I do not know how to import the STL file using OpenFOAM. I tried to find tutorial of this, but I couldn't find any using a single STL model.

Could anyone help me to figure out what should I do? Thanks in advanced.

[Saamu]

You have to put the stl file in the constant/triSurface-folder. SnappyHexMesh will then be able to read this stl file

[Jinjolee]

Originally Posted by Saamu

You have to put the stl file in the constant/triSurface-folder. SnappyHexMesh will then be able to read this stl file

Thanks for replying. After I moved the stl file into triSurface folder, what should I do? I tried to run SnappyHexMesh by typing "snappyHexMesh", but it said
-->FOAM FATAL ERROR
cannot find file "/home/<username>/OpenFOAM/<username>-dev/run/system/controlDict"

Thanks a lot.

[jherb]

As shown in the output, you need a controlDict file in the systems folder. You could start with one of the files in the $FOAM_TUTORIALS subfolders which use snappyHexMesh, e.g. the motorBike tutorial:
https://github.com/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM...Foam/motorBike

[Jinjolee]

Originally Posted by jherb

As shown in the output, you need a controlDict file in the systems folder. You could start with one of the files in the $FOAM_TUTORIALS subfolders which use snappyHexMesh, e.g. the motorBike tutorial:
https://github.com/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM...Foam/motorBike

Thanks a lot! I would try this out.

[Jinjolee]

Originally Posted by jherb

As shown in the output, you need a controlDict file in the systems folder. You could start with one of the files in the $FOAM_TUTORIALS subfolders which use snappyHexMesh, e.g. the motorBike tutorial:
https://github.com/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM...Foam/motorBike

Is it true that surfaceFeatureExtract function only takes stl file with .stl.gz extension? My file is in .stl format and it cannot be read by the surfaceFeatures and surfaceFeatureExtract function. I checked that flange is in .stl.gz. So I am wondering if the stl file has to be in .stl.gz.

If the above is true, how should I turn .stl into .stl.gz? Thanks.

EDIT
Nevermind. I put the wrong file in the triSurface folder.

[Rahmat1]

How the constant/triSurface-folder is being created? Is it created once the OF is installed? Where is the location of this file. I’m also a newbie in openfoam. Thanks

[Kuralamuthan]

Originally Posted by Rahmat1

How the constant/triSurface-folder is being created? Is it created once the OF is installed? Where is the location of this file. I’m also a newbie in openfoam. Thanks

1. If the folder is not present, you can create it manually.

2. ".stl " file is to be supplied by you. If you want to run a custom simulation, create that 3D model in any other software like Fusion 360, Solidworks, etc.. and export them as ".stl" files.

[Rahmat1]

Originally Posted by Kuralamuthan

1. If the folder is not present, you can create it manually.

2. ".stl " file is to be supplied by you. If you want to run a custom simulation, create that 3D model in any other software like Fusion 360, Solidworks, etc.. and export them as ".stl" files.

Re-read my questions

[Vinzmann]

Originally Posted by Rahmat1

How the constant/triSurface-folder is being created? Is it created once the OF is installed? Where is the location of this file. I’m also a newbie in openfoam. Thanks

Create the folder with

mkdir triSurface

while you're in the constant folder. If you don't know where that is please read Chapter "2.1 File structure of OpenFOAM cases" of the user guide again.

What file are you talking about?

Best regards,
Vinz