[K62]

Dear all,

I study the turbulence models implemented in OpenFOAM. For this I need to run a bunch of different simulations for a test case with different settings (e.g. different coefficients), which requires a case folder structure for each simulations (0/ constant/ system/). However, the mesh is kept the same for all simulations and I don't wanna copy or rebuild it for each simulation, because it is rather expensive to do. Thus, I would like to know if you guys know a way, how to store the mesh in a something like a parent folder and link it to the folder structure of each simulation?

It should look similar to this kind of generic structure:

Simulation1/{0/ constant/ system/}
Simulation2/{0/ constant/ system/}
Simulation3/{0/ constant/ system/}
...
folder-containing-the-mesh-for-each-simulation/


Any help is appreciated!

[tomf]

Hi,

You could just use soft-links, either via the terminal or some file manager. So make the mesh once (polyMesh folder) and create soft links in all constant folders to this polyMesh folder.

Regards,
Tom

[K62]

Hi Tom,


Thanks for your reply. I already figured that out, but haven't posted it yet - I am sorry!


For everybody who runs into the same problem my detailed workaround is as follows:


0. Make a backup copy of your <case> (you never know...):
cp -r <case> bu.<case>


1. Copy your <case> containing 0/ constant/ system/ and name the copy e.g. parent_mesh_case:
cp -r <case> parent_mesh_case


2. Go to parent_mesh_case and create the mesh, e.g. by running blockMesh
cd parent_mesh_case
blockMesh


3. Now go back to your <case> and delete or rename the polyMesh folder, e.g.
cd ../<case>/constant
mv polyMesh bu.polyMesh (just in case you gonna need it in the future)


4. Create a symbolic link referring to the mesh directory in parent_mesh_case
ln -s ../../parent_mesh_case/constant/polyMesh .


5. Now if you copy your <case> also the symbolic link will be copied. So you don't copy your mesh, which might be expensive, but only the symbolic link, which is cheap.
cp <case> new_case
cp -a <case> new_case (on mac)



Now, everything what you change in parent_mesh_case/constant/polyMesh is also changed in <case>/constant/polyMesh


Again thanks to Tom for reminding me posting that.


Cheers!