GAMBIT 2.3

GAMBIT is a state-of-the-art preprocessor for engineering analysis.With advancedgeometry and meshing tools in a powerful, flexible, tightly-integrated, and easy-to-useinterface, GAMBIT can dramatically reduce preprocessing times for many applications.Complex models can be built directly within GAMBIT's solid geometry modeler,or imported from any major CAD/CAE system. Using a virtual geometry overlayand advanced cleanup tools, imported geometries are quickly converted into suitable flow domains. A comprehensive set of highly-automated and size function-driven meshing tools ensures that the best mesh can be generated, whether structured, multiblock, unstructured, or hybrid.

Geometry ModelingGAMBIT includes comprehensive, easy-to-use tools for rapid creation, import, cleanup, and simplification of all types of models.

Direct Solid Creation for Rapid Model Building♦ Direct creation of bricks, cylinders, prisms, frustums, spheres, tori, and pyramids with

numerous options♦ Direct creation of rectangular, circular, and elliptical faces using geometrical data and

local coordinate systems

Surface and Wireframe Creation for Detailed Models♦ Vertices (points) at specified coordinates, snapped to grids, on edges, on faces, on volumes,

at centroids and at intersections of edges♦ Edges (curves) between vertices (straight line or projected to curved surfaces), arcs,

circles, ellipses, conics, fillets, NURBS (through or fit to sets of points), by revolutions of vertices about edges or vectors, by projecting edges onto surfaces, and by sweeping vertices along edges or vectors

♦ Faces (surfaces) from edge loops (wireframes), including special treatment of tolerant,co-planar edges and ability to create fully arbitrary face shapes using guided entities (vertices, edges, or another face)

♦ Faces from planes through 3 points (parallelograms), through vertices (polygons), from circles through vertices or given center and points on arcs, ellipses given center and points on curves, lofted from series of edges (skins), through series of points, through series of U and V curves (nets), by revolutions of edges about edges or vectors, and by sweeps along edges or vectors

♦ Volumes (solids) from edges (wireframes), by revolutions of faces about edges or vectors,by sweeps of faces along edges or vectors, and from one or multiple closed surface shells by automatic stitching with minimal user input

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Local Coordinate Systems Add Convenience♦ Unlimited number of local coordinate systems can be created♦ Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical♦ Create explicitly or relative to existing system♦ Snap-to-grid relative to planes of any coordinate system

Comprehensive Geometry Modification Tools Provide Flexibility♦ Booleans (intersect, unite, subtract, split, blend, fillet)♦ Move or copy any entity or group by revolution about an edge or vector, translation (local or global coordinate

system; Cartesian, cylindrical or spherical), mirroring (reflection) about a plane, scaling (local or global coordinate system), aligning with other entities, copying with linked or unlinked mesh

♦ Automatically or explicitly connect duplicate or mismatched and/or meshed vertices, edges, and faces within a specified tolerance, including “T” connections of both edges and faces

♦ Split edges, faces, and volumes at physical, parametric, or manual locations, or through existing vertices/edges/faces ♦ Merge edges, faces, and volumes into single entities to clean-up imported models and remove insignificant

features (simplify)♦ Project vertices and edges onto edges and faces using prescribed direction or closest-point algorithm♦ Convert any faceted face into an analytical face for use in Boolean operations♦ Utilize tolerant modeling and/or healing and/or smoothing (during or after import) to automatically close gaps,

repair improper geometry, remove insignificant details, and automatically construct volumes from imported surfaces

Semi-Automatic and Fully-Automatic Geometry Cleanup Tools Save Time and Improve QualityGAMBIT contains cleanup tools to quickly identify, zoom into, and label certain geometrical entities that might cause quality problems during surface meshing, to simplify imported models:

♦ Short edges♦ Cracks♦ Holes♦ Sharp face-vertex angles♦ Large face-face angles♦ Small and sliver faces♦ Hard (internal) edges♦ Fillets♦ Duplicate volumes, faces, edges and vertices

For each tool, there are one or several geometrical operations available to eliminate each problem area. Cleanup can be donelocally using a Group selection, and there are several helpful functions such as local visibility, local shading, and zoom in-and-out buttons for more rigorous examination. Fully-automatic cleanup is available in most tools.

Groups Make Complex Models Easy to Manage♦ Unlimited number can be created♦ Can contain any geometrical/topological entities♦ Individual entities can belong to multiple groups

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Mesh GenerationGAMBIT offers state-of-the-art mesh generation technology in a powerful, yet easy-to-use interface.Extensive automation dramatically reduces meshing time for many applications.

Edge Meshing for Precise Control♦ Defined interactively with real-time, graphical feedback♦ Multiple grading schemes include geometric ratio, first/last ratio, last/first ratio, first or last length,

exponential, and bell-curve♦ Double-sided grading with automatic mid-point location♦ Multiple edges automatically linked when meshed together♦ Specify number of intervals or interval size♦ Unmeshed edges are automatically meshed during face or volume meshing♦ Meshes can be smoothed independently, or with face and volume meshes

Face Meshing for High Quality♦ Triangles and quadrilaterals♦ Linear and quadratic♦ Structured, unstructured, and hybrid♦ Numerous meshing schemes available: map, submap, quad pave, triangulation, triangle primitive,

wedge primitive, hybrids♦ Suitable mesh scheme automatically recommended for each face♦ Automatic domain decomposition for multiblock, structured meshing (submap)♦ Boundary layers automatically generated during meshing (see below)♦ Numbers of intervals automatically propagated to unmeshed edges♦ Unmeshed faces automatically meshed during volume meshing♦ Meshes can be smoothed independently or with volume meshes♦ Support of periodic boundaries through linking♦ Embedded vertices and edges supported for extra control♦ Mesh is automatically modified in response to virtual vertex movement

Boundary Layers for Rapid Definition of High-Quality Elements Near WallsBoundary Layers can be defined interactively with real-time, graphical feedback on both edges and/or faces.Three algorithms are currently available:

♦ First layer and successive growth♦ First layer and last aspect ratio ♦ First aspect ratio and successive growth

with the number of layers given. In addition:♦ Transition layers (4:2, 3:1, 5:1) available for rapid size grading♦ Several corner treatments available♦ Proximity/collision detection with automatic height shrinkage♦ Full 3D boundary layer examination♦ Optional quad-split on hexahedral boundary layer during tetrahedral meshing

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Volume Meshing for All ApplicationsGAMBIT is a equipped with a number of volume meshing schemes supporting numerous element types: linear and quadratic;structured, unstructured and hybrid; hexahedra (bricks), tetrahedra, wedges, and pyramids:

♦ Map♦ Submap: multiblock hexahedra, with automatic 3D decomposition♦ Cooper: unstructured quad-pave or triangulated face projected into hex and wedge volumes, with fully-automatic

decomposition in both structured and unstructured directions ♦ Tet primitive: unstructured hexahedra in 4-sided volumes♦ Tetrahedral: unstructured tetrahedra with support for prismatic boundary layers and automatic pyramid

transitions between quad boundary (domain or boundary layer) and tetrahedral elements ♦ HexCore: tetrahedral meshing (see above) with a hanging-node Cartesian hexahedra core and automatic

size adaptation to surface mesh: maximum size and growth controls available

All meshing schemes support the following convenience features:♦ Suitable mesh scheme automatically recommended for each volume♦ Boundary layers automatically generated during meshing (see below)♦ Numbers of intervals automatically propagated to unmeshed edges♦ Several smoothing schemes available

Sizing Functions for Automatic Mesh Refinement and Smooth Mesh Size Transition in Important Areas♦ In areas of high 2D and/or 3D curvature♦ In 2D or 3D gaps (proximity), optionally with different cell-per-gap specifications♦ In user-defined area based on vertex, edge, face or volume (fixed)♦ Using pre-meshed edges and faces♦ Using meshes on boundary layer caps♦ User-specified accuracy, growth rate, maximum and minimum sizes ♦ Source and attachment entities and all parameters can be modified♦ Definitions are maintained after face merge operations

Mesh Editing for Fine-Tuning♦ Interactively move individual nodes♦ Automatically re-project onto surface geometry♦ Automatically update/smooth surrounding and linked meshes♦ Split existing mesh into separate regions

Extensive Element Quality Metrics♦ Interactively sweep planes and sphere cuts through mesh♦ Display histograms of element quality and highlight elements in selected bands♦ Quickly display and zoom into element with worst quality♦ Numerous metrics include: aspect ratio, diagonal ratio, edge ratio, equiangle skew, equisize skew,

midangle skew, stretch, taper, volume and size change

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Boundary Conditions Conveniently Applied to Real Model♦ Boundary types applied directly to geometry or copied♦ Available boundary types automatically matched to capabilities of selected analysis solver♦ User-specified or default boundary names♦ Coloring and/or labeling of boundary types

Import/Export Interface

CAD/CAE InterfacesGAMBIT provides numerous direct and standards-based options for exchanging geometry and mesh data with all major CAD/CAE systems.

Geometry Import♦ ACIS (.sat and .sab, any version up through R15)♦ Native CATIA V4 model file♦ Native CATIA V5 model file♦ Parasolid (text and binary, any version up through 16.0)♦ Pro/ENGINEER (UNIX platforms)♦ STEP (AP203 and AP214)♦ IGES (including MSBO solids, with automatic cleanup of mismatched and duplicate entities)♦ STL (stereolithography)♦ I-DEAS Faceted Part File (FTL)♦ Optegra Visualizer

Direct Geometry File Integration♦ Read native data from CAD files, without translation:

♦ Pro/Engineer♦ Parasolid

Direct CAD Integration♦ Direct access to Pro/ENGINEER's geometry kernel

Mesh Import♦ ANSYS ♦ PLOT3D♦ NASTRAN ♦ FLUENT 4♦ PATRAN ♦ FLUENT 5♦ I-DEAS ♦ FIDAP♦ HyperMesh♦ Imported meshes can be used to define geometry which can be remeshed as needed♦ Element groupings (zones) automatically extracted from imported mesh♦ Interactive definition and manipulation of geometric edges/faces based on imported mesh

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Geometry Export♦ ACIS (.sat and .sab, any version up through R15)♦ Native CATIA V4 model file♦ Parasolid (text and binary, any version up through 16.0)♦ STEP (AP203 and AP214)♦ IGES (including MSBO solids)♦ Compatible translators available from several vendors for these and many other formats, including CATIA,

Unigraphics, Parasolid, STEP, IGES, and VDAFS

Mesh Export♦ FLUENT 6 ♦ NEKTON♦ TGrid ♦ POLYFLOW♦ FLUENT 4 ♦ ANSYS♦ FLUENT 5 ♦ Neutral file (fully documented and freely available)♦ FIDAP

User InterfaceGAMBIT's user interface is incredibly powerful and flexible, yet highly efficient and very easy to learn and use.

Multilevel Undo/Redo♦ All geometry and meshing operations can be undone/redone♦ Number of levels can be set by user from zero through infinity

Easy-to-Learn GUI♦ Full graphical user interface with menubars, toolpads, and icons, including instant help descriptions (tooltips)♦ Layout can be fully customized and saved for future sessions♦ Progress bar during long operations, including ability to interrupt before completion♦ Context-sensitive, graphical, HTML-based on-line help can be viewed within GAMBIT or separately

Comprehensive Journaling for Automation and Parametric Studies♦ Full journaling language with user-defined parameters, DO loops, IF-THEN-ELSE blocks♦ Automatic or line-by-line playback within full text editor♦ Complete session transcripting (logging)

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Advanced Graphics♦ Full three-dimensional functionality on all platforms♦ Optimized performance on advanced graphics hardware, including OpenGL support on Windows XP♦ Multiple rendering options include hidden line, shading with user-configurable light sources, and silhouettes♦ Up to four simultaneous windows with individual views and renderings

Platforms♦ All major UNIX workstations:Sun, SGI, HP, IBM♦ Microsoft Windows XP on Intel-compatible PCs♦ Red Hat Enterprise and Suse Linux on Intel-compatible PCs♦ Full functionality on all platform

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© 2006 Fluent Inc. All rights reserved. FLUENT, TGrid and GAMBIT are registered trademarks of Fluent, Inc.

Find out more...Contact your local Fluent office to find out more about how

GAMBIT 2.3 can benefit your development processinfo@fluent.com • (603) 643-2600 (US)

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