Monitoring, Reports and Visualization
These controls help judge convergence, save results and inspect the solution. Except for storage/plotting overhead, they do not change the governing equations or numerical update. Reporting options can nevertheless be essential for deciding whether a simulation is truly converged.
Theory reference. Each option entry includes a link to the corresponding equation, physical model, closure, or numerical method in the Theory Manual. Defaults, availability, simulation effects, and practical guidance are documented directly with the GUI option.
Residual convergence is necessary but not sufficient. Also monitor mass/energy balance and the engineering quantity you care about: pressure ratio, mass flow, force, heat flux, temperature, etc.
Residual monitoring
Residual plots show algebraic/finite-volume imbalance trends and are the first convergence diagnostic.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plot Residuals | Displays residual histories while solving. | Reporting / displayCost No equation effect; adds modest GUI/communication overhead. | Keep on during setup/convergence assessment. | Residual monitoring |
| Print Monitor Data | Prints residual/monitor values to the output stream/log. | Reporting / displayCost No physical effect; increases logging. | Use for traceable batch/long-run records. | Residual monitoring |
| Iterations to Store | Number of residual/monitor samples retained for plotting/history. | Reporting / displayCost Memory/display history only. | Increase for long convergence histories if memory is not a concern. | Residual monitoring |
| Scaling Iterations | Sets the early interval used to establish residual normalization/scales for display. | Reporting / display Changes displayed normalized residual interpretation, not the solved equations. | Use enough iterations to avoid an unrepresentative first-iteration scale. | Residual monitoring |
| Print Period | Interval between residual/monitor prints. | Reporting / displayCost Logging frequency only. | Use a larger interval for very long runs to reduce output volume. | Residual monitoring |
Autosave and output
Output frequency should balance restart safety, engineering history and filesystem cost.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solution Data File | Filename/path for periodic full solution-data saves. | Reporting / displayCost No physics effect; file I/O can add noticeable wall-clock cost on large parallel cases. | Use a stable path with enough storage and keep restart-critical data. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Solution Data Frequency | Iteration/time-step interval between full solution-data writes. | Reporting / displayCost Higher frequency improves restart/history resolution but increases I/O and storage. | Write often enough to limit lost work, not every iteration for large cases. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Limit Solution Data Count | Enables automatic retention limit for full solution files. | Reporting / display Storage management only. | Enable for long runs on limited storage. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Maximum Solution Data CountDefault: 5 | Maximum retained file count when limiting is enabled. | Reporting / display Older files can be removed/replaced according to retention behavior. | Keep enough checkpoints for recovery/history. | Postprocessing and reports |
| VTU Output File / Frequency | Controls visualization-file output and write interval. | Reporting / displayCost No solution change; can be expensive for large meshes. | Use lower frequency than residual monitoring unless dense animation/time history is needed. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Per-zone VTU File / Frequency | Writes visualization data separately for selected zones. | Reporting / displayCost I/O/storage only. | Useful when only certain zones require frequent inspection. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Select Zones for VTU | Chooses zones included in per-zone visualization output. | Reporting / displayCost No solver effect. | Exclude unneeded zones to reduce file size. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Point Probe File / Frequency | Controls periodic point-probe data output. | Reporting / displayCost Very low overhead compared with full fields; no solver effect. | Use for transient histories and local convergence monitoring. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Surface Report File / Frequency | Controls periodic surface-report data output. | Reporting / displayCost Low/moderate reporting overhead; no solver effect. | Use for mass flow, forces, heat flux and other engineering convergence quantities. | Postprocessing and reports |
Surface report definitions
Surface reports turn field solutions into engineering quantities.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report Type: Surface | Computes a scalar statistic on selected surface zones. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for average pressure, temperature, Mach and other surface quantities. | Surface fields and averages |
| Report Type: Force | Computes pressure, shear and total force/moment-related quantities on selected surfaces. | Reporting / display Reporting only; reference values affect coefficients but not the flow. | Use for aerodynamic/hydrodynamic loads and convergence. | Surface fields and averages |
| Report Type: Flux | Computes flux quantities through selected surfaces. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use to verify conservation and throughput. | Surface fields and averages |
| Surface Name | Names the report definition. | Reporting / display No solution effect. | Use descriptive names such as inlet_massflow or nozzle_thrust. | Surface fields and averages |
| Physical Property | Surface scalar choices include density, static/total temperature, static/total pressure, velocity components/magnitude, \(k\), \(\omega\), turbulence intensity, Mach, vorticity magnitude, total enthalpy, total/internal energy and turbulent/effective viscosity. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Select the quantity that directly measures your engineering requirement/convergence. | Surface fields and averages |
| Area Weighted | Computes \(\langle\phi\rangle_A=\frac{\int_A\phi\,dA}{\int_A dA}\). | Reporting / display Weights each surface area equally per unit area. | Use for wall/surface averages or when mass flux is not the desired weighting. | Surface fields and averages |
| Mass Weighted | Computes \(\langle\phi\rangle_{\dot m}=\frac{\int_A\phi\rho u_n\,dA}{\int_A\rho u_n\,dA}\). | Reporting / display Weights by transported mass and is often more meaningful for duct/nozzle inflow/outflow totals. | Avoid interpretation problems when the denominator is near zero or strong counterflow exists. | Surface fields and averages |
| Report Frequency | Iteration/time-step interval for report evaluation. | Reporting / displayCost No physics effect; very frequent complex reports add some overhead. | Use every few iterations for convergence-sensitive quantities; lower frequency for long stable runs. | Surface fields and averages |
| Write / Plot / Print | Controls whether the report is written to file, plotted and/or printed. | Reporting / displayCost Output/display only. | Plot for live convergence, write for records, print for compact logs. | Surface fields and averages |
Force, flux and reference quantities
Reference values affect reported nondimensional quantities, not the solved flow field.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure Force | Integrates pressure traction over the selected surface. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use with a consistent sign/axis convention. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Shear Force | Integrates viscous/turbulent wall shear traction over the selected surface. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Requires viscous/turbulent wall physics; is zero/irrelevant for inviscid surfaces. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Total Force | Combines pressure and shear force contributions. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for total aerodynamic/hydrodynamic load. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Center of Pressure | Computes the effective location of pressure resultant using the configured reference geometry/axis. | Reporting / display Reporting only; can be ill-conditioned if net pressure force is very small. | Use consistent coordinate origin and axis. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Moment | Integrates moment about the configured reference position/axis. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Choose reference point/axis before comparing cases. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Cd / Cl | Uses dynamic pressure \(q_{ref}=\tfrac12\rho_{ref}U_{ref}^2\) and coefficient form such as \(C_D=F_D/(q_{ref}A_{ref})\). | Reporting / display Coefficient values depend directly on entered reference density, velocity, area and axes. | Record reference values with every reported coefficient. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Mass Flux / Mass Flow | Integrates carrier mass transport through the selected surface. | Reporting / display Reporting only; essential for conservation checks. | Compare inlet/outlet values after sign convention is understood. | Flux reports |
| Particle Mass Flux / Particle Mass Flow | Integrates dispersed-phase mass transport. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for particle capture/throughput/conservation. | Flux reports |
| Heat Flux | Integrates/reports thermal flux on selected surfaces. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for thermal balances and wall qualification. | Flux reports |
| Reference Pressure | Reference pressure used by applicable force/coefficient definitions. | Reporting / display Does not change the CFD solution; changes reported pressure-derived quantities if the report subtracts/uses it. | Use the same reference across comparison cases. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Reference Area | Area \(A_{ref}\) used in coefficients. | Reporting / display Changes coefficient normalization only. | Use the standard planform/frontal/reference area for the application. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Reference Density / Velocity | \(\rho_{ref}\) and \(U_{ref}\) set dynamic pressure. | Reporting / display Changes nondimensional coefficient normalization only. | Use freestream/inlet reference conditions consistently. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Reference Axis X/Y/Z | Defines force/moment lift/drag or moment direction as used by the report. | Reporting / display Changes vector projection only. | Normalize/verify axes and keep the same convention across cases. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
| Reference Position X/Y/Z | Moment/center reference point. | Reporting / display Changes reported moment and center quantities only. | Use physical center of gravity, hinge or agreed reporting origin. | Forces, moments and coefficients |
Point probes
Point probes provide inexpensive local time/iteration histories.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Probe Name | Names a point-probe definition. | Reporting / display No solution effect. | Use a descriptive location/measurement name. | Point probes |
| Probe Position X/Y/Z | Coordinates at which the solution is sampled/interpolated. | Reporting / display No solution effect; moving the probe changes what is reported. | Place inside the fluid/solid region of interest and document coordinates. | Point probes |
| Probe Property | Selectable properties include static/total pressure/temperature, velocity components/magnitude, \(k\), \(\omega\), turbulence intensity, density, Mach, vorticity magnitude, total energy and turbulent/effective viscosity. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use probes for transient histories and local convergence. | Point probes |
| Probe Frequency | Sampling interval. | Reporting / displayCost No physics effect; high frequency gives better temporal resolution with more output. | For transient data, choose a frequency consistent with physical time-step resolution. | Point probes |
| Probe Write / Plot / Print | Controls output destinations for probe history. | Reporting / displayCost Reporting only. | Write for quantitative analysis, plot for live monitoring. | Point probes |
Contours, line plots, streamlines, thresholds and slices
Visualization controls change only how existing solution data are displayed or sampled.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show Grid | Toggles mesh display. | Reporting / display Display only. | Use to inspect mesh relative to contours/slices. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Show Contour Lines | Overlays contour isolines. | Reporting / display Display only. | Useful for gradients/shocks but may clutter 3D views. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Number of Contours | Number of contour levels. | Reporting / display Display resolution only. | Increase for smooth visual detail; it does not increase CFD resolution. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Min / Max Display Range | Sets scalar color/contour limits. | Reporting / display Display only; clipping the color range can hide extrema but does not clamp solution values. | Use fixed ranges when comparing cases/time frames. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Color Map: Blue→Red / Red→Blue / Rainbow / Rainbow Reversed / Green→Red / Red→Green / Green→Blue / Blue→Green / X-Ray View | Selects the GUI scalar color mapping. | Reporting / display Display only; it cannot change the stored solution values. Different maps can make the same gradient look more or less visually prominent. | For engineering comparison, keep both the color map and numeric Min/Max range fixed between cases. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Mouse Probe | Enables interactive value probing in the scene. | Reporting / display Display/query only. | Useful for quick inspection; use saved probes for reproducible quantitative histories. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Set Range | Applies the entered Min/Max visualization range. | Reporting / display Display only. | Use the same applied range when comparing cases or time frames. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Export VTU File | Writes the currently available visualization solution data to a VTU file. | Reporting / displayCost No solution change; adds file-I/O/storage cost only. | Use for external postprocessing or archiving a displayed state. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Line P1 / P2 | Coordinates defining a sampling line. | Reporting / display Display/report only. | Place endpoints in the region of interest. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Line Resolution | Number of sample locations along the line. | Reporting / display Changes postprocessing sampling density only. | Increase until plotted curve no longer changes visibly; it cannot recover sub-cell information. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Print Line Data | Prints sampled line values. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for export/inspection. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Show Data Line | Displays the sampling line/plot. | Reporting / display Display only. | Use to verify sampling location. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Update Line Plot | Re-samples/replots the line after endpoint, resolution or displayed-property changes. | Reporting / display Postprocessing only. | Use after changing P1/P2 or resolution so the plot reflects the current settings. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Show Streamlines | Displays velocity streamlines where velocity data are available. | Reporting / display Display only. | Use to inspect flow topology; not particle trajectories unless specifically modeled as such. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Show Streamline Start Surface | Displays the seed surface used to create streamlines. | Reporting / display Display only. | Use to verify seeding geometry. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Update Streamlines | Recomputes the displayed streamline traces using the current seed and tracing controls. | Reporting / displayCost Postprocessing only; higher seed density/propagation increases visualization cost. | Use after changing any streamline seed or integration setting. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Fit Start Surface | Fits/adjusts the streamline seed surface to the current selected/viewed geometry as provided by the GUI. | Reporting / display Postprocessing geometry only. | Use as a convenience, then verify the center, normal, width and height numerically. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Streamline Start Center X/Y/ZDefault: 0,0,0 initially | Center of the rectangular seed surface. | Reporting / display Display/postprocessing only. | Place within the flow region. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Streamline Start Normal X/Y/ZDefault: 1,0,0 initially | Normal defining seed-surface orientation. | Reporting / display Display/postprocessing only. | Use a nonzero vector; orient perpendicular to desired seed plane. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Streamline Width / HeightDefault: 1 / 1 initially | Physical size of the seed surface. | Reporting / display Controls where streamlines originate. | Cover the cross-section/region of interest without excessive seeds. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Streamline U / V ResolutionDefault: 10 / 10 initially | Number of seed points along each seed-surface direction. | Reporting / displayCost More seeds give denser visualization and higher tracing cost. | Use the minimum density that resolves topology clearly. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Max PropagationDefault: 0 = automatic/current behavior initially | Maximum streamline tracing length/propagation control. | Reporting / displayCost Postprocessing only; limits how far traces continue. | Set high enough to cover the region but avoid excessively long looping lines. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Initial StepDefault: 0 = automatic/current behavior initially | Initial integration step used by streamline tracing. | Reporting / displayCost Postprocessing accuracy/cost only. | Use a step small relative to local mesh/flow scale if manual control is required. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Tube RadiusDefault: 0 initially | Radius used when streamlines are rendered as tubes. | Reporting / display Display only; larger radius can obscure nearby details. | Use small relative to geometry. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Streamline Direction: Forward / Backward / Both | Selects integration direction relative to velocity. | Reporting / displayCost Postprocessing only. | Use Both to reveal upstream/downstream connectivity around a seed surface. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Threshold Min / MaxDefault: 0 / 1 initially | Keeps/displays data within the selected scalar threshold range. | Reporting / display Display filter only. | Use to isolate regions such as high temperature or a phase-fraction band. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Set / Reset Threshold | Applies or clears the visualization threshold. | Reporting / display Display only. | Reset before interpreting a full-domain view. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Slice Origin X/Y/Z | Point on a 3D slice plane. | Reporting / display Postprocessing only. | Move to the cross-section of interest. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Slice Normal X/Y/Z | Normal vector of the slice plane. | Reporting / display Postprocessing only. | Use a nonzero vector and record orientation for comparisons. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Slice / Show Slice Plane | Creates the slice and toggles plane display. | Reporting / display Display only. | Use fixed slice coordinates for case-to-case comparisons. | Postprocessing and reports |
Interactive surface integrals
These controls provide on-demand engineering calculations from the displayed/loaded solution.
| GUI option | Meaning / formulation | Effect on the simulation | Practical guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Integral: Mass Flow Rate | Computes \(\int_A \rho\mathbf u\cdot\mathbf n\,dA\). | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for continuity checks and component throughput. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Pressure / Shear / Total Force | Integrates selected traction contribution over chosen surfaces. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use consistent surface orientation and reference axes. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Moment | Integrates moment about the entered reference position/axis. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use the same origin/axis across cases. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Momentum | Reports integrated momentum-related transport on the selected surface. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for thrust/momentum-balance diagnostics as appropriate. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Average Total Pressure / Temperature | Computes average stagnation quantities over selected surfaces using the postprocessing definition. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Useful for compressor/duct/nozzle losses and thermal performance. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Particle Mass Flow Rate | Integrates dispersed-phase mass flow. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Use for separation/capture/transport efficiency. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Center of Pressure | Computes pressure-resultant location. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Check net-force magnitude before interpreting. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral: Cd / Cl | Computes nondimensional force coefficients using the entered reference pressure/area/density/velocity/axes. | Reporting / display Reporting only. | Verify all reference values before comparing with experiments or other tools. | Surface/integral reports |
| Surface Integral quantity list | The selector contains Mass Flow Rate [kg/s], Pressure Force [N], Shear Force [N], Total Force [N], Moment [Nm], Momentum [kg·m/s], Average Total Pressure [Pa], Average Total Temperature [K], Particle Mass Flow Rate [kg/s], Center of Pressure [m], Cd and Cl. | Reporting / display Changes only which engineering quantity is evaluated from the loaded solution. | Choose the quantity first, then select the surfaces and enter any required reference values. | Surface/integral reports |
| Calculate | Evaluates the selected integral on the selected surfaces. | Reporting / display No solution effect. | Use after choosing surfaces, integral type and reference values. | Surface/integral reports |
Scene and solution-view actions
| GUI action | Meaning | Effect | Guidance | Theory reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Update Solution Data | Requests/fetches current solution data from the solver for visualization. | Reporting / display Does not advance the solver. | Use before interpreting a stale GUI field during a long run. | Postprocessing and reports |
| Reset Zoom | Fits/resets the 3D/2D camera view. | Display only. | No simulation effect. | Postprocessing and reports |
| View from X / Y / Z | Aligns the camera with a global coordinate axis. | Display only. | Useful for checking mesh orientation, slices and flow direction. | Postprocessing and reports |