The -dict option is now handled correctly and consistently across all
applications with -dict options. The logic associated with doing so has
been centralised.
If a relative path is given to the -dict option, then it is assumed to
be relative to the case directory. If an absolute path is given, then it
is used without reference to the case directory. In both cases, if the
path is found to be a directory, then the standard dictionary name is
appended to the path.
Resolves bug report http://bugs.openfoam.org/view.php?id=3692
TableBase, TableFile and Table now combined into a single simpler Table class
which handle both the reading of embedded and file data using the generalised
TableReader. The new EmbeddedTableReader handles the embedded data reading
providing the functionality of the original Table class within the same
structure that can read the data from separate files.
The input format defaults to 'embedded' unless the 'file' entry is present and
the Table class is added to the run-time selection table under the name 'table'
and 'tableFile' which provides complete backward comparability. However it is
advisable to migrate cases to use the new 'table' entry and all tutorial cases
have been updated.
Function1 has been generalised in order to provide functionality
previously provided by some near-duplicate pieces of code.
The interpolationTable and tableReader classes have been removed and
their usage cases replaced by Function1. The interfaces to Function1,
Table and TableFile has been improved for the purpose of using it
internally; i.e., without user input.
Some boundary conditions, fvOptions and function objects which
previously used interpolationTable or other low-level interpolation
classes directly have been changed to use Function1 instead. These
changes may not be backwards compatible. See header documentation for
details.
In addition, the timeVaryingUniformFixedValue boundary condition has
been removed as its functionality is duplicated entirely by
uniformFixedValuePointPatchField.
In early versions of OpenFOAM the scalar limits were simple macro replacements and the
names were capitalized to indicate this. The scalar limits are now static
constants which is a huge improvement on the use of macros and for consistency
the names have been changed to camel-case to indicate this and improve
readability of the code:
GREAT -> great
ROOTGREAT -> rootGreat
VGREAT -> vGreat
ROOTVGREAT -> rootVGreat
SMALL -> small
ROOTSMALL -> rootSmall
VSMALL -> vSmall
ROOTVSMALL -> rootVSmall
The original capitalized are still currently supported but their use is
deprecated.
When an OpenFOAM simulation runs in parallel, the data for decomposed fields and
mesh(es) has historically been stored in multiple files within separate
directories for each processor. Processor directories are named 'processorN',
where N is the processor number.
This commit introduces an alternative "collated" file format where the data for
each decomposed field (and mesh) is collated into a single file, which is
written and read on the master processor. The files are stored in a single
directory named 'processors'.
The new format produces significantly fewer files - one per field, instead of N
per field. For large parallel cases, this avoids the restriction on the number
of open files imposed by the operating system limits.
The file writing can be threaded allowing the simulation to continue running
while the data is being written to file. NFS (Network File System) is not
needed when using the the collated format and additionally, there is an option
to run without NFS with the original uncollated approach, known as
"masterUncollated".
The controls for the file handling are in the OptimisationSwitches of
etc/controlDict:
OptimisationSwitches
{
...
//- Parallel IO file handler
// uncollated (default), collated or masterUncollated
fileHandler uncollated;
//- collated: thread buffer size for queued file writes.
// If set to 0 or not sufficient for the file size threading is not used.
// Default: 2e9
maxThreadFileBufferSize 2e9;
//- masterUncollated: non-blocking buffer size.
// If the file exceeds this buffer size scheduled transfer is used.
// Default: 2e9
maxMasterFileBufferSize 2e9;
}
When using the collated file handling, memory is allocated for the data in the
thread. maxThreadFileBufferSize sets the maximum size of memory in bytes that
is allocated. If the data exceeds this size, the write does not use threading.
When using the masterUncollated file handling, non-blocking MPI communication
requires a sufficiently large memory buffer on the master node.
maxMasterFileBufferSize sets the maximum size in bytes of the buffer. If the
data exceeds this size, the system uses scheduled communication.
The installation defaults for the fileHandler choice, maxThreadFileBufferSize
and maxMasterFileBufferSize (set in etc/controlDict) can be over-ridden within
the case controlDict file, like other parameters. Additionally the fileHandler
can be set by:
- the "-fileHandler" command line argument;
- a FOAM_FILEHANDLER environment variable.
A foamFormatConvert utility allows users to convert files between the collated
and uncollated formats, e.g.
mpirun -np 2 foamFormatConvert -parallel -fileHandler uncollated
An example case demonstrating the file handling methods is provided in:
$FOAM_TUTORIALS/IO/fileHandling
The work was undertaken by Mattijs Janssens, in collaboration with Henry Weller.
e.g.
ramp
{
type quadratic;
start 200;
duration 1.6;
}
but the old format is supported for backward compatibility:
ramp linear;
rampCoeffs
{
start 200;
duration 1.6;
}
Now the functionality to write single graph files or log files (vs time)
may be used in the creation of any form of functionObject, not just
those relating to a mesh region.
- Avoids the need for the 'OutputFilterFunctionObject' wrapper
- Time-control for execution and writing is now provided by the
'timeControlFunctionObject' which instantiates the processing
'functionObject' and controls its operation.
- Alternative time-control functionObjects can now be written and
selected at run-time without the need to compile wrapped version of
EVERY existing functionObject which would have been required in the
old structure.
- The separation of 'execute' and 'write' functions is now formalized in the
'functionObject' base-class and all derived classes implement the
two functions.
- Unnecessary implementations of functions with appropriate defaults
in the 'functionObject' base-class have been removed reducing
clutter and simplifying implementation of new functionObjects.
- The 'coded' 'functionObject' has also been updated, simplified and tested.
- Further simplification is now possible by creating some general
intermediate classes derived from 'functionObject'.
Function1 is an abstract base-class of run-time selectable unary
functions which may be composed of other Function1's allowing the user
to specify complex functions of a single scalar variable, e.g. time.
The implementations need not be a simple or continuous functions;
interpolated tables and polynomials are also supported. In fact form of
mapping between a single scalar input and a single primitive type output
is supportable.
The primary application of Function1 is in time-varying boundary
conditions, it also used for other functions of time, e.g. injected mass
is spray simulations but is not limited to functions of time.
