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.
This addition allows for theoretical wave models to be utilised for
initialisation and as boundary conditions. Multiple models can be used
simultaneously, each with differing phases and orientations. If multiple
models are used the shapes and velocities are superimposed.
The wave models are specified in the velocity boundary condition. The
phase fraction boundary condition and the set utility both look up the
velocity condition in order to access the wave model. A velocity
boundary may be specified as follows:
inlet
{
type waveVelocity;
origin (0 0 0);
direction (1 0 0);
speed 2;
waves
(
Airy
{
length 300;
amplitude 2.5;
depth 150;
phase 0;
angle 0;
}
);
scale table ((1200 1) (1800 0));
crossScale constant 1;
}
The alpha boundary only requires the type, unless the name of the
velocity field is non-standard, in which case a "U" entry will also be
needed. The setWaves utility does not require a dictionary file; non-
standard field names can be specified as command-line arguments.
Wave models currently available are Airy (1st order) and Stokes2 (second
order). If a depth is specified, and it is not too large, then shallow
terms will be included, otherwise the models assume that the liquid is
deep.
This work was supported by Jan Kaufmann and Jan Oberhagemann at DNV GL.
terms of the local barycentric coordinates of the current tetrahedron,
rather than the global coordinate system.
Barycentric tracking works on any mesh, irrespective of mesh quality.
Particles do not get "lost", and tracking does not require ad-hoc
"corrections" or "rescues" to function robustly, because the calculation
of particle-face intersections is unambiguous and reproducible, even at
small angles of incidence.
Each particle position is defined by topology (i.e. the decomposed tet
cell it is in) and geometry (i.e. where it is in the cell). No search
operations are needed on restart or reconstruct, unlike when particle
positions are stored in the global coordinate system.
The particle positions file now contains particles' local coordinates
and topology, rather than the global coordinates and cell. This change
to the output format is not backwards compatible. Existing cases with
Lagrangian data will not restart, but they will still run from time
zero without any modification. This change was necessary in order to
guarantee that the loaded particle is valid, and therefore
fundamentally prevent "loss" and "search-failure" type bugs (e.g.,
2517, 2442, 2286, 1836, 1461, 1341, 1097).
The tracking functions have also been converted to function in terms
of displacement, rather than end position. This helps remove floating
point error issues, particularly towards the end of a tracking step.
Wall bounded streamlines have been removed. The implementation proved
incompatible with the new tracking algorithm. ParaView has a surface
LIC plugin which provides equivalent, or better, functionality.
Additionally, bug report <https://bugs.openfoam.org/view.php?id=2517>
is resolved by this change.
except turbulence and lagrangian which will also be updated shortly.
For example in the nonNewtonianIcoFoam offsetCylinder tutorial the viscosity
model coefficients may be specified in the corresponding "<type>Coeffs"
sub-dictionary:
transportModel CrossPowerLaw;
CrossPowerLawCoeffs
{
nu0 [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 0.01;
nuInf [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 10;
m [0 0 1 0 0 0 0] 0.4;
n [0 0 0 0 0 0 0] 3;
}
BirdCarreauCoeffs
{
nu0 [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 1e-06;
nuInf [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 1e-06;
k [0 0 1 0 0 0 0] 0;
n [0 0 0 0 0 0 0] 1;
}
which allows a quick change between models, or using the simpler
transportModel CrossPowerLaw;
nu0 [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 0.01;
nuInf [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 10;
m [0 0 1 0 0 0 0] 0.4;
n [0 0 0 0 0 0 0] 3;
if quick switching between models is not required.
To support this more convenient parameter specification the inconsistent
specification of seedSampleSet in the streamLine and wallBoundedStreamLine
functionObjects had to be corrected from
// Seeding method.
seedSampleSet uniform; //cloud; //triSurfaceMeshPointSet;
uniformCoeffs
{
type uniform;
axis x; //distance;
// Note: tracks slightly offset so as not to be on a face
start (-1.001 -0.05 0.0011);
end (-1.001 -0.05 1.0011);
nPoints 20;
}
to the simpler
// Seeding method.
seedSampleSet
{
type uniform;
axis x; //distance;
// Note: tracks slightly offset so as not to be on a face
start (-1.001 -0.05 0.0011);
end (-1.001 -0.05 1.0011);
nPoints 20;
}
which also support the "<type>Coeffs" form
// Seeding method.
seedSampleSet
{
type uniform;
uniformCoeffs
{
axis x; //distance;
// Note: tracks slightly offset so as not to be on a face
start (-1.001 -0.05 0.0011);
end (-1.001 -0.05 1.0011);
nPoints 20;
}
}
The standard naming convention for heat flux is "q" and this is used for the
conductive and convective heat fluxes is OpenFOAM. The use of "Qr" for
radiative heat flux is an anomaly which causes confusion, particularly for
boundary conditions in which "Q" is used to denote power in Watts. The name of
the radiative heat flux has now been corrected to "qr" and all models, boundary
conditions and tutorials updated.
- patchFields now get mapped (instead of created)
- with -consistent it now maps all patches except for processor ones (they are
the only ones that are processor-local)
- all constraint patches get evaluated after mapping to bring them up to date.
Patch contributed by Mattijs Janssens
Added the option '-subDict' to specify a sub-dictionary if multiple
replacement sets are present in the same file. This also provides
backward compatibility by setting '-subDict dictionaryReplacement'
These new names are more consistent and logical because:
primitiveField():
primitiveFieldRef():
Provides low-level access to the Field<Type> (primitive field)
without dimension or mesh-consistency checking. This should only be
used in the low-level functions where dimensional consistency is
ensured by careful programming and computational efficiency is
paramount.
internalField():
internalFieldRef():
Provides access to the DimensionedField<Type, GeoMesh> of values on
the internal mesh-type for which the GeometricField is defined and
supports dimension and checking and mesh-consistency checking.
Non-const access to the internal field now obtained from a specifically
named access function consistent with the new names for non-canst access
to the boundary field boundaryFieldRef() and dimensioned internal field
dimensionedInternalFieldRef().
See also commit a4e2afa4b3
When the GeometricBoundaryField template class was originally written it
was a separate class in the Foam namespace rather than a sub-class of
GeometricField as it is now. Without loss of clarity and simplifying
code which access the boundary field of GeometricFields it is better
that GeometricBoundaryField be renamed Boundary for consistency with the
new naming convention for the type of the dimensioned internal field:
Internal, see commit a25a449c9e
This is a very simple text substitution change which can be applied to
any code which compiles with the OpenFOAM-dev libraries.
//- Disallow default shallow-copy assignment
//
// Assignment of UList<T> may need to be either shallow (copy pointer)
// or deep (copy elements) depending on context or the particular type
// of list derived from UList and it is confusing and prone to error
// for the default assignment to be either. The solution is to
// disallow default assignment and provide separate 'shallowCopy' and
// 'deepCopy' member functions.
void operator=(const UList<T>&) = delete;
//- Copy the pointer held by the given UList.
inline void shallowCopy(const UList<T>&);
//- Copy elements of the given UList.
void deepCopy(const UList<T>&);
The deprecated non-const tmp functionality is now on the compiler switch
NON_CONST_TMP which can be enabled by adding -DNON_CONST_TMP to EXE_INC
in the Make/options file. However, it is recommended to upgrade all
code to the new safer tmp by using the '.ref()' member function rather
than the non-const '()' dereference operator when non-const access to
the temporary object is required.
Please report any problems on Mantis.
Henry G. Weller
CFD Direct.
