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Module category: IO



ReadStar

ReadStar reads data sets written by Star-CD versions 2.21 thru 3.1b. It needs a ProSTAR input file (*16, *mdl) and a result file, either stationary (*09/*pst) or transient (*29/*pstt).

ReadStarModule.png

It's tested on SGI systems (IRIX 6.5) and LINUX (since COVISE Rel. 5.2.3).

Parameters

Name Type Description
mesh_path Browser StarCD mesh file (*16/*mdl) location: Input file with mesh information.

If a restart file (*09/*pst) from a moving-grid simulation is visualized, the mesh file (*16/*mdl) must be created for the specific step. This is not needed if the transient output file (*29/*pstt) is used.

Immediately after the mesh file was selected, ReadStar starts reading the file to gain information. This might take some time for large data sets.

data_path Browser StarCD result file (*09/*pst or *29/*pstt) location: Input file with result data.

Immediately after the result file was selected, ReadStar starts reading the file to gain information. This might take some time for large data sets. As soon as a valid combination of mesh and data files are found, the mesh file is scanned for the names of the scalar values and the data file (if transient) is scanned for the number of time-steps. Then parameters field_0,...field_15 are updated and you can select now the data you want to have at the corresponding output ports.

from_to_step

Integer vector Time-steps to be read: First step, last step, increment. Time-steps are numbered from 1 (1st step in file) to number of steps, NOT in Star-CD internal numbering.
timestep Slider not yet used
cellVert Choice Select the data output format: data per vertex or data per cell. Default selection: vertex based data.

If you select cell based data you have to use the module CellToVert to convert them to vertex based data because the following post-processing modules (IsoSurface, CuttingSurface, Tracer) support only vertex based data.

field_0 ,...
field_15
Choice Select which data field to read for the output ports "data_0,..., data_15". This choice is updated after reading the input files. The value "--" means that no data is sent to Port "data_x".

Output Ports

Name Type Description
outputmesh UnstructuredGrid The grid: single grid for stationary data, set of grids for transient data.
outputdata_0,...
data_15
Float
Vec3
The data set as selected with choice parameters "field_0, field_15". If a data port is connected and the corresponding choice parameter "field_x" is set to "--", the next module will deliver an error message "cannot read data for port XXX".

outputtype

IntArr List with cell types.
outputcellTable IntArr List of the properties for every cell type.
outputcpPolygons Polygons Interfacial polygons between matching grids. You may use EliminatePolygons to eliminate these polygons if they are a hindrance for your visualization.

Examples

ReadStarMap.png

The model is a channel with two inlets.

ReadStar reads a dataset from two files: covise/data/examples/general/tiny16 for the grid and covise/data/examples/general/tiny09 for the data. With the choice parameter field_0 we selected TE for the output port data_0 and with field_1 Velocity for ouput port data_1.

The module DomainSurface is connected to the output port mesh of ReadStar and computes the outer surface and edge lines of the computational grid. As the Renderer is connected to the ouput port lines_out of DomainSurface the edge lines are displayed in the Renderer.

The module CutGeometry cuts the bottom of the the surface created by DomainSurface so we can look into the channel. As the output port of CutGeometry is connected to the Renderer the cut surface is displayed in the Renderer.

The module combination CuttingSurface - Colors - Collect maps the data selected at output port data_0 to colors. As Collect is connected to the Renderer the colored cuttingsurface is displayed in the renderer.

The module Tracer computes particle traces as lines.

Further examples:

Step By Step

This section explains step by step how to do a visualization of STAR-CD data.

  1. Choose a map: look at the ReadStar example maps under covise/net/examples/ and choose a map which contains the visualization elements you want to see.

  2. Start covise by typing

    covise -i <selected map> &

  3. Import StarCD Data

    select_files.png


  4. Visualization of the grid surface

  5. Visualization of scalar parameters with a colored cuttingsurface

  6. Visualization of scalar parameters with a colored isosurface

  7. Visualize vector data with vector lines

  8. Visualize vector data with particle traces


Authors: Martin Aumüller, Ruth Lang, Daniela Rainer, Jürgen Schulze-Döbold, Andreas Werner, Peter Wolf, Uwe Wössner
Copyright © 1993-2022 HLRS, 2004-2014 RRZK, 2005-2014 Visenso
COVISE Version 2021.12