CFD-VIEW allows the user to create curve probes from a file containing XYZ data. This feature gives the user flexibility of collecting data on any specified/desired curve in the computational domain. As an example of use, these "curved line" probes could be used to sample simulation data at the same locations that experimental data was collected.

You can find the curve probes option under the line probe tool. Consider a 2D example of flow through channel (backward facing step).  To create a curve probe in this domain, do the following:

1. Import data (open DTF file) in CFD-VIEW
2. Pick all surfaces and select line probe



Figure 1.  Line probe tool in CFD-VIEW

3. Once a line probe has been created, you can create the curve probe by selecting the Import Curve option, as shown in the Figure 2.



Figure 2.  Import Curve option for creating a curve probe

4. This tool supports space, comma, and tab delimited input. The data should consist of at least two columns of data representing X and Y locations (optionally a third column representing Z location) through which a curve will be fit.
   In this example, comma separated input is used to generate the curve, as shown in Figure 3.



Figure 3.  Comma separated data input

5. Figure 4 shows the imported curve



Figure 4.  Display of imported curve

6. You can now plot any variable on imported curve using plot option in attribute panel. Figure 5 shows the plot of pressure



Figure 5.  Plot of pressure along the curve probe

7. To revert back to the original line problem, simply click the Clear button. The end points of the line probe will be the same as the end points of the curve probe as shown in Figure 6.



Figure 6.  Curve probe data removed to revert back to line probe

If you have any questions about this feature or would like us to discuss other topics in the future, please let us know.

Regards,
Kartik Shah
ESI Customer Support Team