OpenFOAM 2.3.0: Post-processing

Function Objects

OpenFOAM can carry out post-processing automatically while the simulation is running using function objects. In v2.3.0, a distinction is made between when a function object evaluates, and when it writes to file. The respective behaviour is controlled using the new evaluateControl and existing outputControl keyword settings. The specification for each entry is identical, with the outputTime and timeStep options. The evaluateControl option is particularly useful for objects which generate fields, since the user may want to update the result every time step, e.g. if passing the result into a fieldAverage function object, while not writing to file each time step.

This version includes the following new function objects:

• blendingFactor calculates and outputs the blending factor used by the blended convection schemes; the output is a volume field, i.e. values at cell centres, whose value is the maximum blending factor of adjacent cell faces;
• setTimeStep allows the user to override the time step of solvers that support adjustable time stepping, using a profile in the form of a DataEntry type, i.e. constant, polynomial, table, csvFile.

This following function objects have been enhanced:

• fieldAverage now supports averaging of surface fields, e.g. the flux;
• forces and forceCoeffs include porosity contribution, and updated writing of bin data to single file(s);
• probes probes include appropriate treatment for moving mesh cases in which, by default, probes positions are fixed; for moving mesh cases, it can be useful to fix the probed cell instead by setting the optional fixedLocations entry to false.