Altair HyperWorks CFD 2020.1 Release Notes

Highlights

  • Geometric model preparation improvements
  • Acusolve physics setup enhancements
  • New automation environment
  • New external solver mesh writer

New Features

AcuSolve physics setup
Algebraic Eulerian multiphase model
Capability to simulate the momentum exchange between a carrier field and a dispersed field. When simulating multiphase flows using the disperse multiphase model, the carrier field must be a fluid and the dispersed field can be of any medium.
Fan component
New capability to model a fan by specifying fan characteristic curves. You can define the type of fan, fan thickness, and fan characteristics parameters – axial, radial, tangential force parameters, or P-Q curve.
Species transport
New capability to simulate species transport. You can define diffusivity of species, species at inflow conditions, and species sources.
Nucleate boiling
New setup capability to set up single and multiphase nucleate boiling simulation.
New automation environment
Template manager
Tool to define rules and automate the process:
  1. Rule based logic for groups, geometric operations, and setup
  2. Run geometric operations, meshing, and solver setup
Useful for:
  1. Automating the process – since templates are defined based on rules, the same can be applied to other models which have the same attributes as defined in the template rules
  2. Defining best practices for meshing and solver parameters and passing it to others
  3. Parametric studies
New external solver mesh writer
OpenFoam, CGNS, Fluent file support
Added support to write out surface and volume mesh for OpenFoam, CGNS, and Fluent. You can follow the same process as for AcuSolve setup and set all domain and boundaries. Based on the assigned materials and boundaries, mesh zones will be exported appropriately.

Enhancements

Geometric model preparation improvements
Improved geometric boolean robustness
Within the Boolean tools, you now have an option called Use Parasolid. If enabled, it calls Parasolid kernel for performing operations. It makes boolean operations significantly more robust for complex geometries.
Improved graphics performance improvement
Significant improvements have been made on large model visibility operations and selections. User will see 30-50% reduced time on operations such as:
  1. Selecting / deselecting geometries
  2. Showing/hiding/isolating geometries
  3. Switching transparency and color modes