Show CFD Results

View the results of a CFD simulation in the Analysis Explorer.

On the Fluids ribbon, select the View CFD Results tool in the Analyze CFD tool group.

Analysis Explorer Options

The Analysis Explorer includes the following options.

Run

The most recent analysis run is shown in the modeling window by default. To view the results from a different analysis, click on the appropriate item in the list of runs at the top of the Analysis Explorer.

To delete a run from the Analysis Explorer, right-click the run name to select Delete Run.

Result Types

CFD analysis produces a variety of different result types including pressure, velocity, and temperature. Click on an item in the Result Types list to view the results.

Pressure

The pressure result type shows how much pressure your model is under when fluids are applied. The areas of the model that are the reddest have the most pressure.

Velocity

The velocity result type shows how much velocity your model is under when fluids are applied. The areas of the model that are the reddest have the most velocity.

Temperature

The temperature result type shows how much temperature your model is under when fluids are applied. The areas of the model that are the reddest have the highest temperature.

Results Slider

The results slider is scalable and provides a color gradient for the selected result type.

  • To change the upper or lower bound for the results slider, click on the bound and enter a new value. Click the reset button to restore the default values.
  • To filter the results so that areas on the model with results greater than a specified value are masked, click and drag the arrow on the results slider. To mask areas with results less than the specified value, click and select Flip Mask. Select the arrow to enter a specific value.
  • To change the legend color for the result type, click the icon next to the results slider and select Legend Colors.

Show/Hide Elements

When the Analysis Explorer is active, an additional Show/Hide Elements icon appears under the view controls in the lower left corner of the modeling window.

Show Options

Determine what is made visible in the modeling window when viewing analysis results. You can show or hide the initial shape, loads and supports, deformation, and/or contours.

Option Description Note
Show/Hide Initial Shape Show/hide the initial shape as a reference.  
Show/Hide All Loads and Supports Show/hide loads and supports. You can also show only the current loads and supports.  
Show/Hide Deformed State Show/hide the deformed shape as a reference.  
Show/Hide Contours Show/hide contours.  
Options
  • Interpolate during animation: Animate the result contour.
  • Blended contours: Toggle between blended and nonblended contours.
  • Vector plot: Display the direction vectors for the displacement result type.
 
Show/Hide Elements Show/hide the element edges. This icon appears under the view controls in the lower left of the modeling window, but only when the Analysis Explorer is active.

Callout Options

Add visual callouts to show points of interest on your analysis results.

Option Description Note
Create, Show, and Hide Callouts

Select to create callouts; select to show and hide callouts.
  • Click the icon, then click a point on the model to create a callout.
  • After creating callouts, click the icon to show/hide the callouts in the modeling window.
List Callouts

Display in a table all of the callouts that have been created, with the result types and values. Each callout is specific to the selected run and load case.

  • Click the icon to show/hide the callout in the modeling window.
  • Select a row to select the callout in the modeling window.
  • Click a column header to sort the column. Click to toggle between ascending and descending order.
  • Right-click a column header to change the result type that is shown, and to sort the order of the columns.

Min/Max Callouts

Create a callout showing where the minimum/maximum value occurs for the selected result type.
Note: When factor of safety is selected, the minimum value is shown.
  • When you click the icon, the callout is automatically generated on the model.
  • Click the min/max callout in the modeling window to create a regular callout at the same location.
Plot Display time history plots for callouts defined for structural analysis. Changes made to the Result Types option are synchronized with the setting on the Analysis Explorer. Using this option allows you to put multiple plots of mixed types on a single page.
Note: To show a callout plot during a motion analysis playback, right-click the plot, then select Show during analysis.
This option is only available for motion part analysis results.
Dynamic Callouts

Display the results of various result types in existing callouts.
Note: If you enable the Compare Results feature in a callout, the callout becomes static.
After creating a callout for a particular result type, click the icon, then select a different result type. The value in the callout reflects the new result type.

Style Options

Visualize the results as static streamlines, animated streamlines, or vectors.

Option Description
Static Streamlines

Visualize the results as static streamlines. In the microdialog, you can adjust the following parameters:
  • Diameter: Define the diameter of each streamline, which is rendered as a tube.
  • Density: Define the density of streamlines displayed.
Animated Streamlines

Only available if Streamlines is turned on.
Click the icon once to visualize the results as animated streamlines. Click the icon again to jump to the end of the animation.

Vectors

Visualize the results as vectors. In the microdialog, you can adjust the following parameters:
  • Length: Define the length of each vector.
  • Density: Define the density of vectors displayed.