The PHOENICS Input-file Library

Contents

1. Introduction
2. How to find cases with desired features
3. How to run a library case

1. Introduction

The PHOENICS Input-File library is an organized collection of Q1 files, written in PIL, the PHOENICS Input Language.

They are of widely varying complexity, interest (whether practical, scientific or educational), and quality.

Some date from almost the earliest years of PHOENICS (the library was first introduced in 1984; case 100 was the first); while others are recent introductions for the illustration or testing of new features, for examples those associated with PARSOL, In-Form or MOFOR.

Each well-furnished library Q1 file should possess:

• a TITLE, briefly indicating its nature;
• a descriptive DISPLAY section, conveying more information about its purpose, and about how that is achieved;
• a set of PIL commands which define the flow to be simulated;
• possibly, some READVDU commands which allow the user to make choices;
• some PHOTON or VR-Viewer macro commands which faciliate the graphical display of the computed results; and
• a corresponding Q1EAR file, which sets out in a more orderly way all the implications of the Q1 and of the default answers to the READVDU questions.

One file, namely Q1EARS.HTM, provides access to the whole content of the library.

It lists all cases, grouped under the headings:

• core library
• option libraries and
• special-purpose-program libraries

Each item is represent by one line such as:

Q1 f402 Two-phase flow in a bifurcation

followed by a few more, such as

___ only 1 interval in Z-direction
___ two-phase flow
___ solves for turbulent kinetic energy
___ solves for turbulent energy dissipation
___ fiinit(prps) = -1, so use PIL properties for domain fluid
___ involves buoyancy
___ uses PARSOL for partly-solid cells
___ material indices set via SPEDAT

which mention some points of possible interest to users.

The Q1 is a hyperlink which leads directly to the Q1 file itslf; while the charecters following the Q1 are both the unique identifier of the case in question and a hyperlink to the Q1EAR file.

The origin of the "option" idea is explained here. It is still useful as a rough guide to what is to be found in each library; but, as the number of features which can be simultaneously activated has increased, its usefulness has diminished.

Users wishing to find out in more detail where to find items which may interest them are therefore advised to make use of the library-search facility which is now to be described.

2. How to find library cases

A faster and more-systematic approach is to do the following:

• Activate the PHOENICS Commander;

• click on the Input-File Libraries button:

• click on the 'How to search' button;

• follow the instructions which are then displayed.

The Commander's search engine will then create and display all the cases which satisfy the selection criteria.

3. How to run a library case

1. In the PHOENICS Commander, click on 'Input-File Libraries' and then on the 'run case' button. Then type the (character and) number into the the box which appears on the screen.

   Hit 'carriage return'. Then three PHOENICS modules will run, one ofter the other:

   1. The pre-processor, SATELLITE:
   2. the solver, EARTH; and
   3. (if the selected input file has PHOTON-related instructions) the post-processor, PHOTON.

   You may be asked, on more than one occasion, to 'press return to continue. This depends on settings in the cham.ini file.

2. Run the 'PHOENICS Environment' Module, either
   • directly from the command prompt by entering vre, or
   • via the commander buttons '