Extract Vortex Cores over time

Macro, Tecplot 360, Vortices February 27, 2019

Problem: How do I extract vortex cores over time? Solution: Use a Tecplot Macro to loop over time and extract the vortex cores at each time step. Make sure Tecplot is aware of the variables representing your velocity field (Analyze->Field Variables menu).   The commands are as follow: Retrieve the number of time steps $!EXTENDEDCOMMAND COMMANDPROCESSORID=’extend time mcr’ COMMAND=’QUERY.NUMTIMESTEPS NUMTIMESTEPS’ Loop over time $!LOOP |NUMTIMESTEPS| $!EXTENDEDCOMMAND COMMANDPROCESSORID=’extend time mcr’ COMMAND=’SET.CURTIMESTEP […]

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Vortex Core Extraction Method

Calculation, Tecplot 360, Vortices February 6, 2019

Problem: How is the Vortex Core calculated in Tecplot 360? Solution: The exact Vortex Core extraction method is defined in an AIAA paper called “Identification of Swirling Flow in 3-D Vector Fields” by David Sujudi and Robert Haimes of the Massachusettes Institute of Technology. Abstract An algorithm for identifying the center of swirling flow in 3-D discretized vector fields has been developed. The algorithm is based on critical point theory and […]

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Multi-Threading and Parallel Processing

Performance, Tecplot 360 January 7, 2019

This article will list the different portions of Tecplot 360 that use Multi-Threading and Parallel Processing. Each portion of what is used can be found in the table below: What How CFDA Integration is performed concurrently. Geometry boundary generation is performed concurrently. The following calculated variables are calculated concurrently: Cross Flow Velocity, Density, Dynamic Pressure, Enthalpy, Entropy, Entropy Measure S1, Equivalent Potential Velocity Ratio, Internal Energy, Kinetic Energy, Mach Number, […]

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Time Strands and the Zone Style dialog

Animation, Layout, Tecplot 360 November 20, 2018

When working with transient datasets, Tecplot implements “Time Strands”. Time Strands are assigned to a group of zones which represent the same object. For simple transient datasets, sometimes only one Time Strand is used. Whereas more complex datasets will implement multiple Time Strands. For example, if you are plotting a jet, typically there will be one Time Strand per wing, one for the fuselage, and one for the tail. Time […]

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Load Multiple Files at Once with a Macro

Macro, Tecplot 360 November 10, 2018

Problem: I have many files that need to be loaded into Tecplot but loading them all is tedious. I want to load multiple files at once without having to select each individual file. Solution: For files that only differ by a constant, PyTecplot or macro scripts can be configured to load your datasets quickly and accurately. For example, if you have a directory containing many files: file001.plt file002.plt etc. You […]

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How do I create radial and theta slices?

Calculation, Tecplot 360 October 15, 2018

Radial slices Compute the equation: {R} = sqrt(X**2 + Y**2) in the Data -> Alter -> Specify Equations dialog.  Turn on iso-surfaces in the Plot Sidebar. Then display an iso-surface of constant R. Theta slices Compute the equation: {Theta} = atan2(X,Y) in the Data -> Alter -> Specify Equations dialog. Then display an iso-surface of constant Theta.  Note that due to a singularity at the origin you may get some strange shapes […]

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Calculating a New Variable

Calculation, Tecplot 360 September 24, 2018

Creating a new variable or referencing a variable by name requires surrounding it in curly braces. Variables on the right side of equations may be referenced by two other methods:  First, by the variable index. Second is to use variable assignment letter codes. In this example, we’re using ‘u’ and ‘v’ which represent the variables assigned to the U and V vector components in Plot -> Vector -> Variables dialog.  […]

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How do I Install PyTecplot?

Installation, Pytecplot June 26, 2018

First off, PyTecplot requires an installation of Tecplot 360 2017 R1 or later. PyTecplot is also hosted on PyPI so you simply need to run ‘pip install pytecplot’ from a command prompt. Easy as Py! PyTecplot is also included in the Tecplot 360 installation so you can install from there if you have an overzealous firewall or want to ensure the PyTecplot version you’re installing is guaranteed to be compatible […]

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Calculating Aerodynamic Forces and Moments

Calculation, Tecplot 360 February 23, 2018

The most accurate forces and moments are normally those output by your flow solver, which knows details of your solution’s boundary conditions and can use modeling such as turbulent wall functions that Tecplot cannot. If your solver’s calculations are not available, you can use Tecplot’s Analyze/Perform Integration… option with the Forces and Moments integration type. There are cases where you want more control over the calculation, however, so this document […]

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