Custom zones

Custom zones#

Custom zones allow you to create user-defined volume mesh zones from custom volumes. The names of the generated volume zones will match the names of the custom volumes.

Available Options#

Option

Description

Applicable

Name

Name of the custom zone setting

always

Element type

Type of mesh elements to use in the zone

always

Assigned custom volume

Custom volume entities to generate zones from

always

See also

For a deeper discussion of the meshing workflow and parameters, see Meshing.

Detailed Descriptions#

Name#

Display name for this custom zone configuration.

  • Default: Custom zone

Element type#

Specifies the type of mesh elements to be used for the generated volume zones.

Possible selections:

  • Mixed - Tetrahedral and tet elements in the mesh volume

  • Tetrahedra - Only tetrahedral elements will be used for the generated volume zones

  • Default: Mixed

Notes:

  • Mixed typically produces fewer elements and better quality for most geometries

  • Tetrahedra may be preferred for CHT solid zones

Assigned custom volume#

The custom volume entities from which volume zones will be generated.

  • Required

Notes:

  • Select volumes from the 3D scene or from the entity list using the + button

  • Each custom volume will generate a separate volume zone with the same name

  • Volume zone names must be unique across the simulation

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

  • When should I use Mixed vs Tetrahedra element type?

    Use Mixed (default) for most cases as it produces better quality meshes with fewer elements. Use Tetrahedra when you need an all-tet mesh, for example for CHT solid zones.

  • Can I have multiple custom zones?

    Yes, you can define multiple custom zone configurations, each with different custom volumes and element types.

🐍 Python Example Usage

See also

Python API:

Example Library notebooks:

import flow360 as fl

# Define a custom volume from the surfaces that bound it.
# The boundaries are the surfaces enclosing the region (e.g. interfaces
# selected from the geometry). The generated volume zone takes the
# custom volume's name.
wake_region = fl.CustomVolume(
    name="WakeRegion",
    boundaries=[
        fl.Surface(name="wake_interface_inlet"),
        fl.Surface(name="wake_interface_outlet"),
    ],
)

# Create the custom zone(s) from one or more custom volumes.
custom_zones = fl.CustomZones(
    name="Custom zones",
    entities=[wake_region],
    element_type="mixed",  # or "tetrahedra" for an all-tet zone
)
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