Rotating Component

Turn an embedded solid into a virtual rotating part whose rotation will be simulated in a fluid analysis.

You must first designate at least one embedded solid domain.

When an embedded solid is selected as a rotating component, it is first enclosed by a virtual rotating volume. The virtual rotating volume is automatically created with an assumed rotation about the x-axis, with the option to change to y-axis or z-axis. Rotation about an arbitrary axis is currently not supported. The rotating component is then simulated using a stationary approach with the help of a simplified technique called Rotating Reference Frame. During the simulation, Centrifugal and Coriolis forces are applied to the fluid domain that is contained in the virtual volume. In addition, the specified rotational velocity is applied to the surface of the rotating part. This combination of rotational forces and surface velocity generates a time-averaged rotational velocity field in the fluid domain without physically rotating the embedded solid.

  1. On the Fluids ribbon, select the Rotating Component tool.

  2. Select an embedded solid as the rotating part.
  3. In the microdialog, select a rotation axis, an offset, and a velocity.
    Note:
    • Offset defines the distance between the rotating component's surface and the rotating volume's surface.
    • The recommended diameter of the virtual rotating volume is at least 10% larger than the diameter of the rotating part.
    • Please ensure that the rotating volume does not overlap with the neighboring parts.