open a step file

[mahue]

Hello.

I've just tried to open a step file created with freecad. It´s like a three layered cube. I can see the geometry at the geometry viewer but there´s nothing in the elmergui window. What`s the problem?

Code: Select all

Header
  CHECK KEYWORDS Warn
  Mesh DB "." "."
  Include Path ""
  Results Directory ""
End

Simulation
  Max Output Level = 5
  Coordinate System = Cartesian
  Coordinate Mapping(3) = 1 2 3
  Simulation Type = Steady state
  Steady State Max Iterations = 1
  Output Intervals = 1
  Timestepping Method = BDF
  BDF Order = 1
  Solver Input File = case.sif
  Post File = case.ep
End

Constants
  Gravity(4) = 0 -1 0 9.82
  Stefan Boltzmann = 5.67e-08
  Permittivity of Vacuum = 8.8542e-12
  Boltzmann Constant = 1.3807e-23
  Unit Charge = 1.602e-19
End

[mzenker]

Hi,

you have to make a mesh first. The best free meshing software IMO is gmsh. But in your case, you need to resolve duplicated interfaces between the layers of your cube, since you probably will want to have heat or current flow between the layers. Maybe gmsh can do it (check Tools > Geometry > "cut and merge faces" before opening your STEP file). If that doesn't work, you need to use Salomé and make a partition. Then either do the meshing in Salomé or export the result in brep format, open it with gmsh and do the meshing there.
ElmerGUI can open a .msh file (written by gmsh) and a .unv file (written by Salomé).

HTH,

Matthias

[mahue]

Thank you very much, gmsh could do it. ELMERGUI opened the mesh file, but although i meshed the whole volume, elmer shows me only the layers of the cube,
there´s "nothing inside". Could I change this to a filled cube?

Thanks in advance!

[mzenker]

Hi,

do you have View->Volume Mesh checked?

HTH,

Matthias