3.6 Standard utilities

The utilities with the OpenFOAM distribution are in the $FOAM_UTILITIES directory. The names are reasonably descriptive, e.g. ideasToFoam converts mesh data from the format written by I-DEAS to the OpenFOAM format. The descriptions of current utilities distributed with OpenFOAM are given in the following Sections.

3.6.1 Pre-processing

applyBoundaryLayer
Apply a simplified boundary-layer model to the velocity and turbulence fields based on the 1/7th power-law.
boxTurb
Makes a box of turbulence which conforms to a given energy spectrum and is divergence free.
changeDictionary
Utility to change dictionary entries, e.g. can be used to change the patch type in the field and polyMesh/boundary files.
createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry
Application to generate the patch geometry (points and faces) for use with the externalCoupled boundary condition.
dsmcInitialise
Initialise a case for dsmcFoam by reading the initialisation dictionary system/dsmcInitialise.
engineSwirl
Generates a swirling flow for engine calulations.
faceAgglomerate
Agglomerate boundary faces using the pairPatchAgglomeration algorithm. It writes a map from the fine to coarse grid.
foamSetupCHT
Sets up a multi-region case using template files for material properties, field and system files.
mapFields
Maps volume fields from one mesh to another, reading and interpolating all fields present in the time directory of both cases.
mapFieldsPar
Maps volume fields from one mesh to another, reading and interpolating all fields present in the time directory of both cases. Parallel and non-parallel cases are handled without the need to reconstruct them first.
mdInitialise
Initialises fields for a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.
setFields
Set values on a selected set of cells/patchfaces through a dictionary.
setWaves
Applies wave models to the entire domain for case initialisation using level sets for second-order accuracy.
viewFactorsGen
View factors are calculated based on a face agglomeration array (finalAgglom generated by faceAgglomerate utility).

3.6.2 Mesh generation

blockMesh
A multi-block mesh generator.
extrudeMesh
Extrude mesh from existing patch (by default outwards facing normals; optional flips faces) or from patch read from file.
extrude2DMesh
Takes 2D mesh (all faces 2 points only, no front and back faces) and creates a 3D mesh by extruding with specified thickness.
extrudeToRegionMesh
Extrude faceZones (internal or boundary faces) or faceSets (boundary faces only) into a separate mesh (as a different region).
foamyHexMesh
Conformal Voronoi automatic mesh generator
foamyQuadMesh
Conformal-Voronoi 2D extruding automatic mesher with grid or read initial points and point position relaxation with optional ”squarification”.
snappyHexMesh
Automatic split hex mesher. Refines and snaps to surface.

3.6.3 Mesh conversion

ansysToFoam
Converts an ANSYS input mesh file, exported from I-DEAS, to OpenFOAM format.
cfx4ToFoam
Converts a CFX 4 mesh to OpenFOAM format.
datToFoam
Reads in a datToFoam mesh file and outputs a points file. Used in conjunction with blockMesh.
fluent3DMeshToFoam
Converts a Fluent mesh to OpenFOAM format.
fluentMeshToFoam
Converts a Fluent mesh to OpenFOAM format including multiple region and region boundary handling.
foamMeshToFluent
Writes out the OpenFOAM mesh in Fluent mesh format.
foamToStarMesh
Reads an OpenFOAM mesh and writes a pro-STAR (v4) bnd/cel/vrt format.
foamToSurface
Reads an OpenFOAM mesh and writes the boundaries in a surface format.
gambitToFoam
Converts a GAMBIT mesh to OpenFOAM format.
gmshToFoam
Reads .msh file as written by Gmsh.
ideasUnvToFoam
I-Deas unv format mesh conversion.
kivaToFoam
Converts a KIVA3v grid to OpenFOAM format.
mshToFoam
Converts .msh file generated by the Adventure system.
netgenNeutralToFoam
Converts neutral file format as written by Netgen v4.4.
ccm26ToFoam
Reads CCM files as written by Prostar/ccm using ccm 2.6 (not 2.4)
plot3dToFoam
Plot3d mesh (ascii/formatted format) converter.
sammToFoam
Converts a Star-CD (v3) SAMM mesh to OpenFOAM format.
star3ToFoam
Converts a Star-CD (v3) pro-STAR mesh into OpenFOAM format.
star4ToFoam
Converts a Star-CD (v4) pro-STAR mesh into OpenFOAM format.
tetgenToFoam
Converts .ele and .node and .face files, written by tetgen.
vtkUnstructuredToFoam
Converts ascii .vtk (legacy format) file generated by vtk/paraview.
writeMeshObj
For mesh debugging: writes mesh as three separate OBJ files which can be viewed with e.g. javaview.

3.6.4 Mesh manipulation

attachMesh
Attach topologically detached mesh using prescribed mesh modifiers.
autoPatch
Divides external faces into patches based on (user supplied) feature angle.
checkMesh
Checks validity of a mesh.
createBaffles
Makes internal faces into boundary faces. Does not duplicate points, unlike mergeOrSplitBaffles.
createPatch
Utility to create patches out of selected boundary faces. Faces come either from existing patches or from a faceSet.
deformedGeom
Deforms a polyMesh using a displacement field U and a scaling factor supplied as an argument.
flattenMesh
Flattens the front and back planes of a 2D cartesian mesh.
insideCells
Picks up cells with cell centre ’inside’ of surface. Requires surface to be closed and singly connected.
mergeBaffles
Detects faces that share points (baffles) and merges them into internal faces.
mergeMeshes
Merges two meshes.
mirrorMesh
Mirrors a mesh around a given plane.
moveDynamicMesh
Mesh motion and topological mesh changes utility.
moveEngineMesh
Solver for moving meshes for engine calculations.
moveMesh
Solver for moving meshes.
objToVTK
Read obj line (not surface!) file and convert into vtk.
orientFaceZone
Corrects orientation of faceZone.
polyDualMesh
Calculates the dual of a polyMesh. Adheres to all the feature and patch edges.
refineMesh
Utility to refine cells in multiple directions.
renumberMesh
Renumbers the cell list in order to reduce the bandwidth, reading and renumbering all fields from all the time directories.
rotateMesh
Rotates the mesh and fields from the direction n1 to direction n2.
setSet
Manipulate a cell/face/point/ set or zone interactively.
setsToZones
Add pointZones/faceZones/cellZones to the mesh from similar named pointSets/faceSets/cellSets.
singleCellMesh
Reads all fields and maps them to a mesh with all internal faces removed (singleCellFvMesh) which gets written to region ”singleCell”.
splitBaffles
Detects faces that share points (baffles) and duplicates the points to separate them.
splitMesh
Splits mesh by making internal faces external. Uses attachDetach.
splitMeshRegions
Splits mesh into multiple regions.
stitchMesh
’Stitches’ a mesh.
subsetMesh
Selects a section of mesh based on a cellSet.
topoSet
Operates on cellSets/faceSets/pointSets through a dictionary.
transformPoints
Transforms the mesh points in the polyMesh directory according to the translate, rotate and scale options.
zipUpMesh
Reads in a mesh with hanging vertices and zips up the cells to guarantee that all polyhedral cells of valid shape are closed.

3.6.5 Other mesh tools

autoRefineMesh
Utility to refine cells near to a surface.
collapseEdges
Collapses short edges and combines edges that are in line.
combinePatchFaces
Checks for multiple patch faces on same cell and combines them. Multiple patch faces can result from e.g. removal of refined neighbouring cells, leaving 4 exposed faces with same owner.
modifyMesh
Manipulates mesh elements.
PDRMesh
Mesh and field preparation utility for PDR type simulations.
refineHexMesh
Refines a hex mesh by 2x2x2 cell splitting.
refinementLevel
Tries to figure out what the refinement level is on refined Cartesian meshes. Run BEFORE snapping.
refineWallLayer
Utility to refine cells next to patches.
removeFaces
Utility to remove faces (combines cells on both sides).
selectCells
Select cells in relation to surface.
splitCells
Utility to split cells with flat faces.

3.6.6 Post-processing

engineCompRatio
Calculate the geometric compression ratio. Note that if you have valves and/or extra volumes it will not work, since it calculates the volume at BDC and TCD.
noise
Utility to perform noise analysis of pressure data using the noiseFFT library.
particleTracks
Generates a VTK file of particle tracks for cases that were computed using a tracked-parcel-type cloud.
pdfPlot
Generates a graph of a probability distribution function.
postChannel
Post-processes data from channel flow calculations.
postProcess
Execute the set of functionObjects specified in the selected dictionary (which defaults to system/controlDict) or on the command-line for the selected set of times on the selected set of fields.
steadyParticleTracks
Generates a VTK file of particle tracks for cases that were computed using a steady-state cloud NOTE: case must be re-constructed (if running in parallel) before use
temporalInterpolate
Interpolate fields between time-steps e.g. for animation.

3.6.7 Post-processing data converters

foamDataToFluent
Translates OpenFOAM data to Fluent format.
foamToEnsight
Translates OpenFOAM data to EnSight format.
foamToEnsightParts
Translates OpenFOAM data to Ensight format. An Ensight part is created for each cellZone and patch.
foamToGMV
Translates foam output to GMV readable files.
foamToTetDualMesh
Converts polyMesh results to tetDualMesh.
foamToVTK
Legacy VTK file format writer.
smapToFoam
Translates a STAR-CD SMAP data file into OpenFOAM field format.

3.6.8 Surface mesh (e.g. OBJ/STL) tools

surfaceAdd
Add two surfaces. Does geometric merge on points. Does not check for overlapping/intersecting triangles.
surfaceAutoPatch
Patches surface according to feature angle. Like autoPatch.
surfaceBooleanFeatures
Generates the extendedFeatureEdgeMesh for the interface between a boolean operation on two surfaces. Assumes that the orientation of the surfaces is correct.
surfaceCheck
Checks geometric and topological quality of a surface.
surfaceClean
Removes baffles - collapses small edges, removing triangles. - converts sliver triangles into split edges by projecting point onto base of triangle.
surfaceCoarsen
Surface coarsening using ’bunnylod’:
surfaceConvert
Converts from one surface mesh format to another.
surfaceFeatureConvert
Convert between edgeMesh formats.
surfaceFeatures
Identifies features in a surface geometry and writes them to file, based on control parameters specified by the user.
surfaceFind
Finds nearest face and vertex.
surfaceHookUp
Find close open edges and stitches the surface along them
surfaceInertia
Calculates the inertia tensor, principal axes and moments of a command line specified triSurface. Inertia can either be of the solid body or of a thin shell.
surfaceLambdaMuSmooth
Smooths a surface using lambda/mu smoothing.
surfaceMeshConvert
Converts between surface formats with optional scaling or transformations (rotate/translate) on a coordinateSystem.
surfaceMeshConvertTesting
Converts from one surface mesh format to another, but primarily used for testing functionality.
surfaceMeshExport
Export from surfMesh to various third-party surface formats with optional scaling or transformations (rotate/translate) on a coordinateSystem.
surfaceMeshImport
Import from various third-party surface formats into surfMesh with optional scaling or transformations (rotate/translate) on a coordinateSystem.
surfaceMeshInfo
Miscellaneous information about surface meshes.
surfaceMeshTriangulate
Extracts surface from a polyMesh. Depending on output surface format triangulates faces.
surfaceOrient
Set normal consistent with respect to a user provided ’outside’ point. If the -inside option is used the point is considered inside.
surfacePointMerge
Merges points on surface if they are within absolute distance. Since absolute distance use with care!
surfaceRedistributePar
(Re)distribution of triSurface. Either takes an undecomposed surface or an already decomposed surface and redistributes it so that each processor has all triangles that overlap its mesh.
surfaceRefineRedGreen
Refine by splitting all three edges of triangle (’red’ refinement). Neighbouring triangles (which are not marked for refinement get split in half (’green’ refinement). (R. Verfuerth, ”A review of a posteriori error estimation and adaptive mesh refinement techniques”, Wiley-Teubner, 1996)
surfaceSplitByPatch
Writes regions of triSurface to separate files.
surfaceSplitByTopology
Strips any baffle parts of a surface. A baffle region is one which is reached by walking from an open edge, and stopping when a multiply connected edge is reached.
surfaceSplitNonManifolds
Takes multiply connected surface and tries to split surface at multiply connected edges by duplicating points. Introduces concept of - borderEdge. Edge with 4 faces connected to it. - borderPoint. Point connected to exactly 2 borderEdges. - borderLine. Connected list of borderEdges.
surfaceSubset
A surface analysis tool which sub-sets the triSurface to choose only a part of interest. Based on subsetMesh.
surfaceToPatch
Reads surface and applies surface regioning to a mesh. Uses boundaryMesh to do the hard work.
surfaceTransformPoints
Transform (scale/rotate) a surface. Like transformPoints but for surfaces.

3.6.9 Parallel processing

decomposePar
Automatically decomposes a mesh and fields of a case for parallel execution of OpenFOAM.
reconstructPar
Reconstructs fields of a case that is decomposed for parallel execution of OpenFOAM.
reconstructParMesh
Reconstructs a mesh using geometric information only.
redistributePar
Redistributes existing decomposed mesh and fields according to the current settings in the decomposeParDict file.

3.6.10 Thermophysical-related utilities

adiabaticFlameT
Calculates the adiabatic flame temperature for a given fuel over a range of unburnt temperatures and equivalence ratios.
chemkinToFoam
Converts CHEMKINIII thermodynamics and reaction data files into OpenFOAM format.
equilibriumCO
Calculates the equilibrium level of carbon monoxide.
equilibriumFlameT
Calculates the equilibrium flame temperature for a given fuel and pressure for a range of unburnt gas temperatures and equivalence ratios; the effects of dissociation on O2, H2O and CO2 are included.
mixtureAdiabaticFlameT
Calculates the adiabatic flame temperature for a given mixture at a given temperature.

3.6.11 Miscellaneous utilities

foamDictionary
Interrogates and manipulates dictionaries.
foamFormatConvert
Converts all IOobjects associated with a case into the format specified in the controlDict.
foamListTimes
List times using timeSelector.
patchSummary
Writes fields and boundary condition info for each patch at each requested time instance.
OpenFOAM v9 User Guide - 3.6 Standard utilities
CFD Direct