Part Constant Query

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Part Constant Query (Part Constant vs Part Value)

The UserDefinedTool called "Part Constant Query" allows you to take a constant which is defined on either a clip or an isosurface, and create a query (and graph) of the change in that constant as the clip (or isosurface) is changed. Some people might also refer to this as a "Data Sweep", or similar. This tool creates a query of the value of a constant defined on a clip or iso part vs. the value of the clip.

For example, one can select an XYZ clip in the X direction and calculate the Spatial Mean of Temperature on the clip plane (SpaMean) which is a single value EnSight Constant. Using the Part Constant Query Tool, the user can query the spatial mean of the Temperature vs. X value of the XYZ clip plane from minimum to maximum X and show this as a plot. To do this, simply select the XYZ clip plane part in the part list, calculate Spatial mean of Temperature on the clip and double click this tool, choose the min and max value of the XYZ clip, the Const Variable (Spatial mean of Temperature) and number of samples.  The tool will step the XYZ clip from the minimum value to the maximum value in the number of samples you've chosen and retrieve the value of the Spatial mean of the temperature at each step. In the image below, we have created an RTZ clip in R (1D clip in this instance), and calculated the Min, Ave, Max on that 1D constant Radius Clip. The Part Constant Query Tool is used to generate the values for this graph, which illustrate the variation of Min, Ave, Max as that 1D clip of Constant R is swept from inner radial to outer radial location.



The Part Constant Query Tool can be found within the UserDefinedTool box, under Analyze:

The requirements to utilize this tool are two basic items:

    1. A Clip of some type (XYZ, Planar, RTZ, Conical, Spherical), or an IsoSurface (or IsoVolume).
    2. A "Constant" defined on this Clip or IsoSurface. Something like SpaMean, Min, Max, Flow, Area, Integral, etc.

With the above two items created, simply select the Clip (or IsoSurface) part, and click on the Part Constant Query Tool.

Depending upon the Part creation attributes, you will be presented with several options on how to sweep this part. In the example below, I have created an X clip, and so I am presented with the default range of X in the part as the default extents to sweep. You need to select the Constant you wanted to create the Query out of (in this example, SpaMean).




QuickStart for the Tool

How to use this tool?
Select the clip part, calculate a constant on the selected part and run this clip tool!


Where is this tool in EnSight?

Click on the User Defined Toolbox icon along the top icons.


Transient

For a transient model, you also have the option (default off), to have EnSight re-calculate this query each time the timestep is changed. This is off by default, as this does slow down the changing of timesteps. However, this can be very useful to have the quantity update at new timesteps. If this option is toggled ON, then each time the timestep is changed, EnSight will re-sweep this part again, and re-populate the query with new information, allowing for the query to change.


Usage Notes

Each kind of clip/iso has a specific value that you can step through.

For a cylinder or spherical clip the value of the clip is the radius.
For an XYZ clip it is the  X, or Y or Z value.

New: For an RTZ clip it is the Radius, Theta (angle), or Z value.
For a plane clip it is the Z displacement from the starting plane tool origin.

  Note: this will also work for a plane clip attached to a spline!

  Note: as of 10.0.2(f) this will work for IN cuts or OUT cuts essentially sweeping volumes
For a cone clip it is the cone angle.
For an isosurface, it is the value of the variable used to create the isosurface.

For an isovolume, the min will be set to the min value and the max will sweep from the min to the max value as of 10.0.2(f)


Updates

As this Tool evolves based on our usage and customer requests, there are updates available. Please keep up to date in releases of EnSight to ensure that you are taking advantage of the latest version, with additional capabilities.


Revisions

29-Jan-2016:

As of 10.1.6(c), only Constants defined solely on the selected Part are shown in the drop down menu of Constants. Eliminating the potential error caused by the user selecting a Constant not defined on the Part, and getting an unexpected query. If a Constant is defined by more than one part, this will not be shown. Constants must be uniquely defined to one parent for Part Constant Query to work properly.