Revit 2021 model transition into CFD 2021

[Anonymous]

We have an open water tank, created in Revit 2021 -so 4 walls and a floor slab.  It has numerous inlets and outlets which we have modelled as voids through the structure.  We have been taught during the initial training to export model from Revit as a SAT file then open it up in Fusion 360.   In Fusion 360 we simplify the geometry, add in construction planes to seal off the voids and create a 'lid'; then we create a fluid volume internally.  Once completed we then export again as a SAT file and open it up in CFD as a new project.  We are finding the process to be quite time consuming and losing allot of time due to software glitches and geometry corruption, on transition between the 3 packages.  We would like to challenge the process route to check that it is the most efficient/robust option for us before we continue.  CFD is new for us, so we want to make sure the process is right at this early phase.  

Grateful for advice.

[marwan_azzam]

Hello,

Can yo share the *.sat file you export out or Revit and the one you export out of Fusion?

I'd like to take a look.

Marwan

[Anonymous]

Hi Marwan.

I'm having a problem attaching the SAT files.

I've attached a screen grab...

Is there an alternative route - could I email you directly?

Many thanks,

Chris

[marwan_azzam]

You can just zip the files and attach the *.zip.

Marwan

[Anonymous]

Zip file as attached.  The two files marked 'V3' are both new and not yet tested in CFD.  The inlets/outlets are created as voids in Revit and we then use Fusion 360 to create fluid fill in the tank - I hope this will get a better result?.  We had previously modelled the inlets (cylindrical in wall) and outlets (square in base) as extrusions within Revit; this transferred through F360 OK but did not solve correctly in CFD - there was no flow!  I've attached this version with the 'V2' suffix as I would like to understand why it didn't work.

[marwan_azzam · Accepted solution]

Thank you for sending the files.  Here is what I see:

25m_walls_2mps_dye_v2
Comes into CFD as two parts and seemingly all you need to run the analysis. There is a part that seems to be the solid and another for the fluid.
Was this created in Fusion 360?

25m_walls_2mps_dye_v3_F360
Very similar to file above.

25m_2mpsinlets_V3
This is just one part of what seems to be just the solid body. Comes in fine into CFD but there is no way to generate the fluid part you need right in CFD.

If what you are creating in Revit is just the solid portion, like 25m_2mpsinlets_V3, then you do need further work to also get the fluid part.

CFD can generate extra volumes (typically to represent fluids but can also be used as solids) in one of the following three ways:

1- If, upon import of CAD geometry, it sees an enclosed water-tight volume.
2- Under geometry tools, the user can generate a water-tight volume by creating extra surfaces that will plug holes. These surfaces have to be planer.
3- Under geometry tools, the user can generate an external volume encompassing the entire CAD geometry.

Again, if all you are doing in Revit is create something like 25m_2mpsinlets_V3 then you will need to do the extra work in Fusion360.

Please let me know if I missed something or you have any questions.

Marwan

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Marwan,

We will experiment with the alternative options you describe within Revit and CFD, as it would be good to remove  Fusion 360 from the process.  This would be much simpler if possible and also easier in terms of file management - the cloud based operation of Fusion 360 is not helpful here.

Thanks again for your support.