The usage of the filter similar to other filters with one small difference: Because it allows (and requires) selection of different parts of the multi-part mesh, it is necessary to load all needed parts of the mesh, not just the internal mesh. The figure demonstrates a typical selection of OpenFOAM case mesh and patches for the Turbo Unwrap filter.
Figure: Turbo Blade Post; Selection of multiple parts of the mesh.
The filter will transform the cylinder-like mesh into a box. Meaning of its new dimensions is described in the table . In brief it can be said that the boundary is the hub patch, the boundary is the shroud patch, the boundary is the one of inlet and outlet interfaces that is lower on the rotation axis and the boundary is the other one (higher on rotation axis). The boundaries on minimal and maximal coordinates are only artificial and were originally connected to each other. See also the figures in the section “Example”.
Also note that the filter transforms only cell data, so it may be necessary to apply the filter Cell data to point data afterwards to regain access to the point fields (which are necessary for usage of e.g. the Glyph filter).
Table: Coordinates of the “unwrapped” mesh. The coordinate is relative to the full length of the hub/shroud/streamline. The coordinate is relative to the full local distance between hub and shroud.
Symbol
Mapped to
Range
Meaning
Distance along the hub/shroud/streamline.
Circumferential angle.
Distance from the hub; the “span”.
Note that the filter passes all cell data without change except for the vector fields U and URel, which are transformed into the new coordinate system .