Thunderhead Engineering http://www.thunderheadeng.com Website for Thunderhead Engineering Consultants, Inc. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:59:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 PyroSim 2011.1.1409 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2012/02/pyrosim-2011-1-1409/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2012/02/pyrosim-2011-1-1409/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:47:23 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2457 This maintenance release fixes a bug that prevents Smokeview from displaying simulation geometry in the CAD (GE1 file) view.

Changes since PyroSim 2011.1.1219 include:

  • Fixed a bug in PyroSim’s GE1 file writer that caused Smokeview to display geometry from the GE1 file as transparent.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2012/02/pyrosim-2011-1-1409/feed/ 0 PyroSim 2011.1.1219 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/12/pyrosim-2011-1-1219/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/12/pyrosim-2011-1-1219/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:48:57 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2397 This maintenance release contains several bug fixes.

Changes since PyroSim 2011.1.1114 include:

  • Fixed a bug that caused an invalid FDS file to be written (e.g. “ERROR: Output QUANTITY VISIBILITY requires a SPEC_ID”) when specifying a slice or isosurface with a mixture fraction-only quantity when there is no fire in the model.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented FDS4 import when color components were specified outside the 0.0 – 1.0 range.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented copy/move from working with slices.
  • Removed an OpenGL extension for nVidia graphics cards that was intended to improve performance (fast depth buffer reads/writes) but instead slightly worsened performance.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/12/pyrosim-2011-1-1219/feed/ 0 PyroSim 2012 Development Underway http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/12/pyrosim-2012-development/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/12/pyrosim-2012-development/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:54:13 +0000 Brian Hardeman http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2381 Work is underway on the next version of PyroSim — PyroSim 2012. The release date is tentatively scheduled for some time in March 2012. The major noteworthy features are:

  • Support for FDS 6
  • Improved tools for drawing and editing geometry
  • Support for HVAC network modeling in FDS
  • Improved CAD file import, including DWG format files
  • Automatic partitioning of meshes for parallel FDS runs
  • Standalone FDS run manager

We will also be incorporating bug fixes and improving some existing features as we work on the new version.  If you have any suggestions or feature requests, please send them to support@thunderheadeng.com.  We have also started a site where users can add ideas and vote on other suggestions — http://thunderheadeng.ideascale.com.  This site is just getting started, so please stop by and add your suggestions.

]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/12/pyrosim-2012-development/feed/ 0 Pathfinder 2011.1.1128 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pathfinder-2011-1-1128/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pathfinder-2011-1-1128/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:25:01 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2366 This release contains a bug fix for users in locales that use the “,” (comma) character as the decimal character. This bug affects the “_doors.csv” and “_rooms.csv” output files. This bug does not affect users in locales that use “.” (period, full stop) as the decimal character.

Because the CSV file writer was locale-sensitive but the reader was not, commas in the time column of both CSV files could be incorrectly interpreted as a column break and incorrect data could be displayed in Pathfinder’s 2D results.

This fix forces the CSV file writer to use an English locale when creating the file. Any existing CSV files that were affected will still contain the error. To repair output files, these simulations must be re-run. Alternately, the CSV output files can be manually repaired.

 

]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pathfinder-2011-1-1128/feed/ 0 PyroSim 2011.1.1114 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pyrosim-2011-1-1114/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pyrosim-2011-1-1114/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:06:01 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2356 This release fixes two bugs related to PyroSim geometry. A bug in DXF import was discovered that prevented some triangles with from being imported – leading to missing triangles in the PyroSim model. This bug was fixed and now DXF import is more reliable. The other bug related to an error in the algorithm that allowed rotation of previously axis-aligned geometry at angles that made it no longer axis-aligned. This has been fixed and rotating now works as expected.

Changes since PyroSim 2011.1.1103 include:

  • Fixed a bug that caused certain rotations of axis-aligned blocks (obstructions and holes) to be internally converted to shells – causing problems with hole-cutting and conversion to blocks.
  • Fixed a bug with DXF import that caused triangles to be skipped if they used a 4-point definition and the first two points were identical. Previously, only the last two points were coalesced.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pyrosim-2011-1-1114/feed/ 0 Pathfinder 2011.1.1104 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pathfinder-2011-1-1104/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pathfinder-2011-1-1104/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:03:40 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2349 This release fixes a bug related to PyroSim (PSM) file import. Previously, when importing a PyroSim model containing geometry composites, PyroSim reported an error and the import failed. This error has been fixed and PyroSim models containing composite geometry can now be imported without error.

In addition, this release includes updates to the translation files for localized versions of Pathfinder.

]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pathfinder-2011-1-1104/feed/ 0 PyroSim 2011.1.1103 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pyrosim-2011-1-1103/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pyrosim-2011-1-1103/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:27:17 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2344 This release contains improvements and bug fixes for internationalized versions of PyroSim.

Changes since PyroSim 2011.1.1031 include:

  • Fixed a bug that caused PyroSim to use a comma as the decimal character (i.e. radix point) when writing the FDS input file. This bug only occurred on computers where the Windows Region and Language Settings indicated a language where the comma was used as the decimal character.
  • Updated translations for all internationalized PyroSim versions.
  • The Background Image dialog will now issue better error messages when the current background image has been deleted.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/11/pyrosim-2011-1-1103/feed/ 0 PyroSim 2011.1.1031 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/10/pyrosim-2011-1-1031/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/10/pyrosim-2011-1-1031/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:12:50 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2318 PyroSim now includes support for running FDS simulations on a cluster (i.e. simulations can be run using multiple computers). For very large models, this can reduce simulation run time. The new cluster feature also makes it possible to run models that require too many system resources to be run on a single computer.

Changes since PyroSim 2010.2.1621 include:

  • Improved the toolbar button for launching simulations. One toolbar button is now used to launch simulations. The type of simulation (serial, parallel, or cluster) can be changed by clicking the down arrow at the right of the launch button. This style is also used by the time history results toolbar buttons.
  • When running a parallel or serial simulation, PyroSim will now create a new subfolder which contains the simulation input, output, and a copy of the PSM file used to create the simulation.
  • When running a parallel or cluster simulation, it is now possible to enter a user name and password different from the currently logged in account.
  • The PyroSim material library entry for FOAM no longer includes the parameter REFERENCE_RATE. This parameter changed meanings in FDS version 5.4 and was no longer valid.
  • When running PyroSim on a secondary monitor, editor dialogs will no longer appear (initially) on the primary monitor.
  • HOLE geometry will no longer ignore the Format for Easy Reading preference.
  • Fixed a bug that caused PyroSim to fail to issue a warning when shutting down while an active simulation was running – in cases where the most recently launched simulation had already been terminated.
  • In PyroSim’s preferences, the option to format FDS files for easy reading is now based on precision rather than a floating point length rule. The number of digits of precision is editable.
  • Users can now enter arbitrary values via table for the MISC, TIME, DUMP, RADI, SURF, MATL, REAC, and PART namelists. The editors for these record types now contains an Advanced tab which gives access to this feature.
  • Added options to the FDS menu to help archive and restore FDS simulation results.
  • By default, the Record View will no longer word wrap. This can be re-enabled via an option on the View menu.
  • PyroSim will now detect the video adapter and attempt to optimize display preferences.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented import for surfaces that used MASS_FLUX to emit extra species.
  • The color chooser now remembers recently chosen colors on the palette tab.
  • Changed the default value for particle sampling factor to 1 for massless particles and 10 for particles with mass (previously -1 for all particles).
  • PyroSim will no longer crash if you attach a single sprinkler to a dry pipe.
  • Fixed a locale bug that caused number the number pad decimal mark to always enter a period when using PyroSim.
  • In the Record View, the Additional Records section now uses a fixed-width font.
  • In the Edit Meshes dialog, mesh alignment will no longer be checked for disabled meshes.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented PNG format images from working properly in the Background Image dialog.
  • Selection in the manager dialogs will now be mirrored in PyroSim’s main view.
  • In dialogs that support the FDS preview pane, the preview pane is now re-sizable.
  • In addition to the Del key, the Backspace key will now delete the currently selected object.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/10/pyrosim-2011-1-1031/feed/ 0 Pathfinder 2011.1.0928 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/09/pathfinder-2011-1-0928/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/09/pathfinder-2011-1-0928/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:04:46 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2310 This release fixes a bug that caused some simulations using the waypoint system to crash.

Changes since Pathfinder 2011.1.0923:

  • In situations where a waypoint had been placed in a room that required re-entrant path testing, Pathfinder will no longer crash when an occupant seeking that waypoint enters the room.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/09/pathfinder-2011-1-0928/feed/ 0 Pathfinder 2011.1.0923 http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/09/pathfinder-2011-1-09-23/ http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/09/pathfinder-2011-1-09-23/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:17:10 +0000 thornton http://www.thunderheadeng.com/?p=2305 This release fixes a bug that prevented the 3D results viewer from launching in some locales.

Changes since Pathfinder 2011.1.0921:

  • Fixed a bug that would cause the 3D results to crash when invoked with a -locale argument that was unknown to the wxWidgets locale system.
]]> http://www.thunderheadeng.com/2011/09/pathfinder-2011-1-09-23/feed/ 0