UDF ANSYS Fluent Course: Comprehensive Programming & Tutorial

Objectives: Learn the fundamentals of what is a UDF in ANSYS Fluent and why they’re essential for advanced CFD simulations.

Key Concepts:

• • Basic concepts of user-defined functions in ANSYS
  • Understanding the Fluent solver architecture
  • Complete UDF workflow in Fluent (write → compile → hook → run)
  • Differences between interpreted vs compiled UDFs
  • Required header files and setup for ANSYS UDF programming
  • Using the Fluent GUI for how to compile UDF in ANSYS
  • Development environment setup (Visual Studio or GCC)

Objective: Master the essential C programming for CFD concepts needed specifically for UDF ANSYS Fluent development.

Key Concepts:

• • Important data types for ANSYS Fluent programming
  • Operators and expressions in C for UDFs
  • Control structures (if, else, for, while) for flow control
  • Functions and macros for effective code organization
  • Arrays and pointers (basic introduction)
  • Debugging techniques using printf and Message() functions

Objective: Dive into the specialized ANSYS Fluent macros that form the backbone of any UDF programming tutorial:

Key Concepts:

• Macro structure and syntax (DEFINE_*)
• Detailed coverage of DEFINE_PROFILE UDF in Fluent
• Working with DEFINE_SOURCE UDF examples
• Understanding DEFINE_PROPERTY for material properties
• Using DEFINE_ADJUST for custom calculations
• Accessing cell/thread data and simulation variables
• Tips on selecting the right macro for different problems

Objective: Apply your knowledge to create your first practical UDF for pulsatile flow.

Key Concepts:

• Step-by-step UDF implementation for sinusoidal velocity profiles
• Writing a DEFINE_PROFILE UDF using CURRENT_TIME
• Techniques for hooking and testing your custom boundary conditions
• Monitoring velocity profiles and transient behavior
• Real-world applications for time-dependent boundary condition UDFs

Objective: Learn to implement custom heat source UDF for thermal simulations.

Key Concepts:

• Creating a DEFINE_SOURCE UDF example for volumetric heat generation
• Using cell temperature (C_T) and position data
• Implementing temperature-dependent heat source expressions
• Hooking UDFs into fluid zones correctly
• Verification techniques using contour plots and comparisons

Objective: Master techniques to model temperature-dependent material properties.

Key Concepts:

• • Writing an effective DEFINE_PROPERTY UDF
  • Defining non-linear property functions for realistic simulations
  • Accessing temperature and other scalar fields in your simulations
  • Properly hooking into Fluent’s material properties panel
  • Example case: Thermal conductivity varying with temperature

Objective: Learn advanced techniques for boundary condition switching UDF:

Key Concepts:

• • • Creating sophisticated DEFINE_PROFILE or DEFINE_ADJUST UDFs
    • Implementing logic to change boundary conditions based on runtime conditions
    • Real-world scenario implementation with switching between hot/cold inlets
    • Using global/static variables effectively to track simulation events
    • Advanced execution control for complex simulations
    varying with temperature