CMDB File – What is .cmdb file and how to open it?
CMDB File Extension
Ansys CFD Mesh – file format by Ansys
CMDB is a file extension for Ansys CFD Mesh, a mesh format used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software developed by Ansys. It stores mesh data, including node coordinates, element connectivity, and boundary conditions.
CMDB File Overview
A CMDB (Computational Mesh Description Browser) file is a data file format used by Ansys CFD Mesh, a pre-processing software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. It contains a complete description of a mesh, which is a numerical representation of the geometric domain being simulated. The CMDB file stores information about the mesh’s topology, geometry, and boundary conditions, enabling CFD software to accurately model the physical phenomena within the simulated domain.
CMDB File Structure
The CMDB file format is structured as an ASCII text file, making it human-readable and editable. It consists of several sections, each containing specific information about the mesh. The “Mesh” section defines the mesh’s topology, including the number of nodes, elements, and their connectivity. The “Geometry” section contains the geometric coordinates of the mesh nodes. The “Boundary Conditions” section specifies the boundary conditions applied to the mesh, such as velocity profiles, pressure distributions, or temperature gradients. Additional sections may include information about material properties, surface roughness, or solution settings.
Accessing CMDB Files Through Ansys Fluent
To access CMDB files within Ansys Fluent, follow these steps:
- Launch Ansys Fluent and navigate to the “File” menu.
- Select “Open” and browse to the location of your CMDB file.
- Choose the CMDB file and click “Open.”
Alternative Applications for CMDB Files
While Ansys Fluent is the primary application used to open CMDB files, there are alternative methods available. One option is the Ansys Fluent Viewer. This freeware viewer allows users to examine CMDB files without the need for a full Fluent license. Another option is to use a text editor such as Notepad++ or Sublime Text. Although these editors cannot directly interpret the geometry stored in CMDB files, they can provide a text-based representation of the file’s contents.
CMDB File Format
The CMDB file format is a proprietary format used by Ansys CFD, a computational fluid dynamics software package. CMDB files store the mesh geometry for a CFD model, including the nodes, elements, and boundary conditions. The file format is ASCII-based and can be read and edited by text editors.
Applications and Features
CMDB files are essential for running CFD simulations in Ansys CFD. The mesh geometry stored in the CMDB file defines the computational domain in which the CFD simulation will be performed. The mesh can be created using Ansys CFD’s built-in meshing tools or imported from external sources. CMDB files are also used to store the results of CFD simulations, including the pressure, velocity, and temperature fields.
Other Relevant Information
CMDB files are typically large in size, as they contain detailed information about the mesh geometry. To reduce file size, CMDB files can be compressed using a lossless compression algorithm. CMDB files can also be exported to other file formats, such as STL or IGES, for use in other software packages.