Post-processing is normally the last step in any simulation workflow. In simulations a vast amount of data is generated. Interpretating that data in meaningful way and extracting useful information from simulation results are done in post-processing. Post-processing allows the users to visualize and analyse the complex phenomenon in simulation models such as flow pattern and pressure distribution in CFD simulation, temperature gradients and heat flow in case of thermal simulations, stress distribution in FEM simulation.

For CFD simulations, CFD-post is the commonly used tool for the post-processing. It is a powerful tool which provides a lot of options to visualize and interpret simulation results. However, Fluent provides the similar post-processing functionality with some additional features such as “Report definition”, “Report plot” and “Report files”. These features not only enable users to track simulation progress in real-time but also allow them to use extracting information to adjust the input parameters in subsequent time step or iteration.

As mentioned above “Report definition” allows users to monitor simulation progress. In report definition user can choose some key parameters e.g. mass flow rate at the outlet, temperature of a specific zone or wall and create a report for those parameters. Then the plot for these parameters can be created using “Report plot” in parallel to simulation run. These plots help the user to identify the strange behaviour of the simulation model in real time and one doesn’t need to wait till the end of simulation to visualize the results. Similarly, in “Report files” those defined parameters can be exported as text file. Thereby , saving post-processing time and computational resources.

In these video tutorials, an example has been used to demonstrate the use of “Report definition”, “Report plot” and “Report files”.

Part 1: