SIMULATION

Simulation tab reports all computation results of the project; through option "Visualization" you can choose the graphic representation of the results. When viewing temperatures and flows you can filter shown colors by moving the slider below the colored gradient; three buttons control this tool:



Show colors below the one at slider's position only.

Show the color at slider's position only.

Show colors beyond the one at slider's position only.



Other useful tools are:

Update simulation, applying new settings.

Sample temperature or flow on viewport; click on a material to view its properties.



Calculation details

The calculations in Mold Simulator are based on the standards ISO 10211:2007 and ISO13788:2003.

The finite element method with adaptive refinement is used for the computation of the temperature distribution and the heat flow; the elements are progressively subdivided until the error in the calculation procedure is lower than a certain threshold.



1 Surface condensation analysis (ISO 13788)

For each of the twelve months in a year, the minimum temperature factor fRsi, min is computed at the internal surface (see ISO13788:2003). This value is the bare minimum to avoid mold formation. The worst month is the month with the highest value of fRsi, min. The finite element simulation is performed using using the boundary conditions (internal and external temperature) of the worst month. Once the simulation is completed, all the surfaces having a simulated fRsi inferior to fRsi, min are at risk of mold formation.

The "average flow, with bridge" value and the flow shown in the L factors table is calculated taking into account the incoming, outgoing fluxes together with the one passing through adiabatic surfaces. On the other hand, the heat flux indicated in boundary analysis is exactly the one passing through surfaces.



2 Worst month

In the boundary conditions tab it's possible to specify the pair of boundary conditions used in the analysis of surface condensation. The worst month for condensation is the month with fRsi, min the highest among all pairs of boundary conditions.



3 Reference temperature difference identification criteria

Reference temperature difference is necessary in order to compute L2D values; Mold Simulator tries to identify this value automatically, but, in case of failure, calculations for L2D won't be performed, except some special cases.



4 Thermal coupling coefficients

Through “Advanced results” button on “Simulation” tab it is possible to view calculation summary tables:

- sum of thermal coupling coefficients table: same as table C.1 of EN ISO 10211:2008 norm;

- thermal coupling coefficients table: same as table C.2 of EN ISO 10211:2008 norm; represents thermal coupling coefficients between every environment;

- flows table: represents heat flow exchanged between every environment.



Rendering settings

Since version 2.0 a lot of rendering options have been added. Please see rendering settings documentation for more information.



Simulation settings

In the "Advanced" tab in the settings section of the simulation (just below rendering settings) you can define the following options:

Flows” tab: