Session 15

1. Introduction

In computational fluid dynamics (CFD), an enclosure is a simplified volume built around your model to define the full flow field for simulation. SpaceClaim’s Enclosure tool allows you to quickly generate geometric wrappers in the form of boxes, cylinders, or spheres with user-defined clearances from the solid part. Once you create an enclosure, you designate it as your fluid domain, treating the outer enclosure faces as boundary conditions (like inlets, outlets, or symmetry), while the inner face is in direct contact with the solid for accurate heat and momentum transfer.

2. Learning Objectives

In this lesson, we explore the workflow and practical uses of SpaceClaim’s Enclosure tool. You'll learn how to build rectangular or cylindrical enclosures, and how to select the appropriate shape for different simulation needs—such as external aerodynamics or internal cooling analyses. The session covers key options like ‘Create Share Topology’, which ensures nodes align perfectly at the solid-fluid interface for conformal meshing, ‘Default Cushion’ for setting precise clearance, and ‘Symmetric Dimension’ to quickly balance enclosure size around a part.

You’ll also discover how enclosures simplify boundary condition assignment and guarantee robust interfaces between solids and fluids during mesh generation and transfer to simulation software like Fluent or CFX. Various scenarios are discussed, such as enclosing vehicle bodies for aerodynamic studies or electronics for thermal management, highlighting the importance of a clean domain and well-defined interfaces.

3. Summary

This session introduced SpaceClaim’s Enclosure tool, explained creation of standard and custom enclosure shapes, and highlighted valuable options for clean and efficient CFD domain setup. You now have the know-how to generate proper fluid volumes, apply symmetric or customized padding, and manage topology sharing for robust, accurate simulation results. The Enclosure tool is fundamental for building ready-to-mesh geometries that ensure reliable, physically meaningful CFD analyses in any engineering application requiring fluid-structure interaction.