Input/Output Library for Higher-Order Computational Fluid Dynamics Data

Abstract

This paper introduces the Computational Fluid Dynamics High-Order Writer Library (CFD-HOWL), which performs I/O operations on solution data from high-order CFD simulations. The library centers around the novel mesh upgrade algorithm, which is coupled with the functionalities of the CGNS file system. Even though the library is in Python, users can readily apply this library as-is by integrating APIs that read their specific data formats. The flexible nature of the library allows for straightforward integration with existing CFD solvers. We integrate CFD-HOWL with the in-house COOLFluiD CFD solver and demonstrate a reduction in I/O operation times. The results show that the CFD-HOWL consistently outperforms other conventional writers, thus addressing a key bottleneck with the higher-order CFD data post-processing.