Learning Forum

[ABCDEFG123]

When I run a calculation in Fluent, several messages appear in the console stating, "Note: zone-surface: cannot create surface from sliding interface zone. Creating empty surface." What can I do to resolve this issue? 

For context, I have an assembly geometry imported as a STEP file from SOLIDWORKS. In the simulation, a heatsink extends into another material with corresponding holes into which the pins extend (not shown).

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you! 

[Rob]

Did you use share topology (SpaceClaim) before meshing? The warning is because you have a non-conformal mesh and Fluent creates walls for regions where the zones don't align which can't be viewed.  

I'd also be checking heat fluxes as I'd expect a heat sink to have a nonuniform temperature. 

[ABCDEFG123]

Thanks for the feedback. I was able to use share topology in SpaceClaim to resolve the warning by placing the components under a parent component with Share Topology set to Share (as opposed to Group or Merge, since all nodes are shared). However, upon initialization, another warning appears stating "zone of type interior found between different solids!" Is this related to the use of Share Topology? And is there some other setting that we should configure in the boundary conditions prior to initialization? 

 

[Rob]

It's linked to an older check. In Fluent the solver expects a wall between solid:fluid and solid:solid zones, latter with different materials. The latter is no longer needed but the checks were retained as a warning. Either add labels into the SpaceClaim set-up or ignore them in this instance.