PLOT3D file format
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In computational fluid dynamics, PLOT3D file format is a standard file format used for storing grid and results data. PLOT3D was created by NASA Ames Research Center in 1982 by Pieter Buning[1] and remains an often used file format. Although, it can only store a structured grid, it is the most compact way to store a structured grid and its results. It has the added benefit that by knowing the block number, i location, j location, and k location, any grid point value or result value may be extracted. Additionally, given the location of any value, the block number, i location, j location, and k location may be determined. This makes it simple to iterate through a series of volumetric elements and calculate all required properties for the purpose of a CFD analysis.
Additionally, the format may be simplified such that only a two-dimensional problem is analyzed or the iBlank parameter is omitted. The iBlank parameter indicates whether or not the cell is a physical or non-physical cell. For example, if two PLOT3D grids are intersected, one of an aircraft fuselage, and the other of an aircraft wing, there are internal cells that should not be analyzed. These are iBlank'ed cells and have a value of 0.
Other structured file formats
References
- ↑ PLOT3D User's Manual, NASA, http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19900013774_1990013774.pdf, retrieved 16 November 2010
