Updating Project Data with in:Flux Cloud

It can be the case that monitors or risk data sets need to be defined or updated after simulations have complete. With in:Flux, this is called updating project data. Tutorial 13 discusses how project data can be updated with ifx:Solve. However, this can take some time for the data to be extracted from each of the simulations and requires management of ifx:Solve on other machines. The process of updating project data can be greatly expedited with in:Flux Cloud and without the need for additional machines. This section goes over various ways in:Flux Cloud can be used for updating project data. 

 

Adding New Monitors and Updating Project Data

There were no monitor points defined in the original file used. Follow the steps below to add a few monitors to the project before updating the project data with in:Flux Cloud:

  1. Right-click Points under the Monitors section in the Project Items tree and select Add Monitor Point

  2. Set the Method to Line Spaced

  3. Choose two points along a railing piece, similar to below and set the # Points to "5". Feel free to place monitors elsewhere in the project. The figure below shows monitors also placed near the leak locations and along the stairs. 

  4. Set the Purpose to Data Collection

  5. Click Add Item

 

Notice that the monitors defined now will appear with gray text in the Project Items Tab, indicating they are out of date. Additionally, upon opening the Monitor Point Data Window, a window will appear stating the data needs to be updated. The below figure confirms this showing the empty table of the Monitor Point Data.

Tutorial 21 - Figure 16 - Newly defined monitor points out of date prior to updating project data with in:Flux Cloud

 

To update the Project Data, click the Update button in the Monitor Point Data Window or right-click a monitor point and choose Update. 

 

in:Flux will recognize that the completed simulation data is in the cloud and begin uploading the request to in:Flux Cloud. A window will appear indicating the progress of the update: Uploading Project Data, Starting Virtual Machines, and then Post-Processing on Cloud. 

 

Similar to the calculation of the project, as the project data is updated it will populate in the associated in:Flux windows. The below shows the project with updated monitor data. 

Tutorial 21 - Figure 17 - Window showing monitor data being updated as post-processing is being complete with in:Flux Cloud

 

This process can be repeated for any monitor that is added or moved after simulations have complete. It is also applicable for updating risk-data sets. 

 

Adding New Risk Data Set and Updating Project Data

Perhaps a client wanted a different sized risk data set for a project, or one in a different region. For data sets defined after simulations complete, the project data will need to be updated. For large projects, updating risk data with ifx:Solve may take several hours. Using in:Flux Cloud a set of virtual machines are deployed to update the project data in bulk, allowing the user to obtain results much quicker. 

 

Follow the steps below to add a new risk data set to the example project:

  1. Right-click Data Sets in the Risk Analysis section of the Project Item Tab and choose Add Data Set

  2. Leave the Variable as Flammable Gas Volume Fraction, %LFL and the Simulations as All Dispersion Simulations.

  3. For the Position choose a region larger than the existing to encompass the entire module, as shown in the below figure.

  4. Ensure Run Now is checked and leave the other parameters the same

  5. Click Add Item

  6. When prompted, add a monitor region to the project to obtain the consequence value from the calculated gas cloud volume of each case. 

 

Once the monitor region is added in:Flux will recognize the simulations are stored in the cloud and start uploading the project to in:Flux Cloud to extract the necessary data from the simulations. Various prompts will indicate progress. Upon completion the new risk data set can be used for further analysis. 

Tutorial 21 - Figure 18 - Newly defined risk data set which has been updated using in:Flux Cloud

 

Updating Project Data with Locally Run Simulations

For some projects, simulations may have been run locally or with internal capabilities. in:Flux Cloud can be used for updating project data for these projects as well. To do this, the simulation results need to be uploaded to the cloud:

  1. Right-click the Simulations text in the Project Items Tree and select Upload Completed to Cloud. The below figure was created using the risk-based fire project of Tutorial 19, but the same process can be applied for Dispersion and Ventilation Simulations.

     

    Tutorial 21 - Figure 19 - Uploading local simulations to the cloud to then use in:Flux Cloud for updating project data

     

    1. If this is the first time using in:Flux Cloud, the Cloud Services EULA Addendum will need to be accepted to continue. PDF versions of the Addendum are available by contacting info@insightnumerics.com

    2. While simulations are uploading, you'll notice the Complete text change from green to blue () indicating the simulation is now on the cloud. 

    3. It will take a few minutes to upload all the cases; this will vary with the size of project and your internet connection.

  2. When simulations have finished uploading, updating project items (such as risk-data sets and monitors) is performed by selecting the corresponding Update option.

    1. Upon selecting Update, a window will appear stating Acquiring Virtual Machines, Starting Virtual Machines and then Post Processing on cloud.... 

    2. Once complete the data will be available for review or making further visuals. The below shows a risk contour indicating exceedance of soot volume fraction for a newly created risk data set.

 

Tutorial 21 - Figure 20 - Newly updated risk data set showing an exceedance contour. Risk Data set defined after simulations were complete and updated with in:Flux Cloud

 

This completes the in:Flux Cloud tutorial. If you have any questions about cloud credits or other capabilities mentioned, please contact us at info@insightnumerics.com

 

 

 

Reviewing and Updating Existing Data Sets

This last section syncs completed simulation data with existing risk data set from the Tutorial 12 file. in:Flux Cloud is not needed for this step but for transparency of steps needed for updating the entire .ifx file, it is included here. The Tutorial 12 file has one risk-data set and two risk contours already defined. If one of the risk contours is toggled on, it appears to display properly. However, right-clicking the contour and selecting Update will change the contour to be solid blue.

Tutorial 21 - Figure 21 - Out of Date Risk Contour

 

As the risk data set was defined prior to the simulations being reset, it was not synced to collect the %LFL value from each case. The contour above displays as solid blue, because there are no simulations included in the risk data set. This can be seen by selecting the risk-data set in the Project Items Tree and viewing the properties panel. 

Tutorial 21 - Figure 22 - Risk Data Set with no included simulation data

 

To update the risk data set, right-click its name and choose Update. The risk data will be pulled from in:Flux Cloud and updated. The contour above will now appear with gray text, indicated it needs to be updated again to display the resulting exceedance. 

Tutorial 21 - Figure 23 - Updated Risk Data Set and Risk Contour