Pathline plots

Pathlines are the trajectories that individual fluid particles follow as the fluid flows with time.

The pathline plot calculates the pathline flow through all mesh elements. As a result, the calculations will take more time and more system resources if displayed on a model that is meshed finely. You can reduce time and impact on system resources by reducing the Density slider in the Pathline Plot dialog.

Attention: The pathline plot has a dependency on both mesh density and velocity results. In order to get suitable coverage of pathlines for complex analyses, the mesh density and number of solver outputs may need to be increased. This is particularly evident in analyses that involve inertia and/or jetting.

Pathlines can be thought of as 'recording' the path of a specific fluid particle in the flow, over a certain period of time. You can plot the following data about the fluid particle along its pathline:

• Speed
• Temperature
• Time
• Shear rate
• Pressure

This feature is supported for the following mesh types:

• 3D

and the following molding processes:

• Thermoplastics injection molding,
• Thermoplastics overmolding,
• Reactive molding.

for analyses that include Fill.

To access the pathline plots, run an analysis that includes Fill.