Material Databases

The material database installed with Autodesk® CFD is called Default, and contains an extensive library of fluids, solids, fans, and at least one example of the others (including CTM, TEC, and LED devices). Materials in this database cannot be changed, but they can be copied to a custom database and modified.

Custom databases are efficient for organizing materials by project or for quick access. A custom database called My Materials is included in the installation. It is easy to create additional databases.

Occasionally materials are updated or added to the Default material database during version updates and major releases. Only materials in the Default database are affected. Materials in custom material databases are not affected by version updates.

To create and manage databases

To open the Material Editor, click Material Editor from the Materials context panel.

Click the Databases tab.

To create a new database, click New...
To import a database from another user, click Add...
To copy a database, select it, and click Clone.

To select a database

It is often necessary to select the database when assigning and creating materials. There are several ways to do this from the Material Editor:

Select from the Material DB Name menu.
Open the List region, and select from the list. To create a new material in the database, right click and select New material.
On the Properties tab, select from the Save to database list. This copies the material into the selected database.

When applying a material, select the database directly from the Material quick edit dialog on the Material DB Name line.

The Local (in-session) database

If a material is created and assigned, but not saved to a custom material database, it is stored with the design study in the Local material database. The material is not available for any other study until it is saved to a custom material database.

A Local database is part of every design study, and is where all materials assigned in a design study are transparently stored. The Local database ensures that a custom material that is assigned in a design study does not change, even if the material is modified in a separate session and saved to the database. If this happens, the following occurs:

The material that is assigned in the design study remains unchanged.
The database entry in the quick edit dialog is shown as Local.
The properties are different from the material of the same name that is saved to the custom database.

Migrating your CFdesign 2010 Material Database

If Autodesk® CFD is installed on a computer that has CFdesign 2010, the material database file is copied into the new installation folder, and renamed Materials2010.mdb. This database is listed as Materials2010 in the Material Editor.

To import other material database files from CFdesign 2010:

Open the Material Editor, select the Databases tab, and click Add.
From the File menu, click Import material database...

File permissions on material database files imported from 2010 are modified to include read and write access.

Note: Materials that depend on a reference pressure and temperature (such as power law) use the reference properties defined in the material. The Use Scenario box on the Material Environment dialog is automatically unchecked.