cape.plt: Python interface to Tecplot PLT files

This module provides the class cape.plt.Plt, which intends to read and write Tecplot binary or ASCII PLT files for surface grid solutions. It does not use the TecIO library to avoid causing unnecessary dependencies for the software.

This class cannot read any generic .plt file; it focuses on surface grids with a mix of triangles and quads. In particular it is closely paired with the trifile triangulation module. The initial driving cause for creating this module was to read FUN3D boundary solution files and convert them to annotated Cart3D triq format for input to triload and other post-processing based on the trifile module.

See also:

class cape.plt.Plt(fname=None, dat=None, triq=None, **kw)

Interface for Tecplot PLT files

Call:
>>> plt = cape.plt.Plt(fname=None, dat=None, triq=None, **kw)
Inputs:
fname: {None} | str

Name of binary PLT file to read

dat: {None} | str

Name of ASCII file to read

triq: {None} | trifile.Triq

Annotated triangulation interface

Outputs:
plt: cape.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

plt.nVar: int

Number of variables

plt.Vars: list (str)

List of of variable names

plt.nZone: int

Number of zones

plt.Zone: int

Name of each zone

plt.nPt: np.ndarray (int, nZone)

Number of points in each zone

plt.nElem: np.ndarray (int, nZone)

Number of elements in each zone

plt.Tris: list (np.ndarray (N,4))

List of triangle node indices for each zone

Versions:

  • 2016-11-22 @ddalle: First version

  • 2017-08-24 @ddalle: Added ASCII input capability

ConvertTriq(triq, **kw)

Create a PLT object by reading data from a Tri/Triq object

Call:
>>> plt.ConvertTriq(triq)
Inputs:
plt: cape.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

triq: trifile.Triq

Surface triangulation with or without solution (triq.q)

CompIDs: list (int)

List of CompIDs to consider

Versions:

  • 2017-03-30 @ddalle: First version

CreateTri(**kw)

Create a Cart3D triangulation (.tri) file

Call:
>>> tri = plt.CreateTri(**kw)
Inputs:
plt: pyFun.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

CompID: {range(len(plt.nZone))} | list

Optional list of zone numbers to use

Outputs:
tri: trifile.Tri

Cart3D triangulation interface

Versions:

  • 2016-12-19 @ddalle: Version 1.0

  • 2021-01-06 @ddalle: Version 1.1; fork CreateTriq()

CreateTriq(**kw)

Create a Cart3D annotated triangulation (triq) interface

The primary purpose is creating a properly-formatted triangulation for calculating line loads with the Chimera Grid Tools function triloadCmd, which requires the five fundamental states plus the pressure coefficient for inviscid sectional loads. For complete sectional loads including viscous contributions, the Tecplot interface must also have the skin friction coefficients.

The triq interface will have either 6 or 9 states, depending on whether or not the viscous coefficients are present.

Alternatively, if the optional input triload is False, the triq output will have whatever states are present in plt.

Call:
>>> triq = plt.CreateTriq(mach=1.0, triload=True, **kw)
Inputs:
plt: pyFun.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

mach: {1.0} | positive float

Freestream Mach number for skin friction coeff conversion

CompID: {range(len(plt.nZone))} | list

Optional list of zone numbers to use

triload: {True} | False

Whether or not to write a triq tailored for triloadCmd

avg: {True} | False

Use time-averaged states if available

rms: True | {False}

Use root-mean-square variation instead of nominal value

Outputs:
triq: trifile.Triq

Annotated Cart3D triangulation interface

Versions:

  • 2016-12-19 @ddalle: First version

Read(fname)

Read a Fun3D boundary Tecplot binary file

Call:
>>> plt.Read(fname)
Inputs:
plt: pyFun.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

fname: str

Name of file to read

Versions:

  • 2016-11-22 @ddalle: Version 1.0

  • 2022-09-16 @ddalle: Version 2.0; unstruc volume

ReadDat(fname)

Read an ASCII Tecplot data file

Call:
>>> plt.ReadData(fname)
Inputs:
plt: pyFun.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

fname: str

Name of file to read

Versions:

  • 2017-08-24 @ddalle: Version 1.0

  • 2022-08-30 @ddalle: Version 1.1; default title

Write(fname, Vars=None, **kw)

Write a Fun3D boundary Tecplot binary file

Call:
>>> plt.Write(fname, Vars=None, **kw)
Inputs:
plt: pyFun.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

fname: str

Name of file to read

Vars: {None} | list (str)

List of variables (by default, use all variables)

CompID: {range(len(plt.nZone))} | list

Optional list of zone numbers to use

Versions:

  • 2017-03-29 @ddalle: Version 1.0

  • 2017-05-16 @ddalle: Version 1.1; variable list

  • 2017-12-18 @ddalle: Version 1.2; CompID input

WriteDat(fname, Vars=None, **kw)

Write Tecplot PLT file to ASCII format (.dat)

Call:
>>> plt.WriteDat(fname, Vars=None, **kw)
Inputs:
plt: cape.plt.Plt

Tecplot PLT interface

fname: str

Name of DAT file to write

Vars: {None} | list (str)

List of variables (by default, use all variables)

CompID: {range(len(plt.nZone))} | list

Optional list of zone numbers to use

feblock: {True} | False

Option to use (deprecated) FEBLOCK format

Versions:

  • 2017-03-30 @ddalle: v1.0

  • 2017-05-16 @ddalle: v1.1; add variable list

  • 2017-12-18 @ddalle: v1.2; add CompID input

  • 2023-07-14 @ddalle: v1.3; make ‘FEBLOCK’ optional

cape.plt.Plt2Triq(fplt, ftriq=None, **kw)

Convert a Tecplot PLT file to a Cart3D annotated triangulation (TRIQ)

Call:
>>> Plt2Triq(fplt, ftriq=None, **kw)
Inputs:
fplt: str

Name of Tecplot PLT file

ftriq: {None} | str

Name of output file (default: replace extension with .triq)

mach: {1.0} | positive float

Freestream Mach number for skin friction coeff conversion

triload: {True} | False

Whether or not to write a triq tailored for triloadCmd

avg: {True} | False

Use time-averaged states if available

rms: True | {False}

Use root-mean-square variation instead of nominal value

Versions:

  • 2016-12-20 @ddalle: First version

cape.plt.getind(V, k, j=None)

Get an index of a variable in a list if possible

Call:
>>> i = getind(V, k, j=None)
Inputs:
V: list (str)

List of headers

k: str

Header name

j: int | {None}

Default index if k not in V

Outputs:
i: int | None

Index of k in V if possible

Versions:

  • 2016-12-19 @ddalle: First version