Working with IDOCs

Owned by thomas (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 27 Jul, 2015

With → IDOCs (“Independent Domain Of Computation”) it is possible to subdivide a simulation into independent areas and distribute them over a network. These areas or domains are treated individually and the elements from different domains are not able to interact. IDOC simulations require a working network setup.

 

In this workflow example, the result from the → “HyFLIP Fluid Simulation” is used to create four IDOCs to simulate the splash pass.

  • Define the simulation area by enclosing it with a bounding cube – keep the cube selected.
  • IDOC shelf > Multiple
  • A new window appears where the number of IDOCs is defined. Here we need 2 x 2 IDOCs in horizontal direction: XY or XZ – this depends on your → axis setup.




  • When you hit OK the cube will act as a template to subdivide the simulation space.
  • If you do not need the bounding cube anymore it is safe to delete it.


The green boxes represent the four IDOCs.

 

In the next step the simulation nodes are attached to their IDOCs. This is the standard procedure

  • Create four splash emitters, scale (R key) them, and place (W) them inside the IDOCs.
  • Connect emitters and IDOCs in the → “Relationship Editor” - just press the Ctrl/Cmd key and draw a line from “IDOC01” to “HY_Splash01”, etc.

 

With → HyFLIP secondary elements in general there is a much more convenient way. For splash emitters, the command is:




  • IDOC shelf > Splash per IDOC
  • This one-click action creates, places, scales, and attaches the emitters automatically.
  • Do not forget to set the HY_Domain to → "Cache" with the small rocket symbol under "Nodes" and save the scene.

 

A shortened view of the "Nodes" list with the attached splash emitters.

Distributing the Simulation

Now, the scene can be distributed:

  • Launch the “Job Manager” application.
  • Start the “Job Node” program on every licensed computer.
  • Open the the → “Job Manager” web application from the “Layout” menu.
  • Select the IDOCs from the → “Nodes” panel.
  • Click on IDOC > Send to job manager.

 

 

The IDOCs are added to the job queue and the simulation will start automatically.

 

Annotations

IDOCs are not restricted to Hybrido HyFLIP or particle simulations, but fluids are the most common field of application.

Here are a few more notes:

  • All nodes which should be able to interact must be attached to the same IDOC.
  • Rigid and soft bodies can be simulated with IDOCs as well.
  • Rigid bodies, soft bodies, and fluids which are attached to the same IDOC can interact.
  • You can also attach more than one emitter to a single IDOC and these emitters will be able to interact – as long as they are of the same kind (SPH-SPH, Dyverso-Dyverso, etc.).
  • The → RealWave engine can be used in conjunction with IDOCs, but a scene cannot contain more than one RealWave node.
  • RealWave → “Object Splash” and → “Crest Splash” emitters are fully supported.

 

Once you have prepared the scene's setup, the basic workflow is always the same.