NodalNormalsEvaluator

Helper object to compute nodal normal values via the NodalNormals input block.

The NodalNormalsEvaluator is added automatically by the AddNodalNormalsAction. This object is created for the boundaries specified in the "boundary" parameter. See the NodalNormals System for more information.

The nodal normal is computed from the nodal_normal_x, nodal_normal_y and nodal_normal_z variables, then it is used to divide the values for that node by the norm of the normal.

Example input syntax

In this example, the NodalNormals system uses a NodalNormalsEvaluator, added behind the scene by the action, to smooth the distance computation between two disjoint surfaces.

[NodalNormals]
  boundary = 11
  corner_boundary = 20
[]

Input Parameters

blockANY_BLOCK_ID The list of blocks (ids or names) that this object will be applied
Default:ANY_BLOCK_ID
C++ Type:std::vector<SubdomainName>
Controllable:No
Description:The list of blocks (ids or names) that this object will be applied
boundaryThe list of boundaries (ids or names) from the mesh where this object applies
C++ Type:std::vector<BoundaryName>
Controllable:No
Description:The list of boundaries (ids or names) from the mesh where this object applies
execute_onTIMESTEP_ENDThe list of flag(s) indicating when this object should be executed, the available options include NONE, INITIAL, LINEAR, NONLINEAR, POSTCHECK, TIMESTEP_END, TIMESTEP_BEGIN, MULTIAPP_FIXED_POINT_END, MULTIAPP_FIXED_POINT_BEGIN, FINAL, CUSTOM.
Default:TIMESTEP_END
C++ Type:ExecFlagEnum
Options:NONE, INITIAL, LINEAR, NONLINEAR, POSTCHECK, TIMESTEP_END, TIMESTEP_BEGIN, MULTIAPP_FIXED_POINT_END, MULTIAPP_FIXED_POINT_BEGIN, FINAL, CUSTOM
Controllable:No
Description:The list of flag(s) indicating when this object should be executed, the available options include NONE, INITIAL, LINEAR, NONLINEAR, POSTCHECK, TIMESTEP_END, TIMESTEP_BEGIN, MULTIAPP_FIXED_POINT_END, MULTIAPP_FIXED_POINT_BEGIN, FINAL, CUSTOM.
unique_node_executeFalseWhen false (default), block restricted objects will have the execute method called multiple times on a single node if the node lies on a interface between two subdomains.
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:When false (default), block restricted objects will have the execute method called multiple times on a single node if the node lies on a interface between two subdomains.

Optional Parameters

allow_duplicate_execution_on_initialFalseIn the case where this UserObject is depended upon by an initial condition, allow it to be executed twice during the initial setup (once before the IC and again after mesh adaptivity (if applicable).
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:In the case where this UserObject is depended upon by an initial condition, allow it to be executed twice during the initial setup (once before the IC and again after mesh adaptivity (if applicable).
control_tagsAdds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.
C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>
Controllable:No
Description:Adds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.
enableTrueSet the enabled status of the MooseObject.
Default:True
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:Yes
Description:Set the enabled status of the MooseObject.
execution_order_group0Execution order groups are executed in increasing order (e.g., the lowest number is executed first). Note that negative group numbers may be used to execute groups before the default (0) group. Please refer to the user object documentation for ordering of user object execution within a group.
Default:0
C++ Type:int
Controllable:No
Description:Execution order groups are executed in increasing order (e.g., the lowest number is executed first). Note that negative group numbers may be used to execute groups before the default (0) group. Please refer to the user object documentation for ordering of user object execution within a group.
force_postauxFalseForces the UserObject to be executed in POSTAUX
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Forces the UserObject to be executed in POSTAUX
force_preauxFalseForces the UserObject to be executed in PREAUX
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Forces the UserObject to be executed in PREAUX
force_preicFalseForces the UserObject to be executed in PREIC during initial setup
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Forces the UserObject to be executed in PREIC during initial setup
seed0The seed for the master random number generator
Default:0
C++ Type:unsigned int
Controllable:No
Description:The seed for the master random number generator
use_displaced_meshFalseWhether or not this object should use the displaced mesh for computation. Note that in the case this is true but no displacements are provided in the Mesh block the undisplaced mesh will still be used.
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Whether or not this object should use the displaced mesh for computation. Note that in the case this is true but no displacements are provided in the Mesh block the undisplaced mesh will still be used.

Advanced Parameters

(moose/test/tests/geomsearch/3d_moving_penetration_smoothing/pl_test3nns.i)

[GlobalParams]
  order = FIRST
  family = LAGRANGE
[]

[Mesh]
  file = pl_test3.e
  displacements = 'disp_x disp_y disp_z'
[]

[Variables]
  [./disp_x]
  [../]
  [./disp_y]
  [../]
  [./disp_z]
  [../]
[]

[AuxVariables]
  [./distance]
  [../]
  [./tangential_distance]
  [../]
  [./normal_x]
  [../]
  [./normal_y]
  [../]
  [./normal_z]
  [../]
  [./closest_point_x]
  [../]
  [./closest_point_y]
  [../]
  [./closest_point_z]
  [../]
#  [./element_id]
#  [../]
  [./side]
  [../]
[]

[Kernels]
  [./diff_x]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = disp_x
  [../]
  [./diff_y]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = disp_y
  [../]
  [./diff_z]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = disp_z
  [../]
[]

[AuxKernels]
  [./penetrate]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = distance
    boundary = 11            #secondary
    paired_boundary = 12     #primary
  [../]

  [./penetrate2]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = distance
    boundary = 12            #secondary
    paired_boundary = 11     #primary
    normal_smoothing_method = nodal_normal_based
  [../]

  [./penetrate3]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = tangential_distance
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = tangential_distance
  [../]

  [./penetrate4]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = tangential_distance
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = tangential_distance
  [../]

  [./penetrate5]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = normal_x
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = normal_x
  [../]

  [./penetrate6]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = normal_x
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = normal_x
  [../]

  [./penetrate7]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = normal_y
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = normal_y
  [../]

  [./penetrate8]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = normal_y
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = normal_y
  [../]

  [./penetrate9]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = normal_z
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = normal_z
  [../]

  [./penetrate10]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = normal_z
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = normal_z
  [../]

  [./penetrate11]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = closest_point_x
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = closest_point_x
  [../]

  [./penetrate12]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = closest_point_x
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = closest_point_x
  [../]

  [./penetrate13]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = closest_point_y
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = closest_point_y
  [../]

  [./penetrate14]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = closest_point_y
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = closest_point_y
  [../]

  [./penetrate15]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = closest_point_z
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = closest_point_z
  [../]

  [./penetrate16]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = closest_point_z
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = closest_point_z
  [../]

#  [./penetrate17]
#    type = PenetrationAux
#    variable = element_id
#    boundary = 11
#    paired_boundary = 12
#    quantity = element_id
#  [../]
#
#  [./penetrate18]
#    type = PenetrationAux
#    variable = element_id
#    boundary = 12
#    paired_boundary = 11
#    quantity = element_id
#  [../]

  [./penetrate19]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = side
    boundary = 11
    paired_boundary = 12
    quantity = side
  [../]

  [./penetrate20]
    type = PenetrationAux
    variable = side
    boundary = 12
    paired_boundary = 11
    quantity = side
  [../]
[]

[BCs]
  [./b1x]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_x
    preset = false
    boundary = 1
    value = 0
  [../]

  [./b1y]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_y
    preset = false
    boundary = 1
    value = 0
  [../]

  [./b1z]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_z
    preset = false
    boundary = 1
    value = 0
  [../]

  [./b2x]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_x
    preset = false
    boundary = 2
    value = 0
  [../]

  [./b2y]
    type = FunctionDirichletBC
    variable = disp_y
    preset = false
    boundary = 2
    function = disp_y
  [../]

  [./b2z]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_z
    preset = false
    boundary = 2
    value = 0
  [../]
[]

[Functions]
  [./disp_y]
    type = PiecewiseLinear
    x = '0.0 0.25 0.75 1.0'
    y = '0.0 2.0 -2.0  0.0'
  [../]
[]

[Executioner]
  type = Transient

  solve_type = 'PJFNK'
  petsc_options = '-snes_ksp_ew'

  nl_rel_tol = 1e-9
  l_max_its = 10

  start_time = 0.0
  dt = 0.02
  end_time = 1.0
[]

[Outputs]
  file_base = pl_test3nns_out
  exodus = true
[]

[NodalNormals]
  boundary = 11
  corner_boundary = 20
[]