In Flow-3D Hydro (which uses the powerful TruVOF method), a hydrostatic crack appears as an unphysical, thin gap in the fluid region. It usually happens when:
You’ll know it when you see it—velocity vectors suddenly point into empty space, and mass conservation goes out the window. flow 3d hydro crack fixed
This is a pragmatic engineering fix. Add a small amount of artificial surface tension to “glue” the fluid together:
Physics > Surface Tension > Enable > Coefficient = 0.07 N/m (water normally 0.072, so this is realistic but slightly increased). For stubborn cracks, increase to 0.10 N/m. In Flow-3D Hydro (which uses the powerful TruVOF
Warning: Too high a value will cause unrealistic beading of the jet. Test sensitivity. You’ll know it when you see it—velocity vectors
| Step | Action | |------|--------| | 1 | Create geometry with predefined crack (thin slot) or porous region. | | 2 | Assign material properties (porosity, permeability, tensile strength). | | 3 | Apply hydraulic load (upstream water level). | | 4 | Use General Moving Objects or Stress Analysis module (if licensed). | | 5 | Monitor crack flow velocity, pressure, and erosion rate. |