File Formats - FAST Format

FAST Format (.fgrid):  A FGRID file contains a triangulated boundary surface grid and (optionally) a tetrahedral volume grid. The FGRID file type is derived from the FAST (PLOT3D) unstructured grid file type. FGRID and FAST files are the same except for optional FGRID boundary reconnection, boundary condition, and initial normal spacing data records.  Information on element connectivity can be found here.

 { Number_of_Nodes, Number_of_Surf_Trias, Number_of_Vol_Tets }

 { [ X for node 1, X for node 2, ... X for node Number_of_Nodes ],
   [ Y for node 1, Y for node 2, ... Y for node Number_of_Nodes ],
   [ Z for node 1, Z for node 2, ... Z for node Number_of_Nodes ] }

 { [ ( index for node 1 of boundary face 1,
       index for node 2 of boundary face 1,
       index for node 3 of boundary face 1 ),
     ( index for node 1 of boundary face 2,
       index for node 2 of boundary face 2,
       index for node 3 of boundary face 2 ),
     ...
     ( index for node 1 of boundary face Number_of_Surf_Trias,
       index for node 2 of boundary face Number_of_Surf_Trias,
       index for node 3 of boundary face Number_of_Surf_Trias ) ]

   [ surface ID for boundary face 1,
     surface ID for boundary face 2,
     ...
     surface ID for boundary face Number_of_Surf_Trias ]

   [ ( index for node 1 of element 1,
       index for node 2 of element 1,
       index for node 3 of element 1,
       index for node 4 of element 1 ),
     ( index for node 1 of element 2,
       index for node 2 of element 2,
       index for node 3 of element 2,
       index for node 4 of element 2 ),
     ...
     ( index for node 1 of element Number_of_Vol_Tets,
       index for node 2 of element Number_of_Vol_Tets,
       index for node 3 of element Number_of_Vol_Tets,
       index for node 4 of element Number_of_Vol_Tets ) ] }

 *{ [ reconnection flag for boundary face 1,
      reconnection flag for boundary face 2,
      ...
      reconnection flag for boundary face Number_of_Surf_Trias ] }*

 *{ [ grid boundary condition flag for boundary face 1,
      grid boundary condition flag for boundary face 2,
      ...
      grid boundary condition flag for boundary face Number_of_Surf_Trias ] }*

 *{ [ initial normal spacing for node 1,
      initial normal spacing for node 2,
      ...
      initial normal spacing for node Number_of_Nodes ] }*

The variables used above are defined as follows.

   Number_of_Surf_Trias        : Number of triangular boundary surface faces.
   Number_of_Vol_Tets          : Number of tetrahedral volume elements.
   Number_of_Nodes             : Number of grid nodes.

In the above description, the parentheses (...) are for grouping, the brackets [...] enclose items in a loop, and braces {...} enclose items in a single logical record. The items in starred braces *{...}* are optional records for grid files that describe a surface grid.  If Number_of_Vol_Tets is greater than zero (the grid is a volume grid and not a surface grid) then this data is not read in or written out. The optional records can be included in whole or in part as long as they are in the correct order. The UG_IO grid file reader will attempt to read the "reconnection flag" first. If it is not found then reading of the file will end. Next, the reader will attempt to read the "grid boundary condition". If it is not found then reading of the file will end.  Finally, the reader will attempt to read the "initial normal spacing".

In FORTRAN unformatted form, the data must be written out or read in using the record format defined above. The floating point data items must all be either real*4 or real*8 data.

In C binary form, the data may be written out or read in using records the length of loops or of the individual data items. The floating point data items must all be either float or double data.

In ASCII formatted form, the data may be written out or read in using records the length of loops or of the individual data items. Data items may be written out in free format of any specific form.