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Using the Loci-Chem Extract Utility to Create a Tecplot SZL File


By Tecplot’s Chief Technical Officer, Scott Imlay, PhD

“In mathematics you don’t understand things. You just get used to them.” — Johann von Neumann

I’ve written several blogs on Tecplot’s new SZL technology and how it speeds up the visualization of large CFD data sets by loading only those subzones (small chunks of data) that are needed for the desired visualization. We’ve demonstrated dramatic speed-ups for large data sets. For more information on the SZL technology, check out my previous blog.

While it is possible to translate existing files into SZL (*.szplt) files, it is better if the CFD codes output SZL files directly.

Loci/CHEM now supports SZL file output from their extract utility.

Loci/CHEM CFD Application

Loci/CHEM supports SZL file extract

Image courtesy of Tetra Research

Loci/CHEM is a CFD application, built on the Loci framework, that simulates 3D flows of turbulent, chemically reacting mixtures of thermally perfect gases. Details about Loci/CHEM are at Tetra Research.

Rex Chamberlain of Tetra Research explains, “Just wanted to let you all know that the latest release of Loci/CHEM (versions Loci-4.0-beta-9 and chem-4-0-beta-9 – released 8/31/2017) now supports SZL Extract. There are a few caveats, however:

  1. Users must download and install the tecio library on their systems (only teciolib.a from teciosrc is required).
  2. The directory structure assumed by the Loci configure script is such that a lib directory must contain libtecio.a, and an include directory must contain all of the *.h files from teciosrc.
  3. The main tecio installation directory, which contains both the lib and include directories mentioned above, should be included in the users LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable.

If these steps are followed, then the Loci extract –tec option will produce SZL output. Otherwise, the old style .dat ascii file is created.”

Step 1, in many cases, will involve downloading source code from the TecIO Library in My Tecplot (see link in top menu) and building it on the desired system.

For Loci/CHEM, go to the teciosrc folder to build the serial version of TecIO. Follow the directions in the readme.txt file. It will build both the static (tecio.a) and dynamic (tecio.so) libraries. You want the static library – tecio.a (or tecio.lib on Windows).

If you have any questions, please let me know by emailing support@tecplot.com

Tetra Research

Tetra Research is one of Tecplot’s development partners. They offer Loci/CHEM training, user support and application support.