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Version: 18

Installing FALCON

To utilize the wind simulation feature initially, users are required to install the FALCON plugin. This plugin can be accessed via the Consteel website under the “Downloads” section. Within the plugins category, select “Consteel 18” and proceed to download the “FALCON” plugin. Starting from Consteel 18 the Plugin is compatible.

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After downloading the plugin .exe file, ensure that you check the “Install OpenFOAM” checkbox if it was not installed previously. Then, press “Next.”

Is there an OpenFOAM installation on your computer?​

YES​

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  • If OpenFOAM is already installed but you check the checkbox anyway, the following message will appear:

"An OpenFOAM installation is already detected on your device. Would you like to install another instance? Install OpenFOAM."

If you press Install, a new OpenFOAM instance will be installed, which will slow down the installation process. It is recommended to go Back and uncheck the installation checkbox.

  • Press Next on the Select Additional Tasks window.

  • On the Ready to Install page, press Install.

  • On the final window, Completing the FalconPlugin 1 Setup Wizard, press Finish.

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NO​

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• If OpenFOAM is not already installed, the following message will appear:

"No OpenFOAM installation was found on your device. You need to install it before proceeding. Install OpenFOAM."

• Do not use Consteel while installing the plugin. If the software is open, the following message will appear:

"The following applications are using files that need to be updated by Setup. It is recommended that you allow Setup to automatically close these applications. After the installation has completed, Setup will attempt to restart the applications."

• Press Install to continue the installation.

• On the Welcome to OpenFOAM for Windows Setup window, press Next.

• On the Preliminaries window, check the Skip this feature checkbox and press Next.

note

OpenFOAM is developed on Linux, a case-sensitive system, while Windows is not case-sensitive by default. For those intending to further develop OpenFOAM, changing Windows settings would be necessary. However, for most users, it is safe to skip this step.

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• On the following seven windows, press Next and Install without changing the default settings.

• When you reach the Complete the Microsoft MPI Setup Wizard window, press Finish.

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• After the Microsoft MPI installation is completed by pressing OK, Cygwin and OpenFOAM need to be installed in five steps:

  • Step 1: Installing Open FOAM
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The following 4 steps are recommended only for research purposes; for regular engineering projects, users can skip the installation of ParaView, swak4Foam, PyFoam and Gnuplot

  • Step 2: Install ParaView

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  • Step 3: Install swak4Foam
  • Step 4: Install PyFoam
  • Step 5: Install Gnuplot

• Next, the language needs to be selected for the installation. Press OK.

• On the following window, the License Agreement has to be accepted. Press Next.

• Press Next on the Information window.

• Select the destination location and components, then press Next.

• Select the Start Menu Folder, and press Next.

• Additional tasks can be selected; then press Install on the Ready to Install window.

• Press Next on the Information window, then Finish.

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If the installation is successful, two new FALCON icons on the Loads tab will be functional when Consteel 18 is opened:

  • FALCON – Wind simulation alt text
  • FALCON- Wind Load generation from simulation results alt text

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Since this initial stage of the FALCON plugin is a free beta version available for for preliminary testing and use, please ensure that you register before starting.

Following a fine-tuning phase in collaboration with our dedicated users, the final version is scheduled for release next year.