General Module Function
The gradient module calculates the vector gradient field of a scalar data component at every node in a mesh. Input to gradient must contain a mesh of any type and nodal data, with at least one scalar nodal data component. Gradient uses a finite-difference method based on central differencing to calculate the gradient on structured (rectilinear) meshes. Shape functions and their derivatives are used to calculate the gradient on unstructured meshes.
Module Input Ports
Gradient has only one input port. Input to this port must contain mesh data of any type mesh and nodal data. At least one of the nodal data components must be scalar.
Module Output Ports
Gradient has two output ports. The first output port (closest to the left) outputs a new nodal data component consisting of vectors with the X-Y-Z components representing the calculated gradient at every node. Output mesh data is referenced to the input mesh data. The second port outputs a renderable geometry if the input is not volumetric.
Module Control Panel
The control panel for gradient is shown in the figure above. The data component radio buttons are used to select which scalar data component is to be considered by gradient. The default selection is the first (0th) data component. Again, the data component selected must be scalar or an error will occur. Only one data component can be selected at a time. Therefore, any modules downstream of gradient will receive only the gradient of the data component selected.
Related Modules
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