Deformable mesh

Generated from SU2 commit 6b54b78464 on 2026-10-23. Do not edit this page. Edit the comment above the option in Common/src/CConfig.cpp instead.

DEFORM_MESH

Decide whether the mesh will undergo deformations

More in config_template.cfg: Use the reformatted pseudo-elastic solver for grid deformation

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: NO
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_MESH= YES
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Dynamic Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) using the Python wrapper and a Nastran structural model, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
• Used in 11 test case files, for example: configFlow.cfg (YES)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2609

DEFORM_CONSOLE_OUTPUT

Print the residuals during mesh deformation to the console

More in config_template.cfg: Print the residuals during mesh deformation to the console (YES, NO)

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: NO
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_CONSOLE_OUTPUT= YES
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 89 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (NO), inv_NACA0012.cfg (YES)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2611

DEFORM_NONLINEAR_ITER

Number of nonlinear deformation iterations (surface deformation increments)

• Type: integer
• Default: 1
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_NONLINEAR_ITER= 1
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 88 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (1), inv_ONERAM6.cfg (2)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2613

DEFORM_COEFF

Deform coefficient (-1.0 to 0.5)

More in config_template.cfg: Deformation coefficient (linear elasticity limits from -1.0 to 0.5, a larger value is also possible)

• Type: real number
• Default: 1E6
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_COEFF = 1E6
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 21 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (1E6), Arina2KRS.cfg (0.1), lam_prem_ch4_hx_dot.cfg (0.0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2615

DEFORM_LIMIT

Deform limit in m or inches

More in config_template.cfg: Deform the grid only close to the surface. It is possible to specify how much of the volumetric grid is going to be deformed in meters or inches (1E6 by default)

• Type: real number
• Default: 1E6
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_LIMIT = 1E6
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 3 test case files, for example: Arina2KRS.cfg (0.3), lam_prem_ch4_hx_dot.cfg (1E6)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2617

DEFORM_STIFFNESS_TYPE

Type of element stiffness imposed for FEA mesh deformation (INVERSE_VOLUME, WALL_DISTANCE, CONSTANT_STIFFNESS)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: CONSTANT_STIFFNESS, INVERSE_VOLUME, WALL_DISTANCE
• Default: WALL_DISTANCE
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_STIFFNESS_TYPE= WALL_DISTANCE
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Dynamic Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) using the Python wrapper and a Nastran structural model, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 100 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (INVERSE_VOLUME), inv_NACA0012.cfg (WALL_DISTANCE)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2619

DEFORM_ELASTICITY_MODULUS

Young’s modulus for constant stiffness FEA method of grid deformation

More in config_template.cfg: Young modulus for constant stiffness FEA method of grid deformation

• Type: real number
• Default: 2E11
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_ELASTICITY_MODULUS= 2e11
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2621

DEFORM_POISSONS_RATIO

Poisson’s ratio for constant stiffness FEA method of grid deformation

More in config_template.cfg: Poisson ratio for constant stiffness FEA method of grid deformation

• Type: real number
• Default: 0.3
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_POISSONS_RATIO= 0.3
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint
• Used in 8 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012_pitching_deform.cfg (1e6), configAD_flow.cfg (1E6)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2623

DEFORM_STIFF_LAYER_SIZE

Size of the layer of highest stiffness for wall distance-based mesh stiffness

• Type: real number
• Default: 0.0
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_STIFF_LAYER_SIZE= 0.0
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2625

DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER

Linear solver for the mesh deformation

More in config_template.cfg: Linear solver or smoother for implicit formulations (same options as LINEAR_SOLVER)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: CONJUGATE_GRADIENT, BCGSTAB, FGMRES, RESTARTED_FGMRES, FGCRODR, SMOOTHER, PASTIX_LDLT, PASTIX_LU
• Default: FGMRES
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER= FGMRES
• Mentioned in: Linear Solvers and Preconditioners, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 71 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (CONJUGATE_GRADIENT), inv_NACA0012.cfg (FGMRES), Arina2KRS.cfg (BCGSTAB)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2627

DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER_PREC

Preconditioner for the Krylov linear solvers

More in config_template.cfg: Preconditioner of the Krylov linear solver (ILU, LU_SGS, JACOBI)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: NONE, IDENTITY, JACOBI, LU_SGS, LINELET, ILU, Q_LU_SGS, Q_JACOBI, Q_IDENTITY, PASTIX_ILU, PASTIX_LU, PASTIX_LDLT
• Default: ILU
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER_PREC= ILU
• Mentioned in: Linear Solvers and Preconditioners, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 39 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (ILU), inv_NACA0012_FD.cfg (LU_SGS)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2629

DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER_ERROR

Minimum error threshold for the linear solver for the implicit formulation

More in config_template.cfg: Minimum residual criteria for the linear solver convergence of grid deformation

• Type: real number
• Default: 1E-14
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER_ERROR= 1E-14
• Mentioned in: Linear Solvers and Preconditioners, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 77 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (1E-9), inv_NACA0012.cfg (1E-14), def_intersect.cfg (1e-5)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2631

DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER_ITER

Maximum number of iterations of the linear solver for the implicit formulation

More in config_template.cfg: Number of smoothing iterations for mesh deformation

• Type: integer
• Default: 1000
• In config_template.cfg: DEFORM_LINEAR_SOLVER_ITER= 1000
• Mentioned in: Linear Solvers and Preconditioners, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Dynamic Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) using the Python wrapper and a Nastran structural model, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 96 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (1000), inv_ONERAM6.cfg (500), inv_ONERAM6_moving.cfg (50)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2633

DEFORM_KIND

Type of mesh deformation

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: ELASTIC, RBF
• Default: ELASTIC
• Not in config_template.cfg.
• Mentioned in: Changes in Version 8, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint
• Used in 1 test case file, for example: def_NACA0012_rbf.cfg (RBF)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2635

RBF_DATA_REDUCTION

Use of data reduction methods for RBF interpolated mesh deformation.

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: YES
• Not in config_template.cfg.
• Used in 1 test case file, for example: def_NACA0012_rbf.cfg (YES)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2637

RBF_GREEDY_TOLERANCE

Tolerance for the data reduction methods used in RBF mesh deformation.

• Type: real number
• Default: 1E-2
• Not in config_template.cfg.
• Used in 1 test case file, for example: def_NACA0012_rbf.cfg (1E-3)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2639