Input/output files and formats

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.

TABULAR_FORMAT

I/O format for output plots.

More in config_template.cfg: Output tabular file format (TECPLOT, CSV)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: CSV, TECPLOT
• Default: CSV
• In config_template.cfg: TABULAR_FORMAT= CSV
• Mentioned in: Guide to Version v7, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Linear Elasticity, Realtime update of residuals and solution in paraview
• Used in 329 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (CSV), inv_NACA0012.cfg (TECPLOT)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2344

OUTPUT_PRECISION

Number of digits of the text outputs (SU2_DOT, HISTORY and screen). Useful for exact gradient validation. It does not change the volume and surface files, see VOLUME_OUTPUT_PRECISION.

• Type: integer
• Default: 10
• In config_template.cfg: OUTPUT_PRECISION= 10
• Mentioned in: Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 13 test case files, for example: chtMaster.cfg (16), inv_NACA0012_gradsmooth.cfg (10), dsma661_sa_config.cfg (15)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2348

ACTDISK_JUMP

The jump is given by the difference in values or a ratio

More in config_template.cfg: Actuator disk jump definition using ratio or difference (DIFFERENCE, RATIO)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: DIFFERENCE, RATIO
• Default: DIFFERENCE
• In config_template.cfg: ACTDISK_JUMP= DIFFERENCE
• Used in 2 test case files, for example: actuatordisk_bem.cfg (DIFFERENCE)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2350

MESH_FORMAT

Mesh input file format

More in config_template.cfg: Mesh input file format (SU2, SU2B, CGNS, RECTANGLE, BOX)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: SU2, SU2B, CGNS, RECTANGLE, BOX
• Default: SU2
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_FORMAT= SU2
• Mentioned in: Basics of Multi-Zone Computations, Mesh File, Setup Guide: Heat Transfer and Conjugate Heat Transfer, Setup Guide: Incompressible Flows, Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Non-Ideal Compressible Flows and 8 more
• Used in 355 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (SU2), inv_cylinder3D.cfg (CGNS), linear_plane_strain_2d.cfg (RECTANGLE)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2352

MESH_FILENAME

Mesh input file

• Type: string
• Default: string("mesh")
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_FILENAME= mesh_NACA0012_inv
• Mentioned in: Basics of Multi-Zone Computations, Setup Guide: Heat Transfer and Conjugate Heat Transfer, Setup Guide: Incompressible Flows, Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Non-Ideal Compressible Flows, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint and 7 more
• Used in 383 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (mesh_NACA64A010_hybrid_inv.su2), air_nozzle_restart.cfg (nozzle.su2), backwardStep.cfg (backward_step)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2354

MESH_OUT_FORMAT

Mesh output file format

More in config_template.cfg: Mesh output file format (SU2, SU2B)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: SU2, SU2B
• Default: SU2
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_OUT_FORMAT= SU2
• Used in 2 test case files, for example: mesh_su2_to_su2bin.cfg (SU2B)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2356

MESH_OUT_FILENAME

Mesh output file name. Used when converting, scaling, or deforming a mesh.

• Type: string
• Default: string("mesh_out")
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_OUT_FILENAME= mesh_out
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Inviscid Supersonic Wedge, Unconstrained shape design of a two way mixing channel
• Used in 248 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (mesh_out), inv_NACA0012_discadj_multizone.cfg (mesh_out.su2), inv_ONERAM6_setting.cfg (mesh_ONERAM6_inv_FFD.su2)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2358

MESH_BOX_SIZE

List of the number of grid points in the RECTANGLE or BOX grid in the x,y,z directions. (default: (33,33,33) ).

• Type: list of integers
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_BOX_SIZE= (33, 33, 33)
• Used in 7 test case files, for example: linear_plane_strain_2d.cfg (( 129, 33, 2 )), lam_flatplate_unst.cfg ((17, 33, 129)), lam_flatplate.cfg ((65, 17, 0))
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2361

MESH_BOX_LENGTH

List of the length of the RECTANGLE or BOX grid in the x,y,z directions. (default: (1.0,1.0,1.0) ).

• Type: fixed-size list of real numbers
• Default: Not extracted; see the code.
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_BOX_LENGTH= (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
• Used in 7 test case files, for example: linear_plane_strain_2d.cfg (( 1, 0.05, 0.01 )), nonlinear_plane_stress_2d.cfg (( 1, 0.05, 0.005 )), lam_flatplate_unst.cfg ((0.01, 0.01, 0.1))
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2365

MESH_BOX_OFFSET

List of the offset from 0.0 of the RECTANGLE or BOX grid in the x,y,z directions. (default: (0.0,0.0,0.0) ).

• Type: fixed-size list of real numbers
• Default: Not extracted; see the code.
• In config_template.cfg: MESH_BOX_OFFSET= (0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2369

MESH_BOX_POLY_SOL_FEM

Polynomial degree of the FEM solution for the RECTANGLE or BOX grid. (default: 1).

• Type: integer
• Default: 1
• Not in config_template.cfg.
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2372

MULTIZONE_MESH

Determine if the mesh file supports multizone.

More in config_template.cfg: Determine if the mesh file supports multizone. \n DEFAULT: true (temporarily)

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: YES
• In config_template.cfg: MULTIZONE_MESH= YES
• Mentioned in: Basics of Multi-Zone Computations, Setup Guide: Heat Transfer and Conjugate Heat Transfer, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
• Used in 18 test case files, for example: configFEA.cfg (NO), lam_prem_ch4_cht_cfd_master.cfg (YES)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2375

MULTIZONE_RESIDUAL

Determine if we need to allocate memory to store the multizone residual.

More in config_template.cfg: Determine if we need to allocate memory to store the multizone residual. \n DEFAULT: true (temporarily)

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: NO
• In config_template.cfg: MULTIZONE_RESIDUAL= NO
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2377

CONTROLLING_VARIABLE_NAMES

! Names of the variables used as inputs for the data regression method in flamelet or data-driven fluid models.

More in config_template.cfg: Names of the controlling variables used to evaluate the look-up table and for which transported scalar variables are generated. These names should coincide with those listed in the look-up table.

• Type: list of strings
• In config_template.cfg: CONTROLLING_VARIABLE_NAMES= (ProgressVariable, EnthalpyTot)
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Species Transport and Combustion, Incompressible, Laminar Combustion Simulation, Incompressible, Laminar counterflow diffusion flame
• Used in 9 test case files, for example: lam_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((ProgressVariable, EnthalpyTot)), lam_partial_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((ProgressVariable,EnthalpyTot,MixtureFraction)), laminar_premixed_h2_flame_cfd.cfg ((ProgressVariable, EnthalpyTot, MixtureFraction))
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2380

CONTROLLING_VARIABLE_SOURCE_NAMES

! Names of the variables in the flamelet manifold corresponding to the source terms of the controlling variables.

More in config_template.cfg: Names of the source term variables as they are present in the look-up table. For controlling variables without source terms, use “zero” or “null”, similar to the option USER_SOURCE_NAMES.

• Type: list of strings
• In config_template.cfg: CONTROLLING_VARIABLE_SOURCE_NAMES= (ProdRateTot_PV, NULL)
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Species Transport and Combustion, Incompressible, Laminar Combustion Simulation, Incompressible, Laminar counterflow diffusion flame
• Used in 9 test case files, for example: lam_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((ProdRateTot_PV, NULL)), lam_partial_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((ProdRateTot_PV,NULL,NULL)), laminar_premixed_h2_flame_cfd.cfg ((ProdRateTot_PV, NULL, NULL))
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2383

LOOKUP_NAMES

Names of the passive lookup variables for flamelet LUT

More in config_template.cfg: Names of variables from the LUT that will be looked up for visualization

• Type: list of strings
• In config_template.cfg: LOOKUP_NAMES= (MolarWeightMix, Conductivity, HeatRelease, Diffusivity)
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Species Transport and Combustion, Incompressible, Laminar Combustion Simulation, Incompressible, Laminar counterflow diffusion flame
• Used in 8 test case files, for example: lam_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((MolarWeightMix, Conductivity, Cp, HeatRelease, Diffusivity)), lam_prem_ch4_hx_ad.cfg ((MolarWeightMix, Conductivity, HeatRelease, Diffusivity, \), lam_partial_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((MolarWeightMix, Conductivity, Cp, ProdRateTot_PV))
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2386

USER_SCALAR_NAMES

Names of the user transport equations solved in the flamelet problem.

More in config_template.cfg: Names of the user defined (auxiliary) transport equations.

• Type: list of strings
• In config_template.cfg: USER_SCALAR_NAMES= (Y-CO)
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Species Transport and Combustion, Incompressible, Laminar Combustion Simulation
• Used in 7 test case files, for example: lam_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((CO, NOx)), lam_prem_ch4_hx_ad.cfg ((Y-CO, Y-NOx_tot)), lam_partial_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg ((CO, CO2))
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2389

USER_SOURCE_NAMES

Names of the user scalar source terms.

More in config_template.cfg: Names of the source terms for the user defined transport equations. The source term has the form S = S_production + S_consumption * Y, with Y the mass fraction of the user scalar S = S_production + S_consumption * X, with X the mole fraction of the user scalar The second term can have the name “zero” or “null” to indicate that only a total source will be used.

• Type: list of strings
• In config_template.cfg: USER_SOURCE_NAMES= ( ProdRateTot_Y-CO, zero)
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Species Transport and Combustion, Incompressible, Laminar Combustion Simulation
• Used in 7 test case files, for example: lam_prem_ch4_cfd.cfg (( \)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2392

PREFERENTIAL_DIFFUSION

Enable preferential diffusion for FGM simulations.

More in config_template.cfg: Enable preferential diffusion for progress variable, total enthalpy, mixture fraction FGM problems. If ‘YES’, the preferential diffusion model from Efimov et al.(2021) is used for computing the viscous residual terms. If enabled, make sure the variables “Beta_ProgVar”, “Beta_Enth_Thermal”, “Beta_Enth”, and “Beta_MixFrac”, corresponding to the preferential diffusion terms of the progress variable, temperature, total enthalpy, and mixture fraction respectively are included in the manifold. By default, this option is disabled.

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: NO
• In config_template.cfg: PREFERENTIAL_DIFFUSION= NO
• Mentioned in: Changes in Version 8, Setup Guide: Species Transport and Combustion, Incompressible, Laminar Combustion Simulation
• Used in 2 test case files, for example: laminar_premixed_h2_flame_cfd.cfg (YES), lam_prem_ch4_unsteady.cfg (NO)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2395

CONV_FILENAME

Output file convergence history (w/o extension)

• Type: string
• Default: string("history")
• In config_template.cfg: CONV_FILENAME= history
• Mentioned in: Linear Elasticity, Realtime update of residuals and solution in paraview, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
• Used in 341 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (history), config.cfg (history_First), naca0012.cfg (0_history)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2398

BREAKDOWN_FILENAME

Output file forces breakdown

More in config_template.cfg: Output file with the forces breakdown

• Type: string
• Default: string("forces_breakdown.dat")
• In config_template.cfg: BREAKDOWN_FILENAME= forces_breakdown.dat
• Used in 40 test case files, for example: flow_cylinder.cfg (forces_breakdown.dat), disc_adj_heat.cfg (6rows_forces_breakdown.dat), actuatordisk_bem.cfg (forces_breakdown_actuatordisk_bem.dat)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2400

SOLUTION_FILENAME

Restart flow input file (the file output under the filename set by RESTART_FLOW_FILENAME)

• Type: string
• Default: string("solution")
• In config_template.cfg: SOLUTION_FILENAME= solution_flow
• Mentioned in: Changes in Version 8, Guide to Version v7, Restart File, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Unsteady Flows and DES, Troubleshooting and 1 more
• Used in 356 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (solution_flow), air_nozzle_species.cfg (solution_flow_species), config.cfg (restart_flow)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2402

SOLUTION_ADJ_FILENAME

Restart adjoint input file. Objective function abbreviation is expected.

• Type: string
• Default: string("solution_adj")
• In config_template.cfg: SOLUTION_ADJ_FILENAME= solution_adj
• Used in 242 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (solution_adj), inv_NACA0012_discadj_multizone.cfg (solution_adj.dat), turb_nasa_binary.cfg (bin_solution_adj)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2404

RESTART_FILENAME

Output file restart flow

• Type: string
• Default: string("restart")
• In config_template.cfg: RESTART_FILENAME= restart_flow
• Mentioned in: Changes in Version 8, Guide to Version v7, Restart File, Troubleshooting, Adjoint design optimization of a turbulent 3D pipe bend, Linear Elasticity and 1 more
• Used in 353 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (restart_flow), air_nozzle_species.cfg (restart_flow_species), inv_NACA0012_discadj_multizone.cfg (restart_flow.dat)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2406

RESTART_ADJ_FILENAME

Output file restart adjoint. Objective function abbreviation will be appended.

• Type: string
• Default: string("restart_adj")
• In config_template.cfg: RESTART_ADJ_FILENAME= restart_adj
• Used in 240 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (restart_adj), inv_NACA0012_discadj_multizone.cfg (restart_adj.dat), chtMaster.cfg (solution_adj)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2408

VOLUME_FILENAME

Output file flow (w/o extension) variables

• Type: string
• Default: string("vol_solution")
• In config_template.cfg: VOLUME_FILENAME= flow
• Mentioned in: Guide to Version v7, Linear Elasticity, Realtime update of residuals and solution in paraview, Static Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
• Used in 334 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (flow), configAD_fem.cfg (beam), configFEA.cfg (solid)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2410

VOLUME_ADJ_FILENAME

• Output file adjoint (w/o extension) variables

• Type: string
• Default: string("adj_vol_solution")
• In config_template.cfg: VOLUME_ADJ_FILENAME= adjoint
• Used in 227 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (adjoint), chtMaster.cfg (flow_adj), configFEA.cfg (adjoint_solid)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2413

GRAD_OBJFUNC_FILENAME

• Output objective function gradient

More in config_template.cfg: Output objective function gradient (using continuous adjoint)

• Type: string
• Default: string("of_grad")
• In config_template.cfg: GRAD_OBJFUNC_FILENAME= of_grad
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint
• Used in 227 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (of_grad), inv_NACA0012_discadj_multizone.cfg (of_grad.dat), chtMaster.cfg (of_grad.csv)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2416

VALUE_OBJFUNC_FILENAME

• Output objective function

More in config_template.cfg: Output Objective function (in tecplot .dat or .csv format)

• Type: string
• Default: string("of_func")
• In config_template.cfg: VALUE_OBJFUNC_FILENAME= of_eval
• Used in 37 test case files, for example: flow_cylinder.cfg (of_eval), turb_NACA0012_sst_multigrid_restart.cfg (of_eval.dat)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2419

SURFACE_FILENAME

• Output file surface flow coefficient (w/o extension)

• Type: string
• Default: string("surface")
• In config_template.cfg: SURFACE_FILENAME= surface_flow
• Mentioned in: Guide to Version v7
• Used in 303 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (surface_flow), configFlow.cfg (surface_fluid), lam_prem_ch4_cht_cfd_solid.cfg (surface_solid)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2422

SURFACE_ADJ_FILENAME

• Output file surface adjoint coefficient (w/o extension)

• Type: string
• Default: string("surface_adjoint")
• In config_template.cfg: SURFACE_ADJ_FILENAME= surface_adjoint
• Used in 221 test case files, for example: inv_NACA0012.cfg (surface_adjoint), configFlow.cfg (adjoint_surface_fluid), trans_s809.cfg (trans_surface_adjoint)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2425

SURFACE_SENS_FILENAME

• Output file surface sensitivity (discrete adjoint) (w/o extension)

• Type: string
• Default: string("surface_sens")
• In config_template.cfg: SURFACE_SENS_FILENAME= surface_sens
• Used in 3 test case files, for example: circles.cfg (surface_sens)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2428

VOLUME_SENS_FILENAME

• Output file volume sensitivity (discrete adjoint))

• Type: string
• Default: string("volume_sens")
• In config_template.cfg: VOLUME_SENS_FILENAME= volume_sens
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2431

WRT_PERFORMANCE

Output the performance summary to the console at the end of SU2_CFD

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: NO
• In config_template.cfg: WRT_PERFORMANCE= NO
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition
• Used in 20 test case files, for example: chtMaster.cfg (YES), config.cfg (NO)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2433

WRT_AD_STATISTICS

Output the tape statistics (discrete adjoint)

• Type: YES / NO
• Default: NO
• In config_template.cfg: WRT_AD_STATISTICS= NO
• Used in 3 test case files, for example: config_ad.cfg (NO), dsma661_sa_config.cfg (YES)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2435

MARKER_ANALYZE_AVERAGE

Output averaged flow values on specified analyze marker. Options: AREA, MASSFLUX Use with MARKER_ANALYZE.

More in config_template.cfg: Method to compute the average value in MARKER_ANALYZE (AREA, MASSFLUX).

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: AREA, MASSFLUX
• Default: MASSFLUX
• In config_template.cfg: MARKER_ANALYZE_AVERAGE = MASSFLUX
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Turbomachinery, Shape Design With Multiple Objectives and Penalty Functions
• Used in 40 test case files, for example: inv_wedge_ROE_multiobj.cfg (AREA), MFR_coupling.cfg (MASSFLUX)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2440

COMM_LEVEL

• Level of MPI communications during runtime

More in config_template.cfg: MPI communication level (NONE, MINIMAL, FULL)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: NONE, MINIMAL, FULL
• Default: FULL
• In config_template.cfg: COMM_LEVEL= FULL
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 2443