PyroSim 2024.1.0605

What's New

This version of PyroSim is designed for FDS version 6.9.1 and uses version 21.0.2+13 of the OpenJDK Java VM.

Generate Geometry from BIM

Imported geometry in PyroSim just got a lot easier!

Prior versions of PyroSim could only import geometry files as plain triangle meshes. These meshes could be used as Obstructions, but were difficult to tweak if geometry needed adjusted for a simulation.

PyroSim 2024.1 utilizes some of the additional information provided in BIM filetypes to provide automatic generation of various PyroSim geometry objects, which can be edited just like geometry created natively in PyroSim.

This feature currently works best with IFC files, as they provide the most detailed information about BIM object types, however any piece of imported geometry can be properly converted by setting the BIM Conversion Type in the Obstruction properties prior to converting. You can read more about this new feature in the Documentation.

View Multiple FDS Quantities in Results

Have you ever been investigating how multiple FDS Quantities were interacting at a location in your simulations results, but gotten frustrated that you had to switch between the different visualizations for your Quantities? That's now a thing of the past.

With PyroSim 2024.1, you can now display multiple different FDS Quantities and visualization types at the same time in PyroSim Results, broadening your ability to investigate the results of your simulations.

To use this feature, simply activate the results you want to investigate in PyroSim Results. You can read more about this new feature in the Documentation.

Productivity Improvements for Large Model Editing

Model sizes continue to increase in both size and complexity. This increases the number of objects that need to be managed, renamed, edited and selected to complete projects. The 2024.1 releases of all of our products include improvements to help manage this increase in model complexity.

NOTE: The images below show the UI from different products, however all products contain these improvements.

Improved Undo / Redo

2024.1 allows for the refinement of object selection by adding selection changes to undo/redo. By default, using Ctrl-Z and Ctrl-Y now undo or redo the last action taken when editing your model. In addition, all undo/redo actions are now visible in a dropdown undo/redo history.

Group Object Tagging

Larger models often have specialized groups that need specific action. By using Tags, you can now create object tree selection groups that can be used and reused to help keep models clean.

Template-based Renaming

After many user requests, 2024.1 provides an improved process for renaming multiple selected objects!

This feature is available in the updated Rename dialog. There is now a new Rename with Template option, which exposes a number of template variables that can be used to rename individual objects in a group of selected objects.

This feature improves the workflow for users who have a large number of objects to rename and want to provide descriptive names, without individually renaming every object.

Changes since PyroSim 2023.3.1312:

FDS 6.9.1 Support and Improvements

• Updated bundled FDS and SMV from version 6.8.0 to version 6.9.1 (FDS release notes).
• Added new Quantity types for FDS 6.9.0
• Updated Wind to support new ramp inputs from FDs 6.7.8
• Added FDS 6.9.0 and FDS 6.9.1 options to Cloud FDS
• Added support for varying Heat Transfer Coefficient of a Surface with time
• HVAC ducts with volume flow from fans now display direction indicator

Generate Geometry from BIM

• Added the Generate Model from BIM action to convert imported geometry to simpler and more adjustable PyroSim geometry.

Improved Undo/Redo

• Added new shortcuts "Ctrl-Shift-Z" and "Ctrl-Shift-Y" to undo/redo the next major non-selection action.
• Undo and Redo history can now be traversed via a dropdown in the main toolbar or the Edit menu.
• Changes to selection are now included in Undo and Redo history.
• Added a preference to control the maximum length of Undo and Redo history and decreased default to 50.

Other Improvements

• Improved license activation dialog usability.
• Improved layout and language used in Edit Model Checks and Run Model Checks dialogs.
• Updated the Simulation Properties dialog to be resizeable and scrollable to support smaller resolutions/display sizes.
• Improved Windows Defender exclusion scripts during install to run silently with no terminal so as not to worry users.
• Added tooltips to the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog table to help describe actions.
• Updated bundled reaction library to prevent warnings associated with inline fuel species specification.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a crash that could occur when using the transform tools (e.g. rotate, move, mirror).
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when editing geometry while the Model Check Results dialog is active.
• Fixed crash occurring when opening the Tool Properties dialog
• Fixed an issue where disabled measurements for surface model checks were still being reported.
• Fixed a bug that would cause a crash when running a Max HRR Model Check on a surface that specifies Mass Loss Rate.
• Fixed Surface Model Check options sometimes hiding when switching between check types.
• Fixed a bug that could cause PyroSim to crash when using the Draw a Wall Obstruction tool while Preview FDS Blocks is enabled.
• Fixed an issue that could cause custom FDS records on a device to propagate to other devices and to save after cancelling an edit.
• Fixed a bug that would cause an incorrect warning for some non-stoichiometric formulas.
• Fixed a bug where the wrong statistic was selected in the Edit Statistics dialog.
• Fixed a bug where the Undo and Redo actions had inconsistent names in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog.
• Fixed a bug that could cause PyroSim to crash when opening a color chooser dialog.
• Fixed a bug that caused visual materials imported from DWG files using the 'Specular (Basic)' workflow to use an inverted shininess value.
• Fixed a bug that caused link buttons to display a text cursor.
• Fixed Manage Floors Dialog from crushing table when displayed on a second monitor with display scaling.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when editing particle cloud data.
• Fixed a crash that could happen when layered surface's thickness was edited.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash on startup when using a floating license.
• Fixed a bug that could cause PyroSim to crash when loading a background image.
• Fixed a bug in the Manage Floors dialog that prevented editing existing background image settings.
• Fixed a bug that would cause fields to avoid converting values when using compatible units.
• Fixed a bug that would incorrectly parse values with invalid characters embedded in them.
• Fixed a bug that caused IFC imports to abort when encountering an invalid material index.

Results

Viewing Multiple FDS Quantities

• Multiple FDS Results with different quantities can now be activated simultaneously.
• Added a preference to disable activating multiple FDS Results with different quantities.
• Added a preference to disable activating multiple FDS Results with potentially overlapping geometry.

Other Improvements

• Allow usage of newer graphics features on VMs using GLon12.
• Add filename to Results Plot dialog title.
• Added a validation for time interval in saving screenshot dialog.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that displayed values above a colorbar's maximum range and caused a strange rounding of colorbar values.
• Fixed a bug where it might take a very long time to close Pathfinder results that include many triggers.
• Fixed a bug where certain vehicle avatars might appear incorrect after viewing the first time.
• Fixed a bug where viewing certain vehicle avatars might cause a crash.