PyroSim x64 Edition Now Available!

Users with 64-bit operating systems can now download an entirely 64-bit version of PyroSim and FDS. This version is able to access memory beyond the 2 GB limit imposed by 32-bit Windows. This version will be particularly useful for individuals who model large structures such as stadiums or want to import complex DXF models. The 64-bit version of PyroSim includes a 64-bit version of FDS, MPI, and parallel FDS.

PyroSim now includes FDS version 5.2.3 and Smokeview version 5.2.7. For more information, please read the FDS release notes , and the Smokeview release notes.

Other bug fixes and new features in this version include:

• The installer will automatically add Windows Firewall exceptions for parallel (MPI) simulations. This will prevent a warning message from being displayed on the first parallel run.
• The library glew32.dll is now included with PyroSim's distribution of Smokeview. This was previously omitted and could cause Smokeview not to run.
• The installer will no longer require .NET be installed in addition to PyroSim - this dependency has been removed.
• When viewing results, textures will now be displayed by default.
• Fixed a bug with the FDS Run dialog that sometimes prevented FDS processes from being properly terminated when the Kill button was clicked.
• Fixed a bug that cause PyroSim to interfere with double-click application launching. PyroSim will no longer cause a long double-click launch delay.
• Fixed bug that caused pasted unsupported records to be lost.
• Updated the GE1 file writer to respect object-specific colors, rather than forcing any face with a particular surface type to use that surface's display information. Texture information is preserved even if object-specific colors are used.
• Updated the GE1 file writer to enable transparency in Smokeview's CAD view
• Changed the default port used by PyroSim's MPI installation to avoid conflict with other MPI installations on the same machine.
• Fixed a bug with the Background Image and DXF Import dialogs that could cause the 3D system to become unresponsive on some systems.
• Fixed a bug with the simulation progress monitor that caused PyroSim to crash while running a simulation.
• PyroSim will now automatically use the maximum available system memory. Previously this had to be modified using the -mem launcher argument.
• The DXF import dialog now shows statistics for supported and unsupported entities.
• Fixed a bug in DXF import that caused imported geometry to become incorrectly offset if the units were changed.
• Fixed a bug in DXF import that caused entities behind BLOCK or INSERT elements to be ignored.
• Fixed a bug in DXF import that caused layer transforms to be ignored.
• Changed the default value of MATL_CONDUCTIVITY to 0.0, the default value of MATL_DENSITY to 0.0, and the default value of MATL_SPECIFIC_HEAT to 0.0 to match new defaults in FDS.
• Fixed a bug that caused the non-uniform mesh table to be incorrectly cleared in the Edit Mesh Dialog.
• Fixed a bug that prevented the recording volume of gas-phase statistics to be saved.
• Duplicates of hidden vents will now be hidden as well.
• For particles, a vaporization species can now be specified.
• For particles, evaporation is now optional for the generic particle type.
• For extra species, the mass extinction coefficient is now optional.
• Fixed a bug that could cause PyroSim to crash while editing extra species.
• Converting non-aligned geometry to blocks will now require less memory but be a bit slower.
• When using online license activation, PyroSim will now attempt to detect proxy server settings from the system registry.
• Changed the default value for PART_DROPLETS_PER_SECOND to 5000 and the default value for PART_DT_INSERT to 0.01 to match new defaults in FDS.
• Updated the way quantities are written to the FDS input file to respect the new FDS 5.2 conventions.
• Updated users manual to include new registration and troubleshooting information.
• Fixed a bug in the Edit Meshes dialog that could cause the fields to collapse.
• Thicken, permit hole, and sawtooth are now editable for triangles.
• Added validation to prevent creation of 1D vents.
• Fixed a bug that allowed surfaces with invalid names to be loaded.
• Fixed a bug in the vent editor that caused the Lies in Plane drop-down box to display incorrectly.
• In the Mesh editor, a warning will no longer be displayed if the number of cells in the X direction is not of the form by n=2^l3^k5^m. The warning will continue to be shown for cells in the Y and Z directions.

New features in this version include:

• A set of sample materials, surfaces, and reactions collected from FDS verification and validation runs. Details about the source of each record are included in the description (FYI). These examples are primarily non-burning materials (e.g. concrete, steel).
• New licensing system with increased performance and reliability and automatic license activation.
• New disable/enable action. Any object can be disabled so that it does not write to the FDS input file unless it is absolutely needed (such as a used surface).
• Added support for custom smoke tracking (See Defining Smoke in section 11.3.4 of FDS5 users manual).
• Updated statistics and added support for newer options including VOLUME MEAN, MASS MEAN, VOLUME INTEGRAL, AREA INTEGRAL, and SURFACE INTEGRAL.
• Added FYI support for extra species, particles, reactions, meshes, sprinkler link models, spray models, heat detector models, and smoke detector models.
• Removed the sawtooth property for obstructions and added smooth (smooth is the inverse of sawtooth).
• New Copy as FDS Records action.
• Added a warning that displays when a smoothed obstruction uses a burn away surface (this is disallowed by FDS).
• Removed the empty zone record that was written for non-open models (this is no longer required by FDS).
• Action names show in the menu for Undo/Redo.
• Reduced background image memory use and eliminated detail loss.
• Improved copy/paste performance.
• Particle duration default changed to 60s.
• Added support for multiple object renaming.
• Various dialog enhancements.
• Added support for choosing the combination logic for multiple activation events/devices.
• Added a Select Referencing Objects action for devices. This allows a user to check what objects in the model are currently using a device.

Bug fixes in this version include:

• Fixed a bug that caused all reactions in the model to write to the FDS file. Now only the active reaction is written.
• Fixed an issue with the timer when running an FDS simulation.
• Fixed incorrect ordering of Plot3d parameters.
• Fixed how [Particle Fuel] mass/unit volume written to FDS Input.
• Fixed bug with hiding sketch grid.
• Fixed shift-clicking in navigation view.
• Removed license reminder for unlimited licenses.
• Fixed a memory leak when duplicating objects.
• Fixed a memory leak when copying/pasting objects.
• The mesh and extra species managers no longer double check to save a modified object when creating a new one.
• Fixed statistics using a solid-phase quantity so they now output a valid location in the FDS file.
• Fixed bug with validation of the layers table in the surface dialog for international versions of PyroSim.
• Fixed a bug pasting FDS obstruction records with the same comment. Before, two copies of the objects would improperly show in the tree, but now just one is shown.
• Fixed various bugs/crashes in the navigation view.
• Fixed a crashing bug that could occur if an in-use quantity-measuring device was deleted and replaced with another. The crash would occur when the FDS file was written or the properties for the object using the old device were opened.

Known bugs in this version include:

• Site keys (i.e. license keys) from previous version of PyroSim will not function with PyroSim 2008. This is because the new licensing system does not use the old keys. Existing users, please send an email to support@thunderheadeng.com to get your updated activation code and license file.
• Some Intel integrated graphics cards cause PyroSim to crash with default settings. Running the software in Safe Mode fixes this problem. Safe mode disables certain preferences and subsequent runs can be launched in the standard way.
• Some menu items and tool tips show their accelerator key ampersand (e.g. Save &As...)