This page describes the different types of users classified into four levels, ranging from the simple mechanical code user to the advanced numerical developer, as presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1: User levels

The Simulation User

The simulation user utilizes Notus CFD to compute fluid flows by modeling the case inside an NTS file. This file describes:

The physical domain description and discretization
The equations used (Navier-Stokes, energy, etc.)
The numerical methods choice and parameters
The output fields and post-processing operations

A detailed description of the NTS file usage is given in the User Interface Guide.

The Advanced User

The advanced user needs more flexibility than the options given in the NTS file. They will write into the user directory (see the User Module Documentation), which provides several empty Fortran routines that can be completed with their own code. For example, they can apply temporally and spatially varying boundary conditions, source terms, specific initial conditions, or post-processing operations.

The Model Developer

The model developer writes their particular physical and mathematical model that is not available yet. They can also complement an existing model with supplementary terms in the equations. They will write into the modeling directory (see the Modeling Module Documentation) and can use the discretization module which provides the functions for equations discretization.

The Numerical Developer

The numerical developer writes their particular numerical method to complement or compare to the existing and implemented methods. For example, they can implement a fourth-order species transport method. They will write into the discretization or the linear system solver directories (see the Discretization Module Documentation).