How to write and read a User-Defined Material Database with Fluent

Procedure to create a material User-Defined Database in Fluent and how to read it into a new session of Fluent.

Suppose one has many different materials defined in a Fluent case which took time and effort to define.  One would like to capture the material definitions to reuse for simulations in the future.  This procedure enables the user to save a user-defined database of materials for retrieval and usage in future new Fluent cases.

Generate and Write a User-Defined Database

1. Generate and define all desired materials for database.
   
   
2. Select User-Defined Database...
   
   
   
3. Select Browse...
   
   
   
4. Enter a desired file name.  The .scm file extension is recommended.
   
5. Select OK on the Open Database window.
   
   
   
6. Select Yes on the Question window.
   
7. Select Copy Materials from Case...  on the User-Defined Database Materials window.
   
8. Select all desired materials from the Case Materials list in the Copy Case Material window.
   Select Copy.
   
9. Select Close on the User-Defined Database Material window.
   
10. Select Yes in the Question window regarding saving changes.
    

Read a User-Defined Database

1. Select User-Defined Database...
   
   
   
2. Select Browse... and navigate to database file. 
    
3. Files of Type *scm are listed.  Select the file name, and then select OK.
   
4. Select OK on the Open Database window. 
   
   
   
5. Select any desired fluid type materials to be copied from the database.
   Select Copy.
   
   
   
6. Switch the Material Type selector to solid and select any desired solid type materials to be copied from the database.  Select Copy.
   
7. Close the User-Defined Database Materials window.