OpenFOAM
OpenFOAM is an open source computational fluid dynamics software package used to simulate fluid flow problems. It includes tools for meshing, solvers, parallel processing, visualization, etc.
cfd
fluid-flow
meshing
solvers
parallel-processing
visualization
OpenFOAM: Open Source Computational Fluid Dynamics Software Package
OpenFOAM is an open source computational fluid dynamics software package used to simulate fluid flow problems. It includes tools for meshing, solvers, parallel processing, visualization, etc.
What is OpenFOAM?
OpenFOAM (Open source Field Operation And Manipulation) is a free, open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package produced by OpenCFD Ltd at the ESI Group and distributed by the OpenFOAM Foundation. It has an extensive range of features to solve complex fluid flow problems involving chemical reactions, turbulence, heat transfer, solid dynamics and electromagnetics.
Some key features of OpenFOAM:
- It includes tools for meshing, notably the mesher and utilities that come with it called blockMesh, snappyHexMesh, topoSet, surfaceSets, etc.
- It has a wide range of physical models and solvers for various applications like compressible, multiphase and reacting flows.
- The code is written in C++ and the solvers are developed within a robust, flexible framework.
- It has tools for parallel processing for speeding up simulations.
- The post-processing utilities include data analysis and visualization capabilities.
- It has an active community contributing to its development.
OpenFOAM is used widely in academic research and industrial development for applications including aerodynamics, combustion, heat transfer, marine hydrodynamics, chemical processes, turbomachinery, environmental flows, fluid-structure interaction and electromagnetics.
OpenFOAM Features
Features
- Mesh generation and processing tools
- Wide range of physical modeling capabilities including compressible/incompressible fluids, multiphase flows, chemical reactions, turbulence, heat transfer, electromagnetics, solid mechanics
- Parallel processing support
- Pre- and post-processing utilities for visualization and data analysis
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Large user community
Modular code structure allows customization
Good parallel scaling
Wide range of applications
Cons
Steep learning curve
Limited user-friendly interfaces
Lacks some features found in commercial CFD packages
Documentation can be lacking
Official Links
The Best OpenFOAM Alternatives
Top Science & Engineering and Computational Fluid Dynamics and other similar apps like OpenFOAM
Here are some alternatives to OpenFOAM:
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