OpenFOAM

  1. All articles with unsourced statements
  2. Articles with unsourced statements from October 2011
  3. Articles with invalid date parameter in template
  4. Computational fluid dynamics
  5. Fluid dynamics
  6. Computational science
  7. Free science software
  8. Scientific simulation software
  9. 2004 software


OpenFOAM
Developer(s) The OpenFOAM Foundation
Initial release 10 December 2004
Stable release 2.1.0 / 19 December 2011
Operating system Unix/Linux
License GNU General Public License
Website www.openfoam.org

OpenFOAM (Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation) is a C++ toolbox for the development of customized numerical solvers, and pre-/post-processing utilities for the solution of continuum mechanics problems, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The code is released as free and open source software under the GNU General Public License. It is maintained by The OpenFOAM Foundation,[1] which is sponsored by Silicon Graphics International, the owner of the trademark to the name OpenFOAM.

History

The original development of OpenFOAM started in the late 1980s at Imperial College, London, to develop a more powerful and flexible general simulation platform than the de-facto standard at the time, FORTRAN. This led to the choice of C++ as programming language, due to its highest modularity and object oriented features. The predecessor, FOAM, was sold by UK company Nabla Ltd. before being released as open source in 2004.[2] On 15 August 2011, OpenCFD announced its acquisition by Silicon Graphics International (SGI).[3]

OpenFOAM was one of the first major scientific packages written in C++[citation needed]. It has also been the first major general-purpose CFD package to use polyhedral cells[citation needed].

Distinguishing Features

Syntax

One distinguishing feature of OpenFOAM is its syntax for tensor operations and partial differential equations that closely resembles the equations being solved. For example the equation [4]

\[ \frac{\partial \rho \mathbf{U}}{\partial t} + \nabla \cdot\phi\mathbf{U} - \nabla \cdot\mu\nabla\mathbf{U} = - \nabla p \]

is represented by the code

<source lang = "cpp"> solve ( 

    fvm::ddt(rho,U)
  + fvm::div(phi,U)
  - fvm::laplacian(mu,U)
    ==
  - fvc::grad(p)

); </source>

This syntax, achieved through the use of object oriented programming and operator overloading, enables users to create custom solvers with relative ease. However, code customization becomes more challenging with increasing depth into the OpenFOAM library, owing to a lack of documentation, and heavy use of template metaprogramming.

Extensibility

Users can create custom objects, such as boundary conditions or turbulence models, that will work with existing solvers without having to modify or recompile the existing source code. OpenFOAM accomplishes this by combining virtual constructors with the use of simplified base classes as interfaces. As a result, this gives OpenFOAM good extensibility qualities. OpenFOAM refers to this capability as run-time selection[5]

Structure of OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM is constituted by a large base library, which offers the core capabilities of the code:

  • Tensor and field operations
  • Discretization of partial differential equations using a human-readable syntax
  • Solution of linear systems[6]
  • Solution of ordinary differential equations[7]
  • Automatic parallelization of high-level operations
  • Dynamic mesh[8]
  • General physical models
    • Rheological models[9]
    • Thermodynamic models and database[10]
    • Turbulence models[11]
    • Chemical reaction and kinetics models[12]
    • Lagrangian particle tracking methods[13]
    • Radiative heat transfer models
    • Multi-reference frame and single-reference frame methodologies

The capabilities provided by the library are then used to develop applications. Applications are written using the high-level syntax introduced by OpenFOAM, which aims at reproducing the conventional mathematical notation. Two categories of applications exist:

  • Solvers: they perform the actual calculation to solve a specific continuum mechanics problem
  • Utilities: they are used to prepare the mesh, set-up the simulation case, process the results, and to perform operations other than solving the problem under examination

Each application provides specific capabilities: for example the application called blockMesh is used to generate meshes from an input file provided by the user, while another application called icoFoam solves the Navier-Stokes equations for an incompressible laminar flow.

Finally, a set of third-party packages are used to provide parallel functionality (i.e.OpenMPI) and graphical post-processing (ParaView).

Capabilities

OpenFOAM solvers include[14]:

  • Basic CFD solvers
  • Incompressible flow with RANS and LES capabilities [15]
  • Compressible flow solvers with RANS and LES capabilities[16]
  • Buoyancy-driven flow solvers[17]
  • DNS and LES
  • Multiphase flow solvers[18]
  • Particle-tracking solvers
  • Solvers for combustion problems[19]
  • Solvers for conjugate heat transfer [20]
  • Molecular dynamics solvers[21]
  • Direct Simulation Monte Carlo solvers[22]
  • Electromagnetics solvers[23]
  • Solid dynamics solvers[24]

In addition to the standard solvers, OpenFOAM's syntax lends itself to the easy creation of custom solvers.

OpenFOAM utilities are subdivided into:

  • Mesh utilities
    • Mesh generation: they generate computational grids starting either from an input file (blockMesh), or from a generic geometry specified as STL file, which is meshed automatically with hex-dominant grids (snappyHexMesh)
    • Mesh conversion: they convert grids generated using other tools to the OpenFOAM format
    • Mesh manipulation: they perform specific operations on the mesh such as localized refinement, definition of regions, and others
  • Parallel processing utilities: they provide tools to decompose, reconstruct and re-distribute the computational case to perform parallel calculations
  • Pre-processing utilities: tools to prepare the simulation cases
  • Post-processing utilities: tools to process the results of simulation cases, including a plugin to interface OpenFOAM and ParaView.
  • Surface utilities
  • Thermophysical utilities

License

OpenFOAM is free and open source software, released under the GNU General Public License version 3.[25]

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

  • Friendly syntax for partial differential equations
  • Unstructured polyhedral grid capabilities
  • Automatic parallelization of applications written using OpenFOAM high-level syntax
  • Wide range of applications and models ready to use
  • Commercial support and training provided by the developers
  • No license costs

Disadvantages

  • Absence of an integrated graphical user interface (stand-alone proprietary options are available)
  • The Programmer's guide does not provide sufficient details, making the learning curve steeper
  • The lack of maintained documentation makes it difficult for the new users

Forks and adaptations

Free software

  • blueCFD is a cross-compiled version of OpenFOAM that runs on Windows operating systems, and is derived from OpenFlow. The package also includes additional tools and functionality useful for OpenFOAM. It is produced by blueCAPE.[26]
  • FreeFOAM[27] is geared towards freeing OpenFOAM from its system dependence, making it more portable and user-friendly for installation. The project closely tracks the official releases from OpenCFD and does not include additional functionality. CMake is used as a build system.
  • OpenFlow is a source code patch for a cross-compiled distribution of OpenFOAM that runs on Windows operating systems. The OpenFOAM components in blueCFD are derived from the OpenFlow source code. It is produced by Symscape.[28]
  • OpenFOAM-extend[29] is maintained by Wikki Ltd.[30] This fork has a large repository of community-generated contributions, much of which can be installed into the official version of OpenFOAM with minimal effort.[31] It is developed in parallel to the official version of OpenFOAM, incorporating its latest versions, although these are released one or two years later.

Software available for purchase

  • Caedium is a unified simulation environment produced by Symscape. The Caedium RANS Flow add-on[32] provides a graphical user interface for OpenFOAM case setup, solution steering, and post processing.
  • CastNet is a proprietary modelling and simulation environment produced by DHCAE Tools.[33] The application includes a graphical user interface front-end for OpenFOAM.
  • ICON FOAMpro CFD is maintained by ICON Process & Consulting Ltd.[34] It is developed mostly around automotive applications through collaboration with the Volkswagen Group,[35] and Ford Motor Co.[36] This fork includes community-generated content as well as ICON-specific developments.

Alternative software

Free and open source software

Proprietary software

References

  1. ↑ The OpenFOAM Foundation homepage
  2. ↑ OpenFOAM Release History
  3. ↑ http://www.sgi.com/company_info/newsroom/press_releases/2011/august/opencfd.html
  4. ↑ Creating solvers in OpenFOAM
  5. ↑ OpenFOAM's run-time selection mechanism explained
  6. ↑ Linear system solvers in OpenFOAM
  7. ↑ Ordinary differential equation solvers in OpenFOAM
  8. ↑ Dynamic mesh in OpenFOAM
  9. ↑ Rheological models in OpenFOAM
  10. ↑ Thermophysical models in OpenFOAM
  11. ↑ Turbulence models in OpenFOAM
  12. ↑ Chemical reactions and kinetics models in OpenFOAM
  13. ↑ Lagrangian particle tracking in OpenFOAM
  14. ↑ OpenFOAM features
  15. ↑ OpenFOAM incompressible flow solvers
  16. ↑ OpenFOAM Compressible flow solvers
  17. ↑ OpenFOAM buoyancy-driven flow solvers
  18. ↑ Multiphase flow solvers
  19. ↑ OpenFOAM solvers for combustion
  20. ↑ OpenFOAM solvers for conjugate heat transfer
  21. ↑ OpenFOAM molecular dynamics solvers
  22. ↑ OpenFOAM Direct Simulation Monte Carlo solvers
  23. ↑ OpenFOAM Electromagnetics solvers
  24. ↑ OpenFOAM solid dynamics solvers
  25. ↑ http://www.openfoam.org/licence.php OpenFOAM Licensing Page
  26. ↑ blueCAPE's homepage
  27. ↑ FreeFOAM Home Page
  28. ↑ OpenFlow source code patch
  29. ↑ OpenFOAM-extend Project Home Page
  30. ↑ Wikki Ltd.
  31. ↑ Solvers, Utilities, and Other contributions
  32. ↑ Caedium RANS Flow add-on
  33. ↑ DHCAE Tools homepage
  34. ↑ ICON FOAMpro Process
  35. ↑ ICON VWG SAE paper
  36. ↑ ICON FORD SAE paper
  37. ↑ SU2 homepage
  38. ↑ FreeCFD homepage
  39. ↑ Gerris homepage
  40. ↑ OpenFVM homepage
  41. ↑ [depts.washington.edu/clawpack]

External links

Official Resources

Community resources

es:OpenFOAM fr:OpenFOAM it:OpenFOAM ru:OpenFOAM


...