OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM
OpenFOAM running in a terminal
Original author(s) Henry Weller
Developer(s) CFD Direct[1] / OpenCFD [2]
Initial release 10 December 2004 (2004-12-10)[3]
Stable release
v6[4] and v1806 [5] / 10 July 2018 (2018-07-10)[6] and 29 June 2018 (2018-06-29)[7]
Repository
Edit this at Wikidata
Written in C++
Operating system Unix/Linux
Type Computational fluid dynamics, simulation software
License GPLv3
Website openfoam.org

OpenFOAM (for "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. OpenFOAM has been released by OpenCFD since 2004, the name OpenFOAM was registered as a trademark by OpenCFD Ltd[8] in 2007 and has been non-exclusively licensed to the OpenFOAM Foundation Ltd since 2011.

History

Flow simulation using OpenFOAM and ParaView for visualization

OpenFOAM (originally, FOAM) was created by Henry Weller from 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 modularity and object-oriented features. Hrvoje Jasak joined Imperial College as a PhD candidate from 1993 to 1996, developing error estimation and bounded second-order schemes for FOAM.[9] In 2000, Jasak joined forces with Weller in an attempt to commercialize FOAM through the company Nabla Ltd.[10] In 2004, Nabla Ltd folded and Henry Weller, Chris Greenshields and Mattijs Janssens founded OpenCFD Ltd to develop and release OpenFOAM.[11] At the same time, Jasak founded the consulting company Wikki Ltd [12] and maintained the fork openfoam-extend, later renamed to foam-extend.

On 8 August 2011, OpenCFD was acquired by Silicon Graphics International (SGI).[13] At the same time, the copyright of OpenFOAM was transferred to the OpenFOAM Foundation Ltd., a newly founded, not-for-profit organisation established to distribute OpenFOAM. On 12 September 2012, the ESI Group announced the acquisition of OpenCFD Ltd from SGI.[14] In 2014, Weller and Greenshields left ESI Group and continue the development and management of OpenFOAM, on behalf of the OpenFOAM Foundation, at CFD Direct.[15] CFD Direct develops OpenFOAM with a sequence based identifier (e.g. 5.0), whereas ESI-OpenCFD release OpenFOAM with a date-of-release identifier (e.g. v1806).

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,[16] the equation

is represented by the code

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

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.[17]

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[18]
  • Solution of ordinary differential equations[19]
  • Automatic parallelization of high-level operations
  • Dynamic mesh[20]
  • General physical models
    • Rheological models[21]
    • Thermodynamic models and database[22]
    • Turbulence models[23]
    • Chemical reaction and kinetics models[24]
    • Lagrangian particle tracking methods[25]
    • 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 (OpenMPI) and graphical post-processing (ParaView).

Capabilities

Simulation of burning Methane. The Graphical user interface is ParaView.

OpenFOAM solvers include:[26]

  • Basic CFD solvers
  • Incompressible flow with RANS and LES capabilities[27]
  • Compressible flow solvers with RANS and LES capabilities[28]
  • Buoyancy-driven flow solvers[29]
  • DNS and LES
  • Multiphase flow solvers[30]
  • Particle-tracking solvers
  • Solvers for combustion problems[31]
  • Solvers for conjugate heat transfer[32]
  • Molecular dynamics solvers[33]
  • Direct simulation Monte Carlo solvers[34]
  • Electromagnetics solvers[35]
  • Solid dynamics solvers[36]

In addition to the standard solvers, OpenFOAM 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.[37]

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • Friendly syntax for partial differential equations
  • Fully documented source code[38]
  • 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

  • The development community suffers from fragmentation, giving rise to numerous forked projects.
  • Absence of an integrated graphical user interface (stand-alone open-source and proprietary options are available)
  • The Programmer's guide does not provide sufficient details, making the progress slow if you need to write new applications or add functionality

GUI and software tools with integrated OpenFOAM solver

See also

  • ParaView an open-source multiple-platform application for interactive scientific visualization

References

  1. ↑ "CFD Direct - The Architects of OpenFOAM". CFD Direct. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "The open source CFD toolbox". OpenFOAM.
  3. ↑ "OpenFOAM Version 1.0". Archived from the original on 7 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "OpenFOAM Version 6".
  5. ↑ "OpenCFD Release OpenFOAM® v1806".
  6. ↑ "Release History - OpenFOAM".
  7. ↑ "OpenFOAM® History".
  8. ↑ OpenCFD. "OpenFOAM® - Official home of The Open Source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Toolbox". www.openfoam.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Jasak, Hrvoje (1996). Error Analysis and Estimation for the Finite Volume Method with Applications to Fluid Flows (PDF).
  10. ↑ Chen, Goong; Xiong, Qingang; Morris, Philip J.; Paterson, Eric G.; Sergeev, Alexey Sergeev,; Wang, Yi-Ching. (April 2014). "OpenFOAM for Computational Fluid Dynamics". Notices of the American Mathematical Society. American Mathematical Society. 61 (4): 354–363. doi:10.1090/noti1095. ISSN 0002-9920. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Greenshields, Chris (3 April 2016). "Release History". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Wikki Ltd - About Us".
  13. ↑ "Press Releases: SGI Acquires OpenCFD Ltd., the Leader In Open Source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Software". SGI. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Acquisition of OpenCFD Ltd., The leader in Open Source software in Computational Fluid Dynamics". ESI Group. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  15. ↑ "OpenFOAM". CFD Direct. 25 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  17. ↑ OpenFOAM's run-time selection mechanism explained Archived 8 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "OpenFOAM v5 User Guide: 7.3 Transport/rheology models". cfd.direct. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "OpenFOAM v5 User Guide: 7.1 Thermophysical models". cfd.direct. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "Turbulence Modelling - OpenFOAM - CFD Direct". cfd.direct. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  28. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Multiphase Flows - OpenFOAM - CFD Direct". cfd.direct. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016.
  31. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "OpenFOAM Features - CFD Direct". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  37. ↑ Greenshields, Chris (28 April 2016). "Free Software Licence". openfoam.org. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012.
  38. ↑ "OpenFOAM: Free, Open Source Software from the OpenFOAM Foundation". cpp.openfoam.org.
  39. ↑ "FEATool 1.8 with OpenFOAM MATLAB CFD GUI Integration". featool.com. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  40. ↑ "HELYX-OS GUI for OpenFOAM | ENGYS". engys.com. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  41. ↑ Administrator. "Setup: iconCFD Process". iconcfd.com. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  42. ↑ "simFlow CFD Software - OpenFOAM® GUI". simFlow CFD. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  43. ↑ "Open Source Solvers Integrated with SimScale". SimScale. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  44. ↑ "Contrib/SwiftBlock - OpenFOAMWiki". openfoamwiki.net. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  45. ↑ "Contrib/SwiftSnap - OpenFOAMWiki". openfoamwiki.net. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  46. ↑ "Visual-CFD for OpenFOAM®". openfoam.com. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  47. ↑ "Open Source Engineering Software - silentdynamics". silentdynamics. Retrieved 2018-06-07.

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