Salome - Open Source CAD and Meshing Software

I recently started using Salome as a CAD and Meshing tool. Though initially I found it a bit tough to start up with but with practice I have found it much easier to work. The software was developed by a Finnish Institute in 1995 and since then has undergone many developments.
The software has some really good geometry building feature which are found even in commercial softwares. The concept of exploding the geometry into solid ,faces, wires has really caught my eye as that is something very unique about this software.
Once the CAD file is made it can be easily shifted to the Mesh Module. Now the only thing here is to be taken care of is the Meshing strategy to be used. User needs to understand what kind of a mesh is required for his/her geometry and accordingly choose the methods. Also the limit for the cell count here is 500000, I really don't understand the reason behind this as it sometimes the user requires to compromise on the mesh cell count ( some geometries require huge number of cells ). The Mesh file can be saved in  " .unv " format and can be used in OpenFOAM. There are a lot of other features which Salome offers which I would explore with time, but yes being open source this is a a real good software to look out for an save your money : ).

Salome site : http://www.salome-platform.org/

ESI-OpenCFD releases OpenFOAM® 2.2.1

ESI-OpenCFD has released the next version of OpenFOAM v2.2.1. It includes some new solvers and some more utility addition in heat transfer module. To Download and check more updates on the new version :

http://www.openfoam.org/version2.2.1/

OpenFOAM GPGPU computing

Found a dell blog showing the use of GPGPU with OpenFOAM

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/high-performance-computing/b/hpc_gpu_computing/archive/2012/09/06/accelerating-cfd-using-openfoam-with-gpus.aspx

OpenFOAM -2.2.0

OpenFOAM - 2.2.0 relised. To download and install openfoam and paraview visit the website : www.openfoam.org

You can also visit the link for audio video tutorial on installing openfoam and paraview and basic level tutorials :

www.spoken-tutorial.org

Tank Drianage using InterFoam VOF solver

Tank Dimensions (2m X 3m),outlet pipe dimensions (0.2m X 1m) . Solver used InterFOAM.

Flow over multiple cylinders in V-configration-OpenFOAM

Installing pyFoam for OPENFOAM

PyFoam is a scripting language for OpenFOAM.Being similar to python the script can be used to make changes in FOAM case directories.

Below given are the steps for imstalling PyFoam on your linux machines:

STEP 1)

Downaload the latest version of "PyFoam" from the link given below:

http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Contrib_PyFoam

STEP 2 )

It will be a tar file. Untar the tar file in the folder of your choice

STEP 3)

Open the command terminal and go to the folder in which you have untared the pyFoam file.

STEP 4)

Using Synaptic Package manager install these two library files which are needed for pyFoam

libboost -dev

libboost -doc

STEP 5 )

In pyfoam folder you will see a set up file named "setup.py"

In the terminal window type the command :

python setup.py install

STEP 6 )

You are done with installation.

To check your installation in the terminal type "python"

Now type :

import PyFoam

import PyFoam.FoamInformation

print PyFoam.FoamInstallation.foamTutorials()

This command should produce a output showing the openfoam tutorials directory.

Moving wall ...@ OpenFOAM

ThermoPedia

http://www.thermopedia.com/content/674/?tid=104&sn=1410

A complete guide to understand basics of Thermodynamics,Fluid Mechanics,Heat transfer.A very useful page for Under Grads (UG).

GRID PRO-Ultimate tool for meshing

GridPro is an automatic, object-oriented, multiblock grid generator.
It provides users with a highly efficient, interactive capability to build topology, edit surfaces, set CFD boundary conditions, view grids and launch the grid generator.
Users interact with GridPro through the Az-Manager, an easy-to-use, dynamic 3D environment that combines a powerful scripting language with a user-friendly GUI front end. Automated processes minimize the amount of manual manipulation required to generate a grid, reducing errors in grid specification.
GridPro automatically creates templates of your grids to permit fast optimization to meet specific criteria.
To ensure that the highest quality grids are generated, the software engine incorporates a unique algorithm using advanced mathematical techniques. The algorithm optimizes each grid so that every element is smooth and orthogonal throughout the volumetric region under consideration

For more information on gridpro visit: http://www.gridpro.com

OpenFOAM Spoken Tutorial

Tutorials for Self Learning OpenFOAM have been made online.People interested in learning OpenFOAM can go through these tutorials and in case of any doubts they can post their comments here on the blog or can send me an email.It would surely be a great learning experience for everyone,so lets start with the open source CFD world.

Link for the tutorial:

www.spoken-tutorial.org/New

Rotating circular cylinder

Simulation of Rotating Circular cylinder in OpenFOAM

Boundary conditions:

Re=70

omega=2 rad/s

velocity = 0.7 m/s

7th OpenFOAM® Workshop

The 7th OpenFOAM® Workshop will be held in Darmstadt (next to Frankfurt, Germany) from June 25-28, 2012 - hosted by the Center of Smart Interfaces (CSI) and the Graduate School of Computational Engineering (GSCE) of the Technische Universität Darmstadt


http://www.openfoamworkshop.org/2012/OFW7.html

Simulation for flow over a circular cylinder using OpenFOAM

  OpenFOAM : Flow over a circular Cylinder

OpenFOAM 2.1.1 release

The latest version of OpenFOAM 2.1.1 was released on 31/5/2012.Bugs are removed and a lot of new features have been implemented after the 2.1.0 release.
To download OpenFOAM 2.1.1 visit the openfoam website on this url:
http://www.openfoam.org/download/

You can also download openfoam from synaptic package manager by simply typing in the terminal OpenFOAM.

P.S: In case it doesn't show up try fixing the repository by adding it manually in  synaptic  package manager > settings > repository > othersoftware and add the required openfoam repository

Genius CFD stuff.....from academic to animation industry--Ron Fedkiw

Finally CFD has also entered the animation industry. Prof .Ron Fedkiw has used Cfd codes to make animations look real.His real life animations have been earned him several credits,some of his works have been used in films like "Terminator 3", "Star wars".etc..etc.

You can find more information on Prof.Ron Fedkiw and his (wonderful) work on this website:
http://physbam.stanford.edu/~fedkiw/

OpenFOAM simulations 2D and 3D

http://sites.google.com/site/engcalculusev/openfoam-examples

Fluid Simulation for Video Games

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/fluid-simulation-for-video-games-part-1/

GNUPLOT

GnuPlot is a Free Open Source software for Plotting 2D/3D graphs.

More information on gnuplot is available on : http://t16web.lanl.gov/Kawano/gnuplot/intro/basic-e.html

Dutch OpenFOAM User Group (DOUG)

Dutch OpenFOAM user group(DOUG) these are a bunch of enthusiastic members who use OpenFOAM to carry out CFD simulations and have formed a team which handles different domains of fluid flow which includes Combustion ,Magneto Hydrodynamics,multiphase flows and marine applications.
Any one can join this 'Special interest group (SIG)' and get your self equipped with their seminars and various other updates/activities on OpenFOAM.

For more information : http://www.dutchopenfoamusers.nl