Learn OpenFOAM CFD (Level 2)

Name: Learn OpenFOAM CFD (Level 2)
Rating: 4.4 (42 reviews)

Learn Neat Techniques to Setup CFD Cases in OpenFOAM!

Created byCfd Baba

Last updated 2/2023

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Multiphase Simulation using interFoam
Conjugate Heat Transfer Simulation using chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam
Ahmad Body External Aerodynamics Simulation With Validation using simpleFoam
Geometry Preparation Using Salome
Meshing Using Salome
Meshing Using snappyHexMesh
Setting Correct Boundary Conditions in OpenFOAM
Post-processing Using Paraview

Course content

3 sections • 29 lectures • 2h 17m total length

Introduction and Creating Fluid Domain7:46
Validate airflow over an armoured body by creating a fluid domain in OpenFOAM, reading STL geometry, and comparing drag 0.299 and lift 0.345 with Maley et al. 2011.
Refining the blockMesh3:13
Refine the blockMesh around the car by adjusting domain lengths and delta sizing to achieve uniform 0.1 m cells in x, y, and z, preparing for snappy hex mesh.
Setting up snappyHexMeshDict9:25
Set up the snappyHexMeshDict and surface feature extract dict for the car geometry in the tri surface folder, using car dot SQL as the geometry name and a refinement box.
Executing snappyHexMesh in Parallel2:22
Execute snappyHexMesh in parallel by decomposing the domain into two subdomains with the Scotch method, then run mpirun to overwrite the block mesh and generate boundary layers.
Visualizing snappyHexMesh in Paraview4:28
Visualize and evaluate snappyHexMesh in Paraview for an armoured body, checking boundary layers, mesh quality, and refinements, then prepare lift and drag results for comparison with experiments.
Setting up Initial Boundary Conditions in 0 Folder6:10
Setting up constant and system Folder3:35
Executing simpleFoam in Parallel and Calculating Lift and Drag Coefficient6:07
Execute parallel simpleFoam in OpenFOAM, decompose and check the mesh, monitor lift and drag coefficients across iterations, and reconstruct and post-process results in Paraview.
Postprocessing Results in Paraview4:36
Use Paraview postprocessing to view pressure distribution and velocity around the car, observe wake vortices, and learn how mesh refinement captures drag forces, with max velocity near 61 m/s.
Plotting Streamlines in Paraview3:59
Lift and Drag Coefficients Validation and Conclusion1:41
Validate lift and drag coefficients by comparing numerical results with experimental data, using the ready-made CAD model, snappy hex mesh, reference length and area, post-processing, and a steady-state simple solver.

Introduction and Geometry Preparation5:52
Mesh Generation Using Salome3:11
Create a Salome mesh for gearbox cooling domain by selecting netgen, setting min and max sizes, increasing fineness, and computing a 69,000-element mesh; export as UNV to the main folder.
Setting Up the OpenFOAM Case Structure and Importing Mesh3:26
Set up the OpenFOAM CFD case by importing the mesh from tutorials, check mesh quality, and create solid-fluid interfaces using split mesh regions (gearbox example).
Cleaning up 0 folder2:27
Cleaning up constant and system folder1:57
Copy thermophysical and turbulence properties from domain zero to the air folder and solid region properties from the CPU folder to gearbox. Delete folders and update schemes and solution files.
Setting up Initial Boundary Conditions in 0 Folder13:54
Set up the zero folder boundary conditions for the fluid domain, editing U, P, T, K, epsilon, and alpha T, and assign inlet, outlet, and walls with Paraview verification.
Setting up constant and system folder4:58
Configure gravity -9.81 in y direction, designate Gearbox as solid and Air as fluid, and use multi-region simple form solver with realizable k-epsilon turbulence and a 100 W heat source.
Launching chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam Solver2:23
Launch the chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam solver to run a steady-state multi-region CFD with separate solid and fluid meshes, using a gearbox as the heat source and monitoring the log for convergence.
Postprocessing Results in Paraview4:14
Open the case in paraview, apply slices to inspect pressure and temperature in the fluid domain, and use glyphs to visualize velocity and buoyancy effects near the gearbox.
Advanced Postprocessing Techniques in Paraview5:44
Extracting Average Volume Temperatures and Conclusion3:26
Learn to perform conjugate heat transfer in OpenFOAM by extracting average temperatures in solid and fluid domains, post-processing results, and optimizing outlet placement for cooling.

Introduction and Geometry Preparation4:27
Explore geometry preparation for a fountain flow using OpenFOAM by importing a STEP model in Salome, extracting a 2D surface, and defining atmosphere, inlet, outlet, and warp boundaries before meshing.
Mesh Generation Using Salome6:23
Learn to generate 2D and 3D Salome meshes for OpenFOAM, apply local inlet refinement, switch to quad-dominant elements, extrude to 3D, and export the UNV mesh for CFD.
Setting Up the OpenFOAM Case Structure and Importing Mesh5:29
Set up the OpenFOAM case by importing the mesh and organizing zero, constant, and system folders, then visualize boundaries in Paraview to confirm 2D empty boundary conditions.
Setting up Initial Boundary Conditions in 0 Folder6:09
Setting up constant and system Folder2:42
Configure the constant folder with gravity, water and air densities, viscosity, sigma, and k-epsilon turbulence; copy system files and set end time to three seconds with auto time stepping.
Post processing of Results in Paraview5:00
Launch the OpenFOAM simulation, monitor timesteps via log files, and visualize results in ParaView by coloring alpha.water, observing velocity and pressure distributions, and playing the animation up to three seconds.
Advanced Postprocessing Technique and Conclusion2:30
Apply post-processing with a threshold filter to isolate water and set opacity to 0.21. Animate the result in OpenFOAM after Salome meshing in a 2D simulation with inlet and outlet.

Requirements

Enthusiasm to learn OpenFOAM

Description

Note - CFD results always need to be validated with experimental data before blindly relying on them.

This course will take you through all the basics required in order to simulate simple CFD problems using OpenFOAM.

Geometry preparation will be covered using Salome.
Meshing will be covered using Salome and snappyHexMesh.
Solving will be covered using OpenFOAM solvers.
Post-processing of results will be covered using Paraview.
All these software are available for free without any license costs.

CFD helps to reduce the cost of products by saving time and money in prototype testing phase. Rapid prototype testings can be done by using CFD technology to predict the future behavior of the product. It enables us to foresee any shortcomings in the product and rectify them before the actual manufacturing phase of the product. This is a young technology and can grow substantially in near future.

You will be able to draw CAD models using the dimensions of any given geometry. Then you will understand how to mesh the geometry in Salome to get appropriate results. Mesh size plays an important role in deciding the accuracy of your results. Assumption of boundary conditions is another important aspect in any CFD simulation. Replication of real-life conditions must be correctly implemented in the CFD boundary conditions. Finally good post-processing of the results helps you to deliver your results successfully to the non-technical

Who this course is for:

Bachelors Students
Masters Students
Professionals

Learn OpenFOAM CFD (Level 2)

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Air Flow Over Ahmad Body and Validation With Experimental Results11 lectures • 53min

Cold Air Flow Over Hot Gearbox With Heatsource (Conjugate Heat Transfer)11 lectures • 52min

Water Flow Through Fountain Using interFoam7 lectures • 33min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: