OpenFVM is a versatile tool that utilizes computational fluid dynamics to model the movement of fluids in intricate, three-dimensional structures.
One of the key features of OpenFVM is its ability to work with unstructured meshes, allowing for control volumes with arbitrary shapes. While this makes it a sophisticated tool, installing and using OpenFVM is relatively simple. Users need to ensure they have LASPACK, GMSH version 1.65, and GNUPLOT installed on their system before proceeding.
To use OpenFVM, users must first copy LASPACK source files to the appropriate directory, install GMSH, and install GNUPLOT. They then need to edit the LASPACK source files to replace all occurrences of '#include "laspack/' with '#include "' or type "./fixlaspack". Next, users must build the program from source code by typing "./compile". Once the program is built, users can generate a mesh by going to the appropriate directory and typing "gmsh lid.geo -3". To run the program, type "../OpenFVM lid".
OpenFVM also allows users to view 2D plots of the residual by typing "gnuplot lid.plt". To view results, they must type "gmsh lid.pos &" and open the "lid.scr" file. This will extract data, generate 2D plots of the velocity, and save it in two files, "lid_u.txt" and "lid_v.txt". To view the 2D plots, users can type "gnuplot lid.gph".
Overall, OpenFVM is a powerful and flexible CFD solver that is ideal for simulating complex 3D geometries. Its ability to handle non-isothermal multiphase flows and unstructured meshes make it invaluable in industrial settings. While there are a few steps involved in installing and using the software, these are relatively straightforward and should not pose a problem for most users.
Version 1.0: N/A