Comparison of CFD Tools/Software
Key concepts for selecting the right CFD tool
The landscape of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software has significantly evolved in past decade, becoming more accessible beyond research labs and large corporations to a diverse array of engineers and scientists. Choosing the right CFD software is critical, similar to selecting a key team member, as it can either accelerate projects or lead to challenges. DiPhyx as an end-to-end scientific computing platform, offers a wide variety of CFD software. It is imperative to choose the right CFD tool for your team and research goals.
In this story, we provide key concepts for selecting the right CFD tool, followed by a table that compares these tools.
Basic Concepts of CFD
Key concepts in CFD are pivotal for understanding and effectively comparing different software:
CFD Formulation Techniques
- RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes): Ideal for industrial applications to model turbulent flows by averaging fluid motion over time.
- LES (Large Eddy Simulation): Useful in capturing large-scale turbulent flow structures, particularly in complex geometries.
- DNS (Direct Numerical Simulation): Resolves all scales of turbulence directly, suitable mostly for fundamental research due to its computational demands.
Numerical Methods
- Finite Difference Method (FDM): Utilizes structured grids to solve partial differential equations, suitable for simple geometries.
- Finite Volume Method (FVM): Ensures conservation of fluxes across control volumes, ideal for complex geometries.
- Finite Element Method (FEM): Provides solutions by subdividing problems into smaller elements, excellent for structural analysis and multiphysics problems.
- Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM): Based on microscopic models and statistical mechanics, effective for simulating complex boundary conditions.
CFD Solvers and Features:
- Solvers: The core algorithms in CFD software can be pressure-based for incompressible flows or density-based for compressible flows.
- Scalability: Essential for handling large-scale or multi-scale simulations efficiently on high-performance computing systems.
- Multiphysics: Involves combining multiple physical phenomena like fluid-structure interaction or conjugate heat transfer.
- Radiation Modeling: Key in scenarios where heat transfer due to radiation is significant.
- GPU Support: Utilizes Graphics Processing Units to enhance simulation speeds dramatically.
Comparing CFD tools/software
| Name | Type | Formulation | Numerical Methods | Solvers | Scalability | Multiphysics | Radiation Modeling | GPU Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proprietary | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based & Density-based | High | Yes | P1 Radiation Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Discrete Transfer Radiation Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Radiation Heat Transfer Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | Medium | Yes | Discrete Ordinates (DO) Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Element | Pressure-based & Density-based | High | Yes | Surface-to-Surface Radiation | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Radiation Heat Transfer Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | Medium | Yes | Monte Carlo Radiation Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | P1 & Monte Carlo Radiation Models | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Element | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Radiosity Radiation Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Monte Carlo Radiation Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Discrete Ordinates (DO) Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Discrete Transfer Radiation Model | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | High | Yes | Radiosity Radiation Model | Yes | |
Open Source | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based & Density-based | High | Yes | Discrete Ordinates (DO) Model | Yes | |
Open Source | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based & Density-based | High | Yes | None | No | |
Open Source | RANS | Finite Volume | Pressure-based | Low | No | None | No | |
Open Source | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Element | Pressure-based & Density-based | High | Yes | None | Yes | |
Open Source | LES/DNS | Lattice Boltzmann | None | High | No | None | Yes | |
Open Source | RANS/LES | Spectral Methods | None | Medium | No | None | No | |
Open Source | RANS/LES/DNS | Spectral/hp Element | Pressure-based | High | Yes | None | Yes | |
Open Source | RANS/LES/DNS | Finite Element | Pressure-based & Density-based | High | Yes | None | Yes | |
Open Source | RANS/LES | Finite Element | Pressure-based | High | Yes | None | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS | 1D CFD | Pressure-based | Medium | Yes | None | No | |
Proprietary | LES/DNS | Lattice Boltzmann | None | High | Yes | Lattice Boltzmann Method | Yes | |
Proprietary | RANS/LES | None | None | High | Yes | None | No |
For detailed information on CFD toolssoftware, please visit our blog. Also for the list of available software, please look at our software page.