OpenFOAM Overview of Reviews & Product Details - 2025
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OpenFOAM
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OpenFOAM is a powerful open-source software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, enabling robust analysis of fluid behavior and thermal dynamics. Highly customizable, it supports various solvers and modeling capabilities, from multi-phase flows to structural interaction. While requiring programming expertise, it offers unmatched flexibility and cost-efficiency for advanced simulations.

Overview

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Simulate Fluid Dynamics with OpenFOAM – The Go-To Open-Source CFD Tool

OpenFOAM is a leading open-source software designed for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), making it a cost-effective and versatile choice for engineers, researchers, and professionals across...

Simulate Fluid Dynamics with OpenFOAM – The Go-To Open-Source CFD Tool

OpenFOAM is a leading open-source software designed for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), making it a cost-effective and versatile choice for engineers, researchers, and professionals across various industries. Offering powerful tools to simulate fluid flow, thermal processes, and dynamic systems, OpenFOAM empowers users to model and analyze complex fluid behavior for innovative problem-solving.

Why Use OpenFOAM?

OpenFOAM stands out for its:

  • Flexibility and Customization: As open-source software, OpenFOAM provides complete access to its source code, enabling users to develop custom solvers tailored to unique simulation needs, including single-phase, multiphase, and heat-transfer flows.
  • Wide Simulation Capabilities: OpenFOAM supports a wide range of fluid mechanics applications, such as analyzing flow patterns, fluid-structure interactions, and thermal dynamics, making it ideal for both academic research and industrial projects.
  • Advanced Design Tools: The software includes robust 3D modeling, drawing, editing, and rendering tools to streamline the creation and manipulation of geometries for simulation setups.
  • Cost Efficiency: OpenFOAM is available free of charge, eliminating license costs and making it accessible to small businesses, educators, and researchers on a budget.
  • Community Support: With a strong global user base and active community forums, users can easily find tutorials, guides, and troubleshooting advice to overcome challenges and optimize performance.

Who is OpenFOAM For?

OpenFOAM is the perfect choice for:

  • Researchers and Academics: Ideal for simulating complex mechanics like wave behaviors, automotive aerodynamics, and advanced thermodynamics in research studies.
  • Engineers: Provides engineers working in industries like aerospace, automotive, and energy with the tools to simulate intricate fluid systems and optimize designs.
  • Small Businesses: A budget-friendly tool for companies seeking high-quality simulation capabilities without expensive licensing fees.
  • Advanced Users: Targeted at users with programming knowledge, particularly in C++, to customize solvers and workflows efficiently.

In conclusion, OpenFOAM excels in delivering comprehensive, flexible, and cost-efficient CFD solutions. Whether you’re a researcher tackling innovative projects or an engineer optimizing fluid systems, OpenFOAM equips you with the tools to solve complex problems and drive impactful outcomes in fluid dynamics simulations.

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Review

OpenFOAM Satisfaction and Score

OpenFOAM Score and Review

See OpenFOAM pros cons, the conclusions and the subscribed score

71% Subscribed Score
Compare OpenFOAM to others

MATLAB

78%
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Videos

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Pricing

OpenFOAM Pricing and Features

OpenFOAM Pricing

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Experience

OpenFOAM Product Experience

OpenFOAM
Cancellation

Steps to Cancel OpenFOAM Subscription

OpenFOAM Pricing

To cancel or clear a previous OpenFOAM calculation:

  • Use foamListTimes -rm to remove all time directories except the "0" directory.
  • For decomposed cases, use foamListTimes -processor -rm.
  • Alternatively, use pyFoamClearCase.pl from the pyFoam utilities.
FAQ

Most frequent question about OpenFOAM

What is OpenFOAM and what is it used for?

OpenFOAM is a free, open-source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package used to solve complex fluid flow systems, including simulations involving chemical reactions, turbulence, heat transfer, acoustics, solid mechanics, and electromagnetics.

Who develops and maintains OpenFOAM?

OpenFOAM is primarily developed and maintained by OpenCFD Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the ESI Group. The software has been managed and developed by OpenCFD Ltd since its debut in 2004.

How often are new versions of OpenFOAM released?

New versions of OpenFOAM are released every six months, in June and December, and include customer-sponsored developments and contributions from the community.

What kind of testing and quality assurance does OpenFOAM undergo?

OpenFOAM undergoes rigorous testing, including several hundred daily unit tests, a medium-sized test battery run weekly, and large industry-based test batteries run prior to new version releases to assess regression behavior, memory usage, code performance, and scalability.

How is OpenFOAM licensed and distributed?

OpenFOAM is released free and open-source under the GNU General Public License, allowing users to see the inner workings of the algorithms and models, and providing a robust platform for future developments and collaborative research.

Alternatives

Try these alternatives of OpenFOAM

MATLAB is a leading platform for numerical computing, programming, and simulation, widely used by engineers and scientists. It offers extensive libraries, toolboxes, and an interactive environment optimized for data analysis, algorithm development, and modeling. Known for its versatility, MATLAB supports tasks such as machine learning, image and signal processing, control systems, and visualizations. It provides powerful capabilities for solving complex equations, real-time analytics, and engineering simulations.