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OPENCFD RELEASE OPENFOAM VERSION 1.3
21 January 2007 - NAFEMS
| OpenCFD are pleased to announce the release of version 1.3 of their OpenFOAM open source CFD toolbox. Version 1.3 contains numerous developments aimed towards improving the efficiency and robustness of OpenFOAM for large-scale engineering CFD, including: |
Improved parallel running
Parallel running of OpenFOAM has been improved significantly with: easy implementation of integral boundary conditions, e.g. fixed mass flow rate; faster performance of the parallelised AMG solver; faster parallel communications. Increased speed
Significant improvements in speed and memory storage through careful code optimisation. Better numerics
Several discretisation schemes have been added for better accuracy and better stability on ‘bad’ (e.g. tetrahedral) meshes. Single precision option
OpenFOAM can be switched from double to single precision for all floating point numbers to reduce memory requirements, e.g. for large steady-state external aerodynamics calculations (F1). OpenMPI
Support for and shipped with OpenMPI (although still released compiled with lam-MPI by default).
The other main changes have been predominately driven by commercial demand and comprise of the following: Development tools
New, automatic stack trace on code abort; optional initialisation of dynamically allocated memory to trap use of uninitialised floating point variables; processor-labelled error messages for easier debugging. Application development
The developments of the solvers centre around low and high speed aerodynamics, heat transfer and buoyancy-driven flows. There are many new utilities, particularly for mesh conversion/manipulation and post-processing. Mesh handling
There has a major reorganisation and development of mesh structures to improve capability for generation, topological change, sliding interfaces, etc. Switchable base system of units
Physical constants are no longer hard-coded but read in from file enabling the use of a different base system of units from the default (SI). Changes to models
There are some changes in particular relating to wall functions of turbulence models. Library restructure
The finite volume method is separated from the main library so that other discretisation techniques may be easily supported; libraries have been reordered to prevent cyclic dependencies. Compiler
Released compiled with GCC 4.1, a version with superior optimisation, better adherence to the C++ standard and improved error messaging; support for the Intel C++ 9.0 compiler.
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About: NAFEMS
NAFEMS is a not for profit organisation aimed at promoting best practices and also fostering education and awareness in the engineering analysis community. In line with its objectives to promote the effective use of simulation technologies, NAFEMS is continually seeking to create awareness of new analysis methodologies, deliver education & training, and stimulate the adoption of best practices and standards by offering a platform for continuous professional development.By the late 1970s and early 1980s, as computing power became more widely available, increasingly industry was starting to solve practical engineering problems using finite element analysis techniques. There was however considerable concern that the accuracy of the methods, and software implementations, required to be verified in order to allow the results to be effectively used. Following extensive lobbying, by industry and academia, the UK Government's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) set up, and funded, a project within the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL), based in East Kilbride, Scotland, to investigate the issues. As a result the National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards, quickly shortened to the acronym NAFEMS, was founded as a special interest group in 1983 with a specific objective namely: "To promote the safe and reliable use of finite element and related technology" In order to keep engineers abreast of the latest developments in the Analysis World the quarterly magazine BENCHmark was launched by NAFEMS in July 1987. After seven years of seed funding by the UK government, and with the support of its industrial members, the decision was taken to launch NAFEMS Ltd as an independent not-for-profit company, owned by its member's in 1990. The company celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2000, and has developed both the scope of its technology focus and its membership well beyond the original vision. Today NAFEMS and its members are involved in many different types of engineering simulation covering both products and processes. Membership continues to grow, now exceeding 700 corporate members in over 30 different countries. Steering groups have been set up in the UK, France, Germany, and the USA to co-ordinate local activities and interaction with members. |
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