The CFD devil is in CAD details

Project reference: 1620

CAD models are programmed in OPEN CASCADE with different levels of detail, which are then, using high performance computing, meshed and imported in OpenFOAM to calculate fluid flow around the given object.

The usual procedure to simulate the fluid flow around the body is to take the CAD model, mesh it and run the CFD simulation. After analysing the results from the simulation, new design solutions are proposed. The model is changed according to the new solutions, meshed again and CFD simulation is run. After several iterations of CAD modelling, meshing and CFD simulations, final design is achieved.

With this project, the complete procedure of CAD modelling, meshing and CFD analysis would be done programmatically. Moreover, different level of details of the CAD model, which influence the fluid flow around the object will be programed using OPEN CASCADE CAD kernel, with C++ and/or Python.

This programmatic workflow would allow more comprehensive analysis of given CAD model on fluid flow including the different level of details found in the geometry.
First, CAD model is modelled in OPEN CASCADE with several levels of geometrical details. Then the model is meshed and CFD analysis is run using OpenFOAM.

Various model dimensions and positions in reference to the fluid flow.

Project Mentor: Marijo Telenta

Site Co-ordinator: Leon Kos

Student: Sam Hewitt

Learning Outcomes:
The student will gain experience in:

• Using open source code (Python, OPEN CASCADE, OpenFOAM)
• Utilizing the HPC resources
• Visualization of data

Student Prerequisites (compulsory): 
Proficiency in Bash and strong programming background in Python and C++.

Student Prerequisites (desirable): 
Experience with CFD.

Training Materials:
Web pages:

• http://www.opencascade.com
• http://www.cfd-online.com/
• http://hpc.fs.uni-lj.si/
• http://www.openfoam.com

Workplan:
Week 1: Training week
Week 2: Literature review (plan writing)
Week 3-6: Project development
Week 7: Optimization, validation, and visualization
Week 8: Final report write-up

Final Product Description: 
Results will be published as a report and the data will be visualized and presented with figures and video materials.

Adapting the Project: Increasing the Difficulty:
If time allows, CAD models will have more level of details which influence will be analysed in CFD simulation using different turbulence models.

Resources:
HPC Prelog, OpenFOAM, ParaView, Python, Mathematica, Inscape, Gimp, Latex, OPEN CASCADE. The student will be placed on his own desk with desktop computer in office.

Organisation:
University of Ljubljana