FLOW-3D General Brochure

WHAT IS FLOW-3D?
FLOW-3D is a powerful and highly-accurate CFD software that gives
engineers valuable insight into many physical flow processes. With
special capabilities for accurately predicting free-surface flows, FLOW-3D
is the ideal CFD software to use in your design phase as well as in
improving production processes.
“It is FLOW-3D‘s inherent simplicity that lends itself to use in real-world problem solving. Rather than spending large
amounts of time pre-processing (i.e., setting problems up), users can spend their time applying the results of their
work.”
John Richardson, Blue Hill Hydraulics
FEATURES
MESHING & GEOMETRY
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Structured finite difference/control
volume meshes
Finite element meshes for structural analysis
Multi-Block gridding with nested & linked blocks
Fractional areas/volumes (FAVORTM)
for efficient & accurate geometry
definition
Basic Solids Modeler
Import CAD data
Grid & geometry independence
Cartesian or cylindrical coordinates
Unstructured Memory Allocation
FLOW DEFINITION OPTIONS
• General initial and boundary conditions
––Symmetry
––Rigid and flexible walls
––Continuative
––Periodic
––Specified pressure
––Specified velocity
––Outflow
––Grid overlay
––Hydrostatic pressure
––Volume flow rate
––Non-linear periodic and solitary surface waves
• Restart from previous simulation
––Continuation of a simulation
––Overlay boundary conditions
––Change mesh
––Change model parameters
FLOW TYPE OPTIONS
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Internal, external & free-surface flows
Hybrid shallow water/3D flow model
3D, 2D & 1D problems
Transient flows
Inviscid, viscous laminar & turbulent flows
Non-inertial reference frames=
Multiple scalar species
Two-phase flows
Heat transfer with phase change
Saturated & unsaturated porous media
THERMAL MODELING OPTIONS
• Natural convection
• Forced convection
• Conduction in fluid & solid
• Fluid-solid heat transfer
––Conduction
––Specified heat flux
––Specified solid temperature
• Distributed energy sources/sinks in fluids and solids
• Radiation
• Viscous heating
• Thermal stress evolution
• Orthographic thermal conductivity
• Thermally-induced stresses
PHYSICAL MODELING OPTIONS
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Fluid structure interaction
Thermal stress evolution
Plastic deformation of solids
Sediment scour deposition & bedload transport
Cavitation
Phase change (liquid-vapor, liquid-solid)
Surface tension
Thermocapillary effects
Wall adhesion
Wall roughness
Vapor & gas bubbles
Solidification & melting
Mass/momentum/energy sources
Shear, density & temperature-dependent viscosity
Thixotropic viscosity
Visco-elastic-plastic fluids
Elastic membranes & walls
Evaporation residue
Electric field
Dielectric phenomena
Electro-osmosis
Electrostatic particles
Electro-mechanical effects
Joule heating
Air entrainment
Molecular & turbulent diffusion
Temperature-dependent material properties
PHYSICAL MODELING OPTIONS
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Granular flow
Moisture drying
Solid solute dissolution
Spray cooling
CONTINUED
NUMERICAL MODELING OPTIONS
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TruVOF Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) method for fluid
interfaces
First and second order advection
Sharp and diffuse interface tracking
Implicit & explicit numerical methods
GMRES, point and line relaxation pressure solvers
User-defined variables, subroutines &
output
Utilities for runtime interaction during execution
FLUID MODELING OPTIONS
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One incompressible fluid – confined or with free
surfaces
Two incompressible fluids – miscible or with sharp interfaces
Compressible fluid – subsonic, transonic, supersonic
Stratified fluid
Acoustic phenomena
Mass particles with variable density or diameter
SHALLOW FLOW MODELS
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Dielectric phenomena
Shallow water model
General topography
Wetting & drying
Wind shear
Ground roughness effects
Laminar & turbulent flow
ADVANCED PHYSICAL MODELS
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General moving objects model with 6 DOF–prescribed
and fully-coupled motion
Rotating/spinning objects
Collision model
Tethered moving objects
Flexing membranes and walls
Porosity
Finite element based elastic-plastic deformation
Finite element based thermal stress evolution due to
thermal changes in a solidifying fluid
POROUS MEDIA MODELS
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Saturated and unsaturated flow
Variable & directional porosity
General flow losses (linear & quadratic)
Capillary pressure
Heat transfer in porous media
Linear & quadratic flow losses
Van Genunchten model for unsaturated flow
METAL CASTING MODELS
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Solidification & melting
Solidification shrinkage with interdendritic feeding
Micro & macro porosity
Binary alloy segregation
Thermal die cycling
Thermal stress & deformations
Surface oxide defects
Cavitation potential
Lost-foam casting
Semi-solid material
Iron solidification
Sand core blowing & drying
Permeable molds
Core gas generation
Back pressure & vents
Shot sleeves
Air entrainment
Temperature-dependent material properties
Cooling channel definitions
FEATURES
TWO-PHASE &
TWO-COMPONENT MODELS
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Liquid/liquid & gas/liquid interfaces
Variable density mixtures
One compressible fluid with a dispersed incompressible component
Drift flux
Two-component, vapor/non-condensable gases
Phase transformations for gas-liquid &
liquid-solid
Adiabatic bubbles
Bubbles with phase change
Continuum fluid with discrete particles
Scalar transport
Homogeneous bubbles
USER CONVENIENCES
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Mesh & initial condition generators
Automatic time-step control for accuracy & stability
Automatic convergence control
Mentor help to optimize efficiency
Change simulation parameters while solver runs
Manage & launch multiple simulations
Automatic simulation termination based on userdefined criteria
DATA PROCESSING OPTIONS
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Automatic or custom results analysis
High-quality OpenGL-based graphics
Color or B/W vector, contour, 3D surface & particle
plots
Moving history & probe data
Probe data for fluid structure interaction/thermal stress
evolution
Force & moment computations
Animation output
PostScript, JPEG & Bitmap output
Streamlines
Flow tracers
COUPLING WITH OTHER PROGRAMS
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Geometry input from Stereolithography (STL) files –
binary or ASCII
Direct interfaces with EnSight®, FIELDVIEW® & Tecplot®
visualization software
PLOT3D output
Neutral file output
Extensive customization possibilities
Topographic data input
Solid Properties Materials Database
CHEMISTRY MODELS
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Stiff equation solver for chemical rate equations
Stationary or advected species
DISCRETE PARTICLE MODELS
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Massless marker particles
Mass particles of variable size/mass
Linear & quadratic fluid-dynamic drag
Monte-Carlo diffusion
Particle-Fluid momentum coupling
Coefficient of restitution or sticky
particles
Point or volumetric particle sources
Charged particles
Probe particles
TURBULENCE MODELS
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RNG model
Two-equation κ-ε model
Large eddy simulation
“We are using FLOW-3D not only as a die cast process simulation tool
but also as a general CFD software tool. If during die cast process
development, any part design changes need to be recommended
to a customer, FLOW-3D allows us quickly and reliably evaluate part
design changes, and present to a customer not only the proposed
changes but also the effects those changes will have on the part performance.”
Alex Reikher, Shiloh Industries
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
From model setup to simulation to detailed results analysis,
FLOW-3D includes all the functionality you need in one simple-touse application, driven by an intuitive graphical user interface.
Users can easily set up a model and quickly mesh it through
its graphical model builder, screen out model incompatibilities
and configuration errors, and perform detailed analysis through
extensive post-processing capabilities.
“I have been using FLOW-3D for 15 years as the primary theoretical tool in design optimization work on drop-on
demand type inkjet printheads. I have found its free-surface modeling capabilities ideally suited for simulating the
ligament formation process, and for studying other important free-surface problems such as wetting and priming.”
Charlie Willus, Member, Technical Staff, Ricoh
MESHING
FLOW-3D uses an approach to gridding that combines the advantages
of simple rectangular grids with the flexibility of deformed, body-fitted
grids. Fixed grids of rectangular control elements are simple to generate
and possess many desirable properties (e.g., improved accuracy,
smaller demands on memory, and simpler numerical approximations).
The approach is referred to as “free-gridding” because grids or
geometry can be freely changed, each independent of the other. This
feature eliminates the tedious task of generating body-fitted or finiteelement grids.
Advanced features such as conforming meshes make it possible to
have highly-refined grids only in relevant regions of the computational
domain. Using this feature it is possible to generate meshes that
conform to very thin components or void regions while retaining a
coarser grid in the surrounding region.
P O S T - P R O C E S S I N G W I T H F L O W S I G H T TM
FlowSight is a state-of-the-art post-processing tool based on the industry
leading Ensight, which has been customized for FLOW-3D.
Its capabilites include:
• Multiple iso-surfaces
• 2D clips with FAVORTM geometry
• Animated streamlines
• Multiple viewpoints of simulation results
• Simultaneous view of FSI and fluid flow results
• Extensive annotation capabilites
• Read/plot data from external sources
• Interactive queries
• Texture mapping
• 3D stereo and head tracking
• Moving viewpoints
• Volume rendering
• Flipbook
• Portable Results
INDUSTRIES
Aerospace
F L O W - 3 D is a p ow e rf u l C FD m od e ling s of tw a re tha t g ive s engineer s va lua b le
ins ig ht into m a ny p hy s ic a l f low p roc e s s e s . W ith s p e c ia l c a p a b ilities f o r a c c ur a tely
p re d ic ting f re e -s u rf a c e f low s , F L O W - 3 D is the id e a l s of tw a r e to use f o r a er o sp a c e
a p p lic ations inc lu d ing s los hing d y na m ic s , f u e l ac q u is ition, o b j ec t imp a c t,
c ry og e nic s , noz z le f low s , P MD s , c avita tion a nd e le c tric cha r ge distr ib utio n.
Automotive
F L O W - 3 D is a c om p re he ns ive C FD s of tw a re tha t of f e rs s ol utio ns to ma ny o f the
c halle ng e s in the au tom otive ind u s try . F L O W - 3 D c an s im ula te tr a nsient f lo w
d y nam ic s , ( b oth f re e -s u rf a c e a nd c onf ine d ) , the rm al e ne r gy tr a nsf er in f luids a nd
s olid s , p ha s e c hang e , 6-d e g re e s of f re e d om m otion of s olids a nd a c o up led f inite
e le m e nt s olve r f or m e c ha nic ally a nd the rm ally ind u c e d str esses.
Biotechnology
Aerospace
Automotive
B iotechnol o g y
A p p ly ing c om p u tational f lu id d y na m ic s to the f ie ld of b iotec hno lo gy is a r ela tively
ne w p rac tic e and has g re a t p ote ntial to im p rove the w ay ma ny medic a l devic es
a re u s e d or im p le m e nte d . F L O W - 3 D’ s c ap ab ilitie s inc lu d e f r ee-sur f a c e a nd c o nf ined
f low s , variab le d e ns ity , p has e c hang e , m oving ob j e c ts , a nd mec ha nic a l a nd ther ma l
s tre s s ana ly s is .
Coastal & Maritime
F L O W - 3 D is the id e al s of tw a re to u s e f or m aritim e ap p lic atio ns inc luding ship design,
s los hing d y na m ic s , w ave im p ac t a nd ve ntilation. For c oa sta l a p p lic a tio ns, F L OW- 3D
a c c u rate ly p re d ic ts the d e ta il of s e ve re s torm a nd ts u na mi wa ve r un-up o n c o a sta l
s tru c tu re s a nd is u s e d f or f la s h f lood a nd c ritic a l s tru c tu r es f lo o d a nd da ma ge
a na ly s is .
Coating
Coa st a l & Ma ri tim e
Coating
O p tim iz ing c oa ting p roc e s s e s c an b e d if f ic u lt d u e to the sma ll sc a le o f f luid mo tio n
a nd the inf lu e nc e of e f f e c ts s u c h a s w a ll ad he s ion and s ur f a c e tensio n. F L OW- 3D
p rovid e s a c onve nie nt w a y to a na ly z e the s e p roc e s s e s w itho ut ha ving to r eso r t to
c os tly lab oratory e x p e rim e nts . F L O W - 3 D’ s m od e ls s im u la te sur f a c e tensio n gr a dients
d u e to te m p e ra tu re va riations , he a t tra ns f e r, vap oriz a tio n, c o ndensa tio n, so lute
trans p ort and d e ns ity -d rive n f low s .
INDUSTRIES
Energy
Engi ne e r s i n t he e ne r gy s e c t or ar ound t he w or l d fac e c o mp le x d e s ig n
c hal l e nge s e ve r y day i n a w i de r ange of p r oc e s s e s f o r w h ic h s o lu t io n s c a n b e
found t hr ough c om p ut at i onal fl ui d dynam i c s . Many o f t h e s e p ro b le ms in v o lv e
fr e e -s ur fac e fl ow s for w hi c h F L OW - 3D i s uni q ue l y s ui te d t o p ro v id e a c c u ra t e
unde r s t andi ng and anal ys i s .
Inkjets
I nk je t m anufac t ur e r s ar ound t he w or l d us e F L OW - 3D t o imp ro v e t h e
p e r for m anc e of t he i r p r i nt e r s . D e s i gn e ngi ne e r s c an s t u d y d ro p le t g e n e ra t io n
( vol um e , s hap e , ve l oc i t y, s at e l l i t e c r e at i on) , and t he e f f e c t o f n o z z le
ge om e t r y, t e m p e r at ur e , b ub b l e e ne r gy and s ur fac e t e n s io n o n t h e s e
var i ab l e s .
Manufacturing
Ink jets
E ne r g y
Manufactur i ng
Fre e -s u rf ac e f low s a re c om m on in the d e s ig n and m a nu f a c tur e o f p r o duc ts used
in b oth the hom e and of f ic e e nvironm e nt. F L O W - 3 D’ s f ree-sur f a c e mo deling
c a p ab ilitie s m a ke it p os s ib le to re a liz e thos e s a ving s . F L O W- 3D c a n a lso b e used to
d e s ig n s p ray noz z le s , m od e l ab s orp tive c ap ab ilitie s of p or o us ma t e ria ls a n d ma n y
othe r c om p one nts or c a p ab ilitie s of c ons u m e r g ood s .
Microfluidics
N u m e ric al s im u lation c an p rovid e q u a ntita tive ana ly s is a nd signif ic a nt insight a c r o ss
s u c h d is c ip line s a s e le c tronic s , m e c hanic s , c he m is try , the r ma l sc ienc e a nd f luid
s c ie nc e . Us ing F L O W - 3 D a s a f low s im u la tion tool c a n he l p to sub sta ntia lly r educ e
the c os t of d e s ig n and p rod u c tion of m ic rof lu id ic d e vic es.
Water & Environmental
Mi crofl u i d i cs
Water & Envir onm ental
F L O W - 3 D is a valu a b le C FD s of tw a re f or d e ve lop ing d e s ig n a nd imp lementa tio n
op tions ove r a w id e rang e of is s u e s f a c ing hy d rau lic s e ng ineer s, f r o m la r ge
hy d roe le c tric p ow e r p roj e c ts to s m a ll m u nic ip a l w as te w ater tr ea tment sy stems.
S im u lation c an p la y a c ru c ia l role f or te s ting d e s ig n op tio ns, help ing to r educ e
c om p le x ity and f oc u s e f f orts on op tim iz e d s olu tions .
HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
Substantial increases in performance and scaling can be achieved with
FLOW-3D/MP.
FLOW-3D/MP enables engineers to take advantage of the scaling potential
of high-performance computing on clusters to simulate very large domains
or long real-time events.
SUPPORT
A variety of technical support packages are available to streamline your
modeling process. Flow Science’s support staff is comprised of engineers
with industry experience who understand the needs and problems facing
users in competitive professional environments. Flow Science prides itself on
offering timely and courteous support from our expert CFD engineers.
TRAINING
Flow Science offers comprehensive FLOW-3D training classes for customers
in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Classes provide attendees a solid understanding
of the software and hands-on experience solving relevant problems. Classes
may be combined with specific project consultations when deadlines
demand fast results. Existing and new users, as well as those interested in
evaluating the software, are invited to attend.
“I wanted to thank you for all your support during the FLOW-3D training, particularly during the
individual consultation session. Your willingness to assist in developing my application is really
appreciated. Please extend my thanks to all at Flow Science for an extremely well-delivered training
course.”
Juan A. Gonzalez-Castro, Chief Consulting Engineer, SFWMD, Operations and Hydro Data
Management Division
THE COMPANY
CONTACT INFORMATION
FLOW SCIENCE
683 HARKLE RD
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO 87505
(505)982-0088
[email protected]
www.flow3d.com
Flow Science was founded in 1980 by Dr. C. W. (Tony) Hirt, who was one
of the principals in pioneering the “Volume-of-Fluid” or VOF method while
working at the Los Alamos National Lab. FLOW-3D is a direct descendant
of this work, but in the intervening years we have taken it to a much
higher level with TruVOF, boasting major improvements in the accuracy of
tracking distinct liquid/gas interfaces. FLOW-3D is about much more than
just free surface flows: It is a complete multi-physics package with significant
modeling capabilities including fluid-structure interaction, 6-DoF moving
objects, and multiphase flows.
Flow Science supports a stellar customer base of commercial, academic,
and government users around the globe who use FLOW-3D to improve the
world on a daily basis, a fact we are very proud of. We take care of these
users directly, and through a high-quality channel of affiliated companies (in
Japan, China, and Germany) and independent partners.
FLOW-3D and TruVOF are registered trademarks in the US and other countries.
www.flow3d.com
(505) 982 - 0088
Improving the world through accurate flow modeling