SU2: An Open-Source Suite for Multiphysics Simulation and Design

TLDR

SU2 is a computational analysis and design package developed to solve multiphysics analysis and optimization tasks on unstructured meshes, and its unique architecture enables extensibility to PDE‑based problems beyond its original scope. The paper outlines SU2’s main objectives, describing its novel software architecture and open‑source engineering strategy. The common framework allows rapid implementation of new physics packages that can be tightly coupled, forming a powerful ensemble of analysis tools for complex engineering problems. The framework is demonstrated on a benchmark, solving flow and adjoint equations to deliver high‑fidelity predictions and sensitivity data for gradient‑based shape optimization, goal‑oriented mesh refinement, and uncertainty quantification.

Abstract

This paper presents the main objectives and a description of the SU2 suite, including the novel software architecture and open-source software engineering strategy. SU2 is a computational analysis and design package that has been developed to solve multiphysics analysis and optimization tasks using unstructured mesh topologies. Its unique architecture is well suited for extensibility to treat partial-differential-equation-based problems not initially envisioned. The common framework adopted enables the rapid implementation of new physics packages that can be tightly coupled to form a powerful ensemble of analysis tools to address complex problems facing many engineering communities. The framework is demonstrated on a number, solving both the flow and adjoint systems of equations to provide a high-fidelity predictive capability and sensitivity information that can be used for optimal shape design using a gradient-based framework, goal-oriented adaptive mesh refinement, or uncertainty quantification.