OpenFOAM: A C++ Library for Complex Physics Simulations

Abstract

Abstract. This paper describes the design of OpenFOAM, an object-oriented library for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and struc-tural analysis. Efficient and flexible implementation of complex physi-cal models in Continuum Mechanics is achieved by mimicking the form of partial differential equation in software. The library provides Fi-nite Volume and Finite Element discretisation in operator form and with polyhedral mesh support, with relevant auxiliary tools and sup-port for massively parallel computing. Functionality of OpenFOAM is illustrated on three levels: improvements in linear solver technology with CG-AMG solvers, LES data analysis using Proper Orthogonal Decom-position (POD) and a self-contained fluid-structure interaction solver.