How can Computational Fluid Dynamics software help private industry?

February 24, 2010

Metro High School & The Ohio Supercomputer CenterResearch Internship Program Exhibition byAustin KochsMentor: Dr. Steven Gordon, Interim Co-Executive Director OSC

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Table of Contents

Conclusion

Description of the Project

Recommendations

Conclusion From Data

Quantitative Data

Qualitative Data

Data Acquisition

Overview of Terminology

Recognition

Overview of Terminology

OpenFOAM – Open Source Field Organization and Manipulation (CFD Software Suite)

OpenCFD – Company that maintains OpenFOAM

CFD – Computational Fluid Dynamics

Fluid Dynamics – Calculation of the behavior of gases and liquids

Computational Fluid Dynamics – Usage of computers to analyze the behavior of gases and liquids (virtual vs. physical testing methods)

Open Source – software available at no cost and without limitation

Parallel Processing – running software over multiple processors at the same time to speed up the computation

What is Computational Fluid Dynamics?

Citations:Jim Giuliani

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Description of the Project

• Compare open source software to commercial software packages for CFD

• Determine advantages of parallel processing with CFD software

• Make recommendations based upon research

Data Acquisition

• Internet research

• Discussions with OSC employees: Dr. Steven Gordon and Jim Giuliani

• batch jobs to supercomputer

Qualitative Data

• Cost• OpenFOAM – Open Source (free)• FLUENT – Commercial (~$75,000)

• Time• OpenFOAM – Set-up/training (two 2-day sessions; familiarity time)• FLUENT – “Out-of-the-box” (included in cost)

• Tech support• OpenFOAM

• Training ($2,800)

• FLUENT• “Out-of-the-box” (included in cost)

Citations:http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/fluent/42235-how-much-does-fluent-cost.htmlhttp://www.openfoam.com/training/

Qualitative Data (continued)

• Modules• OpenFOAM easy for user to develop modules for• FLUENT harder (closed source)

• Processors• FLUENT has a cap on number of processors• OpenFOAM allows unlimited number

Citations:Jim Giuliani

Qualitative Data (Analysis)

• OpenFOAM free to set-up and maintain

• OpenFOAM costs $2,800 for complete training, FLUENT costs $4,439 for same training; 63%

• OpenFOAM allows for unlimited number of processors

• OpenFOAM can take a while to master

Simulation

Citations:Jim Giuliani

Quantitative Data

• TimingProcessors/Cores Seconds

1 18,791 2 15,797 4 6,464 8 2,41616 1,304

Quantitative Data (Analysis)

• The more processors used, the less time it will take to compute a problem (well, to an extent…)

• Toyota example

Citations:Jim Giuliani

Conclusions from Data

• Computational Fluid Dynamics software reduces the amount time and money used in the design process of goods

• OpenFOAM is a highly expandable, cost effective alternative to commercial CFD packages such as FLUENT

• OpenFOAM takes longer to become “useful” than software packages like FLUENT

Recommendations

• Because of the ability to speed up design/research as well as allow people to work on other things while computers handle the calculation, I would recommend that any business/research group that can use CFD software.

• In Particular, OpenFOAM stands out for the fact that it is free to download, modify, and use as well as the fact that it doesn’t have a limit to the maximum amount of running processors

Summary/Conclusion of Project

• For the project, I gathered both qualitative and quantitative data on CFD software, in particular, OpenFOAM and FLUENT

• I performed cost/benefit analyses of the data and, based upon the results, concluded that OpenFOAM was the technical superior software package

• OpenFOAM is easily expandable and mutatable to suit a client’s needs at low to no cost

Recognition

Dr. Steven Gordon, Interim Co-Executive Director OSC

Jim Giuliani, Client and Technology Support Manager