How can Computational Fluid Dynamics software help private industry?

1. 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

2. Table of Contents Description of the Project Overview of Terminology Data Acquisition Qualitative Data Quantitative Data Conclusion From Data Recommendations Conclusion Recognition

3. 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

4. What is Computational Fluid Dynamics? Citations: Jim Giuliani

5. 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

6. Data Acquisition • Internet research • Discussions with OSC employees: Dr. Steven Gordon and Jim Giuliani • batch jobs to supercomputer

7. 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.html http://www.openfoam.com/training/

8. 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

9. 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

10. Simulation Citations: Jim Giuliani

11. Quantitative Data • Timing • Processors/Cores Seconds • 1 18,791 • 2 15,797 • 4 6,464 • 8 2,416 • 16 1,304

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Recognition • Dr. Steven Gordon, Interim Co-Executive Director OSC • Jim Giuliani, Client and Technology Support Manager