OpenFOAM alternatives

Paid 16 alternatives

Official website

OpenFOAM is a free open source and leading computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package released by the OpenFOAM Foundation. It has a large user base from commercial and academic organizations in most fields of engineering and science. It has a wide range of functions for solving any problem, from complex fluid flows involving chemical reactions, turbulence, and heat transfer, to rigid body dynamics and electromagnetism.

The platform provides end-to-end process-oriented workflows, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics including vehicles, buildings, environment, urban climate, and seascapes. It helps to design internal duct flows, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), environmental control systems (ECS), cold rooms, indoor climate in a building, solar heating and ventilation, fire safety and security, hydraulics, thermal analysis under the hood, and defrosting, etc.

The key specialties of the platform include Convenient syntax for partial differential equations, Fully documented source code, Unstructured Polyhedral Mesh Capabilities, Automatic parallelization of applications written using the high-level syntax of OpenFOAM, a Wide range of applications and ready-to-use models, Commercial support, and training from developers, and No license costs.

Ranked alternatives

1
ANSYS FluentPaid
ANSYS Fluent is an industry-leading fluid simulation software that is best known for its pioneer physics modeling abilities and industry-leading accuracy. It gives you more time to innovate and optimize product performance. Trust in simulation results with software that has been rigorously validated across a wide range of applications. With this application, you can create advanced physics models and analyze various fluid phenomena all in a customizable and intuitive environment.
Efficiently simulate splitting, pooling, and thinning of multiphase flows with automatic transitions between models including DPM, VOF, EWF, and LWF. For effusion cooling of the combustion lining, the perforated wall model simulates thousands of holes without having to plug in each hole. The platform has major enhancements for accurate acoustics modeling. It accurately predicts vehicle noise levels by combining Fluent aeroacoustics with ANSYS Mechanical Acoustics. Ansys VRXPERIENCE sonic tools are available in Fluent for processing aeroacoustics CFD results. Simulate sound-absorbing walls and enhance designs by identifying local noise sources.
The salient features of the platform include Task-based Workflows, Expressions, Overset Mesh, Turbulence Modeling, Acoustics, Conjugate Heat Transfer, Single & Multiple Flows, Combustion, Fluid-Structure Interaction, Reduced Order Models, Shape Optimization, HPC, Overset Meshing, New Ansys Fluent License, High Speed Flows, Advanced Physics Modeling, Acoustics Advancements, and Productivity Enhancements.
ANSYS Fluent alternatives
2
Simscale CFDPaid
SimScale CFD is a cloud-based leading CAE platform that offers access to CFD, FEA, and thermodynamics simulation capabilities 100% via a standard web browser. By providing instant access to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), it has moved high-fidelity physics simulation technology from a sophisticated, low-cost desktop application available only to experts in large companies, to a user-friendly web application accessible to any designer and engineer worldwide through a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
Leveraging the power of the cloud for simulation, it is available from a standard web browser and any computer, removing the barriers that come with traditional simulation tools like high installation costs, license fees, HPC deployment, necessary updates, and maintenance. Founded in 2012 and based in Munich and Boston, the platform is an integral part of the design validation process for thousands of successful companies worldwide and over 150,000 individual users across industries ranging from AEC and HVAC to electronics, consumer products, automotive, and aerospace industry.
Simscale CFD alternatives
3
Autodesk Fluid FlowPaid
Autodesk Fluid Flow is an industry-leading fluid dynamics software that helps to enhance product performance and reliability. The software predicts fluid rates, pressure drops, and turbulence which are some of the factors that are challenging to be measured during the designing process. Determining these performance indicators with the use of CFD simulation enables engineers and designers to explore more ideas and opt for better decisions.
High-performance and reliable products speak for themselves and can help your business. Products such as pumps, valves, heat exchangers, nozzles, and metering devices depend on fluid flow characteristics to determine their success. Engineers need to find the right balance between cost, performance, and reliability while working with a limited amount of time. For this, engineers must explore more ideas during design.
Many different factors play a role in fluid flow applications as designs are complex. The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) enables users to simulate product performance over a wide range of operating conditions. This gives engineers insight into the pressure, flow, and thermal performance of their products to ensure performance and reliability.
Autodesk Fluid Flow alternatives
4
CFDToolPaid
CFDTool is a computational fluid dynamics or CFD software toolbox for simulation and modeling of fluid flows with dynamics of heat transfer. An intuitive graphical interface allows you to start modeling right away without wasting time learning a complex solver or programming syntax. Non-linear expressions and coefficients can be defined and entered in the same way as written on paper.
Unique solver integration allows you to define your model once and then use any and all CFD solvers interchangeably, which can be invaluable for testing and validation. It is suitable for everyone, from students and newbies learning the basics of fluid dynamics and/or heat transfer modeling to researchers and engineers who can save a lot of time by eliminating the need to manually configure solvers and simulation problems.
CFDTool alternatives
5
FEATool MultiphysicsPaid
FEATool Multiphysics is a highly flexible and easy-to-use physics and finite element FEM simulation toolbox for MATLAB. It is a fully integrated toolbox for modeling and simulation of coupled physics phenomena, continuum mechanics, partial differential equations PDE, and engineering problems.
The platform strives to provide a truly easy-to-use and comprehensive integrated modeling platform for all types of Multiphysics analysis. Combining the best of intuitive usability, extensibility, and customization options such as Graphical User Interface (GUI), Built-in geometry and CAD modeling tools, Automatic mesh and meshing, Post-processing and rendering, Fully programmable and scriptable all that makes the right modeling and simulation tool for everyone from mathematical modeling students to researchers and engineers looking to explore new ideas in an easy, fast and convenient way.
FEATool Multiphysics alternatives
6
FEATFLOWPaid
FeatFlow (Finite Element Analysis Toolbox for Flow) is Fortran’s finite element CFD code that uses very efficient FEM sampling along with a geometric multigrid approach to solving linear systems. This results in a very fast and computationally efficient solver, which usually provides a significant or greater speedup than commercially available solvers. It can be used from MATLAB with the platform’s Multiphysics GUI.
It proposes a new end-to-end learning framework that predicts scene dense flow and platform ego movement by establishing an efficient geometric match from successive point clouds. It introduces a new scoring layer and a score-weighted loss of alignment function. Their combination effectively forces the model to learn distinctive cue point detectors and consistent function descriptors. In popular scene flow datasets (FlyingThings3D and KITTI Scene Flow), its framework vastly outperforms all modern scene flow estimation methods. On popular real-life LiDAR datasets (Oxford RobotCar and KITTI Odometry), its structure also yields pairwise scan matching results comparable to modern ones.
FEATFLOW alternatives
7
COSMOSWorksPaid
COSMOSWorks is an application that provides simple and accurate design analysis that leads to better products, giving designers a safety net to spot errors. Designers can innovate with the confidence that they won’t make costly mistakes in the future. Full integration with SolidWorks means that its users can perform design analysis, modeling, and optimization directly from the SolidWorks user interface.
The platform provides faster, less costly, and streamlined product development and deeper insight into product characteristics than ever possible with even the most detailed prototypes. For designers and engineers looking to improve product quality, it contains the most used analysis capabilities in the industry. The platform makes it easy to go beyond simple manual calculations, testing your intuition while studying the real characteristics of various structures alternatives without leaving the SolidWorks window.
COSMOSWorks alternatives
8
Ingrid CloudPaid
Ingrid Cloud is a wind simulation software and service. It is cloud-based and fully automated. It is an easy-to-use platform based on scientifically validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, providing robust simulations to guide, optimize, and validate all stages of design. It applies Implicit Large Eddy Simulation (LES) to all simulations and solves them with some of the fastest HPC or high-performance computing resources in the world.
This automated cloud-based solution improves accuracy, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in flow simulation. The solution’s affordability and ease of use allow designers and architects to accelerate and improve their designs with no prior knowledge of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or modeling. It also contains built-in functionality that allows users to include trees in their Wind Comfort simulations. Trees are modeled as a porous medium and its LES solver automatically refines the mesh, generating visualizations for pedestrian comfort and wind effects.
Ingrid Cloud alternatives
9
ANSYS AIMPaid
ANSYS AIM is a simulation tool that dramatically reduces the time to set up and run engineering simulations with an intuitive user interface and guided simulation workflows. Templates guide engineers through the entire modeling process and automate many of the routine steps. Less time is spent on training or retraining, and more time is spent on production. The platform enables you to adapt modeling processes and use best practices to ensure consistency and accuracy. Custom physical objects and loads can be used to tailor the simulation definition to specific needs. Any simulation can be used as the basis for a custom template that can be reproduced on any model.
The salient features of the platform include Perform fluid simulations (reducing pressure drop, calculating lift and drag coefficients, estimating fluid loads, and predicting flow behavior), analyze static deflections and stresses for complex parts and assemblies, which can include nonlinear contact, structural connections, and large deflections, Determine the natural frequencies and vibration characteristics of the product to understand its durability and longevity.
ANSYS AIM alternatives
10
midas NFXPaid
Midas NFX is a fluid dynamics software and is a high-performance finite element preprocessor that provides a highly interactive and visual environment for analyzing product design performance. It provides users with an advanced set of easy-to-use tools for creating and editing CAE models. To create 2D and 3D models, users have access to various meshing options as well as the powerful automatic meshing functions of the platform.
The platform also provides comprehensive solutions from high-quality structural analysis functions such as contact analysis, nonlinear analysis, explicit dynamic analysis, and fatigue analysis, in addition to high-quality fluid analysis functions such as moving mesh, free surface analysis, and mass transfer analysis. The salient features of the platform include Modern & Responsive GUI, Linear and Nonlinear Static, Linear & Nonlinear Dynamic, Thermal Simulation, Optimization, CFD Analysis, Joule Heating, and Multi-body Analysis.
midas NFX alternatives
11
Code_SaturnePaid
Code_Saturne is free and open-source software developed and released by EDF for solving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. It solves the Navier-Stokes equations for 2D, 2D axisymmetric, and 3D flows, stationary or unsteady, laminar or turbulent, incompressible or weakly expandable, isothermal or not, with the scalar transfer if required.
Several turbulence models are available, from Reynolds averaged models to large-eddy simulation models. In addition, several specific physical models are also available as modules like combustion of gas, coal, and fuel oil, translucent radiation transfer, particle tracking using Lagrangian modeling, Joule effect, electric arcs, weakly compressible flows, atmospheric flows. , the interaction of the rotor and stator for hydraulic machines.
Code_Saturne alternatives
12
SU2
SU2 is an open-source set of software tools written in C ++ for numerically solving partial differential equations (PDEs) and performing constrained PDE optimizations. The main applications are computational fluid dynamics and aerodynamic shape optimization, but these have been extended to handle more general equations such as electrodynamics and reactive fluxes. It supports continuous and discrete conjugation to compute scalar field sensitivity and gradients.
Computational analysis tools have revolutionized the way engineering systems are designed, but most of the installed codes are proprietary, unavailable, or prohibitively expensive for many users. The team of the platform is changing this position by making Multiphysics analysis and design optimization software free involving everyone in its creation and development.
SU2 alternatives
13
Elmer FEMPaid
Elmer FEM is a finite element program for numerically solving partial differential equations. Elmer can handle any number of equations and is therefore ideal for simulating Multiphysics problems. It includes models of, for example, structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and electromagnetism. Users can also write their own equations, which can be dynamically linked to the main program.
Elmer is composed of several parts. The most important of these are ElmerSolver, a finite element solver, ElmerGUI, a graphical user interface, and ElmerGrid, a tool for creating and manipulating meshes. Also included in the package is the ElmerPost rendering tool, but it is no longer being developed.
Elmer FEM alternatives
14
Aertia COSMOSWorksPaid
COSMOSWorks is an application that provides easy-to-use yet powerful design review and optimization tools for both designers and engineers. It provides faster, less costly, and streamlined product development and deeper insight into product characteristics than ever possible with even the most detailed prototypes. The original SolidWorks design validation solution is better than ever. It is fast, powerful, and accurate design analysis in the same interface you already use every day. Currently, over 16,000 companies across a wide range of industries use this platform to improve design quality, prevent breakdowns, reduce material costs and reduce time-to-market.
Aertia COSMOSWorks alternatives
15
SIMULIA XFlow CFDPaid
XFlow is a fluids simulation software to improve the real-world performance of the industries. In today’s competitive world of product innovation, industries require complex modeling of the real behavior of their products under extreme conditions, for example, off-road vehicles, transmission lubrication, and critical flight maneuvers. It offers particle-based Boltzmann grid technology for high-precision computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications as part of the SIMULIA portfolio for fluid modeling.
The state-of-the-art technology of the platform enables users to solve complex CFD workflows, including the simulation of high-frequency transients with real moving geometries, complex multiphase flows, free-surface flows, and fluid-structure interactions. Automatic lattice generation and adaptive refinement capabilities minimize user input, reducing time and effort during meshing and preprocessing. This allows engineers to focus most of their efforts on iteration and design optimization.
When approaching the platform’s sampling, surface complexity is also not a limiting factor. The base lattice can be controlled with a small set of parameters, the grille is tolerant of the quality of the input geometry and adapts to the presence of moving parts. Advanced visualization capabilities provide realistic visualizations for a deeper understanding of flow and temperature characteristics. Its unique capabilities enable companies to reduce physical testing and accelerate better design decisions.
SIMULIA XFlow CFD alternatives
16
Ansys 3D SimulationPaid
ANSYS 3D design tools enable engineering teams to dramatically increase productivity, drive innovation, and accelerate time-to-market. 3D design software enables your team to make smarter, faster decisions by reducing product development costs and improving workflows. ANSYS enables you to create market-leading products while allowing for real-world behavior with fewer prototypes. The tool offers an intuitive and extremely fast user interface built for design workflows. Teams can create more designs in less time, provide rapid design learning, and provide insight into actual product performance. Real-time physics simulation and highly accurate simulation are combined in a single user-friendly interface, allowing engineers to easily evaluate feedback on design changes.
Ansys 3D Simulation alternatives