FloEFD

Engineering Fluid Dynam i c s

The Next Generation CFD

Mechanical Analysis

Overview

FloEFD is part of a new breed of CFD tools called Engineering Fluid Dynamics (EFD). FloEFD is a full-featured general purpose CFD tool serving the needs of Inventor, NX, Solid Edge, SolidWorks as well as other popular MCAD systems. FloEFD combines all simulation steps - starting with use of your 3D CAD data for model preparation, to mesh generation, solving and results visualization - in one easy-to-use package. FloEFD is based on the same mathematical foundation as traditional CFD software, however, our 7 key technologies are what set FloEFD apart. These technologies make FloEFD quicker and easier to use and more accurate. Combined with your MCAD software, FloEFD provides you with a powerful simulation tool to: Improve product performance, functionality and reliability Reduce physical prototyping and production costs Minimize risk of making design mistakes

FloEFD results are easy to understand and interpret by any engineer who is already familiar with the subject-matter being studied.
A. Heijmans, Development Manager, Eclipse Combustion

Although I had no training on the use of FloEFD, I found it quick and easy to use.
P. Venemar, Engineer, Fico Trim & Form

FloEFD is a natural extension of traditional CFD that is easier to use and more intuitive for mechanical engineers.
G. Bertels, Senior Engineer, Bronswerk Heat Transfer BV

Engineers
FloEFD was developed for engineers by engineers. Therefore, it is extremely easy to use as a matter of fact, most users report that they can use FloEFD with less than 8 hours of training. Since FloEFD lets you take advantage of your solid models for analysis, youll be able to save a massive amount of time and effort. In short, FloEFD helps you to get on with the business of improving product performance/ functionality and reducing prototyping costs without requiring you to become a full-time fluid dynamics specialist.

CFD Specialists
FloEFD co-exists quite easily alongside your traditional CFD programs and will increase your overall productivity. By enabling design engineers to conduct first-level CFD analyses directly from CAD models to remove unreasonable options with FloEFD, youll be able to focus your time and energy on research and conceptual design. With FloEFD you can take advantage of our advanced meshing technology which makes analysis of real-world problems even faster and more accurate. Also, as the resident analysis expert, you will be able to use your extensive knowledge to help guide the design engineering team at your organization.

Managers
FloEFD supports your lean engineering efforts directly by reducing the burden on your budget and saving thousands of manhours. FloEFD enables broad-based mechanical design engineers to perform fluid-flow and heat transfer simulations directly from their 3D CAD models, in a fraction of the time taken by other CFD codes, and with very little training: Reduce prototyping costs drastically by replacing physical tests with virtual tests Increase product quality while reducing production costs by helping your team reduce errors and create better products Shorten the development cycle by enabling your team to conduct what-if tests quickly

Image courtesy of Voxdale

7 Key Technologies That Set FloEFD Apart

FloEFD takes away the complexity of mathematical schemes and methodologies by using an advanced set of knowledgebased automated processes. As a result, you can focus on your engineering tasks instead of worrying about identifying the most appropriate CFD algorithm or mesh. The following key technologies set FloEFD apart from all other CFD codes:

Direct CAD-to-CFD Concept

FloEFD is based on CAD. Offering a fully-integrated solid modeler, with FloEFD you can create your geometry or, use existing 3D CAD geometry and solid model information including features and parameters to help you simulate your designs in real-world conditions. Either way, you will find FloEFD extremely intuitive and easy-to-use as it offers functionality not available in other CFD programs. For example, most CFD programs require you to create phantom objects to represent the fluid (empty) regions - an extremely time-consuming process since you need to identify each region manually and then create geometry to fill it. FloEFD automatically differentiates between the solid and fluid regions and automatically creates the fluid domain. As a result, FloEFD frees you from the hassle of creating unnecessary geometry just to prepare a solid model for analysis.

Intelligent Rectangular Adaptive Mesh

While some vendors offer only a black-box approach, the meshing process with FloEFD is completely transparent and you retain as much or as little control as you need. As every CFD user knows, finding an optimum mesh can be extremely time-consuming. Mentor Graphics has developed a robust automatic mesher that can mesh real-world geometry not just academic or theoretical ones. FloEFD features automatic meshing for fluid and solid regions including automatic mesh refinement/unrefinement due to geometrical and/or physical (solution adaptive) requirements. With FloEFD, your model will be meshed in the shortest time possible and with a high level of accuracy.

Modified Wall Functions

Engineering vs. Analysis User Interface

FloEFD features an extremely easy-to-use user interface. Instead of dealing with technical jargon such as y+ value and Dirichlet Boundary Conditions, you deal with terms such as walls, inlets or outlets. In addition, FloEFD features a powerful analysis wizard that guides you through the set-up process. Therefore, you can focus on solving your problems as opposed to figuring how to use the software. As a matter of fact, FloEFD is so intuitive that most engineers report that they can use the software with less than eight hours of training.

FloEFD features grid-independent near-wall modeling using Partial Cells technology. This technology enables you to simulate the boundary layer phenomena for fluid flow and heat transfer effects without needing a specifically designed mesh or a lot of time to solve the problem.

Laminar-Transitional-Turbulent Modeling

FloEFD does not require specific user input in order to simulate transitional flow characteristics since it supports laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regimes all automatically and within the same model. Therefore you dont need to worry about identifying when and where the flow characteristics change within your model. FloEFD will automatically do it for you.

Design Variant Analysis

Perhaps the most powerful feature of FloEFD is the ease with which you can conduct what-if analyses. FloEFD makes it easy to modify your models and then immediately analyze them. The process is quite simple: FloEFD helps you create multiple variations of your designs by modifying your solid model and without having to reapply loads, boundary conditions, material properties etc., you can analyze them. Simply compare the results among the many design options to choose the best possible design. It really is that easy.

Automatic Convergence Control

There is nothing more aggravating than setting up an analysis session and returning hours later to find that the software has failed to provide a solution due to numerical convergence problems. With FloEFD, you get real-time feedback about the solution progress such as the convergence of the solution, residual errors, monitor point values etc. Cutting-edge numerical methods with multi-grid schemes and robust convergence behavior in FloEFD ensure that you get engineering results in a timely manner.

FloEFD - Solves Real-World Problems in All Major Industries ...

Aerospace/Defense Automotive/Transport Biomedical/Medical Systems Chemical/Processing Computers Construction/HVAC Consumer Goods Electronics Energy Lighting Marine Oil & Gas Plastics Power Generation Refrigeration Semiconductors Telecommunications Test & Measurement Valves/Pumps Water Management

We have found exactly the same results from FloEFD and our test rig. Thats important because maybe in a few years, after weve built an extensive library of results, then we wont need to build and test physical prototypes anymore.
R. Aarntzen, R&D/Engineering Manager, Watts Industries

The software considerably reduced the amount of time required to optimize the design by enabling us to evaluate design concepts in software without having to build a prototype.
Dustin Borg, Engineering Manager, Johnson Design

FloEFD computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software enables design engineers without a fluid analysis background to perform thermal simulation. The result is that we got the design right the first time, only had to make one prototype and avoided expensive design changes that typically occur in the late stages of the development process
James Young, Design Enginer, Azonix

We were able to evaluate 15 different alternatives very quickly and without cutting any metal. One of them provides the same performance as the previous design even though it is much less expensive to make.
T. Stamenov, Design Engineer, Ingersoll Rand Energy Systems

The use of software prototypes made it possible to explore a much wider design space than would have been possible with physical prototypes ... I achieved these results despite the fact that I am a design engineer without any training in CFD.
Rick Anderson, Senior Project Engineer, Graco

We chose FloEFD because it is easy to use. Using FloEFD, we are able to fine-tune our designs to reach an optimized design much faster.
Markus Wrner, Design Engineer, AEG Electric Tools GmbH

Images courtesy of Voxdale

FloEFDPro

FloEFDV5

FloEFDPro is the only fully embedded Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool for Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire. As a Pro/TOOLKIT application, FloEFDPro enables you to analyze and optimize complex fluid flow and heat transfer effects on your designs directly inside Pro/ENGINEER.

FloEFDPro has the same look and feel as Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire so you are not forced to learn a new interface simply to use the software. Also, unlike other CFD programs, FloEFDPro interacts directly with the native 3D CAD data defined by Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire - with no translation or copies - in order to keep pace with on-going design changes. If you use Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire, you ought to take a closer look at FloEFDPro - the only fluid flow and heat transfer simulation tool that fits into your design process without requiring you to change the way you design products.

FloEFDV5 is a fully embedded Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool for CATIA V5 that enables you to analyze and optimize complex fluid flow and heat transfer effects on your designs directly inside CATIA V5.

FloEFDV5 has the same look and feel as CATIA V5 so you are not forced to learn a new interface simply to use the software. Also, unlike other CFD programs, FloEFDV5 interacts directly with the native 3D CAD data defined by CATIA V5 - with no translation or copies - in order to keep pace with on-going design changes. If you use CATIA V5, you ought to take a closer look at FloEFDV5 - the fluid flow and heat transfer simulation tool that fits into your design process without requiring you to change the way you design products.

Interface to Pro/MECHANICA
FloEFDPro results can be applied as loads for structural analysis inside Pro/MECHANICA with EFD2Mech. The automated interface significantly reduces the amount of time necessary for preparing analysis models and enables you to calculate structural damages due to thermal loads.

We selected FloEFDV5 because it simplifies the process of performing fluid flow analysis to the point where it can be accomplished by an engineer. By using CFD software that is integrated into our CAD software we could evaluate the performance of each new design iteration almost as fast as we could conceive it
D. Gaisbacher, Project Manager, Ventrex Automotive

Engineering Challenges

Technical Support and Design Services

Pressure Drop
Investigate and optimize pressure and a range of pressure-related parameters in a wide variety of products such as valves, nozzles, filters and control devices in real-life operating scenarios.
A valve showing regions of high and low pressure due to restricted/changing fluid flow

Technical Support
Not just a software company, Mentor Graphics also offers customers comprehensive training as well as on-line and telephone support. In addition, the Support Net Area allows licensed users to download the software with the latest documentation and to submit questions and support issues. A wide range of application examples and technical papers are also available on our website: www.mentor.com/mechanical

Heat Transfer
Visualize and understand temperature fields in and around practically anything including ovens, heat exchangers and drilling heads. Analyze the complex physical processes such as heat conduction, heat convection, conjugated heat transfer between fluids, surrounding solid materials as well as radiation among many others.
Analysis output showing rising thermal plume from a single high power LED unit

Design Services
If you prefer to outsource part or all of your physical design, our Mechancal Analysis team is ready to help. When you engage us, you effectively add to your staff some of the worlds most experienced engineers in design services. Starting with any design information you have, we will quickly plan and execute an assessment, regardless of the stage of your product.

Mixing Processes
Explore and visualize mixing of fluids and gases to determine the optimum mix inside a wide range of products such as washing machines, dishwashers, kitchen and bathroom appliances and even fuel cells.
FloEFD is able to visualize how fluids or gases will react when mixed

Flow Fields
Inspect and optimize complex flows in and around objects. Optimize how gases and liquids interact with and inside smoke detectors, cyclones, cleanrooms and air-handling devices.

CFD helped us understand the problem and guided us as we iterated the design to an optimized solution. The project clearly demonstrates that FloEFDPro offers the potential for huge advancements to companies whose products involve fluid flow.
Vince Salvo, Design Engineer, Encore Bits LLC

FloEFD can show the visual results of Flow Field analysis in several formats; shown here as stream lines that can be tracked from point of origin to point of exit

Force Prediction

Examine operational forces for valves, flow-induced loads for stress and deformation analysis temperature distribution for thermal stress analysis.

Electronics Cooling

Wind force on a radar tower; an engineer can visualize wind being deflected by the dish and resulting turbulent areas behind the tower

Early analysis and optimization with FloEFD before a product leaves the drawing board helps companies to design better, more reliable products faster by overcoming everyday design engineer challenges. Challenges such as PCB thermal design, heatsink design, package junction temperatures, case temperatures and airflow optimization enables these companies to get their products to market faster.
Vector plots showing air flow inside an electronics box

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Mechanical Analysis
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