OpenFOAM

The Open Source CFD Toolbox

Programmer’s Guide

Version 2.4.0
21st May 2015
P-2

c 2011-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation Ltd.

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Author: Christopher J. Greenshields, CFD Direct Ltd.

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OpenFOAM-2.4.0
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Trademarks

ANSYS is a registered trademark of ANSYS Inc.

CFX is a registered trademark of Ansys Inc.
CHEMKIN is a registered trademark of Reaction Design Corporation
EnSight is a registered trademark of Computational Engineering International Ltd.
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Icem-CFD is a registered trademark of Ansys Inc.
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UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
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OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Contents

Copyright Notice P-2

1. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-2
2. Fair Dealing Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-3
3. License Grant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-3
4. Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-4
5. Representations, Warranties and Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-5
6. Limitation on Liability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-5
7. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-5
8. Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-6

Trademarks P-7

Contents P-9

1 Tensor mathematics P-13

1.1 Coordinate system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-13
1.2 Tensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-13
1.2.1 Tensor notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-15
1.3 Algebraic tensor operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-16
1.3.1 The inner product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-16
1.3.2 The double inner product of two tensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-17
1.3.3 The triple inner product of two third rank tensors . . . . . . . . P-17
1.3.4 The outer product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-17
1.3.5 The cross product of two vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-18
1.3.6 Other general tensor operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-18
1.3.7 Geometric transformation and the identity tensor . . . . . . . . P-19
1.3.8 Useful tensor identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-19
1.3.9 Operations exclusive to tensors of rank 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-20
1.3.10 Operations exclusive to scalars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-21
1.4 OpenFOAM tensor classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-21
1.4.1 Algebraic tensor operations in OpenFOAM . . . . . . . . . . . . P-22
1.5 Dimensional units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-24

2 Discretisation procedures P-25

2.1 Differential operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-25
2.1.1 Gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-25
2.1.2 Divergence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-26
2.1.3 Curl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-26
P-10 Contents

2.1.4 Laplacian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-26

2.1.5 Temporal derivative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-26
2.2 Overview of discretisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-27
2.2.1 OpenFOAM lists and fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-27
2.3 Discretisation of the solution domain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-28
2.3.1 Defining a mesh in OpenFOAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-29
2.3.2 Defining a geometricField in OpenFOAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-30
2.4 Equation discretisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-31
2.4.1 The Laplacian term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-36
2.4.2 The convection term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-36
2.4.3 First time derivative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-37
2.4.4 Second time derivative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-37
2.4.5 Divergence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-37
2.4.6 Gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-38
2.4.7 Grad-grad squared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-39
2.4.8 Curl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-39
2.4.9 Source terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-39
2.4.10 Other explicit discretisation schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-39
2.5 Temporal discretisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-40
2.5.1 Treatment of temporal discretisation in OpenFOAM . . . . . . P-41
2.6 Boundary Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-41
2.6.1 Physical boundary conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-42

3 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM P-43

3.1 Flow around a cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-43
3.1.1 Problem specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-44
3.1.2 Note on potentialFoam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-45
3.1.3 Mesh generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-45
3.1.4 Boundary conditions and initial fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-47
3.1.5 Running the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-48
3.2 Steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step . . . . . . . . . . . . P-50
3.2.1 Problem specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-50
3.2.2 Mesh generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-53
3.2.3 Boundary conditions and initial fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-56
3.2.4 Case control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-57
3.2.5 Running the case and post-processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-57
3.3 Supersonic flow over a forward-facing step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-58
3.3.1 Problem specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-58
3.3.2 Mesh generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-59
3.3.3 Running the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-61
3.3.4 Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-61
3.4 Decompression of a tank internally pressurised with water . . . . . . . P-61
3.4.1 Problem specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-62
3.4.2 Mesh Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-63
3.4.3 Preparing the Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-65
3.4.4 Running the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-66
3.4.5 Improving the solution by refining the mesh . . . . . . . . . . . P-67
3.5 Magnetohydrodynamic flow of a liquid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-67

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Contents P-11

3.5.1 Problem specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-67

3.5.2 Mesh generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-69
3.5.3 Running the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-70

Index P-73

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-12 Contents

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Chapter 1

Tensor mathematics

This Chapter describes tensors and their algebraic operations and how they are represented
in mathematical text in this book. It then explains how tensors and tensor algebra are
programmed in OpenFOAM.

1.1 Coordinate system

OpenFOAM is primarily designed to solve problems in continuum mechanics, i.e. the branch
of mechanics concerned with the stresses in solids, liquids and gases and the deformation
or flow of these materials. OpenFOAM is therefore based in 3 dimensional space and
time and deals with physical entities described by tensors. The coordinate system used by
OpenFOAM is the right-handed rectangular Cartesian axes as shown in Figure 1.1. This
system of axes is constructed by defining an origin O from which three lines are drawn at
right angles to each other, termed the Ox, Oy, Oz axes. A right-handed set of axes is
defined such that to an observer looking down the Oz axis (with O nearest them), the arc
from a point on the Ox axis to a point on the Oy axis is in a clockwise sense.

x
Figure 1.1: Right handed axes

1.2 Tensors
The term tensor describes an entity that belongs to a particular space and obeys certain
mathematical rules. Briefly, tensors are represented by a set of component values relating
P-14 Tensor mathematics

to a set of unit base vectors; in OpenFOAM the unit base vectors ix , iy and iz are aligned
with the right-handed rectangular Cartesian axes x, y and z respectively. The base vectors
are therefore orthogonal, i.e. at right-angles to one another. Every tensor has the following
attributes:

Dimension d of the particular space to which they belong, i.e. d = 3 in OpenFOAM;

Rank An integer r ≥ 0, such that the number of component values = dr .

While OpenFOAM is set to 3 dimensions, it offers tensors of ranks 0 to 3 as standard

while being written in such a way to allow this basic set of ranks to be extended indefinitely.
Tensors of rank 0 and 1, better known as scalars and vectors, should be familiar to readers;
tensors of rank 2 and 3 may not be so familiar. For completeness all ranks of tensor offered
as standard in OpenFOAM are reviewed below.

Rank 0 ‘scalar’ Any property which can be represented by a single real number, denoted
by characters in italics, e.g. mass m, volume V , pressure p and viscosity µ.

Rank 1 ‘vector’ An entity which can be represented physically by both magnitude and
direction. In component form, the vector a = (a1 , a2 , a3 ) relates to a set of Cartesian
axes x, y, z respectively. The index notation presents the same vector as ai , i = 1, 2, 3,
although the list of indices i = 1, 2, 3 will be omitted in this book, as it is intuitive
since we are always dealing with 3 dimensions.

Rank 2 ‘tensor’ or second rank tensor, T has 9 components which can be expressed in
array notation as:
 
T11 T12 T13
T = Tij =  T21 T22 T23  (1.1)
T31 T32 T33

The components Tij are now represented using 2 indices since r = 2 and the list of
indices i, j = 1, 2, 3 is omitted as before. The components for which i = j are referred
to as the diagonal components, and those for which i 6= j are referred to as the off-
diagonal components. The transpose of T is produced by exchanging components
across the diagonal such that
 
T11 T21 T31
TT = Tji =  T12 T22 T32  (1.2)
T13 T23 T33

Note: a rank 2 tensor is often colloquially termed ‘tensor’ since the occurrence of
higher order tensors is fairly rare.

Symmetric rank 2 The term ‘symmetric’ refers to components being symmetric about the
diagonal, i.e. Tij = Tji . In this case, there are only 6 independent components since
T12 = T21 , T13 = T31 and T23 = T32 . OpenFOAM distinguishes between symmetric
and non-symmetric tensors to save memory by storing 6 components rather than 9
if the tensor is symmetric. Most tensors encountered in continuum mechanics are
symmetric.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
1.2 Tensors P-15

Rank 3 has 27 components and is represented in index notation as Pijk which is too long
to represent in array notation as in Equation 1.1.

Symmetric rank 3 Symmetry of a rank 3 tensor is defined in OpenFOAM to mean that

Pijk = Pikj = Pjik = Pjki = Pkij = Pkji and therefore has 10 independent components.
More specifically, it is formed by the outer product of 3 identical vectors, where the
outer product operation is described in Section 1.3.4.

1.2.1 Tensor notation

This is a book on computational continuum mechanics that deals with problems involving
complex PDEs in 3 spatial dimensions and in time. It is vital from the beginning to adopt a
notation for the equations which is compact yet unambiguous. To make the equations easy
to follow, we must use a notation that encapsulates the idea of a tensor as an entity in the
own right, rather than a list of scalar components. Additionally, any tensor operation should
be perceived as an operation on the entire tensor entity rather than a series of operations
on its components.
Consequently, in this book the tensor notation is preferred in which any tensor of rank
1 and above, i.e. all tensors other than scalars, are represented by letters in bold face, e.g.
a. This actively promotes the concept of a tensor as a entity in its own right since it is
denoted by a single symbol, and it is also extremely compact. The potential drawback is
that the rank of a bold face symbol is not immediately apparent, although it is clearly not
zero. However, in practice this presents no real problem since we are aware of the property
each symbol represents and therefore intuitively know its rank, e.g. we know velocity U is
a tensor of rank 1.
A further, more fundamental idea regarding the choice of notation is that the mathemat-
ical representation of a tensor should not change depending on our coordinate system, i.e.
the vector ais the same vector irrespective of where we view it from. The tensor notation
supports this concept as it implies nothing about the coordinate system. However, other
notations, e.g. ai , expose the individual components of the tensor which naturally implies
the choice of coordinate system. The unsatisfactory consequence of this is that the tensor is
then represented by a set of values which are not unique — they depend on the coordinate
system.
That said, the index notation, introduced in Section 1.2, is adopted from time to time
in this book mainly to expand tensor operations into the constituent components. When
using the index notation, we adopt the summation convention which states that whenever
the same letter subscript occurs twice in a term, the that subscript is to be given all values,
i.e. 1, 2, 3, and the results added together, e.g.

3
X
ai b i = ai b i = a1 b 1 + a2 b 2 + a3 b 3 (1.3)
i=1

P
In the remainder of the book the symbol is omitted since the repeated subscript
indicates the summation.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-16 Tensor mathematics

1.3 Algebraic tensor operations

This section describes all the algebraic operations for tensors that are available in Open-
FOAM. Let us first review the most simple tensor operations: addition, subtraction, and
scalar multiplication and division. Addition and subtraction are both commutative and as-
sociative and are only valid between tensors of the same rank. The operations are performed
by addition/subtraction of respective components of the tensors, e.g. the subtraction of two
vectors a and b is
a − b = ai − bi = (a1 − b1 , a2 − b2 , a3 − b3 ) (1.4)
Multiplication of any tensor a by a scalar s is also commutative and associative and is
performed by multiplying all the tensor components by the scalar. For example,
sa = sai = (sa1 , sa2 , sa3 ) (1.5)
Division between a tensor a and a scalar is only relevant when the scalar is the second
argument of the operation, i.e.
a/s = ai /s = (a1 /s, a2 /s, a3 /s) (1.6)
Following these operations are a set of more complex products between tensors of rank 1
and above, described in the following Sections.

1.3.1 The inner product

The inner product operates on any two tensors of rank r1 and r2 such that the rank of the
result r = r1 + r2 − 2. Inner product operations with tensors up to rank 3 are described
below:
• The inner product of two vectors a and b is commutative and produces a scalar
s = a • b where
s = ai b i = a1 b 1 + a2 b 2 + a3 b 3 (1.7)

• The inner product of a tensor T and vector a produces a vector b = T • a, represented

below as a column array for convenience
 
T11 a1 + T12 a2 + T13 a3
bi = Tij aj =  T21 a1 + T22 a2 + T23 a3  (1.8)
T31 a1 + T32 a2 + T33 a3
It is non-commutative if T is non-symmetric such that b = a • T = TT • a is
 
a1 T11 + a2 T21 + a3 T31
bi = aj Tji =  a1 T12 + a2 T22 + a3 T32  (1.9)
a1 T13 + a2 T23 + a3 T33

• The inner product of two tensors T and S produces a tensor P = T • S whose com-
ponents are evaluated as:
Pij = Tik Skj (1.10)
¡ ¢T
It is non-commutative such that T • S = ST • TT

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
1.3 Algebraic tensor operations P-17

• The inner product of a vector a and third rank tensor P produces a second rank tensor
T = a • P whose components are
Tij = ak Pkij (1.11)
Again this is non-commutative so that T = P • a is
Tij = Pijk ak (1.12)

• The inner product of a second rank tensor T and third rank tensor P produces a third
rank tensor Q = T • P whose components are
Qijk = Til Pljk (1.13)
Again this is non-commutative so that Q = P • T is
Qijk = Pijl Tlk (1.14)

1.3.2 The double inner product of two tensors

The double inner product of two second-rank tensors T and S produces a scalar s = T •• S
which can be evaluated as the sum of the 9 products of the tensor components
s = Tij Sij = T11 S11 + T12 S12 + T13 S13 + (1.15)
T21 S21 + T22 S22 + T23 S23 +
T31 S31 + T32 S32 + T33 S33
The double inner product between a second rank tensor T and third rank tensor P
produces a vector a = T •• P with components
ai = Tjk Pjki (1.16)
This is non-commutative so that a = P •• T is
ai = Pijk Tjk (1.17)

1.3.3 The triple inner product of two third rank tensors

The triple inner product of two third rank tensors P and Q produces a scalar s = P •3 Q
which can be evaluated as the sum of the 27 products of the tensor components
s = Pijk Qijk (1.18)

1.3.4 The outer product

The outer product operates between vectors and tensors as follows:
• The outer product of two vectors a and b is non-commutative and produces a tensor
T = ab = (ba)T whose components are evaluated as:
 
a1 b 1 a1 b 2 a1 b 3
Tij = ai bj =  a2 b1 a2 b2 a2 b3  (1.19)
a3 b 1 a3 b 2 a3 b 3

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-18 Tensor mathematics

• An outer product of a vector a and second rank tensor T produces a third rank tensor
P = aT whose components are
Pijk = ai Tjk (1.20)
This is non-commutative so that P = T a produces
Pijk = Tij ak (1.21)

1.3.5 The cross product of two vectors

The cross product operation is exclusive to vectors only. For two vectors a with b, it
produces a vector c = a × b whose components are
ci = eijk aj bk = (a2 b3 − a3 b2 , a3 b1 − a1 b3 , a1 b2 − a2 b1 ) (1.22)
where the permutation symbol is defined by

0
 when any two indices are equal
eijk = +1 when i,j,k are an even permutation of 1,2,3 (1.23)


−1 when i,j,k are an odd permutation of 1,2,3
in which the even permutations are 123, 231 and 312 and the odd permutations are 132,
213 and 321.

1.3.6 Other general tensor operations

Some less common tensor operations and terminology used by OpenFOAM are described
below.
Square of a tensor is defined as the outer product of the tensor with itself, e.g. for a vector
a, the square a2 = aa.
nth power of a tensor is evaluated by n outer products of the tensor, e.g. for a vector a,
the 3rd power a3 = aaa.
Magnitude squared of a tensor is the rth inner product of the tensor of rank r with itself,
to produce a scalar. For example, for a second rank tensor T, |T|2 = T •• T.
√
Magnitude is the square root of the magnitude squared, e.g. for a tensor T, |T| = T •• T.
Vectors of unit magnitude are referred to as unit vectors.
Component maximum is the component of the tensor with greatest value, inclusive of
sign, i.e. not the largest magnitude.
Component minimum is the component of the tensor with smallest value.
Component average is the mean of all components of a tensor.
Scale As the name suggests, the scale function is a tool for scaling the components of one
tensor by the components of another tensor of the same rank. It is evaluated as the
product of corresponding components of 2 tensors, e.g., scaling vector a by vector b
would produce vector c whose components are
ci = scale(a, b) = (a1 b1 , a2 b2 , a3 b3 ) (1.24)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
1.3 Algebraic tensor operations P-19

1.3.7 Geometric transformation and the identity tensor

A second rank tensor T is strictly defined as a linear vector function, i.e. it is a function
which associates an argument vector a to another vector b by the inner product b = T • a.
The components of T can be chosen to perform a specific geometric transformation of a
tensor from the x, y, z coordinate system to a new coordinate system x∗ , y ∗ , z ∗ ; T is
then referred to as the transformation tensor . While a scalar remains unchanged under a
transformation, the vector a is transformed to a∗ by

a∗ = T • a (1.25)

A second rank tensor S is transformed to S∗ according to

S∗ = T • S • TT (1.26)

The identity tensor I is defined by the requirement that it transforms another tensor
onto itself. For all vectors a

a=I•a (1.27)

and therefore
 
1 0 0
I = δij =  0 1 0  (1.28)
0 0 1

where δij is known as the Kronecker delta symbol.

1.3.8 Useful tensor identities

Several identities are listed below which can be verified by under the assumption that all
the relevant derivatives exist and are continuous. The identities are expressed for scalar s
and vector a.

∇ • (∇ × a) ≡ 0
∇ × (∇s) ≡ 0
∇ • (sa) ≡ s∇ • a + a • ∇s
∇ × (sa) ≡ s∇ × a + ∇s × a
∇(a • b) ≡ a × (∇ × b) + b × (∇ × a) + (a • ∇)b + (b • ∇)a (1.29)
∇ • (a × b) ≡ b • (∇ × a) − a • (∇ × b)
∇ × (a × b) ≡ a(∇ • b) − b(∇ • a) + (b • ∇)a − (a • ∇)b
∇ × (∇ × a) ≡ ∇(∇ • a) − ∇2 a
(∇ × a) × a ≡ a • (∇a) − ∇(a • a)

It is sometimes useful to know the e − δ identity to help to manipulate equations in index

notation:

eijk eirs = δjr δks − δjs δkr (1.30)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-20 Tensor mathematics

1.3.9 Operations exclusive to tensors of rank 2

There are several operations that manipulate the components of tensors of rank 2 that are
listed below:
Transpose of a tensor T = Tij is TT = Tji as described in Equation 1.2.

Symmetric and skew (antisymmetric) tensors As discussed in section 1.2, a tensor is

said to be symmetric if its components are symmetric about the diagonal, i.e. T =
TT . A skew or antisymmetric tensor has T = −TT which intuitively implies that
T11 = T22 = T33 = 0. Every second order tensor can be decomposed into symmetric
and skew parts by
1 1
T = (T + TT ) + (T − TT ) = symm T + skew T (1.31)
|2 {z } |2 {z }
symmetric skew

Trace The trace of a tensor T is a scalar, evaluated by summing the diagonal components

tr T = T11 + T22 + T33 (1.32)

Diagonal returns a vector whose components are the diagonal components of the second
rank tensor T

diag T = (T11 , T22 , T33 ) (1.33)

Deviatoric and hydrostatic tensors Every second rank tensor T can be decomposed
into a deviatoric component, for which tr T = 0 and a hydrostatic component of the
form T = sI where s is a scalar. Every second rank tensor can be decomposed into
deviatoric and hydrostatic parts as follows:
1 1
T = T − (tr T) I + (tr T) I = dev T + hyd T (1.34)
| 3{z } |3 {z }
deviatoric hydrostatic

Determinant The determinant of a second rank tensor is evaluated by

¯ ¯
¯ T11 T12 T13 ¯
¯ ¯
det T = ¯¯ T21 T22 T23 ¯ = T11 (T22 T33 − T23 T32 ) −
¯
¯ T31 T32 T33 ¯ T12 (T21 T33 − T23 T31 ) +
(1.35)
T13 (T21 T32 − T22 T31 )
1
= eijk epqr Tip Tjq Tkr
6

Cofactors The minors of a tensor are evaluated for each component by deleting the row
and column in which the component is situated and evaluating the resulting entries
as a 2 × 2 determinant. For example, the minor of T12 is
¯ ¯
¯ T11 T12 T13 ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ ¯ T21 T23 ¯
¯ T21 T22 T23 ¯ = ¯
¯ ¯ T31 T33 ¯ = T21 T33 − T23 T31 (1.36)
¯
¯
¯ T31 T32 T33 ¯

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
1.4 OpenFOAM tensor classes P-21

The cofactors are signed minors where each minor is component is given a sign based
on the rule
+ve if i + j is even
(1.37)
−ve if i + j is odd

The cofactors of T can be evaluated as

1
cof T = ejkr eist Tsk Ttr (1.38)
2
Inverse The inverse of a tensor can be evaluated as
cof TT
inv T = (1.39)
det T
Hodge dual of a tensor is a vector whose components are
∗ T = (T23 , −T13 , T12 ) (1.40)

1.3.10 Operations exclusive to scalars

OpenFOAM supports most of the well known functions that operate on scalars, e.g. square
root, exponential, logarithm, sine, cosine etc.., a list of which can be found in Table 1.2.
There are 3 additional functions defined within OpenFOAM that are described below:
Sign of a scalar s is
(
1 if s ≥ 0,
sgn(s) = (1.41)
−1 if s < 0.

Positive of a scalar s is
(
1 if s ≥ 0,
pos(s) = (1.42)
0 if s < 0.

Limit of a scalar s by the scalar n

(
s if s < n,
limit(s, n) = (1.43)
0 if s ≥ n.

1.4 OpenFOAM tensor classes

OpenFOAM contains a C++ class library primitive that contains the classes for the tensor
mathematics described so far. The basic tensor classes that are available as standard in
OpenFOAM are listed in Table 1.1. The Table also lists the functions that allow the user
to access individual components of a tensor, known as access functions.
We can declare the tensor
 
1 2 3
T= 4 5 6  (1.44)
7 8 9
in OpenFOAM by the line:

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-22 Tensor mathematics

Rank Common name Basic class Access functions

0 Scalar scalar
1 Vector vector x(), y(), z()
2 Tensor tensor xx(), xy(), xz(). . .

Table 1.1: Basic tensor classes in OpenFOAM

tensor T(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9);

We can then access the component T13 , or Txz using the xz() access function. For
instance the code

Info << ``Txz = '' << T.xz() << endl;

outputs to the screen:

Txz = 3

1.4.1 Algebraic tensor operations in OpenFOAM

The algebraic operations described in Section 1.3 are all available to the OpenFOAM tensor
classes using syntax which closely mimics the notation used in written mathematics. Some
functions are represented solely by descriptive functions, e.g.symm(), but others can also be
executed using symbolic operators, e.g.*. All functions are listed in Table 1.2.

Operation Comment Mathematical Description

Description in OpenFOAM
Addition a+b a + b
Subtraction a−b a - b
Scalar multiplication sa s * a
Scalar division a/s a / s
Outer product rank a, b >= 1 ab a * b
Inner product rank a, b >= 1 a • b a & b
Double inner product rank a, b >= 2 a •• b a && b
Cross product rank a, b = 1 a×b a ^ b
Square a2 sqr(a)
Magnitude squared |a|2 magSqr(a)
Magnitude |a| mag(a)
Power n = 0, 1, ..., 4 an pow(a,n)
Component average i = 1, ..., N ai cmptAv(a)
Component maximum i = 1, ..., N max(ai ) max(a)
Component minimum i = 1, ..., N min(ai ) min(a)
Scale scale(a,b) scale(a,b)
Geometric transformation transforms a using tensor T transform(T,a)

Operations exclusive to tensors of rank 2

Continued on next page
OpenFOAM-2.4.0
1.4 OpenFOAM tensor classes P-23

Continued from previous page

Operation Comment Mathematical Description
Description in OpenFOAM
Transpose TT T.T()
Diagonal diag T diag(T)
Trace tr T tr(T)
Deviatoric component dev T dev(T)
Symmetric component symm T symm(T)
Skew-symmetric component skew T skew(T)
Determinant det T det(T)
Cofactors cof T cof(T)
Inverse inv T inv(T)
Hodge dual ∗T *T

Operations exclusive to scalars

Sign (boolean) sgn(s) sign(s)
Positive (boolean) s >= 0 pos(s)
Negative (boolean) s<0 neg(s)
Limit n scalar limit(s,
√ n) limit(s,n)
Square root s sqrt(s)
Exponential exp s exp(s)
Natural logarithm ln s log(s)
Base 10 logarithm log10 s log10(s)
Sine sin s sin(s)
Cosine cos s cos(s)
Tangent tan s tan(s)
Arc sine asin s asin(s)
Arc cosine acos s acos(s)
Arc tangent atan s atan(s)
Hyperbolic sine sinh s sinh(s)
Hyperbolic cosine cosh s cosh(s)
Hyperbolic tangent tanh s tanh(s)
Hyperbolic arc sine asinh s asinh(s)
Hyperbolic arc cosine acosh s acosh(s)
Hyperbolic arc tangent atanh s atanh(s)
Error function erf s erf(s)
Complement error function erfc s erfc(s)
Logarithm gamma function ln Γs lgamma(s)
Type 1 Bessel function of order 0 J0 s j0(s)
Type 1 Bessel function of order 1 J1 s j1(s)
Type 2 Bessel function of order 0 Y0 s y0(s)
Type 2 Bessel function of order 1 Y1 s y1(s)
a, b are tensors of arbitrary rank unless otherwise stated
s is a scalar, N is the number of tensor components
Table 1.2: Algebraic tensor operations in OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-24 Tensor mathematics

1.5 Dimensional units

In continuum mechanics, properties are represented in some chosen units, e.g. mass in
kilograms (kg), volume in cubic metres (m3 ), pressure in Pascals (kg m s−2 ). Algebraic
operations must be performed on these properties using consistent units of measurement; in
particular, addition, subtraction and equality are only physically meaningful for properties of
the same dimensional units. As a safeguard against implementing a meaningless operation,
OpenFOAM encourages the user to attach dimensional units to any tensor and will then
perform dimension checking of any tensor operation.
Units are defined using the dimensionSet class, e.g.

dimensionSet pressureDims(1, -1, -2, 0, 0, 0, 0);

No. Property Unit Symbol

1 Mass kilogram k
2 Length metre m
3 Time second s
4 Temperature Kelvin K
5 Quantity moles mol
6 Current ampere A
7 Luminous intensity candela cd

Table 1.3: S.I. base units of measurement

where each of the values corresponds to the power of each of the S.I. base units of mea-
surement listed in Table 1.3. The line of code declares pressureDims to be the dimensionSet
for pressure kg m s−2 since the first entry in the pressureDims array, 1, corresponds to k1 ,
the second entry, -1, corresponds to m−1 etc.. A tensor with units is defined using the
dimensioned<Type> template class, the <Type> being scalar, vector, tensor, etc.. The dimen-
sioned<Type> stores a variable name of class word,the value <Type> and a dimensionSet

dimensionedTensor sigma
(
"sigma",
dimensionSet(1, -1, -2, 0, 0, 0, 0),
tensor(1e6,0,0,0,1e6,0,0,0,1e6),
);

creates a tensor with correct dimensions of pressure, or stress

 6 
10 0 0
σ =  0 106 0  (1.45)
0 0 106

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Chapter 2

Discretisation procedures

So far we have dealt with algebra of tensors at a point. The PDEs we wish to solve involve
derivatives of tensors with respect to time and space. We therefore need to extend our
description to a tensor field, i.e. a tensor that varies across time and spatial domains. In
this Chapter we will first present a mathematical description of all the differential operators
we may encounter. We will then show how a tensor field is constructed in OpenFOAM and
how the derivatives of these fields are discretised into a set of algebraic equations.

2.1 Differential operators

Before defining the spatial derivatives we first introduce the nabla vector operator ∇, rep-
resented in index notation as ∂i :
µ ¶
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
∇ ≡ ∂i ≡ ≡ , , (2.1)
∂xi ∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3

The nabla operator is a useful notation that obeys the following rules:

• it operates on the tensors to its right and the conventional rules of a derivative of a
product, e.g. ∂i ab = (∂i a) b + a (∂i b);

• otherwise the nabla operator behaves like any other vector in an algebraic operation.

2.1.1 Gradient
If a scalar field s is defined and continuously differentiable then the gradient of s, ∇s is a
vector field
µ ¶
∂s ∂s ∂s
∇s = ∂i s = , , (2.2)
∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3

The gradient can operate on any tensor field to produce a tensor field that is one rank
higher. For example, the gradient of a vector field a is a second rank tensor field
 
∂a1 /∂x1 ∂a2 /∂x1 ∂a3 /∂x1
∇a = ∂i aj =  ∂a1 /∂x2 ∂a2 /∂x2 ∂a3 /∂x2  (2.3)
∂a1 /∂x3 ∂a2 /∂x3 ∂a3 /∂x3
P-26 Discretisation procedures

2.1.2 Divergence
If a vector field a is defined and continuously differentiable then the divergence of a is a
scalar field
∂a1 ∂a2 ∂a3
∇ • a = ∂ i ai = + + (2.4)
∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3
The divergence can operate on any tensor field of rank 1 and above to produce a tensor
that is one rank lower. For example the divergence of a second rank tensor field T is a
vector field (expanding the vector as a column array for convenience)
 
∂T11 /∂x1 + ∂T21 /∂x2 + ∂T31 /∂x3
∇ • T = ∂j Tji =  ∂T12 /∂x1 + ∂T22 /∂x2 + ∂T32 /∂x3  (2.5)
∂T13 /∂x1 + ∂T23 /∂x2 + ∂T33 /∂x3

2.1.3 Curl
If a vector field a is defined and continuously differentiable then the curl of a, ∇ × a is a
vector field
µ ¶
∂a3 ∂a2 ∂a1 ∂a3 ∂a2 ∂a1
∇ × a = eijk ∂j ak = − , − , − (2.6)
∂x2 ∂x3 ∂x3 ∂x1 ∂x1 ∂x2

The curl is related to the gradient by

∇ × a = 2 (∗ skew ∇a) (2.7)

2.1.4 Laplacian
The Laplacian is an operation that can be defined mathematically by a combination of
the divergence and gradient operators by ∇2 ≡ ∇ • ∇. However, the Laplacian should be
considered as a single operation that transforms a tensor field into another tensor field of
the same rank, rather than a combination of two operations, one which raises the rank by
1 and one which reduces the rank by 1.
In fact, the Laplacian is best defined as a scalar operator , just as we defined nabla as a
vector operator, by

∂2 ∂2 ∂2
∇2 ≡ ∂ 2 ≡ + + (2.8)
∂x21 ∂x22 ∂x23

For example, the Laplacian of a scalar field s is the scalar field

∂ 2s ∂ 2s ∂ 2s
∇2 s = ∂ 2 s = + + (2.9)
∂x21 ∂x22 ∂x23

2.1.5 Temporal derivative

There is more than one definition of temporal, or time, derivative of a tensor. To describe
the temporal derivatives we must first recall that the tensor relates to a property of a volume
of material that may be moving. If we track an infinitesimally small volume of material, or

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.2 Overview of discretisation P-27

particle, as it moves and observe the change in the tensorial property φ in time, we have
the total, or material time derivative denoted by

Dφ ∆φ
= lim (2.10)
Dt ∆t→0 ∆t

However in continuum mechanics, particularly fluid mechanics, we often observe the change
of a φ in time at a fixed point in space as different particles move across that point. This
change at a point in space is termed the spatial time derivative which is denoted by ∂/∂t
and is related to the material derivative by:

Dφ ∂φ
= + U • ∇φ (2.11)
Dt ∂t

where U is the velocity field of property φ. The second term on the right is known as the
convective rate of change of φ.

2.2 Overview of discretisation

The term discretisation means approximation of a problem into discrete quantities. The FV
method and others, such as the finite element and finite difference methods, all discretise
the problem as follows:

Spatial discretisation Defining the solution domain by a set of points that fill and bound
a region of space when connected;

Temporal discretisation (For transient problems) dividing the time domain into into a
finite number of time intervals, or steps;

Equation discretisation Generating a system of algebraic equations in terms of discrete

quantities defined at specific locations in the domain, from the PDEs that characterise
the problem.

2.2.1 OpenFOAM lists and fields

OpenFOAM frequently needs to store sets of data and perform functions, such as math-
ematical operations, on the data. OpenFOAM therefore provides an array template class
List<Type>, making it possible to create a list of any object of class Type that inherits the
functions of the Type. For example a List of vector is List<vector>.
Lists of the tensor classes are defined as standard in OpenFOAM by the template class
Field<Type>. For better code legibility, all instances of Field<Type>, e.g.Field<vector>, are
renamed using typedef declarations as scalarField, vectorField, tensorField, symmTensorField,
tensorThirdField and symmTensorThirdField. Algebraic operations can be performed between
Fields subject to obvious restrictions such as the fields having the same number of elements.
OpenFOAM also supports operations between a field and single tensor, e.g. all values of a
Field U can be multiplied by the scalar 2 with the operation U = 2.0 * U.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-28 Discretisation procedures

2.3 Discretisation of the solution domain

Discretisation of the solution domain is shown in Figure 2.1. The space domain is discretised
into computational mesh on which the PDEs are subsequently discretised. Discretisation
of time, if required, is simple: it is broken into a set of time steps ∆t that may change
during a numerical simulation, perhaps depending on some condition calculated during the
simulation.

y
Space domain
x

∆t t

Time domain
Figure 2.1: Discretisation of the solution domain

P Sf

d N

Figure 2.2: Parameters in finite volume discretisation

On a more detailed level, discretisation of space requires the subdivision of the domain
into a number of cells, or control volumes. The cells are contiguous, i.e. they do not overlap
one another and completely fill the domain. A typical cell is shown in Figure 2.2. Dependent
variables and other properties are principally stored at the cell centroid P although they

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.3 Discretisation of the solution domain P-29

may be stored on faces or vertices. The cell is bounded by a set of flat faces, given the
generic label f . In OpenFOAM there is no limitation on the number of faces bounding
each cell, nor any restriction on the alignment of each face. This kind of mesh is often
referred to as “arbitrarily unstructured” to differentiate it from meshes in which the cell
faces have a prescribed alignment, typically with the coordinate axes. Codes with arbitrarily
unstructured meshes offer greater freedom in mesh generation and manipulation in particular
when the geometry of the domain is complex or changes over time.
Whilst most properties are defined at the cell centroids, some are defined at cell faces.
There are two types of cell face.

Internal faces Those faces that connect two cells (and it can never be more than two).
For each internal face, OpenFOAM designates one adjoining cell to be the face owner
and the other to be the neighbour ;

Boundary faces Those belonging to one cell since they coincide with the boundary of the
domain. These faces simply have an owner cell.

2.3.1 Defining a mesh in OpenFOAM

There are different levels of mesh description in OpenFOAM, beginning with the most basic
mesh class, named polyMesh since it is based on polyhedra. A polyMesh is constructed
using the minimum information required to define the mesh geometry described below and
presented in Figure 2.3:

Points A list of cell vertex point coordinate vectors, i.e. a vectorField, that is renamed
pointField using a typedef declaration;

Faces A list of cell faces List<face>, or faceList, where the face class is defined by a list of
vertex numbers, corresponding to the pointField;

Cells a list of cells List<cell>, or cellList, where the cell class is defined by a list of face
numbers, corresponding to the faceList described previously.

Boundary a polyBoundaryMesh decomposed into a list of patches, polyPatchList represent-

ing different regions of the boundary. The boundary is subdivided in this manner
to allow different boundary conditions to be specified on different patches during a
solution. All the faces of any polyPatch are stored as a single block of the faceList, so
that its faces can be easily accessed using the slice class which stores references to the
first and last face of the block. Each polyPatch is then constructed from

• a slice;
• a word to assign it a name.

FV discretisation uses specific data that is derived from the mesh geometry stored in
polyMesh. OpenFOAM therefore extends the polyMesh class to fvMesh which stores the
additional data needed for FV discretisation. fvMesh is constructed from polyMesh and
stores the data in Table 2.1 which can be updated during runtime in cases where the mesh
moves, is refined etc..

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-30 Discretisation procedures

Patch 1
Patch 2

Patch 3

Points Faces Cells

pointField faceList cellList
... ... ...
... ...
Internal
...
...
Boundary
... Boundary
...
polyPatchList
Patch 1
slice
Patch 2
Patch 3

Figure 2.3: Schematic of the basic mesh description used in OpenFOAM

2.3.2 Defining a geometricField in OpenFOAM

So far we can define a field, i.e. a list of tensors, and a mesh. These can be combined to
define a tensor field relating to discrete points in our domain, specified in OpenFOAM by
the template class geometricField<Type>. The Field values are separated into those defined
within the internal region of the domain, e.g. at the cell centres, and those defined on
the domain boundary, e.g. on the boundary faces. The geometricField<Type> stores the
following information:

Internal field This is simply a Field<Type>, described in Section 2.2.1;

BoundaryField This is a GeometricBoundaryField, in which a Field is defined for the faces

of each patch and a Field is defined for the patches of the boundary. This is then a
field of fields, stored within an object of the FieldField<Type> class. A reference to the
fvBoundaryMesh is also stored [**].

Mesh A reference to an fvMesh, with some additional detail as to the whether the field is
defined at cell centres, faces, etc..

Dimensions A dimensionSet, described in Section 4.2.6.

Old values Discretisation of time derivatives requires field data from previous time steps.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.4 Equation discretisation P-31

Class Description Symbol Access function

volScalarField Cell volumes V V()
surfaceVectorField Face area vectors Sf Sf()
surfaceScalarField Face area magnitudes |Sf | magSf()
volVectorField Cell centres C C()
surfaceVectorField Face centres Cf Cf()
surfaceScalarField Face motion fluxes ** φg phi()

Table 2.1: fvMesh stored data.

The geometricField<Type> will store references to stored fields from the previous, or
old, time step and its previous, or old-old, time step where necessary.

Previous iteration values The iterative solution procedures can use under-relaxation
which requires access to data from the previous iteration. Again, if required, geo-
metricField<Type> stores a reference to the data from the previous iteration.

As discussed in Section 2.3, we principally define a property at the cell centres but quite
often it is stored at the cell faces and on occasion it is defined on cell vertices. The geomet-
ricField<Type> is renamed using typedef declarations to indicate where the field variable is
defined as follows:

volField<Type> A field defined at cell centres;

surfaceField<Type> A field defined on cell faces;

pointField<Type> A field defined on cell vertices.

These typedef field classes of geometricField<Type>are illustrated in Figure 2.4. A

geometricField<Type> inherits all the tensor algebra of Field<Type> and has all operations
subjected to dimension checking using the dimensionSet. It can also be subjected to the
FV discretisation procedures described in the following Section. The class structure used to
build geometricField<Type> is shown in Figure 2.51 .

2.4 Equation discretisation

Equation discretisation converts the PDEs into a set of algebraic equations that are com-
monly expressed in matrix form as:

[A] [x] = [b] (2.12)

where [A] is a square matrix, [x] is the column vector of dependent variable and [b] is the
source vector. The description of [x] and [b] as ‘vectors’ comes from matrix terminology
rather than being a precise description of what they truly are: a list of values defined at
locations in the geometry, i.e. a geometricField<Type>, or more specifically a volField<Type>
when using FV discretisation.
1
The diagram is not an exact description of the class hierarchy, rather a representation of the general
structure leading from some primitive classes to geometric<Type>Field.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-32 Discretisation procedures

Patch 1

Internal field
Boundary field
Patch 1 Patch 2
Patch 2
(a) A volField<Type>
Patch 1

Internal field
Boundary field
Patch 1 Patch 2
Patch 2
(b) A surfaceField<Type>
Patch 1

Internal field
Boundary field
Patch 1 Patch 2
Patch 2
(c) A pointField<Type>

Figure 2.4: Types of geometricField<Type> defined on a mesh with 2 boundary patches (in
2 dimensions for simplicity)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.4 Equation discretisation P-33

geometricField<Type>

geometricBoundaryField<Type>

fvMesh fvBoundaryMesh fvPatchList

fvPatchField polyMesh polyBoundaryMesh fvPatch

pointField faceList cellList polyPatchList

Field<Type> face cell polyPatch

dimensioned<Type> labelList slice

dimensionSet <Type> List label word

scalar
vector
tensor
symmTensor
tensorThird
symmTensorThird

Figure 2.5: Basic class structure leading to geometricField<Type>

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-34 Discretisation procedures

[A] is a list of coefficients of a set of algebraic equations, and cannot be described as a

geometricField<Type>. It is therefore given a class of its own: fvMatrix. fvMatrix<Type> is
created through discretisation of a geometric<Type>Field and therefore inherits the <Type>.
It supports many of the standard algebraic matrix operations of addition +, subtraction -
and multiplication *.
Each term in a PDE is represented individually in OpenFOAM code using the classes
of static functions finiteVolumeMethod and finiteVolumeCalculus, abbreviated by a typedef
to fvm and fvc respectively. fvm and fvc contain static functions, representing differential
operators, e.g. ∇2 , ∇ • and ∂/∂t, that discretise geometricField<Type>s. The purpose of
defining these functions within two classes, fvm and fvc, rather than one, is to distinguish:
• functions of fvm that calculate implicit derivatives of and return an fvMatrix<Type>
• some functions of fvc that calculate explicit derivatives and other explicit calculations,
returning a geometricField<Type>.
Figure 2.6 shows a geometricField<Type> defined on a mesh with 2 boundary patches and
illustrates the explicit operations merely transform one field to another and drawn in 2D
for simplicity.

geometricField<Type>
volField<Type>
surfaceField<Type>
pointField<Type>

finiteVolumeCalculus (fvc)
finiteVolumeMethod (fvm)
Other explicit operations
(Implicit)
(Explict)

geometricField<Type>
fvMatrix<Type> volField<Type>
surfaceField<Type>
pointField<Type>

Figure 2.6: A geometricField<Type> and its operators

Table 2.2 lists the main functions that are available in fvm and fvc to discretise terms
that may be found in a PDE. FV discretisation of each term is formulated by first integrating
the term over a cell volume V . Most spatial derivative terms are then converted to integrals
over the cell surface S bounding the volume using Gauss’s theorem
Z Z
∇ ⋆ φ dV = dS ⋆ φ (2.13)
V S

where S is the surface area vector, φ can represent any tensor field and the star notation
⋆ is used to represent any tensor product, i.e. inner, outer and cross and the respective

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.4 Equation discretisation P-35

Term description Implicit / Text fvm::/fvc:: functions

Explicit expression
Laplacian Imp/Exp ∇2 φ laplacian(phi)
∇ • Γ∇φ laplacian(Gamma, phi)
∂φ
Time derivative Imp/Exp ddt(phi)
∂t
∂ρφ
ddt(rho,phi)
∂t
µ ¶
∂ ∂φ
Second time derivative Imp/Exp ρ d2dt2(rho, phi)
∂t ∂t
Convection Imp/Exp ∇ • (ψ) div(psi,scheme)*
∇ • (ψφ) div(psi, phi, word)*
div(psi, phi)
Divergence Exp ∇•χ div(chi)
Gradient Exp ∇χ grad(chi)
∇φ gGrad(phi)
lsGrad(phi)
snGrad(phi)
snGradCorrection(phi)
2
Grad-grad squared Exp |∇∇φ| sqrGradGrad(phi)
Curl Exp ∇×φ curl(phi)
Source Imp ρφ Sp(rho,phi)
Imp/Exp† SuSp(rho,phi)
†fvm::SuSp source is discretised implicit or explicit depending on the sign of rho.
†An explicit source can be introduced simply as a vol<Type>Field, e.g.rho*phi.
Function arguments can be of the following classes:
phi: vol<Type>Field
Gamma: scalar volScalarField, surfaceScalarField, volTensorField, surfaceTensorField.
rho: scalar, volScalarField
psi: surfaceScalarField.
chi: surface<Type>Field, vol<Type>Field.
Table 2.2: Discretisation of PDE terms in OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-36 Discretisation procedures

derivatives: divergence ∇ • φ, gradient ∇φ and ∇ × φ. Volume and surface integrals are

then linearised using appropriate schemes which are described for each term in the following
Sections. Some terms are always discretised using one scheme, a selection of schemes is
offered in OpenFOAM for the discretisation of other terms. The choice of scheme is either
made by a direct specification within the code or it can be read from an input file at job
run-time and stored within an fvSchemes class object.

2.4.1 The Laplacian term

The Laplacian term is integrated over a control volume and linearised as follows:
Z Z X
∇ • (Γ∇φ) dV = dS • (Γ∇φ) = Γf Sf • (∇φ)f (2.14)
V S f

The face gradient discretisation is implicit when the length vector d between the centre of
the cell of interest P and the centre of a neighbouring cell N is orthogonal to the face plane,
i.e. parallel to Sf :
φN − φ P
Sf • (∇φ)f = |Sf | (2.15)
|d|
In the case of non-orthogonal meshes, an additional explicit term is introduced which is
evaluated by interpolating cell centre gradients, themselves calculated by central differencing
cell centre values.

2.4.2 The convection term

The convection term is integrated over a control volume and linearised as follows:
Z Z X X
∇ • (ρUφ) dV = dS • (ρUφ) = Sf • (ρU)f φf = F φf (2.16)
V S f f

The face field φf can be evaluated using a variety of schemes:

Central differencing (CD) is second-order accurate but unbounded
φf = fx φP + (1 − fx )φN (2.17)
where fx ≡ f N /P N where f N is the distance between f and cell centre N and P N
is the distance between cell centres P and N .
Upwind differencing (UD) determines φf from the direction of flow and is bounded at
the expense of accuracy
(
φP for F ≥ 0
φf = (2.18)
φN for F < 0

Blended differencing (BD) schemes combine UD and CD in an attempt to preserve

boundedness with reasonable accuracy,
φf = (1 − γ) (φf )U D + γ (φf )CD (2.19)
OpenFOAM has several implementations of the Gamma differencing scheme to select
the blending coefficient γ but it offers other well-known schemes such as van Leer,
SUPERBEE, MINMOD etc..

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.4 Equation discretisation P-37

2.4.3 First time derivative

The first time derivative ∂/∂t is integrated over a control volume as follows:
Z
∂
ρφ dV (2.20)
∂t V

The term is discretised by simple differencing in time using:

new values φn ≡ φ(t + ∆t) at the time step we are solving for;

old values φo ≡ φ(t) that were stored from the previous time step;

old-old values φoo ≡ φ(t − ∆t) stored from a time step previous to the last.

One of two discretisation schemes can be declared using the timeScheme keyword in the
appropriate input file, described in detail in section 4.4 of the User Guide.

Euler implicit scheme, timeScheme EulerImplicit, that is first order accurate in time:
Z
∂ (ρP φP V )n − (ρP φP V )o
ρφ dV = (2.21)
∂t V ∆t

Backward differencing scheme, timeScheme BackwardDifferencing, that is second or-

der accurate in time by storing the old-old values and therefore with a larger overhead
in data storage than EulerImplicit:
Z
∂ 3 (ρP φP V )n − 4 (ρP φP V )o + (ρP φP V )oo
ρφ dV = (2.22)
∂t V 2∆t

2.4.4 Second time derivative

The second time derivative is integrated over a control volume and linearised as follows:
Z
∂ ∂φ (ρP φP V )n − 2 (ρP φP V )o + (ρP φP V )oo
ρ dV = (2.23)
∂t V ∂t ∆t2
It is first order accurate in time.

2.4.5 Divergence
The divergence term described in this Section is strictly an explicit term that is distinguished
from the convection term of Section 2.4.2, i.e. in that it is not the divergence of the product
of a velocity and dependent variable. The term is integrated over a control volume and
linearised as follows:
Z Z X
∇ • φ dV = dS • φ = Sf • φf (2.24)
V S f

The fvc::div function can take as its argument either a surface<Type>Field, in which case
φf is specified directly, or a vol<Type>Field which is interpolated to the face by central
differencing as described in Section 2.4.10:

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-38 Discretisation procedures

2.4.6 Gradient
The gradient term is an explicit term that can be evaluated in a variety of ways. The scheme
can be evaluated either by selecting the particular grad function relevant to the discretisation
scheme, e.g.fvc::gGrad, fvc::lsGrad etc., or by using the fvc::grad function combined
with the appropriate gradScheme keyword in an input file
Gauss integration is invoked using the fvc::grad function with gradScheme Gauss or
directly using the fvc::gGrad function. The discretisation is performed using the
standard method of applying Gauss’s theorem to the volume integral:
Z Z X
∇φ dV = dS φ = Sf φf (2.25)
V S f

As with the fvc::div function, the Gaussian integration fvc::grad function can take
either a surfaceField<Type> or a volField<Type> as an argument.

Least squares method is based on the following idea:

1. a value at point P can be extrapolated to neighbouring point N using the gradient

at P ;
2. the extrapolated value at N can be compared to the actual value at N , the
difference being the error;
3. if we now minimise the sum of the square of weighted errors at all neighbours of
P with the respect to the gradient, then the gradient should be a good approxi-
mation.

Least squares is invoked using the fvc::grad function with timeScheme leastSquares
or directly using the fvc::lsGrad function. The discretisation is performed as by first
calculating the tensor G at every point P by summing over neighbours N :
X
2
G= wN dd (2.26)
N

where d is the vector from P to N and the weighting function wN = 1/|d|. The
gradient is then evaluated as:
X
2
(∇φ)P = wN G−1 • d (φN − φP ) (2.27)
N

Surface normal gradient The gradient normal to a surface nf • (∇φ)f can be evaluated
at cell faces using the scheme
φN − φ P
(∇φ)f = (2.28)
|d|
This gradient is called by the function fvc::snGrad and returns a surfaceField<Type>.
The scheme is directly analogous to that evaluated for the Laplacian discretisation
scheme in Section 2.4.1, and in the same manner, a correction can be introduced to
improve the accuracy of this face gradient in the case of non-orthogonal meshes. This
correction is called using the function fvc::snGradCorrection.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.4 Equation discretisation P-39

2.4.7 Grad-grad squared

The grad-grad squared term is evaluated by: taking the gradient of the field; taking the
gradient of the resulting gradient field; and then calculating the magnitude squared of the
result. The mathematical expression for grad-grad squared of φ is |∇ (∇φ)|2 .

2.4.8 Curl
The curl is evaluated from the gradient term described in Section 2.4.6. First, the gradient is
discretised and then the curl is evaluated using the relationship from Equation 2.7, repeated
here for convenience

∇ × φ = 2 ∗(skew ∇φ)

2.4.9 Source terms

Source terms can be specified in 3 ways

Explicit Every explicit term is a volField<Type>. Hence, an explicit source term can be
incorporated into an equation simply as a field of values. For example if we wished
to solve Poisson’s equation ∇2 φ = f , we would define phi and f as volScalarField and
then do

solve(fvm::laplacian(phi) == f)

Implicit An implicit source term is integrated over a control volume and linearised by
Z
ρφ dV = ρP VP φP (2.29)
V

Implicit/Explicit The implicit source term changes the coefficient of the diagonal of the
matrix. Depending on the sign of the coefficient and matrix terms, this will either
increase or decrease diagonal dominance of the matrix. Decreasing the diagonal dom-
inance could cause instability during iterative solution of the matrix equation. There-
fore OpenFOAM provides a mixed source discretisation procedure that is implicit
when the coefficients that are greater than zero, and explicit for the coefficients less
than zero. In mathematical terms the matrix coefficient for node P is VP max(ρP , 0)
and the source term is VP φP min(ρP , 0).

2.4.10 Other explicit discretisation schemes

There are some other discretisation procedures that convert volField<Type>s into surface<Type>Fields
and visa versa.

Surface integral fvc::surfaceIntegrate performs a summation of surface P <Type>Field

face values bounding each cell and dividing by the cell volume, i.e. ( f φf )/VP . It
returns a volField<Type>.

Surface sum fvc::surfaceSum P performs a summation of surface<Type>Field face values

bounding each cell, i.e. f φf returning a volField<Type>.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-40 Discretisation procedures

Average fvc::average
P produces
P an area weighted average of surface<Type>Field face val-
ues, i.e. ( f Sf φf )/ f Sf , and returns a volField<Type>.
Reconstruct
Face interpolate The geometric<Type>Field function faceInterpolate() interpolates volField<Type>
cell centre values to cell faces using central differencing, returning a surface<Type>Field.

2.5 Temporal discretisation

Although we have described the discretisation of temporal derivatives in Sections 2.4.3 and
2.4.4, we need to consider how to treat the spatial derivatives in a transient problem. If we
denote all the spatial terms as Aφ where A is any spatial operator, e.g. Laplacian, then we
can express a transient PDE in integral form as
Z t+∆t · Z Z ¸
∂
ρφ dV + Aφ dV dt = 0 (2.30)
t ∂t V V

Using the Euler implicit method of Equation 2.21, the first term can be expressed as
Z t+∆t · Z ¸ Z t+∆t
∂ (ρP φP V )n − (ρP φP V )o
ρφ dV dt = dt
t ∂t V t ∆t (2.31)
(ρP φP V )n − (ρP φP V )o
= ∆t
∆t
The second term can be expressed as
Z t+∆t ·Z ¸ Z t+∆t
Aφ dV dt = A∗ φ dt (2.32)
t V t

where A∗ represents the spatial discretisation of A. The time integral can be discretised in
three ways:
Euler implicit uses implicit discretisation of the spatial terms, thereby taking current
values φn .
Z t+∆t
A∗ φ dt = A∗ φn ∆t (2.33)
t

It is first order accurate in time, guarantees boundedness and is unconditionally stable.

Explicit uses explicit discretisation of the spatial terms, thereby taking old values φo .
Z t+∆t
A∗ φ dt = A∗ φo ∆t (2.34)
t

It is first order accurate in time and is unstable if the Courant number Co is greater
than 1. The Courant number is defined as
Uf • d
Co = (2.35)
|d|2 ∆t
where Uf is a characteristic velocity, e.g. velocity of a wave front, velocity of flow.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
2.6 Boundary Conditions P-41

Crank Nicolson uses the trapezoid rule to discretise the spatial terms, thereby taking a
mean of current values φn and old values φo .
Z t+∆t µ n ¶
∗ ∗ φ + φo
A φ dt = A ∆t (2.36)
t 2

It is second order accurate in time, is unconditionally stable but does not guarantee
boundedness.

2.5.1 Treatment of temporal discretisation in OpenFOAM

At present the treatment of the temporal discretisation is controlled by the implementation
of the spatial derivatives in the PDE we wish to solve. For example, let us say we wish to
solve a transient diffusion equation

∂φ
= κ∇2 φ (2.37)
∂t
An Euler implicit implementation of this would read

solve(fvm::ddt(phi) == kappa*fvm::laplacian(phi))

where we use the fvm class to discretise the Laplacian term implicitly. An explicit imple-
mentation would read

solve(fvm::ddt(phi) == kappa*fvc::laplacian(phi))

where we now use the fvc class to discretise the Laplacian term explicitly. The Crank
Nicolson scheme can be implemented by the mean of implicit and explicit terms:

solve
(
fvm::ddt(phi)
==
kappa*0.5*(fvm::laplacian(phi) + fvc::laplacian(phi))
)

2.6 Boundary Conditions

Boundary conditions are required to complete the problem we wish to solve. We therefore
need to specify boundary conditions on all our boundary faces. Boundary conditions can
be divided into 2 types:

Dirichlet prescribes the value of the dependent variable on the boundary and is therefore
termed ‘fixed value’ in this guide;

Neumann prescribes the gradient of the variable normal to the boundary and is therefore
termed ‘fixed gradient’ in this guide.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-42 Discretisation procedures
P
When we perform discretisation of terms that include the sum over faces f, we need
to consider what happens when one of the faces is a boundary face.
Fixed value We specify a fixed value at the boundary φb
• We can simply substitute φb in cases where the discretisation requires the value
on a boundary face φf , e.g. in the convection term in Equation 2.16.
• In terms where the face gradient (∇φ)f is required, e.g. Laplacian, it is calculated
using the boundary face value and cell centre value,
φb − φ P
Sf • (∇φ)f = |Sf | (2.38)
|d|
Fixed gradient The fixed gradient boundary condition gb is a specification on inner prod-
uct of the gradient and unit normal to the boundary, or
µ ¶
S
gb = • ∇φ (2.39)
|S| f

• When discretisation requires the value on a boundary face φf we must interpolate

the cell centre value to the boundary by
φf = φP + d • (∇φ)f
(2.40)
= φP + |d| gb

• φb can be directly substituted in cases where the discretisation requires the face
gradient to be evaluated,
Sf • (∇φ)f = |Sf | gb (2.41)

2.6.1 Physical boundary conditions

The specification of boundary conditions is usually an engineer’s interpretation of the true
behaviour. Real boundary conditions are generally defined by some physical attributes
rather than the numerical description as described of the previous Section. In incompressible
fluid flow there are the following physical boundaries
Inlet The velocity field at the inlet is supplied and, for consistency, the boundary condition
on pressure is zero gradient.
Outlet The pressure field at the outlet is supplied and a zero gradient boundary condition
on velocity is specified.
No-slip impermeable wall The velocity of the fluid is equal to that of the wall itself, i.e.
a fixed value condition can be specified. The pressure is specified zero gradient since
the flux through the wall is zero.
In a problem whose solution domain and boundary conditions are symmetric about a
plane, we only need to model half the domain to one side of the symmetry plane. The
boundary condition on the plane must be specified according to
Symmetry plane The symmetry plane condition specifies the component of the gradient
normal to the plane should be zero.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Chapter 3

Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

In this section we shall describe several test cases supplied with the OpenFOAM distribu-
tion. The intention is to provide example cases, including those in the tutorials in chapter 2
of the User Guide, for every standard solver. The examples are designed to introduce cer-
tain tools and features of OpenFOAM, e.g. within pre-/post-processing, numerical schemes,
algorithms. They also provide a means for validation of solvers although that is not their
principal function.
Each example contains a description of the problem: the geometry, initial and boundary
conditions, a brief description of the equations being solved, models used, and physical
properties required. The solution domain is selected which may be a portion of the original
geometry, e.g. if we introduce symmetry planes. The method of meshing, usually blockMesh,
is specified; of course the user can simply view the mesh since every example is distributed
with the polyMesh directory containing the data files that describe the mesh.
The examples coexist with the tutorials in the tutorials subdirectory of the OpenFOAM
installation. They are organised into a set of subdirectories by solver, e.g. all the icoFoam
cases are stored within a subdirectory icoFoam. Before running a particular example, the
user is urged to copy it into their user account. We recommend that the user stores all
OpenFOAM cases in a directory we recommend that the tutorials are copied into a directory
$FOAM RUN. If this directory structure has not yet been created in the user’s account, it
can be created with

mkdir -p $FOAM RUN

The tutorials can then be copied into this directory with

cp -r $FOAM TUTORIALS/* $FOAM RUN

3.1 Flow around a cylinder

In this example we shall investigate potential flow around a cylinder using potentialFoam.
This example introduces the following OpenFOAM features:

• non-orthogonal meshes;

• generating an analytical solution to a problem in OpenFOAM.

P-44 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

3.1.1 Problem specification

The problem is defined as follows:
Solution domain The domain is 2 dimensional and consists of a square domain with a
cylinder collocated with the centre of the square as shown in Figure 3.1.

Ux = 1.0 m/s p = 0 bar

symmetry
4.0 m
0 x

0.5 m

4.0 m
Figure 3.1: Geometry of flow round a cylinder

Governing equations
• Mass continuity for an incompressible fluid
∇•U=0 (3.1)
• Pressure equation for an incompressible, irrotational fluid assuming steady-state
conditions
∇2 p = 0 (3.2)
Boundary conditions
• Inlet (left) with fixed velocity U = (1, 0, 0) m/s.
• Outlet (right) with a fixed pressure p = 0 Pa.
• No-slip wall (bottom);
• Symmetry plane (top).
Initial conditions U = 0 m/s, p = 0 Pa — required in OpenFOAM input files but not
necessary for the solution since the problem is steady-state.
Solver name potentialFoam: a potential flow code, i.e. assumes the flow is incompressible,
steady, irrotational, inviscid and it ignores gravity.
Case name cylinder case located in the $FOAM TUTORIALS/potentialFoam directory.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.1 Flow around a cylinder P-45

3.1.2 Note on potentialFoam

potentialFoam is a useful solver to validate OpenFOAM since the assumptions of potential
flow are such that an analytical solution exists for cases whose geometries are relatively
simple. In this example of flow around a cylinder an analytical solution exists with which
we can compare our numerical solution. potentialFoam can also be run more like a utility
to provide a (reasonably) conservative initial U field for a problem. When running certain
cases, this can useful for avoiding instabilities due to the initial field being unstable. In short,
potentialFoam creates a conservative field from a non-conservative initial field supplied by
the user.

3.1.3 Mesh generation

Mesh generation using blockMesh has been described in tutorials in the User Guide. In this
case, the mesh consists of 10 blocks as shown in Figure 3.2. Remember that all meshes
up
17 18 8 7 6

9 4
8 3

9
left right

14 15 5 0 4 3

10
7 16 2
6 5 1
y
13 12 11 x 0 1 2
down cylinder down

Figure 3.2: Blocks in cylinder geometry

are treated as 3 dimensional in OpenFOAM. If we wish to solve a 2 dimensional problem,

we must describe a 3 dimensional mesh that is only one cell thick in the third direction
that is not solved. In Figure 3.2 we show only the back plane of the geometry, along
z = −0.5, in which the vertex numbers are numbered 0-18. The other 19 vertices in the
front plane, z = +0.5, are numbered in the same order as the back plane, as shown in the
mesh description file below:
1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-46 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

13 object blockMeshDict;
14 }
15 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
16
17 convertToMeters 1;
18
19 vertices #codeStream
20 {
21 codeInclude
22 #{
23 #include "pointField.H"
24 #};
25
26 code
27 #{
28 pointField points(19);
29 points[0] = point(0.5, 0, -0.5);
30 points[1] = point(1, 0, -0.5);
31 points[2] = point(2, 0, -0.5);
32 points[3] = point(2, 0.707107, -0.5);
33 points[4] = point(0.707107, 0.707107, -0.5);
34 points[5] = point(0.353553, 0.353553, -0.5);
35 points[6] = point(2, 2, -0.5);
36 points[7] = point(0.707107, 2, -0.5);
37 points[8] = point(0, 2, -0.5);
38 points[9] = point(0, 1, -0.5);
39 points[10] = point(0, 0.5, -0.5);
40 points[11] = point(-0.5, 0, -0.5);
41 points[12] = point(-1, 0, -0.5);
42 points[13] = point(-2, 0, -0.5);
43 points[14] = point(-2, 0.707107, -0.5);
44 points[15] = point(-0.707107, 0.707107, -0.5);
45 points[16] = point(-0.353553, 0.353553, -0.5);
46 points[17] = point(-2, 2, -0.5);
47 points[18] = point(-0.707107, 2, -0.5);
48
49 // Duplicate z points
50 label sz = points.size();
51 points.setSize(2*sz);
52 for (label i = 0; i < sz; i++)
53 {
54 const point& pt = points[i];
55 points[i+sz] = point(pt.x(), pt.y(), -pt.z());
56 }
57
58 os << points;
59 #};
60 };
61
62
63 blocks
64 (
65 hex (5 4 9 10 24 23 28 29) (10 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
66 hex (0 1 4 5 19 20 23 24) (10 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
67 hex (1 2 3 4 20 21 22 23) (20 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
68 hex (4 3 6 7 23 22 25 26) (20 20 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
69 hex (9 4 7 8 28 23 26 27) (10 20 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
70 hex (15 16 10 9 34 35 29 28) (10 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
71 hex (12 11 16 15 31 30 35 34) (10 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
72 hex (13 12 15 14 32 31 34 33) (20 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
73 hex (14 15 18 17 33 34 37 36) (20 20 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
74 hex (15 9 8 18 34 28 27 37) (10 20 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
75 );
76
77 edges
78 (
79 arc 0 5 (0.469846 0.17101 -0.5)
80 arc 5 10 (0.17101 0.469846 -0.5)
81 arc 1 4 (0.939693 0.34202 -0.5)
82 arc 4 9 (0.34202 0.939693 -0.5)
83 arc 19 24 (0.469846 0.17101 0.5)
84 arc 24 29 (0.17101 0.469846 0.5)
85 arc 20 23 (0.939693 0.34202 0.5)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.1 Flow around a cylinder P-47

86 arc 23 28 (0.34202 0.939693 0.5)

87 arc 11 16 (-0.469846 0.17101 -0.5)
88 arc 16 10 (-0.17101 0.469846 -0.5)
89 arc 12 15 (-0.939693 0.34202 -0.5)
90 arc 15 9 (-0.34202 0.939693 -0.5)
91 arc 30 35 (-0.469846 0.17101 0.5)
92 arc 35 29 (-0.17101 0.469846 0.5)
93 arc 31 34 (-0.939693 0.34202 0.5)
94 arc 34 28 (-0.34202 0.939693 0.5)
95 );
96
97 boundary
98 (
99 down
100 {
101 type symmetryPlane;
102 faces
103 (
104 (0 1 20 19)
105 (1 2 21 20)
106 (12 11 30 31)
107 (13 12 31 32)
108 );
109 }
110 right
111 {
112 type patch;
113 faces
114 (
115 (2 3 22 21)
116 (3 6 25 22)
117 );
118 }
119 up
120 {
121 type symmetryPlane;
122 faces
123 (
124 (7 8 27 26)
125 (6 7 26 25)
126 (8 18 37 27)
127 (18 17 36 37)
128 );
129 }
130 left
131 {
132 type patch;
133 faces
134 (
135 (14 13 32 33)
136 (17 14 33 36)
137 );
138 }
139 cylinder
140 {
141 type symmetry;
142 faces
143 (
144 (10 5 24 29)
145 (5 0 19 24)
146 (16 10 29 35)
147 (11 16 35 30)
148 );
149 }
150 );
151
152 mergePatchPairs
153 (
154 );
155
156 // ************************************************************************* //

3.1.4 Boundary conditions and initial fields

Using FoamX or editing case files by hand, set the boundary conditions in accordance with
the problem description in Figure 3.1, i.e. the left boundary should be an Inlet, the right

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-48 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

boundary should be an Outlet and the down and cylinder boundaries should be symme-
tryPlane. The top boundary conditions is chosen so that we can make the most genuine
comparison with our analytical solution which uses the assumption that the domain is infi-
nite in the y direction. The result is that the normal gradient of U is small along a plane
coinciding with our boundary. We therefore impose the condition that the normal com-
ponent is zero, i.e. specify the boundary as a symmetryPlane, thereby ensuring that the
comparison with the analytical is reasonable.

3.1.5 Running the case

No fluid properties need be specified in this problem since the flow is assumed to be in-
compressible and inviscid. In the system subdirectory, the controlDict specifies the control
parameters for the run. Note that since we assume steady flow, we only run for 1 time step:
1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;
13 location "system";
14 object controlDict;
15 }
16 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
17
18 application potentialFoam;
19
20 startFrom startTime;
21
22 startTime 0;
23
24 stopAt endTime;
25
26 endTime 1;
27
28 deltaT 1;
29
30 writeControl timeStep;
31
32 writeInterval 1;
33
34 purgeWrite 0;
35
36 writeFormat ascii;
37
38 writePrecision 6;
39
40 writeCompression off;
41
42 timeFormat general;
43
44 timePrecision 6;
45
46 runTimeModifiable true;
47
48 functions
49 {
50 difference
51 {
52 // Load the library containing the 'coded' functionObject
53 functionObjectLibs ("libutilityFunctionObjects.so");
54 type coded;
55 // Name of on-the-fly generated functionObject
56 redirectType error;
57 code

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.1 Flow around a cylinder P-49

58 #{
59 // Lookup U
60 Info<< "Looking up field U\n" << endl;
61 const volVectorField& U = mesh().lookupObject<volVectorField>("U");
62
63 Info<< "Reading inlet velocity uInfX\n" << endl;
64
65 scalar ULeft = 0.0;
66 label leftI = mesh().boundaryMesh().findPatchID("left");
67 const fvPatchVectorField& fvp = U.boundaryField()[leftI];
68 if (fvp.size())
69 {
70 ULeft = fvp[0].x();
71 }
72 reduce(ULeft, maxOp<scalar>());
73
74 dimensionedScalar uInfX
75 (
76 "uInfx",
77 dimensionSet(0, 1, -1, 0, 0),
78 ULeft
79 );
80
81 Info << "U at inlet = " << uInfX.value() << " m/s" << endl;
82
83
84 scalar magCylinder = 0.0;
85 label cylI = mesh().boundaryMesh().findPatchID("cylinder");
86 const fvPatchVectorField& cylFvp = mesh().C().boundaryField()[cylI];
87 if (cylFvp.size())
88 {
89 magCylinder = mag(cylFvp[0]);
90 }
91 reduce(magCylinder, maxOp<scalar>());
92
93 dimensionedScalar radius
94 (
95 "radius",
96 dimensionSet(0, 1, 0, 0, 0),
97 magCylinder
98 );
99
100 Info << "Cylinder radius = " << radius.value() << " m" << endl;
101
102 volVectorField UA
103 (
104 IOobject
105 (
106 "UA",
107 mesh().time().timeName(),
108 U.mesh(),
109 IOobject::NO_READ,
110 IOobject::AUTO_WRITE
111 ),
112 U
113 );
114
115 Info<< "\nEvaluating analytical solution" << endl;
116
117 const volVectorField& centres = UA.mesh().C();
118 volScalarField magCentres(mag(centres));
119 volScalarField theta(acos((centres & vector(1,0,0))/magCentres));
120
121 volVectorField cs2theta
122 (
123 cos(2*theta)*vector(1,0,0)
124 + sin(2*theta)*vector(0,1,0)
125 );
126
127 UA = uInfX*(dimensionedVector(vector(1,0,0))
128 - pow((radius/magCentres),2)*cs2theta);
129
130 // Force writing of UA (since time has not changed)
131 UA.write();
132
133 volScalarField error("error", mag(U-UA)/mag(UA));
134
135 Info<<"Writing relative error in U to " << error.objectPath()

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-50 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

136 << endl;

137
138 error.write();
139 #};
140 }
141 }
142
143
144 // ************************************************************************* //

potentialFoam executes an iterative loop around the pressure equation which it solves in
order that explicit terms relating to non-orthogonal correction in the Laplacian term may
be updated in successive iterations. The number of iterations around the pressure equation is
controlled by the nNonOrthogonalCorrectors keyword in controlDict. In the first instance
we can set nNonOrthogonalCorrectors to 0 so that no loops are performed, i.e. the pressure
equation is solved once, and there is no non-orthogonal correction. The solution is shown
in Figure 3.3(a) (at t = 1, when the steady-state simulation is complete). We expect
the solution to show smooth streamlines passing across the domain as in the analytical
solution in Figure 3.3(c), yet there is clearly some error in the regions where there is high
non-orthogonality in the mesh, e.g. at the join of blocks 0, 1 and 3. The case can be run a
second time with some non-orthogonal correction by setting nNonOrthogonalCorrectors to
3. The solution shows smooth streamlines with no significant error due to non-orthogonality
as shown in Figure 3.3(b).

3.2 Steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step

In this example we shall investigate steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step.
The problem description is taken from one used by Pitz and Daily in an experimental
investigation [**] against which the computed solution can be compared. This example
introduces the following OpenFOAM features for the first time:
• generation of a mesh using blockMesh using full mesh grading capability;
• steady turbulent flow.

3.2.1 Problem specification

The problem is defined as follows:
Solution domain The domain is 2 dimensional, consisting of a short inlet, a backward-
facing step and converging nozzle at outlet as shown in Figure 3.4.
Governing equations
• Mass continuity for incompressible flow
∇•U=0 (3.3)

• Steady flow momentum equation

∇ • (UU) + ∇ • R = −∇p (3.4)
where p is kinematic pressure and (in slightly over-simplistic terms) R = νef f ∇U
is the viscous stress term with an effective kinematic viscosity νef f , calculated
from selected transport and turbulence models.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.2 Steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step P-51

(a) With no non-orthogonal correction

(b) With non-orthogonal correction

(c) Analytical solution

Figure 3.3: Streamlines of potential flow

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-52 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

Inlet: Ux = 10.0 m/s Outlet: p = 0 Pa

y
50.8 33.2
x

20.6 206.0 84.0

Dimensions in mm
Figure 3.4: Geometry of backward-facing step

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.2 Steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step P-53

Initial conditions U = 0 m/s, p = 0 Pa — required in OpenFOAM input files but not

necessary for the solution since the problem is steady-state.

Boundary conditions

• Inlet (left) with fixed velocity U = (10, 0, 0) m/s;

• Outlet (right) with fixed pressure p = 0 Pa;
• No-slip walls on other boundaries.

Transport properties

• Kinematic viscosity of air ν = µ/ρ = 18.1 × 10−6 /1.293 = 14.0 µm2 /s

Turbulence model

• Standard k − ǫ;
• Coefficients: Cµ = 0.09; C1 = 1.44; C2 = 1.92; αk = 1; αǫ = 0.76923.

Solver name simpleFoam: an implementation for steady incompressible flow.

Case name pitzDaily, located in the $FOAM TUTORIALS/simpleFoam directory.

The problem is solved using simpleFoam, so-called as it is an implementation for steady

flow using the SIMPLE algorithm [**]. The solver has full access to all the turbulence
models in the incompressibleTurbulenceModels library and the non-Newtonian models incom-
pressibleTransportModels library of the standard OpenFOAM release.

3.2.2 Mesh generation

We expect that the flow in this problem is reasonably complex and an optimum solution will
require grading of the mesh. In general, the regions of highest shear are particularly critical,
requiring a finer mesh than in the regions of low shear. We can anticipate where high shear
will occur by considering what the solution might be in advance of any calculation. At
the inlet we have strong uniform flow in the x direction and, as it passes over the step, it
generates shear on the fluid below, generating a vortex in the bottom half of the domain.
The regions of high shear will therefore be close to the centreline of the domain and close
to the walls.
The domain is subdivided into 12 blocks as shown in Figure 3.5.
The mesh is 3 dimensional, as always in OpenFOAM, so in Figure 3.5 we are viewing
the back plane along z = −0.5. The full set of vertices and blocks are given in the mesh
description file below:
1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;
13 object blockMeshDict;

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-54 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

upperWall
9 15
3
2 7
8 14 12
21
inlet 2 6
1 13 11 20
7 19 10 outlet
1
0 6 4 12 9 18
0 5 5 17
11 8
3 16
4 10
lowerWall
Figure 3.5: Blocks in backward-facing step

14 }
15 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
16
17 convertToMeters 0.001;
18
19 vertices
20 (
21 (-20.6 0 -0.5)
22 (-20.6 3 -0.5)
23 (-20.6 12.7 -0.5)
24 (-20.6 25.4 -0.5)
25 (0 -25.4 -0.5)
26 (0 -5 -0.5)
27 (0 0 -0.5)
28 (0 3 -0.5)
29 (0 12.7 -0.5)
30 (0 25.4 -0.5)
31 (206 -25.4 -0.5)
32 (206 -8.5 -0.5)
33 (206 0 -0.5)
34 (206 6.5 -0.5)
35 (206 17 -0.5)
36 (206 25.4 -0.5)
37 (290 -16.6 -0.5)
38 (290 -6.3 -0.5)
39 (290 0 -0.5)
40 (290 4.5 -0.5)
41 (290 11 -0.5)
42 (290 16.6 -0.5)
43 (-20.6 0 0.5)
44 (-20.6 3 0.5)
45 (-20.6 12.7 0.5)
46 (-20.6 25.4 0.5)
47 (0 -25.4 0.5)
48 (0 -5 0.5)
49 (0 0 0.5)
50 (0 3 0.5)
51 (0 12.7 0.5)
52 (0 25.4 0.5)
53 (206 -25.4 0.5)
54 (206 -8.5 0.5)
55 (206 0 0.5)
56 (206 6.5 0.5)
57 (206 17 0.5)
58 (206 25.4 0.5)
59 (290 -16.6 0.5)
60 (290 -6.3 0.5)
61 (290 0 0.5)
62 (290 4.5 0.5)
63 (290 11 0.5)
64 (290 16.6 0.5)
65 );
66
67 blocks
68 (

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.2 Steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step P-55

69 hex (0 6 7 1 22 28 29 23) (18 7 1) simpleGrading (0.5 1.8 1)

70 hex (1 7 8 2 23 29 30 24) (18 10 1) simpleGrading (0.5 4 1)
71 hex (2 8 9 3 24 30 31 25) (18 13 1) simpleGrading (0.5 0.25 1)
72 hex (4 10 11 5 26 32 33 27) (180 18 1) simpleGrading (4 1 1)
73 hex (5 11 12 6 27 33 34 28) (180 9 1) edgeGrading (4 4 4 4 0.5 1 1 0.5 1 1 1 1)
74 hex (6 12 13 7 28 34 35 29) (180 7 1) edgeGrading (4 4 4 4 1.8 1 1 1.8 1 1 1 1)
75 hex (7 13 14 8 29 35 36 30) (180 10 1) edgeGrading (4 4 4 4 4 1 1 4 1 1 1 1)
76 hex (8 14 15 9 30 36 37 31) (180 13 1) simpleGrading (4 0.25 1)
77 hex (10 16 17 11 32 38 39 33) (25 18 1) simpleGrading (2.5 1 1)
78 hex (11 17 18 12 33 39 40 34) (25 9 1) simpleGrading (2.5 1 1)
79 hex (12 18 19 13 34 40 41 35) (25 7 1) simpleGrading (2.5 1 1)
80 hex (13 19 20 14 35 41 42 36) (25 10 1) simpleGrading (2.5 1 1)
81 hex (14 20 21 15 36 42 43 37) (25 13 1) simpleGrading (2.5 0.25 1)
82 );
83
84 edges
85 (
86 );
87
88 boundary
89 (
90 inlet
91 {
92 type patch;
93 faces
94 (
95 (0 22 23 1)
96 (1 23 24 2)
97 (2 24 25 3)
98 );
99 }
100 outlet
101 {
102 type patch;
103 faces
104 (
105 (16 17 39 38)
106 (17 18 40 39)
107 (18 19 41 40)
108 (19 20 42 41)
109 (20 21 43 42)
110 );
111 }
112 upperWall
113 {
114 type wall;
115 faces
116 (
117 (3 25 31 9)
118 (9 31 37 15)
119 (15 37 43 21)
120 );
121 }
122 lowerWall
123 {
124 type wall;
125 faces
126 (
127 (0 6 28 22)
128 (6 5 27 28)
129 (5 4 26 27)
130 (4 10 32 26)
131 (10 16 38 32)
132 );
133 }
134 frontAndBack
135 {
136 type empty;
137 faces
138 (
139 (22 28 29 23)
140 (23 29 30 24)
141 (24 30 31 25)
142 (26 32 33 27)
143 (27 33 34 28)
144 (28 34 35 29)
145 (29 35 36 30)
146 (30 36 37 31)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-56 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

147 (32 38 39 33)

148 (33 39 40 34)
149 (34 40 41 35)
150 (35 41 42 36)
151 (36 42 43 37)
152 (0 1 7 6)
153 (1 2 8 7)
154 (2 3 9 8)
155 (4 5 11 10)
156 (5 6 12 11)
157 (6 7 13 12)
158 (7 8 14 13)
159 (8 9 15 14)
160 (10 11 17 16)
161 (11 12 18 17)
162 (12 13 19 18)
163 (13 14 20 19)
164 (14 15 21 20)
165 );
166 }
167 );
168
169 mergePatchPairs
170 (
171 );
172
173 // ************************************************************************* //

A major feature of this problem is the use of the full mesh grading capability of blockMesh
that is described in section 5.3.1 of the User Guide. The user can see that blocks 4,5 and 6
use the full list of 12 expansion ratios. The expansion ratios correspond to each edge of the
block, the first 4 to the edges aligned in the local x1 direction, the second 4 to the edges
in the local x2 direction and the last 4 to the edges in the local x3 direction. In blocks 4,
5, and 6, the ratios are equal for all edges in the local x1 and x3 directions but not for the
edges in the x2 direction that corresponds in all blocks to the global y. If we consider the
ratios used in relation to the block definition in section 5.3.1 of the User Guide, we realize
that different gradings have been prescribed along the left and right edges in blocks 4,5 and
6 in Figure 3.5. The purpose of this differential grading is to generate a fine mesh close to
the most critical region of flow, the corner of the step, and allow it to expand into the rest
of the domain.
The mesh can be generated using blockMesh from the command line or from within
FoamX and viewed as described in previous examples.

3.2.3 Boundary conditions and initial fields

The case files can be viewed, or edited from within FoamX or by hand. In this case, we are
required to set the initial and boundary fields for velocity U, pressure p, turbulent kinetic
energy k and dissipation rate ε. The boundary conditions can be specified by setting the
physical patch types in FoamX: the upper and lower walls are set to Wall, the left patch
to Inlet and the right patch to Outlet. These physical boundary conditions require us to
specify a fixedValue at the inlet on U, k and ε. U is given in the problem specification,
but the values of k and ǫ must be chosen by the user in a similar manner to that described
in section 2.1.8.1 of the User Guide. We assume that the inlet turbulence is isotropic and
estimate the fluctuations to be 5% of U at the inlet. We have
5
Ux′ = Uy′ = Uz′ = 10 = 0.5 m/s (3.5)
100
and
3
k = (0.5)2 = 0.375 m2 /s2 (3.6)
2

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.2 Steady turbulent flow over a backward-facing step P-57

If we estimate the turbulent length scale l to be 10% of the width of the inlet then

Cµ0.75 k 1.5 0.090.75 0.3751.5

ε= = = 14.855 m2 /s3 (3.7)
l 0.1 × 25.4 × 10−3
At the outlet we need only specify the pressure p = 0Pa.

3.2.4 Case control

The choices of fvSchemes are as follows: the timeScheme should be SteadyState; the
gradScheme and laplacianScheme should be set as default to Gauss; and, the divScheme
should be set to UD to ensure boundedness.
Special attention should be paid to the settings of fvTolerances. Although the top level
simpleFoam code contains only equations for p and U, the turbulent model solves equations
for k, ε and R, and tolerance settings are required for all 5 equations. A solverTolerance
of 10−5 and solverRelativeTolerance of 0.1 are acceptable for all variables with the
exception of p when 10−6 and 0.01 are recommended. Under-relaxation of the solution is
required since the problem is steady. A relaxationFactor of 0.7 is acceptable for U, k, ε
and R but 0.3 is required for p to avoid numerical instability.
Finally, in controlDict, the time step deltaT should be set to 1 since in steady state
cases such as this is effectively an iteration counter. With benefit of hindsight we know that
the solution requires 1000 iterations reach reasonable convergence, hence endTime is set to
1000. Ensure that the writeFrequency is sufficiently high, e.g. 50, that you will not fill the
hard disk with data during run time.

3.2.5 Running the case and post-processing

(a) Velocity vectors after 50 iterations

(b) Velocity vectors at 1000 iterations

(c) Streamlines at 1000 iterations

Figure 3.6: Development of a vortex in the backward-facing step.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-58 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

Run the case and post-process the results. After a few iterations, e.g. 50, a vortex
develops beneath the corner of the step that is the height of the step but narrow in the
x-direction as shown by the vector plot of velocities is shown Figure 3.6(a). Over several
iterations the vortex stretches in the x-direction from the step to the outlet until at 1000
iterations the system reaches a steady-state in which the vortex is fully developed as shown
in Figure 3.6(b-c).

3.3 Supersonic flow over a forward-facing step

In this example we shall investigate supersonic flow over a forward-facing step. The problem
description involves a flow of Mach 3 at an inlet to a rectangular geometry with a step near
the inlet region that generates shock waves.
This example introduces the following OpenFOAM features for the first time:

• supersonic flow;

3.3.1 Problem specification

The problem is defined as follows:

Solution domain The domain is 2 dimensional and consists of a short inlet section fol-
lowed by a forward-facing step of 20% the height of the section as shown in Figure 3.7

Inlet: Ux = Mach 3, p = 1 N/m2

1.0

y
0.2
x
0.6 2.4
Dimensions in m
Figure 3.7: Geometry of the forward step geometry

Governing equations

• Mass continuity

∂ρ
+ ∇ • (ρU) = 0 (3.8)
∂t

• Ideal gas

p = ρRT (3.9)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.3 Supersonic flow over a forward-facing step P-59

• Momentum equation for Newtonian fluid

∂ρU
+ ∇ • (ρUU) − ∇ • µ∇U = −∇p (3.10)
∂t
• Energy equation for fluid (ignoring some viscous terms), e = Cv T , with Fourier’s
Law q = −k∇T
µ ¶
∂ρe k
+ ∇ (ρUe) − ∇
• • ∇e = p∇ • U (3.11)
∂t Cv

Initial conditions U = 0 m/s, p = 1 Pa, T = 1 K.

Boundary conditions

• Inlet (left) with fixedValue for velocity U = 3 m/s = Mach 3, pressure p = 1 Pa

and temperature T = 1 K;
• Outlet (right) with zeroGradient on U , p and T ;
• No-slip adiabatic wall (bottom);
• Symmetry plane (top).

Transport properties

• Dynamic viscosity of air µ = 18.1µPa s

Thermodynamic properties

• Specific heat at constant volume Cv = 1.78571 J/kg K

• Gas constant R = 0.714286 J/kg K
• Conductivity k = 32.3 µW/m K

Case name forwardStep case located in the $FOAM TUTORIALS/sonicFoam directory.

Solver name sonicFoam: an implementation for compressible trans-sonic/supersonic lam-

inar gas flow.
√
The case is designed such that the speed of sound of the gas c = γRT = 1 m/s, the
consequence being that the velocities are directly equivalent to the Mach number, e.g. the
inlet velocity of 3 m/s is equivalent to Mach 3. This speed of sound calculation can be
verified using the relationship for a perfect gas, Cp − Cv = R, i.e. the ratio of specific heats
R
γ = Cp /Cv = +1 (3.12)
Cv

3.3.2 Mesh generation

The mesh used in this case is relatively simple, specified with uniform rectangular cells of
length 0.06 m in the x direction and 0.05 m in the y direction. The geometry can simply
be divided into 3 blocks, one below the top of the step, and two above the step, one either
side of the step front. The full set of vertices and blocks are given in the mesh description
file below:

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-60 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\

2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;
13 object blockMeshDict;
14 }
15 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
16
17 convertToMeters 1;
18
19 vertices
20 (
21 (0 0 -0.05)
22 (0.6 0 -0.05)
23 (0 0.2 -0.05)
24 (0.6 0.2 -0.05)
25 (3 0.2 -0.05)
26 (0 1 -0.05)
27 (0.6 1 -0.05)
28 (3 1 -0.05)
29 (0 0 0.05)
30 (0.6 0 0.05)
31 (0 0.2 0.05)
32 (0.6 0.2 0.05)
33 (3 0.2 0.05)
34 (0 1 0.05)
35 (0.6 1 0.05)
36 (3 1 0.05)
37 );
38
39 blocks
40 (
41 hex (0 1 3 2 8 9 11 10) (25 10 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
42 hex (2 3 6 5 10 11 14 13) (25 40 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
43 hex (3 4 7 6 11 12 15 14) (100 40 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
44 );
45
46 edges
47 (
48 );
49
50 boundary
51 (
52 inlet
53 {
54 type patch;
55 faces
56 (
57 (0 8 10 2)
58 (2 10 13 5)
59 );
60 }
61 outlet
62 {
63 type patch;
64 faces
65 (
66 (4 7 15 12)
67 );
68 }
69 bottom
70 {
71 type symmetryPlane;
72 faces
73 (
74 (0 1 9 8)
75 );
76 }
77 top
78 {
79 type symmetryPlane;

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.4 Decompression of a tank internally pressurised with water P-61

80 faces
81 (
82 (5 13 14 6)
83 (6 14 15 7)
84 );
85 }
86 obstacle
87 {
88 type patch;
89 faces
90 (
91 (1 3 11 9)
92 (3 4 12 11)
93 );
94 }
95 );
96
97 mergePatchPairs
98 (
99 );
100
101 // ************************************************************************* //

3.3.3 Running the case

The case approaches a steady-state at some time after 5 s. The results for pressure at 10 s
are shown in Figure 3.8. The results clearly show discontinuities in pressure, i.e. shock
waves, emanating from ahead of the base of the step.
pressure
Shock fronts
14
12
10
8
6
4
2

Figure 3.8: Shock fronts in the forward step problem

3.3.4 Exercise
The user can examine the effect on the solution of increasing the inlet velocity.

3.4 Decompression of a tank internally pressurised with

water
In this example we shall investigate a problem of rapid opening of a pipe valve close to
a pressurised liquid-filled tank. The prominent feature of the result in such cases is the
propagation of pressure waves which must therefore be modelled as a compressible liquid.
This tutorial introduces the following OpenFOAM features for the first time:
• Mesh refinement

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-62 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

• Pressure waves in liquids

3.4.1 Problem specification

Solution domain The domain is 2 dimensional and consists of a tank with a small outflow
pipe as shown in Figure 3.9

x
100

50 50 240
Outlet: p = 0 bar
Dimensions in mm
10 Note: image is rotated through -90◦ from normal
orientation of horizontal x-axis
Figure 3.9: Geometry of a tank with outflow pipe

Governing equations This problem requires a model for compressibility ψ in the fluid
in order to be able to resolve waves propagating at a finite speed. A barotropic
relationship is used to relate density ρ and pressure p are related to ψ.

• Mass continuity
∂ρ
+ ∇ • (ρU) = 0 (3.13)
∂t
• The barotropic relationship
∂ρ ρ
= =ψ (3.14)
∂p K
where K is the bulk modulus
• Equation 3.14 is linearised as

ρ ≈ ρ0 + ψ (p − p0 ) (3.15)

where ρ0 and p0 are the reference density and pressure respectively such that
ρ(p0 ) = ρ0 .
• Momentum equation for Newtonian fluid
∂ρU
+ ∇ • (ρUU) − ∇ • µ∇U = −∇p (3.16)
∂t
Boundary conditions Using FoamX the following physical boundary conditions can be
set:

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.4 Decompression of a tank internally pressurised with water P-63

• outerWall is specified the wall condition;

• axis is specified as the symmetryPlane;
• nozzle is specified as a pressureOutlet where p = 0 bar.
• front and back boundaries are specified as empty.

Initial conditions U = 0 m/s, p = 100 bar.

Transport properties

• Dynamic viscosity of water µ = 1.0 mPa s

Thermodynamic properties

• Density of water ρ = 1000 kg/m3

• Reference pressure p0 = 1 bar
• Compressibility of water ψ = 4.54 × 10−7 s2 /m2

Solver name sonicLiquidFoam: a compressible sonic laminar liquid flow code.

Case name decompressionTank case located in the $FOAM TUTORIALS/sonicLiquidFoam

directory.

3.4.2 Mesh Generation

The full geometry is modelled in this case; the set of vertices and blocks are given in the
mesh description file below:
1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;
13 object blockMeshDict;
14 }
15 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
16
17 convertToMeters 0.1;
18
19 vertices
20 (
21 (0 0 -0.1)
22 (1 0 -0.1)
23 (0 0.5 -0.1)
24 (1 0.5 -0.1)
25 (1.5 0.5 -0.1)
26 (0 0.6 -0.1)
27 (1 0.6 -0.1)
28 (1.5 0.6 -0.1)
29 (0 3 -0.1)
30 (1 3 -0.1)
31 (0 0 0.1)
32 (1 0 0.1)
33 (0 0.5 0.1)
34 (1 0.5 0.1)
35 (1.5 0.5 0.1)
36 (0 0.6 0.1)

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-64 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

37 (1 0.6 0.1)
38 (1.5 0.6 0.1)
39 (0 3 0.1)
40 (1 3 0.1)
41 );
42
43 blocks
44 (
45 hex (0 1 3 2 10 11 13 12) (30 20 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
46 hex (2 3 6 5 12 13 16 15) (30 5 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
47 hex (3 4 7 6 13 14 17 16) (25 5 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
48 hex (5 6 9 8 15 16 19 18) (30 95 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
49 );
50
51 edges
52 (
53 );
54
55 boundary
56 (
57 outerWall
58 {
59 type wall;
60 faces
61 (
62 (0 1 11 10)
63 (1 3 13 11)
64 (3 4 14 13)
65 (7 6 16 17)
66 (6 9 19 16)
67 (9 8 18 19)
68 );
69 }
70 axis
71 {
72 type symmetryPlane;
73 faces
74 (
75 (0 10 12 2)
76 (2 12 15 5)
77 (5 15 18 8)
78 );
79 }
80 nozzle
81 {
82 type patch;
83 faces
84 (
85 (4 7 17 14)
86 );
87 }
88 back
89 {
90 type empty;
91 faces
92 (
93 (0 2 3 1)
94 (2 5 6 3)
95 (3 6 7 4)
96 (5 8 9 6)
97 );
98 }
99 front
100 {
101 type empty;
102 faces
103 (
104 (10 11 13 12)
105 (12 13 16 15)
106 (13 14 17 16)
107 (15 16 19 18)
108 );
109 }
110 );
111
112 mergePatchPairs
113 (
114 );
115
116 // ************************************************************************* //

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.4 Decompression of a tank internally pressurised with water P-65

In order to improve the numerical accuracy, we shall use the reference level of 1 bar for the
pressure field. Note that both the internal field level and the boundary conditions are offset
by the reference level.

3.4.3 Preparing the Run

Before we commence the setup of the calculation, we need to consider the characteristic
velocity of the phenomenon we are trying to capture. In the case under consideration, the
fluid velocity will be very small, but the pressure wave will propagate with the speed of
sound in water. The speed of sound is calculated as:
r r
1 1
c= = = 1483.2m/s. (3.17)
ψ 4.54 × 10−7

For the mesh described above, the characteristic mesh size is approximately 2 mm (note the
scaling factor of 0.1 in the blockMeshDict file). Using
U ∆t
Co = (3.18)
∆x
a reasonable time step is around ∆t = 5 × 10−7 s, giving the Co number of 0.35, based on
the speed of sound. Also, note that the reported Co number by the code (associated with
the convective velocity) will be two orders of magnitude smaller. As we are interested in
the pressure wave propagation, we shall set the simulation time to 0.25 ms. For reference,
the controlDict file is quoted below.
1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;
13 location "system";
14 object controlDict;
15 }
16 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
17
18 application sonicLiquidFoam;
19
20 startFrom startTime;
21
22 startTime 0;
23
24 stopAt endTime;
25
26 endTime 0.0001;
27
28 deltaT 5e-07;
29
30 writeControl timeStep;
31
32 writeInterval 20;
33
34 purgeWrite 0;
35
36 writeFormat ascii;
37
38 writePrecision 6;
39

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-66 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

40 writeCompression off;
41
42 timeFormat general;
43
44 timePrecision 6;
45
46 runTimeModifiable true;
47
48
49 // ************************************************************************* //

3.4.4 Running the case

Pressure, p
(bar)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

(a) At t = 50 µs (b) At t = 100 µs (c) At t = 150 µs

Figure 3.10: Propagation of pressure waves

The user can run the case and view results in dxFoam. The liquid flows out through
the nozzle causing a wave to move along the nozzle. As it reaches the inlet to the tank,
some of the wave is transmitted into the tank and some of it is reflected. While a wave
is reflected up and down the inlet pipe, the waves transmitted into the tank expand and
propagate through the tank. In Figure 3.10, the pressures are shown as contours so that
the wave fronts are more clearly defined than if plotted as a normal isoline plot.
If the simulation is run for a long enough time for the reflected wave to return to the
pipe, we can see that negative absolute pressure is detected. The modelling permits this and
has some physical basis since liquids can support tension, i.e. negative pressures. In reality,
however, impurities or dissolved gases in liquids act as sites for cavitation, or vapourisa-
tion/boiling, of the liquid due to the low pressure. Therefore in practical situations, we
generally do not observe pressures falling below the vapourisation pressure of the liquid; not
at least for longer than it takes for the cavitation process to occur.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.5 Magnetohydrodynamic flow of a liquid P-67

Pressure, p
(bar)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

(a) At t = 50 µs (b) At t = 100 µs (c) At t = 150 µs

Figure 3.11: Propagation of pressure waves with refined mesh

3.4.5 Improving the solution by refining the mesh

Looking at the evolution of the resulting pressure field in time, we can clearly see the
propagation of the pressure wave into the tank and numerous reflections from the inside
walls. It is also obvious that the pressure wave is smeared over a number of cells. We shall
now refine the mesh and reduce the time step to obtain a sharper front resolution. Simply
edit the blockMeshDict and increase the number of cells by a factor of 4 in the x and y
directions, i.e. block 0 becomes (120 80 1) from (30 20 1) and so on. Run blockMesh on
this file. In addition, in order to maintain a Courant number below 1, the time step must
be reduced accordingly to ∆t = 10−7 s. The second simulation gives considerably better
resolution of the pressure waves as shown in Figure 3.11.

3.5 Magnetohydrodynamic flow of a liquid

In this example we shall investigate an flow of an electrically-conducting liquid through a
magnetic field. The problem is one belonging to the branch of fluid dynamics known as
magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) that uses mhdFoam.

3.5.1 Problem specification

The problem is known as the Hartmann problem, chosen as it contains an analytical solution
with which mhdFoam can be validated. It is defined as follows:
Solution domain The domain is 2 dimensional and consists of flow along two parallel
plates as shown in Fig. 3.12.
Governing equations

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-68 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

20

y
By = 20 T 2
x

Inlet: Ux = 1 m/s Outlet: p = 0 bar

Figure 3.12: Geometry of the Hartmann problem

• Mass continuity for incompressible fluid

∇•U=0 (3.19)

• Momentum equation for incompressible fluid

∂U
+ ∇ • (UU) + ∇ • (2BΓBU B) + ∇ • (νU) + ∇ (ΓBU B •• B) = −∇p (3.20)
∂t
where B is the magnetic flux density, ΓBU = (2µρ)−1 .
• Maxwell’s equations
∂B
∇×E=− (3.21)
∂t
where E is the electric field strength.

∇•B=0 (3.22)

∂D
∇×H=J+ =J (3.23)
∂t
assuming ∂D/∂t ≪ J. Here, H is the magnetic field strength, J is the current
density and D is the electric flux density.
• Charge continuity

∇•J=0 (3.24)

• Constitutive law

B = µH (3.25)

• Ohm’s law

J = σ (E + U × B) (3.26)

• Combining Equation 3.21, Equation 3.23, Equation 3.26, and taking the curl
∂B
+ ∇ • (UB) − ∇ • (φB U) − ∇ • (ΓB B) = 0 (3.27)
∂t

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.5 Magnetohydrodynamic flow of a liquid P-69

Boundary conditions

• inlet is specified the inlet condition with fixed velocity U = (1, 0, 0) m/s;
• outlet is specified as the outlet with with fixed pressure p = 0 Pa;
• upperWall is specified as a wall where B = (0, 20, 0) T.
• lowerWall is specified as a wall where B = (0, 20, 0) T.
• front and back boundaries are specified as empty.

Initial conditions U = 0 m/s, p = 100 Pa, B = (0, 20, 0) T.

Transport properties

• Kinematic viscosity ν = 1 Pa s
• Density ρ = 1 kg m/s
• Electrical conductivity σ = 1 (Ω m)−1
• Permeability µ = 1 H/m

Solver name mhdFoam: an incompressible laminar magneto-hydrodynamics code.

Case name hartmann case located in the $FOAM TUTORIALS/mhdFoam directory.

3.5.2 Mesh generation

The geometry is simply modelled with 100 cells in the x-direction and 40 cells in the y-
direction; the set of vertices and blocks are given in the mesh description file below:
1 /*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
2 | ========= | |
3 | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
4 | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.4.0 |
5 | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.org |
6 | \\/ M anipulation | |
7 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
8 FoamFile
9 {
10 version 2.0;
11 format ascii;
12 class dictionary;
13 object blockMeshDict;
14 }
15 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
16
17 convertToMeters 1;
18
19 vertices
20 (
21 (0 -1 0)
22 (20 -1 0)
23 (20 1 0)
24 (0 1 0)
25 (0 -1 0.1)
26 (20 -1 0.1)
27 (20 1 0.1)
28 (0 1 0.1)
29 );
30
31 blocks
32 (
33 hex (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7) (100 40 1) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
34 );
35
36 edges

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-70 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

37 (
38 );
39
40 boundary
41 (
42 inlet
43 {
44 type patch;
45 faces
46 (
47 (0 4 7 3)
48 );
49 }
50 outlet
51 {
52 type patch;
53 faces
54 (
55 (2 6 5 1)
56 );
57 }
58 lowerWall
59 {
60 type patch;
61 faces
62 (
63 (1 5 4 0)
64 );
65 }
66 upperWall
67 {
68 type patch;
69 faces
70 (
71 (3 7 6 2)
72 );
73 }
74 frontAndBack
75 {
76 type empty;
77 faces
78 (
79 (0 3 2 1)
80 (4 5 6 7)
81 );
82 }
83 );
84
85 mergePatchPairs
86 (
87 );
88
89 // ************************************************************************* //

3.5.3 Running the case

The user can run the case and view results in dxFoam. It is also useful at this stage to run
the Ucomponents utility to convert the U vector field into individual scalar components.
MHD flow is governed by, amongst other things, the Hartmann number which is a measure
of the ratio of electromagnetic body force to viscous force
r
σ
M = BL (3.28)
ρν

where L is the characteristic length scale. In this case with By = 20 T, M = 20 and the
electromagnetic body forces dominate the viscous forces. Consequently with the flow fairly
steady at t = 2 s the velocity profile is almost planar, viewed at a cross section midway
along the domain x = 10 m. The user can plot a graph of the profile of Ux in dxFoam.
Now the user should reduce the magnetic flux density B to 1 Tand re-run the code and
Ucomponents. In this case, M = 1 and the electromagnetic body forces no longer dominate.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
3.5 Magnetohydrodynamic flow of a liquid P-71

y (m)
+1.0

By = 1 T

0.0 By = 20 T

-1.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
Ux (m/s)
Figure 3.13: Velocity profile in the Hartmann problem for By = 1 T and By = 20 T.

The velocity profile consequently takes on the parabolic form, characteristic of Poiseuille
flow as shown in Figure 3.13. To validate the code the analytical solution for the velocity
profile Ux is superimposed in Figure 3.13, given by:

Ux (y) cosh M − cosh M (y/L)

= (3.29)
Ux (0) cosh M − 1

where the characteristic length L is half the width of the domain, i.e. 1 m.

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-72 Examples of the use of OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-73

Index
Symbols Numbers A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z

Symbols adjointShapeOptimizationFoam solver, U-87

* adjustableRunTime
tensor member function, P-23 keyword entry, U-62, U-116
+ adjustTimeStep keyword, U-61, U-117
tensor member function, P-23 agglomerator keyword, U-128
- algorithms tools, U-99
tensor member function, P-23 alphaContactAngle
/ boundary condition, U-59
tensor member function, P-23 analytical solution, P-43
/*...*/ Animations window panel, U-176
C++ syntax, U-79 anisotropicFilter model, U-105
// Annotation window panel, U-25, U-176
C++ syntax, U-79 ansysToFoam utility, U-93
OpenFOAM file syntax, U-108 APIfunctions model, U-103
# include applications, U-69
C++ syntax, U-72, U-79 Apply button, U-172, U-176
& applyBoundaryLayer utility, U-92
tensor member function, P-23 applyWallFunctionBoundaryConditions utility,
&& U-92
tensor member function, P-23 arbitrarily unstructured, P-29
^ arc
tensor member function, P-23 keyword entry, U-145
<LESModel>Coeffs keyword, U-198
arc keyword, U-144
<RASModel>Coeffs keyword, U-198
As keyword, U-196
<delta>Coeffs keyword, U-198
ascii
0.000000e+00 directory, U-108
keyword entry, U-116
1-dimensional mesh, U-135
attachMesh utility, U-93
1D mesh, U-135
Auto Accept button, U-176
2-dimensional mesh, U-135
autoMesh
2D mesh, U-135
library, U-100
Numbers autoPatch utility, U-93
0 directory, U-108 autoRefineMesh utility, U-94
axes
A right-handed, U-143
access functions, P-21 right-handed rectangular Cartesian, P-13,
addLayersControls keyword, U-153 U-18
adiabaticFlameT utility, U-99 axi-symmetric cases, U-140, U-151
adiabaticPerfectFluid model, U-103, U-193 axi-symmetric mesh, U-135

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-74 Index

B mixed, U-141
background movingWallVelocity, U-142
process, U-25, U-82 outlet, P-69
backward outletInlet, U-142
keyword entry, U-124 partialSlip, U-142
Backward differencing, P-37 patch, U-139
barotropicCompressibilityModels pressureDirectedInletVelocity, U-142
library, U-103 pressureInletVelocity, U-142
basicMultiComponentMixture model, U-102, pressureOutlet, P-63
U-194 pressureTransmissive, U-142
basicSolidThermo processor, U-140
library, U-104 setup, U-20
basicThermophysicalModels slip, U-142
library, U-102 supersonicFreeStream, U-142
binary surfaceNormalFixedValue, U-142
keyword entry, U-116 symmetryPlane, P-63, U-140
BirdCarreau model, U-106 totalPressure, U-142
blended differencing, P-36 turbulentInlet, U-142
block wall, U-40
expansion ratio, U-145 wall, P-63, P-69, U-58, U-139, U-140
block keyword, U-144 wedge, U-135, U-140, U-151
blocking zeroGradient, U-141
keyword entry, U-81 boundary conditions, P-41
blockMesh Dirichlet, P-41
library, U-100 inlet, P-42
blockMesh solver, P-45 Neumann, P-41
blockMesh utility, U-37, U-92, U-141 no-slip impermeable wall, P-42
blockMesh executable outlet, P-42
vertex numbering, U-145 physical, P-42
blockMeshDict symmetry plane, P-42
dictionary, U-18, U-20, U-36, U-49, U-141, boundaryField keyword, U-21, U-112
U-151 boundaryFoam solver, U-87
blocks keyword, U-20, U-31, U-145 bounded
boundaries, U-135 keyword entry, U-122, U-123
boundary, U-135 boxToCell keyword, U-60
boundary boxTurb utility, U-92
dictionary, U-134, U-141 breaking of a dam, U-56
boundary keyword, U-147, U-148 buoyantBoussinesqPimpleFoam solver, U-90
boundary condition buoyantBoussinesqSimpleFoam solver, U-90
alphaContactAngle, U-59 buoyantPimpleFoam solver, U-90
buoyantPressure, U-142 buoyantPressure
calculated, U-141 boundary condition, U-142
cyclic, U-140, U-149 buoyantSimpleFoam solver, U-90
directionMixed, U-141 button
empty, P-63, P-69, U-18, U-135, U-140 Apply, U-172, U-176
fixedGradient, U-141 Auto Accept, U-176
fixedValue, U-141 Choose Preset, U-174
fluxCorrectedVelocity, U-142 Delete, U-172
inlet, P-69 Edit Color Map, U-174
inletOutlet, U-142 Enable Line Series, U-35

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-75

Orientation Axes, U-25, U-176 chemistryModel

Refresh Times, U-25 library, U-103
Rescale to Data Range, U-25 chemistryModel model, U-103
Reset, U-172 chemistrySolver model, U-103
Set Ambient Color, U-175 chemkinToFoam utility, U-99
Update GUI, U-173 Choose Preset button, U-174
Use Parallel Projection, U-25 chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam solver, U-90
Use parallel projection, U-175 chtMultiRegionFoam solver, U-90
Chung
C library, U-103
C++ syntax class
/*...*/, U-79
cell, P-29
//, U-79
dimensionSet, P-24, P-30, P-31
# include, U-72, U-79
face, P-29
cacheAgglomeration keyword, U-128
finiteVolumeCalculus, P-34
calculated
finiteVolumeMethod, P-34
boundary condition, U-141
fvMesh, P-29
cAlpha keyword, U-63
fvSchemes, P-36
cases, U-107
fvc, P-34
castellatedMesh keyword, U-153
fvm, P-34
castellatedMeshControls
pointField, P-29
dictionary, U-154–U-156
polyBoundaryMesh, P-29
castellatedMeshControls keyword, U-153
polyMesh, P-29, U-131, U-133
cavitatingDyMFoam solver, U-88
cavitatingFoam solver, U-88 polyPatchList, P-29
cavity flow, U-17 polyPatch, P-29
ccm26ToFoam utility, U-93 scalarField, P-27
CEI ARCH scalar, P-22
environment variable, U-186 slice, P-29
CEI HOME symmTensorField, P-27
environment variable, U-186 symmTensorThirdField, P-27
cell tensorField, P-27
expansion ratio, U-145 tensorThirdField, P-27
cell class, P-29 tensor, P-22
cell vectorField, P-27
keyword entry, U-187 vector, P-22, U-111
cellLimited word, P-24, P-29
keyword entry, U-122 class keyword, U-109
cellPoint clockTime
keyword entry, U-187 keyword entry, U-116
cellPointFace cloud keyword, U-189
keyword entry, U-187 cloudFunctionObjects
cells library, U-100
dictionary, U-141 cmptAv
central differencing, P-36 tensor member function, P-23
cfdTools tools, U-100 Co utility, U-95
cfx4ToFoam utility, U-93, U-160 coalChemistryFoam solver, U-90
changeDictionary utility, U-92 coalCombustion
Charts window panel, U-176 library, U-101
checkMesh utility, U-93, U-162 cofactors
chemFoam solver, U-89 tensor member function, P-23

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-76 Index

coldEngineFoam solver, U-89 createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry utility,

collapseEdges utility, U-94 U-92
Color By menu, U-175 createBaffles utility, U-93
Color Legend window, U-27 createPatch utility, U-93
Color Legend window panel, U-174 createTurbulenceFields utility, U-96
Color Scale window panel, U-174 cross product, see tensor, vector cross product
Colors window panel, U-176 CrossPowerLaw
compressibleInterDyMFoam solver, U-88 keyword entry, U-60
compressibleInterFoam solver, U-88 CrossPowerLaw model, U-106
compressibleMultiphaseInterFoam solver, U-88 cubeRootVolDelta model, U-105
combinePatchFaces utility, U-95 cubicCorrected
keyword entry, U-124
comments, U-79
cubicCorrection
commsType keyword, U-81
keyword entry, U-121
compressed
curl, P-35
keyword entry, U-116
curl
compressibleLESModels
fvc member function, P-35
library, U-105 Current Time Controls menu, U-25, U-173
compressibleRASModels curve keyword, U-189
library, U-104 Cv keyword, U-196
constant directory, U-107, U-193 cyclic
constant model, U-102 boundary condition, U-140, U-149
constTransport model, U-103, U-194 cyclic
containers tools, U-99 keyword entry, U-140
continuum cylinder
mechanics, P-13 flow around a, P-43
control
of time, U-115 D
controlDict d2dt2
dictionary, P-65, U-22, U-31, U-42, U-51, fvc member function, P-35
U-62, U-107, U-168 fvm member function, P-35
controlDict file, P-48 dam
convection, see divergence, P-36 breaking of a, U-56
datToFoam utility, U-93
convergence, U-39
db tools, U-99
conversion
ddt
library, U-101
fvc member function, P-35
convertToMeters keyword, U-143, U-144
fvm member function, P-35
coordinate
DeardorffDiffStress model, U-105, U-106
system, P-13
debug keyword, U-153
coordinate system, U-18 decompose model, U-101
corrected decomposePar utility, U-82, U-83, U-98
keyword entry, U-122, U-123 decomposeParDict
Courant number, P-40, U-22 dictionary, U-82
Cp keyword, U-196 decomposition
cpuTime of field, U-82
keyword entry, U-116 of mesh, U-82
Crank Nicolson decompositionMethods
temporal discretisation, P-41 library, U-101
CrankNicolson decompression of a tank, P-61
keyword entry, U-124 defaultFieldValues keyword, U-60

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-77

deformedGeom utility, U-94 van Leer, P-36

Delete button, U-172 DILU
delta keyword, U-84, U-198 keyword entry, U-127
deltaT keyword, U-116 dimension
dependencies, U-72 checking in OpenFOAM, P-24, U-111
dependency lists, U-72 dimensional units, U-111
det dimensioned<Type> template class, P-24
tensor member function, P-23 dimensionedTypes tools, U-100
determinant, see tensor, determinant dimensions keyword, U-21, U-112
dev dimensionSet class, P-24, P-30, P-31
tensor member function, P-23 dimensionSet tools, U-100
diag directionMixed
tensor member function, P-23 boundary condition, U-141
diagonal directory
keyword entry, U-126, U-127 0.000000e+00, U-108
DIC 0, U-108
keyword entry, U-127 Make, U-73
DICGaussSeidel constant, U-107, U-193
keyword entry, U-127 fluentInterface, U-183
dictionary polyMesh, U-107, U-133
LESProperties, U-198 processorN , U-83
PISO, U-23 run, U-107
blockMeshDict, U-18, U-20, U-36, U-49, system, P-48, U-107
U-141, U-151 tutorials, P-43, U-17
boundary, U-134, U-141 discretisation
castellatedMeshControls, U-154–U-156 equation, P-31
cells, U-141 Display window panel, U-24, U-25, U-172, U-173
controlDict, P-65, U-22, U-31, U-42, U-51, distance
U-62, U-107, U-168 keyword entry, U-156, U-189
decomposeParDict, U-82 distributed model, U-101
faces, U-133, U-141 distributed keyword, U-84, U-85
fvSchemes, U-62, U-63, U-107, U-118 distributionModels
fvSolution, U-107, U-125 library, U-101
mechanicalProperties, U-51 div
neighbour, U-134 fvc member function, P-35
owner, U-133 fvm member function, P-35
points, U-133, U-141 divergence, P-35, P-37
thermalProperties, U-51 divSchemes keyword, U-118
thermophysicalProperties, U-193 dnsFoam solver, U-89
transportProperties, U-21, U-38, U-42 doLayers keyword, U-153
turbulenceProperties, U-41, U-61, U-198 double inner product, see tensor,double inner
differencing product
Backward, P-37 DPMFoam solver, U-90
blended, P-36 dsmc
central, P-36 library, U-101
Euler implicit, P-37 dsmcFieldsCalc utility, U-97
Gamma, P-36 dsmcFoam solver, U-91
MINMOD, P-36 dsmcInitialise utility, U-92
SUPERBEE, P-36 dx
upwind, P-36 keyword entry, U-187

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-78 Index

dynamicFvMesh WM MPLIB, U-76

library, U-100 WM OPTIONS, U-76
dynamicMesh WM PRECISION OPTION, U-76
library, U-100 WM PROJECT DIR, U-76
dynLagrangian model, U-105 WM PROJECT INST DIR, U-76
dynOneEqEddy model, U-105 WM PROJECT USER DIR, U-76
WM PROJECT VERSION, U-76
E WM PROJECT, U-76
eConstThermo model, U-103, U-193 wmake, U-76
edgeGrading keyword, U-146 equationOfState keyword, U-195
edgeMesh equilibriumCO utility, U-99
library, U-101 equilibriumFlameT utility, U-99
edges keyword, U-144 errorReduction keyword, U-161
Edit menu, U-175, U-176 Euler
Edit Color Map button, U-174 keyword entry, U-124
egrMixture model, U-102, U-194 Euler implicit
electrostaticFoam solver, U-91 differencing, P-37
empty temporal discretisation, P-40
boundary condition, P-63, P-69, U-18, examples
U-135, U-140 decompression of a tank, P-61
empty flow around a cylinder, P-43
keyword entry, U-140 flow over backward step, P-50
Enable Line Series button, U-35 Hartmann problem, P-67
endTime keyword, U-22, U-115, U-116 supersonic flow over forward step, P-58
energy keyword, U-195 execFlowFunctionObjects utility, U-97
engine expandDictionary utility, U-99
library, U-101 expansionRatio keyword, U-160
engineCompRatio utility, U-97 explicit
engineFoam solver, U-89 temporal discretisation, P-40
engineSwirl utility, U-92 extrude2DMesh utility, U-92
ensight74FoamExec utility, U-185 extrudeMesh utility, U-92
ENSIGHT7 INPUT extrudeToRegionMesh utility, U-92
environment variable, U-186
ENSIGHT7 READER F
environment variable, U-186 face class, P-29
ensightFoamReader utility, U-95 face keyword, U-189
enstrophy utility, U-95 faceAgglomerate utility, U-92
environment variable faceAreaPair
CEI ARCH, U-186 keyword entry, U-128
CEI HOME, U-186 faceLimited
ENSIGHT7 INPUT, U-186 keyword entry, U-122
ENSIGHT7 READER, U-186 faces
FOAM RUN, U-107 dictionary, U-133, U-141
WM ARCH OPTION, U-76 FDIC
WM ARCH, U-76 keyword entry, U-127
WM COMPILER BIN, U-76 featureAngle keyword, U-160
WM COMPILER DIR, U-76 features keyword, U-154, U-155
WM COMPILER LIB, U-76 field
WM COMPILER, U-76 U, U-23
WM COMPILE OPTION, U-76 p, U-23
WM DIR, U-76 decomposition, U-82

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-79

FieldField<Type> template class, P-30 supersonic, P-58

fieldFunctionObjects turbulent, U-17
library, U-100 flow around a cylinder, P-43
fields, P-27 flow over backward step, P-50
mapping, U-168 flowType utility, U-95
fields tools, U-100 fluent3DMeshToFoam utility, U-93
fields keyword, U-187 fluentInterface directory, U-183
Field<Type> template class, P-27 fluentMeshToFoam utility, U-93, U-160
fieldValues keyword, U-60 fluxCorrectedVelocity
file boundary condition, U-142
Make/files, U-75 fluxRequired keyword, U-118
controlDict, P-48 OpenFOAM
files, U-73 cases, U-107
g, U-61 FOAM RUN
options, U-73 environment variable, U-107
snappyHexMeshDict, U-152 foamCalc utility, U-33, U-97
transportProperties, U-60 foamCalcFunctions
file format, U-108 library, U-100
fileFormats foamCorrectVrt script/alias, U-166
library, U-101 foamDataToFluent utility, U-95, U-183
fileModificationChecking keyword, U-81 foamDebugSwitches utility, U-99
fileModificationSkew keyword, U-81 FoamFile keyword, U-109
files file, U-73 foamFile
filteredLinear2 keyword entry, U-187
keyword entry, U-121 foamFormatConvert utility, U-99
finalLayerThickness keyword, U-160 foamHelp utility, U-99
financialFoam solver, U-91 foamInfoExec utility, U-99
find script/alias, U-181 foamJob script/alias, U-190
finite volume foamListTimes utility, U-97
discretisation, P-25 foamLog script/alias, U-190
mesh, P-29 foamMeshToFluent utility, U-93, U-183
finiteVolume foamToEnsight utility, U-95
library, U-100 foamToEnsightParts utility, U-95
finiteVolume tools, U-100 foamToGMV utility, U-95
finiteVolumeCalculus class, P-34 foamToStarMesh utility, U-93
finiteVolumeMethod class, P-34 foamToSurface utility, U-93
fireFoam solver, U-89 foamToTecplot360 utility, U-95
firstTime keyword, U-115 foamToVTK utility, U-95
fixed foamUpgradeCyclics utility, U-92
keyword entry, U-116 foamUpgradeFvSolution utility, U-92
fixedGradient foamyHexMeshBackgroundMesh utility, U-92
boundary condition, U-141 foamyHexMeshSurfaceSimplify utility, U-92
fixedValue foamyHexMesh utility, U-92
boundary condition, U-141 foamyQuadMesh utility, U-93
flattenMesh utility, U-94 forces
floatTransfer keyword, U-81 library, U-100
flow foreground
free surface, U-56 process, U-25
laminar, U-17 format keyword, U-109
steady, turbulent, P-50 fourth

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-80 Index

keyword entry, U-122, U-123 keyword entry, U-122

functionObjectLibs keyword, U-181 Gauss’s theorem, P-34
functions keyword, U-117, U-180 GaussSeidel
fvc class, P-34 keyword entry, U-127
fvc member function General window panel, U-175, U-176
curl, P-35 general
d2dt2, P-35 keyword entry, U-116
ddt, P-35 genericFvPatchField
div, P-35 library, U-101
gGrad, P-35 geometric-algebraic multi-grid, U-127
grad, P-35 GeometricBoundaryField template class, P-30
laplacian, P-35 geometricField<Type> template class, P-30
lsGrad, P-35 geometry keyword, U-153
snGrad, P-35 gGrad
snGradCorrection, P-35 fvc member function, P-35
sqrGradGrad, P-35 global tools, U-100
fvDOM gmshToFoam utility, U-93
library, U-102 gnuplot
FVFunctionObjects keyword entry, U-117, U-187
library, U-100 grad
fvm class, P-34 fvc member function, P-35
fvm member function (Grad Grad) squared, P-35
d2dt2, P-35 gradient, P-35, P-38
ddt, P-35 Gauss scheme, P-38
div, P-35 Gauss’s theorem, U-52
laplacian, P-35 least square fit, U-52
Su, P-35 least squares method, P-38, U-52
SuSp, P-35 surface normal, P-38
fvMatrices tools, U-100 gradSchemes keyword, U-118
fvMatrix template class, P-34 graph tools, U-100
fvMesh class, P-29 graphFormat keyword, U-117
fvMesh tools, U-100 GuldersEGRLaminarFlameSpeed model, U-103
fvMotionSolvers GuldersLaminarFlameSpeed model, U-102
library, U-101
fvSchemes H
dictionary, U-62, U-63, U-107, U-118 hConstThermo model, U-103, U-194
fvSchemes class, P-36 heheupsiReactionThermo model, U-102, U-194
fvSchemes Help menu, U-175
menu entry, U-52 hePsiThermo model, U-102, U-194
fvSolution heRhoThermo model, U-102, U-194
dictionary, U-107, U-125 HerschelBulkley model, U-106
hExponentialThermo
G library, U-104
g file, U-61 Hf keyword, U-196
gambitToFoam utility, U-93, U-160 hierarchical
GAMG keyword entry, U-83, U-84
keyword entry, U-53, U-126, U-127 highCpCoeffs keyword, U-196
Gamma homogenousDynOneEqEddy model, U-105, U-106
keyword entry, U-121 homogenousDynSmagorinsky model, U-105
Gamma differencing, P-36 homogeneousMixture model, U-102, U-194
Gauss hPolynomialThermo model, U-103, U-194

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-81

I inv
I tensor member function, P-23
tensor member function, P-23 iterations
icoFoam solver, U-17, U-21, U-22, U-25, U-87 maximum, U-127
icoPolynomial model, U-103, U-193
icoUncoupledKinematicParcelDyMFoam solver, J
U-90 janafThermo model, U-103, U-194
icoUncoupledKinematicParcelFoam solver, U-90 jobControl
ideasToFoam utility, U-160 library, U-100
ideasUnvToFoam utility, U-93 jplot
identities, see tensor, identities keyword entry, U-117, U-187
identity, see tensor, identity
K
incompressibleLESModels
kEpsilon model, U-104
library, U-105
keyword
incompressiblePerfectGas model, U-103, U-193
As, U-196
incompressibleRASModels Cp, U-196
library, U-104 Cv, U-196
incompressibleTransportModels FoamFile, U-109
library, P-53, U-106 Hf, U-196
incompressibleTurbulenceModels LESModel, U-198
library, P-53 Pr, U-196
index RASModel, U-198
notation, P-14, P-15 Tcommon, U-196
Information window panel, U-172 Thigh, U-196
inhomogeneousMixture model, U-102, U-194 Tlow, U-196
inlet Ts, U-196
boundary condition, P-69 addLayersControls, U-153
inletOutlet adjustTimeStep, U-61, U-117
boundary condition, U-142 agglomerator, U-128
inner product, see tensor, inner product arc, U-144
inotify blocks, U-20, U-31, U-145
keyword entry, U-81 block, U-144
inotifyMaster boundaryField, U-21, U-112
keyword entry, U-81 boundary, U-147, U-148
inside boxToCell, U-60
keyword entry, U-156 cAlpha, U-63
insideCells utility, U-94 cacheAgglomeration, U-128
interPhaseChangeDyMFoam solver, U-88 castellatedMeshControls, U-153
interPhaseChangeFoam solver, U-88 castellatedMesh, U-153
interDyMFoam solver, U-88 class, U-109
interfaceProperties cloud, U-189
library, U-106 commsType, U-81
interfaceProperties model, U-106 convertToMeters, U-143, U-144
interFoam solver, U-88 curve, U-189
interMixingFoam solver, U-88 debug, U-153
internalField keyword, U-21, U-112 defaultFieldValues, U-60
interpolation tools, U-100 deltaT, U-116
interpolationScheme keyword, U-187 delta, U-84, U-198
interpolations tools, U-100 dimensions, U-21, U-112
interpolationSchemes keyword, U-118 distributed, U-84, U-85

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-82 Index

divSchemes, U-118 maxNonOrtho, U-161

doLayers, U-153 maxThicknessToMedialRatio, U-160
edgeGrading, U-146 mergeLevels, U-128
edges, U-144 mergePatchPairs, U-144
endTime, U-22, U-115, U-116 mergeTolerance, U-153
energy, U-195 meshQualityControls, U-153
equationOfState, U-195 method, U-84
errorReduction, U-161 midPointAndFace, U-189
expansionRatio, U-160 midPoint, U-189
face, U-189 minArea, U-161
featureAngle, U-160 minDeterminant, U-161
features, U-154, U-155 minFaceWeight, U-161
fieldValues, U-60 minFlatness, U-161
fields, U-187 minMedianAxisAngle, U-160
fileModificationChecking, U-81 minRefinementCells, U-155
fileModificationSkew, U-81 minThickness, U-160
finalLayerThickness, U-160 minTriangleTwist, U-161
firstTime, U-115 minTwist, U-161
floatTransfer, U-81 minVolRatio, U-161
fluxRequired, U-118 minVol, U-161
format, U-109 mode, U-156
functionObjectLibs, U-181 molWeight, U-195
functions, U-117, U-180 mu, U-196
geometry, U-153 nAlphaSubCycles, U-63
gradSchemes, U-118 nBufferCellsNoExtrude, U-160
graphFormat, U-117 nCellsBetweenLevels, U-155
highCpCoeffs, U-196 nFaces, U-134
internalField, U-21, U-112 nFinestSweeps, U-128
interpolationSchemes, U-118 nGrow, U-160
interpolationScheme, U-187 nLayerIter, U-160
laplacianSchemes, U-118 nMoles, U-195
latestTime, U-38 nPostSweeps, U-128
layers, U-160 nPreSweeps, U-128
leastSquares, U-52 nRelaxIter, U-159, U-160
levels, U-156 nRelaxedIter, U-160
libs, U-81, U-117 nSmoothNormals, U-160
locationInMesh, U-155, U-156 nSmoothPatch, U-159
location, U-109 nSmoothScale, U-161
lowCpCoeffs, U-196 nSmoothSurfaceNormals, U-160
manualCoeffs, U-84 nSmoothThickness, U-160
maxAlphaCo, U-61 nSolveIter, U-159
maxBoundarySkewness, U-161 neighbourPatch, U-149
maxConcave, U-161 numberOfSubdomains, U-84
maxCo, U-61, U-117 n, U-84
maxDeltaT, U-62 object, U-109
maxFaceThicknessRatio, U-160 order, U-84
maxGlobalCells, U-155 outputControl, U-181
maxInternalSkewness, U-161 pRefCell, U-23, U-130
maxIter, U-127 pRefValue, U-23, U-130
maxLocalCells, U-155 p rhgRefCell, U-130

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-83

p rhgRefValue, U-130 type, U-135, U-138

patchMap, U-168 uniform, U-189
patches, U-144 valueFraction, U-141
preconditioner, U-126, U-127 value, U-21, U-141
pressure, U-51 version, U-109
printCoeffs, U-41, U-198 vertices, U-20, U-144
processorWeights, U-83 writeCompression, U-116
processorWeights, U-84 writeControl, U-22, U-62, U-116
purgeWrite, U-116 writeFormat, U-55, U-116
refGradient, U-141 writeInterval, U-22, U-32, U-116
refinementRegions, U-155, U-156 writePrecision, U-116
refinementSurfaces, U-155 <LESModel>Coeffs, U-198
refinementRegions, U-156 <RASModel>Coeffs, U-198
regions, U-60 <delta>Coeffs, U-198
relTol, U-53, U-126 keyword entry
relativeSizes, U-160 CrankNicolson, U-124
relaxed, U-161 CrossPowerLaw, U-60
resolveFeatureAngle, U-155 DICGaussSeidel, U-127
roots, U-84, U-85 DIC, U-127
runTimeModifiable, U-117 DILU, U-127
scotchCoeffs, U-84 Euler, U-124
setFormat, U-187 FDIC, U-127
sets, U-187 GAMG, U-53, U-126, U-127
simpleGrading, U-145 Gamma, U-121
simulationType, U-41, U-61, U-198 GaussSeidel, U-127
smoother, U-128 Gauss, U-122
snGradSchemes, U-118 LESModel, U-41, U-198
snapControls, U-153 MGridGen, U-128
snap, U-153 MUSCL, U-121
solvers, U-125 Newtonian, U-60
solver, U-53, U-126 PBiCG, U-126
specie, U-195 PCG, U-126
spline, U-144 QUICK, U-124
startFace, U-134 RASModel, U-41, U-198
startFrom, U-22, U-115 SFCD, U-121, U-124
startTime, U-22, U-115 UMIST, U-120
stopAt, U-115 adjustableRunTime, U-62, U-116
strategy, U-83, U-84 arc, U-145
surfaceFormat, U-187 ascii, U-116
surfaces, U-187 backward, U-124
thermoType, U-193 binary, U-116
thermodynamics, U-195 blocking, U-81
timeFormat, U-116 bounded, U-122, U-123
timePrecision, U-117 cellLimited, U-122
timeScheme, U-118 cellPointFace, U-187
tolerance, U-53, U-126, U-159 cellPoint, U-187
topoSetSource, U-60 cell, U-187
traction, U-51 clockTime, U-116
transport, U-195 compressed, U-116
turbulence, U-198 corrected, U-122, U-123

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-84 Index

cpuTime, U-116 simpleSpline, U-145

cubicCorrected, U-124 simple, U-83, U-84
cubicCorrection, U-121 skewLinear, U-121, U-124
cyclic, U-140 smoothSolver, U-126
diagonal, U-126, U-127 startTime, U-22, U-115
distance, U-156, U-189 steadyState, U-124
dx, U-187 stl, U-187
empty, U-140 symmetryPlane, U-140
faceAreaPair, U-128 timeStampMaster, U-81
faceLimited, U-122 timeStamp, U-81
filteredLinear2, U-121 timeStep, U-22, U-32, U-116, U-181
fixed, U-116 uncompressed, U-116
foamFile, U-187 uncorrected, U-122, U-123
fourth, U-122, U-123 upwind, U-121, U-124
general, U-116 vanLeer, U-121
gnuplot, U-117, U-187 vtk, U-187
hierarchical, U-83, U-84 wall, U-140
inotifyMaster, U-81 wedge, U-140
inotify, U-81 writeControl, U-116
inside, U-156 writeInterval, U-181
jplot, U-117, U-187 writeNow, U-115
laminar, U-41, U-198 xmgr, U-117, U-187
latestTime, U-115 xyz, U-189
leastSquares, U-122 x, U-189
limitedCubic, U-121 y, U-189
limitedLinear, U-121 z, U-189
limited, U-122, U-123 kivaToFoam utility, U-93
kkLOmega model, U-104
linearUpwind, U-121, U-124
kOmega model, U-104
linear, U-121, U-124
kOmegaSST model, U-104
line, U-145
kOmegaSSTSAS model, U-105
localEuler, U-124
Kronecker delta, P-19
manual, U-83, U-84
metis, U-84 L
midPoint, U-121 lagrangian
nextWrite, U-116 library, U-101
noWriteNow, U-116 lagrangianIntermediate
nonBlocking, U-81 library, U-101
none, U-119, U-127 Lambda2 utility, U-95
null, U-187 LamBremhorstKE model, U-104
outputTime, U-181 laminar model, U-104, U-105
outside, U-156 laminar
patch, U-140, U-188 keyword entry, U-41, U-198
polyLine, U-145 laminarFlameSpeedModels
polySpline, U-145 library, U-102
processor, U-140 laplaceFilter model, U-105
raw, U-117, U-187 Laplacian, P-36
runTime, U-32, U-116 laplacian, P-35
scheduled, U-81 laplacian
scientific, U-116 fvc member function, P-35
scotch, U-83, U-84 fvm member function, P-35

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-85

laplacianFoam solver, U-86 dynamicFvMesh, U-100

laplacianSchemes keyword, U-118 dynamicMesh, U-100
latestTime edgeMesh, U-101
keyword entry, U-115 engine, U-101
latestTime keyword, U-38 fieldFunctionObjects, U-100
LaunderGibsonRSTM model, U-104, U-105 fileFormats, U-101
LaunderSharmaKE model, U-104 finiteVolume, U-100
layers keyword, U-160 foamCalcFunctions, U-100
leastSquares forces, U-100
keyword entry, U-122 fvDOM, U-102
leastSquares keyword, U-52 fvMotionSolvers, U-101
LESdeltas genericFvPatchField, U-101
library, U-105 hExponentialThermo, U-104
LESfilters incompressibleLESModels, U-105
library, U-105 incompressibleRASModels, U-104
LESModel incompressibleTransportModels, P-53, U-106
keyword entry, U-41, U-198 incompressibleTurbulenceModels, P-53
LESModel keyword, U-198 interfaceProperties, U-106
LESProperties jobControl, U-100
dictionary, U-198 lagrangianIntermediate, U-101
levels keyword, U-156 lagrangian, U-101
libraries, U-69 laminarFlameSpeedModels, U-102
library linear, U-103
Chung, U-103 liquidMixtureProperties, U-104
FVFunctionObjects, U-100 liquidProperties, U-104
LESdeltas, U-105 meshTools, U-101
LESfilters, U-105 molecularMeasurements, U-101
MGridGenGAMGAgglomeration, U-101 molecule, U-101
ODE, U-101 opaqueSolid, U-102
OSspecific, U-101 pairPatchAgglomeration, U-101
OpenFOAM, U-99 postCalc, U-100
P1, U-102 potential, U-101
PV3FoamReader, U-171 primitive, P-21
PVFoamReader, U-171 radiationModels, U-102
SLGThermo, U-104 randomProcesses, U-101
Wallis, U-103 reactionThermophysicalModels, U-102
autoMesh, U-100 sampling, U-100
barotropicCompressibilityModels, U-103 solidChemistryModel, U-104
basicSolidThermo, U-104 solidMixtureProperties, U-104
basicThermophysicalModels, U-102 solidParticle, U-101
blockMesh, U-100 solidProperties, U-104
chemistryModel, U-103 solidSpecie, U-104
cloudFunctionObjects, U-100 solidThermo, U-104
coalCombustion, U-101 specie, U-103
compressibleLESModels, U-105 spray, U-101
compressibleRASModels, U-104 surfMesh, U-101
conversion, U-101 surfaceFilmModels, U-106
decompositionMethods, U-101 systemCall, U-100
distributionModels, U-101 thermophysicalFunctions, U-103
dsmc, U-101 thermophysical, U-193

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-86 Index

topoChangerFvMesh, U-101 M
triSurface, U-101 Mach utility, U-95
turbulence, U-101 mag
twoPhaseProperties, U-106 tensor member function, P-23
utilityFunctionObjects, U-100 magneticFoam solver, U-91
viewFactor, U-102 magnetohydrodynamics, P-67
vtkFoam, U-171 magSqr
vtkPV3Foam, U-171 tensor member function, P-23
libs keyword, U-81, U-117 Make directory, U-73
lid-driven cavity flow, U-17 make script/alias, U-71
LienCubicKE model, U-104 Make/files file, U-75
LienCubicKELowRe model, U-104 manual
LienLeschzinerLowRe model, U-104 keyword entry, U-83, U-84
Lights window panel, U-176 manualCoeffs keyword, U-84
limited mapFields utility, U-31, U-38, U-42, U-55, U-92,
keyword entry, U-122, U-123 U-168
limitedCubic mapping
keyword entry, U-121 fields, U-168
limitedLinear Marker Style menu, U-35
keyword entry, U-121 matrices tools, U-100
line max
keyword entry, U-145 tensor member function, P-23
Line Style menu, U-35 maxAlphaCo keyword, U-61
linear maxBoundarySkewness keyword, U-161
library, U-103 maxCo keyword, U-61, U-117
linear maxConcave keyword, U-161
keyword entry, U-121, U-124 maxDeltaT keyword, U-62
linearUpwind maxDeltaxyz model, U-105
keyword entry, U-121, U-124 maxFaceThicknessRatio keyword, U-160
liquid maxGlobalCells keyword, U-155
electrically-conducting, P-67 maximum iterations, U-127
liquidMixtureProperties maxInternalSkewness keyword, U-161
library, U-104 maxIter keyword, U-127
liquidProperties maxLocalCells keyword, U-155
library, U-104 maxNonOrtho keyword, U-161
lists, P-27 maxThicknessToMedialRatio keyword, U-160
List<Type> template class, P-27 mdEquilibrationFoam solver, U-91
localEuler mdFoam solver, U-91
keyword entry, U-124 mdInitialise utility, U-92
location keyword, U-109 mechanicalProperties
locationInMesh keyword, U-155, U-156 dictionary, U-51
lowCpCoeffs keyword, U-196 memory tools, U-100
lowReOneEqEddy model, U-105 menu
LRDDiffStress model, U-105 Color By, U-175
LRR model, U-104 Current Time Controls, U-25, U-173
lsGrad Edit, U-175, U-176
fvc member function, P-35 Help, U-175
LTSInterFoam solver, U-89 Line Style, U-35
LTSReactingFoam solver, U-89 Marker Style, U-35
LTSReactingParcelFoam solver, U-90 VCR Controls, U-25, U-173

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-87

View, U-175 metisDecomp model, U-101

menu entry MGridGenGAMGAgglomeration
Plot Over Line, U-34 library, U-101
Save Animation, U-177 MGridGen
Save Screenshot, U-177 keyword entry, U-128
Settings, U-176 mhdFoam solver, P-69, U-91
Show Color Legend, U-27 midPoint
Solid Color, U-175 keyword entry, U-121
Toolbars, U-175 midPoint keyword, U-189
View Settings..., U-24 midPointAndFace keyword, U-189
View Settings, U-25, U-175 min
Wireframe, U-175 tensor member function, P-23
fvSchemes, U-52 minArea keyword, U-161
mergeLevels keyword, U-128 minDeterminant keyword, U-161
mergeMeshes utility, U-94 minFaceWeight keyword, U-161
mergeOrSplitBaffles utility, U-94 minFlatness keyword, U-161
mergePatchPairs keyword, U-144 minMedianAxisAngle keyword, U-160
mergeTolerance keyword, U-153 MINMOD differencing, P-36
mesh minRefinementCells keyword, U-155
1-dimensional, U-135 minThickness keyword, U-160
1D, U-135 minTriangleTwist keyword, U-161
2-dimensional, U-135 minTwist keyword, U-161
2D, U-135 minVol keyword, U-161
axi-symmetric, U-135 minVolRatio keyword, U-161
basic, P-29 mirrorMesh utility, U-94
block structured, U-141 mixed
decomposition, U-82 boundary condition, U-141
description, U-131 mixedSmagorinsky model, U-105
finite volume, P-29 mixtureAdiabaticFlameT utility, U-99
generation, U-141, U-151 mode keyword, U-156
grading, U-141, U-145 model
grading, example of, P-50 APIfunctions, U-103
non-orthogonal, P-43 BirdCarreau, U-106
refinement, P-61 CrossPowerLaw, U-106
resolution, U-29 DeardorffDiffStress, U-105, U-106
specification, U-131 GuldersEGRLaminarFlameSpeed, U-103
split-hex, U-152 GuldersLaminarFlameSpeed, U-102
Stereolithography (STL), U-152 HerschelBulkley, U-106
surface, U-152 LRDDiffStress, U-105
validity constraints, U-131 LRR, U-104
Mesh Parts window panel, U-24 LamBremhorstKE, U-104
meshes tools, U-100 LaunderGibsonRSTM, U-104, U-105
meshQualityControls keyword, U-153 LaunderSharmaKE, U-104
meshTools LienCubicKELowRe, U-104
library, U-101 LienCubicKE, U-104
message passing interface LienLeschzinerLowRe, U-104
openMPI, U-84 NSRDSfunctions, U-103
method keyword, U-84 Newtonian, U-106
metis NonlinearKEShih, U-104
keyword entry, U-84 PrandtlDelta, U-105

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-88 Index

RNGkEpsilon, U-104 psiReactionThermo, U-102, U-194

RaviPetersen, U-103 psiuReactionThermo, U-102, U-194
Smagorinsky2, U-105 ptsotchDecomp, U-101
Smagorinsky, U-105 pureMixture, U-102, U-194
SpalartAllmarasDDES, U-105 qZeta, U-104
SpalartAllmarasIDDES, U-105 reactingMixture, U-102, U-194
SpalartAllmaras, U-104–U-106 realizableKE, U-104, U-105
adiabaticPerfectFluid, U-103, U-193 reconstruct, U-101
anisotropicFilter, U-105 rhoConst, U-103, U-193
basicMultiComponentMixture, U-102, U-194 rhoReactionThermo, U-102, U-194
chemistryModel, U-103 scaleSimilarity, U-105
chemistrySolver, U-103 scotchDecomp, U-101
constTransport, U-103, U-194 simpleFilter, U-105
constant, U-102 singleStepReactingMixture, U-102, U-194
cubeRootVolDelta, U-105 smoothDelta, U-105
decompose, U-101 specieThermo, U-103, U-194
distributed, U-101 spectEddyVisc, U-105
dynLagrangian, U-105 sutherlandTransport, U-103, U-194
dynOneEqEddy, U-105 v2f, U-104, U-105
eConstThermo, U-103, U-193 vanDriestDelta, U-105, U-106
egrMixture, U-102, U-194 veryInhomogeneousMixture, U-102, U-194
hConstThermo, U-103, U-194 modifyMesh utility, U-95
hPolynomialThermo, U-103, U-194 molecularMeasurements
hePsiThermo, U-102, U-194 library, U-101
heRhoThermo, U-102, U-194 molecule
heheupsiReactionThermo, U-102, U-194 library, U-101
homogenousDynOneEqEddy, U-105, U-106 molWeight keyword, U-195
moveDynamicMesh utility, U-94
homogenousDynSmagorinsky, U-105
moveEngineMesh utility, U-94
homogeneousMixture, U-102, U-194
moveMesh utility, U-94
icoPolynomial, U-103, U-193
movingWallVelocity
incompressiblePerfectGas, U-103, U-193
boundary condition, U-142
inhomogeneousMixture, U-102, U-194
MPI
interfaceProperties, U-106
openMPI, U-84
janafThermo, U-103, U-194
MRFInterFoam solver, U-89
kEpsilon, U-104
MRFMultiphaseInterFoam solver, U-89
kOmegaSSTSAS, U-105
mshToFoam utility, U-93
kOmegaSST, U-104
mu keyword, U-196
kOmega, U-104
multiComponentMixture model, U-102, U-194
kkLOmega, U-104
multigrid
laminar, U-104, U-105 geometric-algebraic, U-127
laplaceFilter, U-105 multiphaseEulerFoam solver, U-89
lowReOneEqEddy, U-105 multiphaseInterFoam solver, U-89
maxDeltaxyz, U-105 MUSCL
metisDecomp, U-101 keyword entry, U-121
mixedSmagorinsky, U-105
multiComponentMixture, U-102, U-194 N
oneEqEddy, U-105 n keyword, U-84
perfectFluid, U-103, U-193 nabla
polynomialTransport, U-103, U-194 operator, P-25
powerLaw, U-106 nAlphaSubCycles keyword, U-63

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-89

nBufferCellsNoExtrude keyword, U-160 file format, U-108

nCellsBetweenLevels keyword, U-155 libraries, U-69
neighbour OpenFOAM
dictionary, U-134 library, U-99
neighbourPatch keyword, U-149 OpenFOAM file syntax
netgenNeutralToFoam utility, U-93 //, U-108
Newtonian openMPI
keyword entry, U-60 message passing interface, U-84
Newtonian model, U-106 MPI, U-84
nextWrite operator
keyword entry, U-116 scalar, P-26
nFaces keyword, U-134 vector, P-25
nFinestSweeps keyword, U-128 Options window, U-176
nGrow keyword, U-160 options file, U-73
nLayerIter keyword, U-160 order keyword, U-84
nMoles keyword, U-195 Orientation Axes button, U-25, U-176
non-orthogonal mesh, P-43 orientFaceZone utility, U-94
nonBlocking OSspecific
keyword entry, U-81 library, U-101
none outer product, see tensor, outer product
keyword entry, U-119, U-127 outlet
NonlinearKEShih model, U-104 boundary condition, P-69
nonNewtonianIcoFoam solver, U-87 outletInlet
noWriteNow boundary condition, U-142
keyword entry, U-116 outputControl keyword, U-181
nPostSweeps keyword, U-128 outputTime
nPreSweeps keyword, U-128 keyword entry, U-181
nRelaxedIter keyword, U-160 outside
nRelaxIter keyword, U-159, U-160 keyword entry, U-156
nSmoothNormals keyword, U-160 owner
nSmoothPatch keyword, U-159 dictionary, U-133
nSmoothScale keyword, U-161
nSmoothSurfaceNormals keyword, U-160 P
nSmoothThickness keyword, U-160 p field, U-23
nSolveIter keyword, U-159 P1
NSRDSfunctions model, U-103 library, U-102
null p rhgRefCell keyword, U-130
keyword entry, U-187 p rhgRefValue keyword, U-130
numberOfSubdomains keyword, U-84 pairPatchAgglomeration
library, U-101
O paraFoam, U-23, U-171
object keyword, U-109 parallel
objToVTK utility, U-94 running, U-82
ODE partialSlip
library, U-101 boundary condition, U-142
oneEqEddy model, U-105 particleTracks utility, U-96
Opacity text box, U-175 patch
opaqueSolid boundary condition, U-139
library, U-102 patch
OpenFOAM keyword entry, U-140, U-188
applications, U-69 patchAverage utility, U-96

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-90 Index

patches keyword, U-144 pow

patchIntegrate utility, U-96 tensor member function, P-23
patchMap keyword, U-168 powerLaw model, U-106
patchSummary utility, U-99 pPrime2 utility, U-96
PBiCG Pr keyword, U-196
keyword entry, U-126 PrandtlDelta model, U-105
PCG preconditioner keyword, U-126, U-127
keyword entry, U-126 pRefCell keyword, U-23, U-130
pdfPlot utility, U-97 pRefValue keyword, U-23, U-130
PDRFoam solver, U-89 pressure keyword, U-51
PDRMesh utility, U-95 pressure waves
Pe utility, U-95 in liquids, P-62
perfectFluid model, U-103, U-193 pressureDirectedInletVelocity
permutation symbol, P-18 boundary condition, U-142
pimpleDyMFoam solver, U-87 pressureInletVelocity
pimpleFoam solver, U-87 boundary condition, U-142
Pipeline Browser window, U-24, U-172 pressureOutlet
PISO boundary condition, P-63
dictionary, U-23 pressureTransmissive
pisoFoam solver, U-17, U-87 boundary condition, U-142
Plot Over Line primitive
menu entry, U-34 library, P-21
plot3dToFoam utility, U-93 primitives tools, U-100
pointField class, P-29 printCoeffs keyword, U-41, U-198
pointField<Type> template class, P-31 processorWeights keyword, U-83
points probeLocations utility, U-96
dictionary, U-133, U-141 process
background, U-25, U-82
polyBoundaryMesh class, P-29
foreground, U-25
polyDualMesh utility, U-94
processor
polyLine
boundary condition, U-140
keyword entry, U-145
processor
polyMesh directory, U-107, U-133
keyword entry, U-140
polyMesh class, P-29, U-131, U-133
processorN directory, U-83
polynomialTransport model, U-103, U-194
processorWeights keyword, U-84
polyPatch class, P-29
Properties window panel, U-25, U-172, U-173
polyPatchList class, P-29
psiReactionThermo model, U-102, U-194
polySpline
psiuReactionThermo model, U-102, U-194
keyword entry, U-145
ptot utility, U-97
porousInterFoam solver, U-89
ptsotchDecomp model, U-101
porousSimpleFoam solver, U-87 pureMixture model, U-102, U-194
post-processing, U-171 purgeWrite keyword, U-116
post-processing PV3FoamReader
paraFoam, U-171 library, U-171
postCalc PVFoamReader
library, U-100 library, U-171
postChannel utility, U-97
potentialFreeSurfaceFoam solver, U-89 Q
potential Q utility, U-95
library, U-101 QUICK
potentialFoam solver, P-44, U-86 keyword entry, U-124

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-91

qZeta model, U-104 rhoCentralFoam solver, U-87

rhoConst model, U-103, U-193
R rhoLTSPimpleFoam solver, U-87
R utility, U-96 rhoPimpleFoam solver, U-87
radiationModels rhoPimplecFoam solver, U-87
library, U-102 rhoReactingFoam solver, U-90
randomProcesses rhoReactionThermo model, U-102, U-194
library, U-101 rhoSimpleFoam solver, U-88
RASModel rhoSimplecFoam solver, U-87
keyword entry, U-41, U-198 rmdepall script/alias, U-77
RASModel keyword, U-198 RNGkEpsilon model, U-104
RaviPetersen model, U-103 roots keyword, U-84, U-85
raw rotateMesh utility, U-94
keyword entry, U-117, U-187 run
reactingFoam solver, U-89 parallel, U-82
reactingMixture model, U-102, U-194 run directory, U-107
reactingParcelFilmFoam solver, U-90 runTime
reactingParcelFoam solver, U-90 keyword entry, U-32, U-116
reactionThermophysicalModels runTimeModifiable keyword, U-117
library, U-102
realizableKE model, U-104, U-105 S
reconstruct model, U-101 sammToFoam utility, U-93
reconstructPar utility, U-86 sample utility, U-96, U-186
reconstructParMesh utility, U-98 sampling
redistributePar utility, U-98 library, U-100
refGradient keyword, U-141 Save Animation
refineHexMesh utility, U-95 menu entry, U-177
refinementRegions keyword, U-156 Save Screenshot
refinementLevel utility, U-95 menu entry, U-177
refinementRegions keyword, U-155, U-156 scalar, P-14
refinementSurfaces keyword, U-155 operator, P-26
refineMesh utility, U-94 scalar class, P-22
refineWallLayer utility, U-95 scalarField class, P-27
Refresh Times button, U-25 scalarTransportFoam solver, U-86
regions keyword, U-60 scale
relative tolerance, U-126 tensor member function, P-23
relativeSizes keyword, U-160 scalePoints utility, U-165
relaxed keyword, U-161 scaleSimilarity model, U-105
relTol keyword, U-53, U-126 scheduled
removeFaces utility, U-95 keyword entry, U-81
Render View window, U-176 scientific
Render View window panel, U-176 keyword entry, U-116
renumberMesh utility, U-94 scotch
Rescale to Data Range button, U-25 keyword entry, U-83, U-84
Reset button, U-172 scotchCoeffs keyword, U-84
resolveFeatureAngle keyword, U-155 scotchDecomp model, U-101
restart, U-38 script/alias
Reynolds number, U-17, U-21 find, U-181
rhoPorousSimpleFoam solver, U-87 foamCorrectVrt, U-166
rhoReactingBuoyantFoam solver, U-89 foamJob, U-190
rhoCentralDyMFoam solver, U-87 foamLog, U-190

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-92 Index

make, U-71 snap keyword, U-153

rmdepall, U-77 snapControls keyword, U-153
wclean, U-76 snappyHexMesh utility
wmake, U-71 background mesh, U-153
second time derivative, P-35 cell removal, U-156
Seed window, U-177 cell splitting, U-154
selectCells utility, U-95 mesh layers, U-157
Set Ambient Color button, U-175 meshing process, U-152
setFields utility, U-59, U-60, U-92 snapping to surfaces, U-157
setFormat keyword, U-187 snappyHexMesh utility, U-93, U-151
sets keyword, U-187 snappyHexMeshDict file, U-152
setSet utility, U-94 snGrad
setsToZones utility, U-94 fvc member function, P-35
Settings snGradCorrection
menu entry, U-176 fvc member function, P-35
settlingFoam solver, U-89 snGradSchemes keyword, U-118
SFCD Solid Color
keyword entry, U-121, U-124 menu entry, U-175
shallowWaterFoam solver, U-87 solidChemistryModel
shape, U-145 library, U-104
Show Color Legend solidDisplacementFoam solver, U-91
menu entry, U-27 solidDisplacementFoam solver, U-51
SI units, U-112 solidEquilibriumDisplacementFoam solver, U-91
simpleReactingParcelFoam solver, U-91 solidMixtureProperties
simple library, U-104
keyword entry, U-83, U-84 solidParticle
simpleFilter model, U-105 library, U-101
simpleFoam solver, P-53, U-87 solidProperties
simpleGrading keyword, U-145 library, U-104
simpleSpline solidSpecie
keyword entry, U-145 library, U-104
simulationType keyword, U-41, U-61, U-198 solidThermo
singleCellMesh utility, U-94 library, U-104
singleStepReactingMixture model, U-102, U-194 solver
skew DPMFoam, U-90
tensor member function, P-23 LTSInterFoam, U-89
skewLinear LTSReactingFoam, U-89
keyword entry, U-121, U-124 LTSReactingParcelFoam, U-90
SLGThermo MRFInterFoam, U-89
library, U-104 MRFMultiphaseInterFoam, U-89
slice class, P-29 PDRFoam, U-89
slip SRFPimpleFoam, U-87
boundary condition, U-142 SRFSimpleFoam, U-87
Smagorinsky model, U-105 XiFoam, U-90
Smagorinsky2 model, U-105 adjointShapeOptimizationFoam, U-87
smapToFoam utility, U-95 blockMesh, P-45
smoothDelta model, U-105 boundaryFoam, U-87
smoother keyword, U-128 buoyantBoussinesqPimpleFoam, U-90
smoothSolver buoyantBoussinesqSimpleFoam, U-90
keyword entry, U-126 buoyantPimpleFoam, U-90

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-93

buoyantSimpleFoam, U-90 rhoSimpleFoam, U-88

cavitatingDyMFoam, U-88 rhoSimplecFoam, U-87
cavitatingFoam, U-88 rhoPorousSimpleFoam, U-87
chemFoam, U-89 rhoReactingBuoyantFoam, U-89
chtMultiRegionFoam, U-90 scalarTransportFoam, U-86
chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam, U-90 settlingFoam, U-89
coalChemistryFoam, U-90 shallowWaterFoam, U-87
coldEngineFoam, U-89 simpleReactingParcelFoam, U-91
compressibleInterDyMFoam, U-88 simpleFoam, P-53, U-87
compressibleInterFoam, U-88 solidDisplacementFoam, U-91
compressibleMultiphaseInterFoam, U-88 solidDisplacementFoam, U-51
dnsFoam, U-89 solidEquilibriumDisplacementFoam, U-91
dsmcFoam, U-91 sonicDyMFoam, U-88
electrostaticFoam, U-91 sonicFoam, P-59, U-88
engineFoam, U-89 sonicLiquidFoam, P-63, U-88
financialFoam, U-91 sprayEngineFoam, U-91
fireFoam, U-89 sprayFoam, U-91
icoFoam, U-17, U-21, U-22, U-25, U-87 thermoFoam, U-90
icoUncoupledKinematicParcelDyMFoam, twoLiquidMixingFoam, U-89
U-90 twoPhaseEulerFoam, U-89
icoUncoupledKinematicParcelFoam, U-90 uncoupledKinematicParcelFoam, U-91
interDyMFoam, U-88 solver keyword, U-53, U-126
interFoam, U-88 solver relative tolerance, U-126
interMixingFoam, U-88 solver tolerance, U-126
interPhaseChangeDyMFoam, U-88 solvers keyword, U-125
interPhaseChangeFoam, U-88 sonicDyMFoam solver, U-88
laplacianFoam, U-86 sonicFoam solver, P-59, U-88
magneticFoam, U-91 sonicLiquidFoam solver, P-63, U-88
mdEquilibrationFoam, U-91 source, P-35
mdFoam, U-91 SpalartAllmaras model, U-104–U-106
mhdFoam, P-69, U-91 SpalartAllmarasDDES model, U-105
multiphaseEulerFoam, U-89 SpalartAllmarasIDDES model, U-105
multiphaseInterFoam, U-89 specie
nonNewtonianIcoFoam, U-87 library, U-103
pimpleDyMFoam, U-87 specie keyword, U-195
pimpleFoam, U-87 specieThermo model, U-103, U-194
pisoFoam, U-17, U-87 spectEddyVisc model, U-105
porousInterFoam, U-89 spline keyword, U-144
porousSimpleFoam, U-87 splitCells utility, U-95
potentialFreeSurfaceFoam, U-89 splitMesh utility, U-94
potentialFoam, P-44, U-86 splitMeshRegions utility, U-94
reactingFoam, U-89 spray
reactingParcelFilmFoam, U-90 library, U-101
reactingParcelFoam, U-90 sprayEngineFoam solver, U-91
rhoCentralDyMFoam, U-87 sprayFoam solver, U-91
rhoCentralFoam, U-87 sqr
rhoLTSPimpleFoam, U-87 tensor member function, P-23
rhoPimpleFoam, U-87 sqrGradGrad
rhoPimplecFoam, U-87 fvc member function, P-35
rhoReactingFoam, U-90 SRFPimpleFoam solver, U-87

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-94 Index

SRFSimpleFoam solver, U-87 surfaceInertia utility, U-97

star3ToFoam utility, U-93 surfaceMesh tools, U-100
star4ToFoam utility, U-93 surfaceMeshConvert utility, U-97
startFace keyword, U-134 surfaceMeshConvertTesting utility, U-97
startFrom keyword, U-22, U-115 surfaceMeshExport utility, U-98
starToFoam utility, U-160 surfaceMeshImport utility, U-98
startTime surfaceMeshInfo utility, U-98
keyword entry, U-22, U-115 surfaceMeshTriangulate utility, U-98
startTime keyword, U-22, U-115 surfaceNormalFixedValue
steady flow boundary condition, U-142
turbulent, P-50 surfaceOrient utility, U-98
steadyParticleTracks utility, U-96 surfacePointMerge utility, U-98
steadyState surfaceRedistributePar utility, U-98
keyword entry, U-124 surfaceRefineRedGreen utility, U-98
Stereolithography (STL), U-152 surfaces keyword, U-187
stitchMesh utility, U-94 surfaceSplitByPatch utility, U-98
stl surfaceSplitByTopology utility, U-98
keyword entry, U-187 surfaceSplitNonManifolds utility, U-98
stopAt keyword, U-115 surfaceSubset utility, U-98
strategy keyword, U-83, U-84 surfaceToPatch utility, U-98
streamFunction utility, U-95 surfaceTransformPoints utility, U-98
stress analysis of plate with hole, U-44 surfMesh
stressComponents utility, U-96 library, U-101
Style window panel, U-24, U-175 SuSp
Su fvm member function, P-35
fvm member function, P-35 sutherlandTransport model, U-103, U-194
subsetMesh utility, U-94 symm
tensor member function, P-23
summation convention, P-15
symmetryPlane
SUPERBEE differencing, P-36
boundary condition, P-63, U-140
supersonic flow, P-58
symmetryPlane
supersonic flow over forward step, P-58
keyword entry, U-140
supersonicFreeStream
symmTensorField class, P-27
boundary condition, U-142
symmTensorThirdField class, P-27
surfaceLambdaMuSmooth utility, U-97
system directory, P-48, U-107
surface mesh, U-152
systemCall
surfaceAdd utility, U-97
library, U-100
surfaceAutoPatch utility, U-97
surfaceBooleanFeatures utility, U-97 T
surfaceCheck utility, U-97 T()
surfaceClean utility, U-97 tensor member function, P-23
surfaceCoarsen utility, U-97 Tcommon keyword, U-196
surfaceConvert utility, U-97 template class
surfaceFeatureConvert utility, U-97 GeometricBoundaryField, P-30
surfaceFeatureExtract utility, U-97, U-155 fvMatrix, P-34
surfaceField<Type> template class, P-31 dimensioned<Type>, P-24
surfaceFilmModels FieldField<Type>, P-30
library, U-106 Field<Type>, P-27
surfaceFind utility, U-97 geometricField<Type>, P-30
surfaceFormat keyword, U-187 List<Type>, P-27
surfaceHookUp utility, U-97 pointField<Type>, P-31

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-95

surfaceField<Type>, P-31 transformation, P-19

volField<Type>, P-31 transpose, P-14, P-20
temporal discretisation, P-40 triple inner product, P-17
Crank Nicolson, P-41 vector cross product, P-18
Euler implicit, P-40 tensor class, P-22
explicit, P-40 tensor member function
in OpenFOAM, P-41 *, P-23
temporalInterpolate utility, U-97 +, P-23
tensor, P-13 -, P-23
addition, P-16 /, P-23
algebraic operations, P-16 &, P-23
algebraic operations in OpenFOAM, P-22 &&, P-23
antisymmetric, see tensor, skew ^, P-23
calculus, P-25 cmptAv, P-23
classes in OpenFOAM, P-21 cofactors, P-23
cofactors, P-20 det, P-23
component average, P-18 dev, P-23
component maximum, P-18 diag, P-23
component minimum, P-18 I, P-23
determinant, P-20 inv, P-23
deviatoric, P-20 mag, P-23
diagonal, P-20 magSqr, P-23
dimension, P-14 max, P-23
double inner product, P-17 min, P-23
geometric transformation, P-19 pow, P-23
Hodge dual, P-21 scale, P-23
hydrostatic, P-20 skew, P-23
identities, P-19 sqr, P-23
identity, P-19 symm, P-23
inner product, P-16 T(), P-23
inverse, P-21 tr, P-23
magnitude, P-18 transform, P-23
magnitude squared, P-18 tensorField class, P-27
mathematics, P-13 tensorThirdField class, P-27
notation, P-15 tetgenToFoam utility, U-93
nth power, P-18 text box
outer product, P-17 Opacity, U-175
rank, P-14 thermalProperties
rank 3, P-15 dictionary, U-51
scalar division, P-16 thermodynamics keyword, U-195
scalar multiplication, P-16 thermoFoam solver, U-90
scale function, P-18 thermophysical
second rank, P-14 library, U-193
skew, P-20 thermophysicalFunctions
square of, P-18 library, U-103
subtraction, P-16 thermophysicalProperties
symmetric, P-20 dictionary, U-193
symmetric rank 2, P-14 thermoType keyword, U-193
symmetric rank 3, P-15 Thigh keyword, U-196
trace, P-20 time

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-96 Index

control, U-115 trace, see tensor, trace

time derivative, P-35 traction keyword, U-51
first, P-37 transform
second, P-35, P-37 tensor member function, P-23
time step, U-22 transformPoints utility, U-94
timeFormat keyword, U-116 transport keyword, U-195
timePrecision keyword, U-117 transportProperties
timeScheme keyword, U-118 dictionary, U-21, U-38, U-42
timeStamp transportProperties file, U-60
keyword entry, U-81 triple inner product, P-17
timeStampMaster triSurface
keyword entry, U-81 library, U-101
timeStep Ts keyword, U-196
keyword entry, U-22, U-32, U-116, U-181 turbulence
Tlow keyword, U-196 dissipation, U-40
tolerance kinetic energy, U-40
solver, U-126 length scale, U-41
solver relative, U-126 turbulence
tolerance keyword, U-53, U-126, U-159 library, U-101
Toolbars turbulence keyword, U-198
menu entry, U-175 turbulence model
tools RAS, U-40
algorithms, U-99 turbulenceProperties
cfdTools, U-100 dictionary, U-41, U-61, U-198
containers, U-99 turbulent flow
db, U-99 steady, P-50
dimensionSet, U-100 turbulentInlet
boundary condition, U-142
dimensionedTypes, U-100
tutorials
fields, U-100
breaking of a dam, U-56
finiteVolume, U-100
lid-driven cavity flow, U-17
fvMatrices, U-100
stress analysis of plate with hole, U-44
fvMesh, U-100
tutorials directory, P-43, U-17
global, U-100
twoLiquidMixingFoam solver, U-89
graph, U-100
twoPhaseEulerFoam solver, U-89
interpolations, U-100
twoPhaseProperties
interpolation, U-100
library, U-106
matrices, U-100
type keyword, U-135, U-138
memory, U-100
meshes, U-100 U
primitives, U-100 U field, U-23
surfaceMesh, U-100 Ucomponents utility, P-70
volMesh, U-100 UMIST
topoChangerFvMesh keyword entry, U-120
library, U-101 uncompressed
topoSet utility, U-94 keyword entry, U-116
topoSetSource keyword, U-60 uncorrected
totalPressure keyword entry, U-122, U-123
boundary condition, U-142 uncoupledKinematicParcelFoam solver, U-91
tr uniform keyword, U-189
tensor member function, P-23 units

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-97

base, U-112 engineSwirl, U-92

of measurement, P-24, U-111 ensight74FoamExec, U-185
S.I. base, P-24 ensightFoamReader, U-95
SI, U-112 enstrophy, U-95
Système International, U-112 equilibriumCO, U-99
United States Customary System, U-112 equilibriumFlameT, U-99
USCS, U-112 execFlowFunctionObjects, U-97
Update GUI button, U-173 expandDictionary, U-99
uprime utility, U-95 extrude2DMesh, U-92
upwind extrudeMesh, U-92
keyword entry, U-121, U-124 extrudeToRegionMesh, U-92
upwind differencing, P-36, U-62 faceAgglomerate, U-92
USCS units, U-112 flattenMesh, U-94
Use Parallel Projection button, U-25 flowType, U-95
Use parallel projection button, U-175 fluent3DMeshToFoam, U-93
utility fluentMeshToFoam, U-93, U-160
Co, U-95 foamCalc, U-33, U-97
Lambda2, U-95 foamDataToFluent, U-95, U-183
Mach, U-95 foamDebugSwitches, U-99
PDRMesh, U-95 foamFormatConvert, U-99
Pe, U-95 foamHelp, U-99
Q, U-95 foamInfoExec, U-99
R, U-96 foamListTimes, U-97
Ucomponents, P-70 foamMeshToFluent, U-93, U-183
adiabaticFlameT, U-99 foamToEnsightParts, U-95
ansysToFoam, U-93 foamToEnsight, U-95
applyBoundaryLayer, U-92 foamToGMV, U-95
applyWallFunctionBoundaryConditions, U-92 foamToStarMesh, U-93
attachMesh, U-93 foamToSurface, U-93
autoPatch, U-93 foamToTecplot360, U-95
autoRefineMesh, U-94 foamToVTK, U-95
blockMesh, U-37, U-92, U-141 foamUpgradeCyclics, U-92
boxTurb, U-92 foamUpgradeFvSolution, U-92
ccm26ToFoam, U-93 foamyHexMesh, U-92
cfx4ToFoam, U-93, U-160 foamyQuadMesh, U-93
changeDictionary, U-92 foamyHexMeshBackgroundMesh, U-92
checkMesh, U-93, U-162 foamyHexMeshSurfaceSimplify, U-92
chemkinToFoam, U-99 gambitToFoam, U-93, U-160
collapseEdges, U-94 gmshToFoam, U-93
combinePatchFaces, U-95 ideasToFoam, U-160
createBaffles, U-93 ideasUnvToFoam, U-93
createPatch, U-93 insideCells, U-94
createTurbulenceFields, U-96 kivaToFoam, U-93
createExternalCoupledPatchGeometry, U-92 mapFields, U-31, U-38, U-42, U-55, U-92,
datToFoam, U-93 U-168
decomposePar, U-82, U-83, U-98 mdInitialise, U-92
deformedGeom, U-94 mergeMeshes, U-94
dsmcFieldsCalc, U-97 mergeOrSplitBaffles, U-94
dsmcInitialise, U-92 mirrorMesh, U-94
engineCompRatio, U-97 mixtureAdiabaticFlameT, U-99

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-98 Index

modifyMesh, U-95 surfaceLambdaMuSmooth, U-97

moveDynamicMesh, U-94 surfaceAdd, U-97
moveEngineMesh, U-94 surfaceAutoPatch, U-97
moveMesh, U-94 surfaceBooleanFeatures, U-97
mshToFoam, U-93 surfaceCheck, U-97
netgenNeutralToFoam, U-93 surfaceClean, U-97
objToVTK, U-94 surfaceCoarsen, U-97
orientFaceZone, U-94 surfaceConvert, U-97
pPrime2, U-96 surfaceFeatureConvert, U-97
particleTracks, U-96 surfaceFeatureExtract, U-97, U-155
patchAverage, U-96 surfaceFind, U-97
patchIntegrate, U-96 surfaceHookUp, U-97
patchSummary, U-99 surfaceInertia, U-97
pdfPlot, U-97 surfaceMeshConvertTesting, U-97
plot3dToFoam, U-93 surfaceMeshConvert, U-97
polyDualMesh, U-94 surfaceMeshExport, U-98
postChannel, U-97 surfaceMeshImport, U-98
probeLocations, U-96 surfaceMeshInfo, U-98
ptot, U-97 surfaceMeshTriangulate, U-98
reconstructParMesh, U-98
surfaceOrient, U-98
reconstructPar, U-86
surfacePointMerge, U-98
redistributePar, U-98
surfaceRedistributePar, U-98
refineHexMesh, U-95
surfaceRefineRedGreen, U-98
refineMesh, U-94
surfaceSplitByPatch, U-98
refineWallLayer, U-95
surfaceSplitByTopology, U-98
refinementLevel, U-95
surfaceSplitNonManifolds, U-98
removeFaces, U-95
surfaceSubset, U-98
renumberMesh, U-94
surfaceToPatch, U-98
rotateMesh, U-94
surfaceTransformPoints, U-98
sammToFoam, U-93
temporalInterpolate, U-97
sample, U-96, U-186
scalePoints, U-165 tetgenToFoam, U-93
selectCells, U-95 topoSet, U-94
setFields, U-59, U-60, U-92 transformPoints, U-94
setSet, U-94 uprime, U-95
setsToZones, U-94 viewFactorsGen, U-92
singleCellMesh, U-94 vorticity, U-96
smapToFoam, U-95 vtkUnstructuredToFoam, U-93
snappyHexMesh, U-93, U-151 wallFunctionTable, U-92
splitCells, U-95 wallGradU, U-96
splitMeshRegions, U-94 wallHeatFlux, U-96
splitMesh, U-94 wallShearStress, U-96
star3ToFoam, U-93 wdot, U-97
star4ToFoam, U-93 writeCellCentres, U-97
starToFoam, U-160 writeMeshObj, U-93
steadyParticleTracks, U-96 yPlusLES, U-96
stitchMesh, U-94 yPlusRAS, U-96
streamFunction, U-95 zipUpMesh, U-94
stressComponents, U-96 utilityFunctionObjects
subsetMesh, U-94 library, U-100

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
Index P-99

V wallShearStress utility, U-96

v2f model, U-104, U-105 wclean script/alias, U-76
value keyword, U-21, U-141 wdot utility, U-97
valueFraction keyword, U-141 wedge
van Leer differencing, P-36 boundary condition, U-135, U-140, U-151
vanDriestDelta model, U-105, U-106 wedge
vanLeer keyword entry, U-140
keyword entry, U-121 window
VCR Controls menu, U-25, U-173 Color Legend, U-27
vector, P-14 Options, U-176
operator, P-25 Pipeline Browser, U-24, U-172
unit, P-18 Render View, U-176
vector class, P-22, U-111 Seed, U-177
vector product, see tensor, vector cross product
View Settings (Render View), U-175
vectorField class, P-27 window panel
version keyword, U-109 Animations, U-176
vertices keyword, U-20, U-144 Annotation, U-25, U-176
veryInhomogeneousMixture model, U-102, U-194 Charts, U-176
View menu, U-175 Color Legend, U-174
View Settings Color Scale, U-174
menu entry, U-25, U-175 Colors, U-176
View Settings (Render View) window, U-175 Display, U-24, U-25, U-172, U-173
View Settings... General, U-175, U-176
menu entry, U-24 Information, U-172
viewFactor Lights, U-176
library, U-102 Mesh Parts, U-24
viewFactorsGen utility, U-92 Properties, U-25, U-172, U-173
viscosity
Render View, U-176
kinematic, U-21, U-42
Style, U-24, U-175
volField<Type> template class, P-31
Wireframe
volMesh tools, U-100
menu entry, U-175
vorticity utility, U-96
WM ARCH
vtk
environment variable, U-76
keyword entry, U-187
WM ARCH OPTION
vtkFoam
environment variable, U-76
library, U-171
WM COMPILE OPTION
vtkPV3Foam
environment variable, U-76
library, U-171
WM COMPILER
vtkUnstructuredToFoam utility, U-93
environment variable, U-76
W WM COMPILER BIN
wall environment variable, U-76
boundary condition, P-63, P-69, U-58, WM COMPILER DIR
U-139, U-140 environment variable, U-76
wall WM COMPILER LIB
keyword entry, U-140 environment variable, U-76
wallFunctionTable utility, U-92 WM DIR
wallGradU utility, U-96 environment variable, U-76
wallHeatFlux utility, U-96 WM MPLIB
Wallis environment variable, U-76
library, U-103 WM OPTIONS

OpenFOAM-2.4.0
P-100 Index

environment variable, U-76 writeMeshObj utility, U-93

WM PRECISION OPTION writeNow
environment variable, U-76 keyword entry, U-115
WM PROJECT writePrecision keyword, U-116
environment variable, U-76
WM PROJECT DIR X
environment variable, U-76 x
WM PROJECT INST DIR keyword entry, U-189
environment variable, U-76 XiFoam solver, U-90
WM PROJECT USER DIR xmgr
environment variable, U-76 keyword entry, U-117, U-187
WM PROJECT VERSION xyz
environment variable, U-76 keyword entry, U-189
wmake
platforms, U-73 Y
wmake script/alias, U-71 y
word class, P-24, P-29 keyword entry, U-189
writeCellCentres utility, U-97 yPlusLES utility, U-96
writeCompression keyword, U-116 yPlusRAS utility, U-96
writeControl
keyword entry, U-116 Z
writeControl keyword, U-22, U-62, U-116 z
writeFormat keyword, U-55, U-116 keyword entry, U-189
writeInterval zeroGradient
keyword entry, U-181 boundary condition, U-141
writeInterval keyword, U-22, U-32, U-116 zipUpMesh utility, U-94

OpenFOAM-2.4.0