CFD Direct

The Architects of OpenFOAM

CFD Resources and Articles

Learn Effective CFD

Learn Effective CFD | CFD Direct

OpenFOAM provides leading CFD software to thousands of people within academia and industry for free. However, CFD is inherently complex and competency in CFD requires more than simply “learning the software package”. Our 3 OpenFOAM Training courses build CFD competency through a process of solution design with course prices equivalent to 1-2 weeks of payroll cost of a CFD engineer or 2% of a single core, commercial CFD licence. Our schedule during Covid-19 travel restrictions includes scheduled live virtual training courses at times to fit with Europe and Americas time zones.

Get the Best OpenFOAM Training

Get the Best OpenFOAM Training

Anyone investing in OpenFOAM Training must want training that delivers the best return on their investment. It can be difficult to choose the best OpenFOAM training from the variety of disparate training offerings in a market that is particularly open due to the open source nature of the software. Questions should be asked of potential training providers to establish their credibility and experience in OpenFOAM and in CFD training. In this article we present 10 questions that might usefully be asked and present CFD Direct’s answers to the questions.

OpenFOAM v12 Training

OpenFOAM v12 Training

In Autumn 2024, CFD Direct is running its OpenFOAM Training courses — Principles of CFD, Essential CFD, Applied CFD and Programming CFD — fully updated with the latest features of the new version 12 release of OpenFOAM. The training uses new features in OpenFOAM v12 for more productive and effective CFD, including: foamFind, unit conversion, coded and packaged function object, meshing multiple regions and coupling with boundary conditions. Productive CFD is available 16-19 Sep and 28-31 Oct. Essential and Applied CFD courses are available: 23-27 Sep, 7-11 Oct. Programming CFD is available 14-16 Oct, 5-7 Nov.

CFD Direct Year 9: 2023-2024

CFD Direct Year 9: 2023-2024

In Year 9 of CFD Direct, we built on the success modular solvers and non-conformal coupling in OpenFOAM. We replaced liquid film functionality and improved dynamic mesh, including mesh-to-mesh mapping, decomposition and redistribution, to the point that OpenFOAM can simulate internal combustion engines including piston and value motion. We managed the OpenFOAM Foundation, releasing OpenFOAM v11, packaging OpenFOAM-dev and publishing websites and documentation. We provided training and cloud services to OpenFOAM users, and began creating a new course “Productive CFD.”

IC Engines in OpenFOAM

IC Engines in OpenFOAM

March 2024: CFD Direct is pleased to announce that OpenFOAM can simulate internal combustion (IC) engines including piston and valve motion. The capability was produced in collaboration with Wärtsilä, Finland and partner organisations, starting in October 2021. It is publicly available from The OpenFOAM Foundation in the development line of OpenFOAM (OpenFOAM-dev, packaged here), with example cases in the ICengines repository. Wärtsilä plan to release new features in the ICengines repository in August each year, following each new version release of OpenFOAM in July.

OpenFOAM v11 Training 2024

OpenFOAM v11 Training 2024

In Spring/Summer 2024, CFD Direct is running its OpenFOAM Training courses — Essential CFD, Applied CFD and Programming CFD — fully updated with the latest features of the new version 11 release of OpenFOAM. The training uses new features in OpenFOAM v11 for more productive and effective CFD. All courses are delivered as live virtual training. Essential and Applied CFD courses are available: 29 Jan-2 Feb, 4-8 Mar, 8-12 Apr, 13-17 May. Programming CFD is available 12-14 Feb, 18-20 Mar, 3-5 Jun, 24-26 Jun.