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OpenFOAM description
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source software designed for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This means it can simulate how liquids and gases flow, making it useful for a wide range of engineering and science applications. It's used by both businesses and universities for things like designing airplanes, understanding weather patterns, and even improving product packaging. While powerful, being open-source means it might require more technical expertise to use effectively than some commercial alternatives.
Who is OpenFOAM best for
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source CFD software ideal for engineers and scientists comfortable with Linux and C++. Users praise its customization, comprehensive documentation, and wide applications. However, note the steep learning curve and lack of a GUI. Best for medium to large businesses in manufacturing, education, and automotive/aerospace/defense.
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Ideal for medium to large businesses (101+ employees), especially large enterprises.
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Best fit for Manufacturing, Education, and Automotive/Aerospace/Defense industries.
OpenFOAM features
Supported OpenFOAM is a free and open-source software under the GNU General Public License. |
Supported OpenFOAM provides tools for solving complex fluid flows, including chemical reactions, turbulence, heat transfer, acoustics, solid mechanics, and electromagnetics. |
Supported OpenFOAM's open-source nature allows users to customize and extend the software according to their specific needs. |
Supported OpenFOAM is designed for parallel computing on high-performance clusters, enabling efficient simulations of large and complex systems. |
Supported OpenFOAM undergoes rigorous testing to maintain quality and reliability. |
Supported OpenFOAM releases new versions every six months, including customer-sponsored developments and community contributions. |
Supported OpenFOAM has a large and active community of users and developers, offering various resources and support. |
OpenFOAM reviews
We've summarised 35 OpenFOAM reviews (OpenFOAM G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.
- Free and open-source, allowing for customization and code modification.
- Comprehensive user guide and documentation.
- Wide range of applications, including heat transfer, multiphase flow, and combustion.
- Efficient parallelism for large-scale simulations.
- Object-oriented code structure facilitates code development and modification.
- Steep learning curve and requires technical expertise.
- Lack of a graphical user interface (GUI) makes it less user-friendly.
- Limited resources and community support compared to commercial alternatives.
- SnappyHexMesh has limitations in creating meshes with proper inflation layers.
- Post-processing and visualization can be challenging.
OpenFOAM pricing
The commentary is based on 5 reviews from OpenFOAM G2 reviews.
OpenFOAM is a free and open-source CFD software, which is a significant advantage for users seeking cost-effective solutions. This open-source nature also allows for customization and community contributions, enhancing its value proposition.
Users sentiment
See the OpenFOAM pricing page.
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OpenFOAM has a free plan.
OpenFOAM alternatives
OpenFOAM FAQ
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. It simulates liquid and gas flows for various applications, from airplane design to weather prediction. While powerful and customizable, its open-source nature may require more technical expertise.
What is OpenFOAM and what does OpenFOAM do?
OpenFOAM is a free, open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. It simulates liquid and gas flows for various applications, from airplane design to weather prediction. While powerful and customizable, its open-source nature may require more technical expertise.
OpenFOAM integrates with other tools through its open-source nature and customizable code. Users can integrate it with various pre- and post-processing tools, and libraries, extending its functionalities for specific needs.
How does OpenFOAM integrate with other tools?
OpenFOAM integrates with other tools through its open-source nature and customizable code. Users can integrate it with various pre- and post-processing tools, and libraries, extending its functionalities for specific needs.
Top alternatives to OpenFOAM include Ansys Fluent, Ansys CFX, and Star-CCM+. These commercial CFD software packages offer user-friendly interfaces and extensive support, but come with licensing costs. For cloud-based solutions, consider SimScale or Bramble CFD.
What the main competitors of OpenFOAM?
Top alternatives to OpenFOAM include Ansys Fluent, Ansys CFX, and Star-CCM+. These commercial CFD software packages offer user-friendly interfaces and extensive support, but come with licensing costs. For cloud-based solutions, consider SimScale or Bramble CFD.
Yes, OpenFOAM is legitimate and safe. It's a widely used, free, and open-source software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), trusted by academics and professionals for various applications. While it has a steep learning curve, its open-source nature and extensive features make it a powerful tool.
Is OpenFOAM legit?
Yes, OpenFOAM is legitimate and safe. It's a widely used, free, and open-source software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), trusted by academics and professionals for various applications. While it has a steep learning curve, its open-source nature and extensive features make it a powerful tool.
OpenFOAM is free and open-source software, so there is no cost associated with using it. This makes it a cost-effective choice for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
How much does OpenFOAM cost?
OpenFOAM is free and open-source software, so there is no cost associated with using it. This makes it a cost-effective choice for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
There is no customer service quality score available for OpenFOAM. Also, there are no reviews specifically mentioning customer service experiences. Therefore, it is not possible to determine whether OpenFOAM's customer service is good or bad.
Is OpenFOAM customer service good?
There is no customer service quality score available for OpenFOAM. Also, there are no reviews specifically mentioning customer service experiences. Therefore, it is not possible to determine whether OpenFOAM's customer service is good or bad.
Reviewed by
Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.
Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.