Introduction to OpenFOAM and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool used to analyze and solve complex fluid dynamics and heat transfer problems using numerical methods. Industries ranging from aerospace, automotive, and energy to biomedical applications heavily rely on CFD simulations for design optimization and performance analysis. OpenFOAM, as an open-source CFD solver, has gained immense popularity due to its flexibility, extensive functionalities, and strong community support. It allows users to model a wide range of fluid flow phenomena, from simple laminar flows to complex turbulent interactions, multiphase flows, and even chemical reactions.
Despite its vast capabilities, OpenFOAM has a steep learning curve, which can be intimidating for beginners. Many users struggle with understanding its structure, working within a Linux-based environment, and efficiently setting up simulations. Recognizing these challenges, we have developed a Certified OpenFOAM Online Course aimed at simplifying the learning process and making this powerful tool accessible to engineers, researchers, and students.
Introduction
| Introduction to this course (4:25) |
| Corse Structure (5:35) |
| Why OpenFOAM (7:58) |
| Install OpenFOAM on Windows via WSL (12:44) |
| Install OpenFOAM on MacOS via Docker (5:24) |
| Some useful LINUX Commands you need to know (7:53) |
In the introductory section, we will explore what OpenFOAM is and why it is widely used in CFD simulations. You will gain an overview of CFD principle, followed by a guided installation of OpenFOAM on Linux, Windows (via WSL), and MacOS (via Docker). You will learn essential Linux commands for OpenFOAM operations and scripting techniques for automation.
Core Knowledge
| Your First SImulation on OpenFOAM (8:59) |
| “Tutorial” Folder Structure (21:53) |
| Fundamental of blockMesh Construction (21:41) |
| Create Efficient Mesh with blockMesh Grading (15:56) |
| post-processing with paraView (16:05) |
In this section, the focus is to give you first experience of simulating using OpenFOAM, including blockMesh fundamentals. We will also introduce you to the OpenFOAM directory structure and file organization to help you navigate through simulations efficiently. Then, we will dive deeper how to use some advanced post-processing on paraview.
Useful Cases
| Internal Flow (28:43) |
| External Flow (14:15) |
| Turbulence Modeling (13:01) |
| RAS Turbulent Model (18:33) |
| LES Turbulent Model (13:25) |
To reinforce your learning, this module provides hands-on simulations, covering practical CFD problems such as internal flow and external flow. Additionally, we will introduce some fundamentals of turbulence modeling concepts such as Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and commonly used turbulence models.
Some Advanced Theories
| Deeper Insight About Boundary Conditions (15:59) |
| More Focus on Computational Schemes (17:39) |
This module focuses on the fundamental aspects of OpenFOAM simulations, including an in-depth understanding of boundary conditions, solver selection, and discretization schemes. Then delves deeper into numerical schemes and algorithm theories, helping you understand solver settings for stability and accuracy.
More “Realistic” Applications
| Multiphase Flow Modeling (12:08) |
| More Realistic Meshing with snappyHexMesh (17:29) |
| Introduction to Blender for openFOAM Geometry Preparation (8:22) |
The final section bridges the gap between academic learning and industry applications. You will learn how to import and preprocess geometry using Blender, apply advanced meshing techniques for complex geometries using snappyHexMesh and run a multiphase flow.
Who Should Enroll in This Course?
This Certified Online Course is ideal for students and researchers looking to apply OpenFOAM in their academic projects, engineers and professionals in aerospace, automotive, chemical, and energy industries, and beginners in CFD who want a structured learning path. Additionally, anyone interested in open-source CFD tools as an alternative to commercial software like ANSYS Fluent and STAR-CCM+ will benefit from this course.
Instructor: Caesar Wiratama
Caesar Wiratama established a company, PT Tensor, with the main business in CAE Applications, including CFD, FEA, CAD, and general numerical modelings, which has been operating since 2013. My last education is a Master of Mechanical Engineering from New York University. By creating these courses, I hope to make this community bigger and allow more engineers to utilize these amazing tools.
Enroll Now and Start Your OpenFOAM Journey!
Mastering OpenFOAM does not have to be a daunting task. With this Certified Online Course, you will gain the skills, confidence, and knowledge required to excel in CFD simulations using OpenFOAM. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this course is designed to help you achieve practical proficiency and real-world problem-solving abilities in CFD.
Don’t miss the opportunity to become a Certified OpenFOAM User. Enroll today and start your journey toward mastering OpenFOAM for CFD applications!
Reviews
Haakon G.
“This course was superb for learning OpenFOAM as a complete beginner. All steps were easy to follow and well explained. Thank you!”
Bernard B.
“Très bon pour une introduction ! Merci (Very good for an Introduction! Thanks)”
Luis Felipe da Silva G.
“This course make me feel confortable with the navegation and manipulation openfoam and show me the most important parts of it, i recommend a lot”
Bagus N.
“Very easy to follow as a beginner and very practical if you want to develop your own case”
JOHNSON Oluwatuyi N.
“Satisfactory”
Sima S.
“It was very useful to me as a beginner. Thanks the tutor.”