Suggestion for a good (Fluid) flow program?

[Knut Sand]

Hi

I mainly use SolidWorks for design.
The special flow program for SolidWorks that can handle this problem is pretty expensive...

I have a (preliminary) project, large concrete stationary object, can look at it as a large heat exchanger fixed below a quay or mounted at the seabed, there will be sea currents in the area, travelling across/ through areas of this object. My problem is, that my program only let me run the flow through one route, as the real situation will in fact be that the fluid/ current will split up in various directions and travel outside, under, over, through, and through an area with supports.
So; a program that tells me;
how much flow is going where, flow speed, pressure.
how much strain on the structure....
Or an adress to people with this type of program available...

Post here or PM me...

btw...this is as FAR from boat design as it is possible to get, but still keeping the object vet.... :-D

[daiquiri]

OpenFOAM appears to be an excellent CFD software (I've heard people comparing it favorably to Fluent and Star-CD), even handles the aeroelastic interaction of solid bodies and fluid flow, and (incredible!) is a FREEWARE.

But it requires Linux operating system and I'm actually considering the installation of a Linux OS on a comp dedicated to OpenFOAM only.

This forum is, imho, the best place to search for help related to CFD:
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forum/

[Ad Hoc]

Are you trying to establish loads on the fixings?..or trying to smooth the water flow around it, or what?
Can you describe your 'design thoughts' for the question you posted, may help to understand the problem better too.

[pavel915]

I use fluent for fluid flow problems. I think fluent is user friendly and fluent will be good for analyzing your problem.

For a better discussion about your problem you can go to www.cfd-online.com where there are several forums for cfd discussions and there are spetarate forum for each cfd program like fluent, star ccm+ , open foam etc.

[Knut Sand]

Thank you for your comments so far.

Pulling out my hair over OpenFoam, Guess I'll eventually manage to tweak around it, and freeware... Just a beauty...

Tried also to check out Fluent, tried to find the price.... or legal download site.

Is this correct?:
http://down.cd/info_2123.html

15$ ??? For a computer program, or is this similar to the boat design program mentioned somwhere else??

[daiquiri]

Originally Posted by Knut Sand

Is this correct?:
http://down.cd/info_2123.html
15$ ??? For a computer program, or is this similar to the boat design program mentioned somwhere else??

Don't trust it! WE are talking about software worth thousands of $$$, you can't expect to obtain it legally for $15.

Even if you decide to give it a try and get some CD with something unknown to install on your PC, you might not like the result...

[Knut Sand]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

Don't trust it! WE are talking about software worth thousands of $$$, you can't expect to obtain it legally for $15.

Even if you decide to give it a try and get some CD with something unknown to install on your PC, you might not like the result...

Thank you. I'm pretty much expecting something like that you are pointing towards there... I see "Ansys" somewhere there, expect that if it's legally linked to them, then the cost would be quite different than 15 $...

Sooo, guess that there actually is a risk of getting even more than I pay for at 15$....

I'll steer away.

My wife, surfing on the internet, got a warning on the screen; Windows is recommending you to install update, yes / no.... Guess what she clicked...
Vista.......
But actually the (bad) "Hackers" are getting rather sophisticated from time to time....

[Ad Hoc]

nothing in life is free...

even those "free" softwares which several users on this website seem to use as their only means of validation, have serious caveats, why..cos it's cheap, (free) not serious full on nav-stokes stuff which, as noted costs $$$/£££/€€€!

You only get what you pay for..

sorry for all the metaphors!