I am trying to install SimFlow on Linux, but it does not recognize the executable file, which I downloaded. Why?
During SimFlow installation on Linux, a few additional actions may be required from the user. Most often you have to make the downloaded file executable. Check for details here .
What are the limitations of the evaluation mode compared to the commercial mode?
Basically, the main limitations are 200`000 mesh nodes limit, unavailable meshing in parallel and parallel computing limited up to 2 cores. Check for details in the table here .
Can I use SimFlow in the evaluation mode during classes at the university for teaching?
Yes, of course. Feel free to use it in commercial and educational cases.
Why does the software require an internet connection?
SimFlow connects to the internet in order to check the validity of your license. If you do not have an internet connection, SimFlow will start in the evaluation mode.
How do I know that I am running SimFlow in the commercial mode?
When you run SimFlow and there is no remark SimFlow evaluation below the SimFlow logo, it means that the license file has been detected by SimFlow, and you are running SimFlow in the commercial mode. It also means that all the limitations of the evaluation mode do not apply to you.
What will happen after my SimFlow license expires?
After the licensing period expires you can renew your license or use SimFlow in the evaluation mode.
What kind of license do you offer?
You can choose between 12 months subscription plan and a perpetual license for the most demanding customers. Please contact us for details.
When I attempt to download SimFlow I get the error message 'Signature corrupt or invalid'. Why?
Most likely this problem is caused by a bug in Microsoft`s web browser, which incorrectly interpret a valid certificate as corrupt or invalid. In order to avoid this problem, please use a different web browser when downloading SimFlow installation package.
Which files should I include when sending a sample case?
If you have a problem with your simulation, go to Case tab in top menu and select Compress Case File (ZIP). Then, make sure the box next to Include Results is unchecked and press OK. If you are not able to run SimFlow, please delete all the folders containing the result files from the case directory, which are named according to time-step or iteration number. Then, compress the case directory manually.
Next, upload archive to a cloud or hosting provider, for example, using Dropbox or Google Drive, and provide us with a link to the archive. Please do not send large files to us as attachments to your emails, as we may not receive them due to technical limitations. You can use the contact form on SimFlow home page.
Which geometry CAD file formats are supported by SimFlow?
Currently, SimFlow supports the following formats:
*.STL
*.OBJ
*.STEP
*.STP
*.IGES
*.IGS
*.BREP
*.DAT (airfoil profile)
Can I import a mesh created in other software?
Currently, SimFlow supports meshes created in the following programs: OpenFOAM , ANSYS , CFX , I-DEAS , GAMBIT , GMSH , Fluent (ASCII format) .
Which units of physical quantities are used in SimFlow?
SimFlow uses OpenFOAM ® solvers and therefore you must use SI units. It is important to remember that it also applies to dimension of the geometry, which must be scaled to meter.
It seems that SimFlow did not recognize that the geometry which I imported was created in millimeters, and it is 1000x greater in SimFlow. How can I deal with it?
Units are not saved in some CAD formats. You can scale the geometry before you create the mesh by right-clicking on the imported geometry name and using the Scale option in the Geometry panel. If you have already created the mesh, you can scale it in the Mesh panel by right-clicking on the default region and using the Scale option there.
Which files should I include when sending a sample case?
If you have a problem with your simulation, please delete all the folders containing the result files from the case directory, which are named according to time-step or iteration number. Then, compress the case directory and upload it to a cloud or hosting provider, for example, using Dropbox or Google Drive, and provide us with a link to the archive. Please do not send large files to us as attachments to your emails, as we may not receive them due to technical limitations. You can use the contact form on SimFlow home page.
Which units of physical quantities are used in SimFlow?
SimFlow uses OpenFOAM ® solvers, and therefore you must use SI units. It is important to remember that it also applies to dimension of the geometry, which must be scaled to meter.
I am simulating incompressible flow using incompressible flow solver. Why do I have to specify pressure values in a strange unit instead of Pa?
Incompressible flow solvers in OpenFOAM ® operate using a kinematic pressure instead of a physical pressure in order to compute Navier-Stokes equation without explicitly showing the constant fluid density in the equation.
Kinematic pressure is defined as pressure divided by fluid density, and it is expressed in \([m^2/s^2]\). Always input kinematic pressure values when using incompressible flow solvers in SimFlow to obtain correct results. When you analyze the results, remember that the pressure field in ParaView displays values of kinematic pressure. Therefore, you must multiply the values of kinematic pressure by the fluid density in order to calculate the pressure field expressed in \(Pa\).
Forces acting on the geometry calculated during the simulation are way off what I expected. Did I do something wrong?
There are two main possibilities for incorrect values of forces:
Your model was created in other units than meters.
In case of incompressible solvers you need to multiply displayed values of monitored forces by fluid density.
What are calculation methods of: forces and force coefficients that can be monitored?
These forces are calculated by pressure integration over the selected boundaries in the Forces tab, in the Monitors panel.
If you select the checkbox Monitor Coefficients , the values of forces are divided by the reference area and reference dynamic pressure. Results of this operation correspond to force coefficients, and they are shown in the graph instead of values of the forces.
The Mesh button is disabled and I cannot remesh the geometry. How to solve this problem?
The Mesh button is disabled if you have result files in your case directory. In order to remesh the geometry, you have to go to the Run panel and click the Reset Calculations button.
I want to simulate a conjugate heat transfer problem but solvers appropriate for this purpose are disabled in the list of available solvers. Why?
Conjugate heat transfer solvers require creating a mesh region for a solid, and another mesh region for a fluid region. Therefore, they can be chosen only if you created a mesh subregion.
Mesh created in SimFlow is stored in the default region. Once you create a mesh, go to the MESH panel, right-click on the default region and choose the Make sub-region option. Next, you can move the Point in a proper location and create a mesh for the other region. Then, it will be possible to select one of the conjugate heat transfer solvers.
I can`t calculate Wall Heat Flux, because the button in the Postprocessing panel is disabled.
Wall heat flux currently can only be calculated for compressible solvers. If you are using Boussinesq approximation, this option will not be available as well.
I constantly get a nan error in the SimFlow console. Why?
If you can see a line in the SimFlow console similar to:
:smoothSolver: Solving for Ux, Initial residual = nan, Final residual = nan, No Iterations 1000
or other containing the "nan" word it means that your simulation diverged. It has nothing to do with SimFlow, but is caused by the solver you are using and your settings. What you need to do is to click the Reset Calculation button in the Run panel, verify your boundary conditions and numerical settings and rerun the simulation.
Which files should I include when sending a sample case?
If you have a problem with your simulation, go to Case tab in top menu and select Compress Case File (ZIP). Then, make sure the box next to Include Results is unchecked and press OK. If you are not able to run SimFlow, please delete all the folders containing the result files from the case directory, which are named according to time-step or iteration number. Then, compress the case directory manually.
Next, upload archive to a cloud or hosting provider, for example, using Dropbox or Google Drive, and provide us with a link to the archive. Please do not send large files to us as attachments to your emails, as we may not receive them due to technical limitations. You can use the contact form on SimFlow home page.
Where can I find training materials?
Training materials dedicated to SimFlow are available in form of User Guides, Tutorials for general understanding of the software and Documentation for single feature descriptions.
If you wish, we can customize training materials for your specific needs Send us a quick note and we will get back to you with possible solutions.
Why are my results different from the ones in the video tutorials?
There are a few possible reasons for this. Please check again step-by-step whether you correctly set up your simulation. If you cannot find a problem with your simulation settings, small differences may come from differences between OpenFOAM ® versions and default numerical settings in SimFlow, which can also vary between SimFlow versions.
Which files should I include when sending a sample case?
If you have a problem with your simulation, go to Case tab in top menu and select Compress Case File (ZIP). Then, make sure the box next to Include Results is unchecked and press OK. If you are not able to run SimFlow, please delete all the folders containing the result files from the case directory, which are named according to time-step or iteration number. Then, compress the case directory manually.
Next, upload archive to a cloud or hosting provider, for example, using Dropbox or Google Drive, and provide us with a link to the archive. Please do not send large files to us as attachments to your emails, as we may not receive them due to technical limitations. You can use the contact form on SimFlow home page.
Which version of OpenFOAM® is supported by SimFlow?
Which units of physical quantities are used in SimFlow?
SimFlow uses OpenFOAM ® solvers and therefore you must use SI units. It is important to remember that it also applies to dimension of the geometry, which must be scaled to meter.
Can I use both single-precision and double-precision OpenFOAM® solvers with SimFlow?
Yes, you can if you have single-precision or double-precision OpenFOAM ® compilation. It requires setting a proper path to the OpenFOAM ® directory in the SimFlow launcher.
I am simulating incompressible flow using incompressible flow solver. Why do I have to specify pressure values in a strange unit instead of Pa?
Incompressible flow solvers in OpenFOAM ® operate using a kinematic pressure instead of a physical pressure in order to compute Navier-Stokes equation without explicitly showing the constant fluid density in the equation.
Kinematic pressure is defined as pressure divided by fluid density, and it is expressed in \([m^2/s^2]\). Always input kinematic pressure values when using incompressible flow solvers in SimFlow to obtain correct results. When you analyze the results, remember that the pressure field in ParaView displays values of kinematic pressure. Therefore, you must multiply the values of kinematic pressure by the fluid density in order to calculate the pressure field expressed in \(Pa\).
Which files should I include when sending a sample case?
If you have a problem with your simulation, go to Case tab in top menu and select Compress Case File (ZIP). Then, make sure the box next to Include Results is unchecked and press OK. If you are not able to run SimFlow, please delete all the folders containing the result files from the case directory, which are named according to time-step or iteration number. Then, compress the case directory manually.
Next, upload archive to a cloud or hosting provider, for example, using Dropbox or Google Drive, and provide us with a link to the archive. Please do not send large files to us as attachments to your emails, as we may not receive them due to technical limitations. You can use the contact form on SimFlow home page.