icoFoam - OpenFOAM Solver

Solver: icoFoam   Description

icoFoam is a pressure-based solver designed for transient simulations of incompressible, laminar flow. It handles single-phase flows under isothermal conditions, accommodating Newtonian fluids.

The solver uses the PISO (Pressure-Implicit with Splitting of Operators) algorithm for pressure-momentum coupling, critical in dynamic flow scenarios. A passive scalar transport equation can be added to the solution.

The solver can be applied for analysis of incompressible, laminar flows such as flow through an orifice (in flow measurement devices), analysis of flow separation and vortex shedding, and analysis of flow patterns and recirculation zones within closed cavities.

Solver: icoFoam   Features

  • Transient
  • Incompressible
  • Single-Phase
  • Low-Speed Flows
  • PISO Algorithm
  • Subsonic Flow (Ma < 0.3)
  • Newtonian Fluid
  • Laminar Flow only
  • Newtonian Fluid
  • Pressure-Based Solver
  • Passive Scalar
  • Solution Limiters:
    • Velocity Damping

Solver: icoFoam   Application

  • Flow Over a Backward-Facing Step
  • Poiseuille Flow
  • Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
  • Flow Over a Cylinder
  • Flow Through an Orifice

Solver: icoFoam   Incompressible Solvers

Incompressible Solvers In this group, we have included single-phase, pressure-based solvers for low-speed flows with negligible variations in density, applicable for external and internal aerodynamics (Ma < 0.3) and hydrodynamics. These solvers use incompressibility features for stability and robustness.

Incompressible, Stedy-State - Main Solvers

Incompressible, Transient - Main Solvers

Incompressible, Transient - Simplified Solvers*

  • pisoFoam transient, PISO** algorithm
  • icoFoam transient, PISO** algorithm, laminar flows only (no turbulence), Newtonian fluids only
  • * Dedicated solvers for simplified scenarios, improve stability and computational efficiency
  • ** The PISO algorithm is used for cases with a small Courant number Co < 1
  • DyM - Dynamic Mesh
  • MRF - Multiple Reference Frame
  • SRF - Single Reference Frame
  • Overset - also known as Chimera Grid (Method)
  • SIMPLE - Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations
  • PIMPLE - merged PISO and SIMPLE
  • PISO - Pressure-Implicit Split-Operator

Solver: icoFoam   Results Fields

This solver provides the following results fields:

  • Primary Results Fields - quantities produced by the solver as default outputs
  • Derivative Results - quantities that can be computed based on primary results and supplementary models. They are not initially produced by the solver as default outputs.

Primary Results Fields

Velocity

\(U\) [\(\frac{m}{s}\)]

Kinematic Pressure \(p/\rho\)

\(p\) [\(\frac{m^{2}}{s^{2}}\)]

Kinematic Pressure It is a pressure normalized by density. To obtain pressure in Pascals [Pa], multiply kinematic pressure by the fluid’s reference density. Read More: Kinematic Fluid Properties

Derivative Results

Pressure

\(P\) [\(Pa\)]

Vorticity

\(\omega\) [\(\frac{1}{s}\)]

Courant Number

\(Co\) [\(-\)]

Peclet Number

\(Pe\) [\(-\)]

Stream Function

\(\psi\) [\(\frac{m^2}{s}\)]

Q Criterion

\(Q\) [\(-\)]

Wall Functions (for RANS/LES turbulence)

\(y^+\) [\(-\)]

Wall Shear Stress

\(WSS\) [\(Pa\)]

Turbulent Fields (for RANS/LES turbulence)

\(k\) \(\epsilon\) \(\omega\) \(R\) \(L\) \(I\) \(\nu_t\) \(\alpha_t\)

Volumetric Stream

\(\phi\) [\(\frac{m^{3}}{s}\)]

Passive Scalar

\(scalar_i\) [\(-\)]

Forces and Torque acting on the Boundary

\(F\) [\(N\)] \(M\) [\(-\)]

Force Coefficients

\(C_l\) [\(-\)] \(C_d\) [\(-\)] \(C_m\) [\(-\)]

Average, Minimum or Maximum in Volume from any Result Field

\(Avg\) \(Min\) \(Max\)