DHCAE Tools announces that the latest version of the company’s CAD model based meshing, preprocessing and job-control system CastNet is available now. The current release supports new features, which extend the functionality and usability for OpenFOAM®.

CastNet is a preprocessing tool using CAD kernel geometry (Parasolid, Acis or Granite) and discrete mesh data as input. CastNet supports the ESI OpenFOAM®-Versions from 1.5 to 2.1 as well as the Windows port based on OpenFOAM® technology provided by BlueCAPE (BlueCFD). This results in a flexible and platform independent usage of OpenFOAM® solution technologies.

CastNet enables the user to define the complete model input for more than 30 OpenFOAM® solvers within the graphical user interface. Solver settings, fluid properties and boundary conditions (including interior zones such as porous, MRF, CHT, rotating (AMI) regions) are defined in association with the CAD geometry. CastNet generates anisotropic hybrid CFD-meshes with advanced extrude and prism layer capabilities on the basis of the Simmetrix Inc. meshing and abstract modelling technology. Additionally CastNet supports OpenFOAM® meshing features (snappyHexMesh), whereas the complete parameter definition remains associated with CAD geometry entities.

In the new release the functionality for snappyHexMesh usage has been improved; radiation and LES-turbulence modelling have been enhanced and Lagrangian particle tracking is supported. The functionalities in the job-control system have been extended, e.g. allowing a GUI-based access to OpenFOAM®’s meshing feature (e.g. for extrusion or wall refinement), and an automatic simulation stabilizer for compressible solvers has been added. An overview of the CastNet functionality for OpenFOAM® can be found here: http://www.dhcae-tools.com/images/CastNetFeatureForOpenFOAM.pdf

For more information, please visit: http://www.dhcae-tools.com

OPENFOAM® is a registered trademark of the ESI Group.

This offering is not approved or endorsed by ESI Group (OpenCFD), the producer of OpenFOAM® software and owner of OPENFOAM® and OpenCFD® trademarks.