Help for a beginner CFD OpenFoam User

Novi · October 18, 2010, 13:27

Hello,

I am really new to this Open foam program. I am currently using it for my final year project of my degree.

My questions may sound silly, but I am really lost. I am stuck at the NACA airfoil tutorial. I cant run the blockMesh. It said the program can't locate the blockmeshdict. How to fix that?

and what a file with gz extension do?for what?

Thank you for you help.

andyj · October 19, 2010, 02:33

Hello
A .gz file is a Linux file that has been zipped to reduce its size so it is easier to distribute over the internet.
More on this at: http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/tgz.html

OpenFoam tutorials are based on OpenFoam 1.6. After 1.6 the GUI was changed to Discretizer, as FoamX is no longer available. Discretizer offers more features anyways, but is is still new. the tutorials will work on 1.70 or 1.71 as far as I know with the new GUI. While there is a Windows version available, it works well and is based on 1.6, but I am not sure it has all the features of the Linux version.
You can set up a dual boot operating system, windows and Linux.
CAELinux is a complete Linux operating system, free, that comes with OpenFoam and many other science and CFD packages. It is a 3.7 Gb download. It is somewhat difficult to build the openfoam app from a raw linux tar file, but CAELinux has already done that for you , you just install the operating system and it is all there and works. CAELinux.com
If you are stuck, move on to the next tutorial and come back to the one you had problems with later. Download all the tutorials and user guides, programmers guide and fast start guide.
Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Applied Mechanics has a lot of tutorials and info on OpenFoam.
Curtin University , Fluid Dynamic Research Group, Dept of Mech Eng, also has some information on openfoam available.

An online tool for airfoils and info: http://hvirvel.dk/airfoilmesher/
An airfoil tutorial explained: http://home.planet.nl/~Limme043/Dolf/

You should have a simple book on C++, just to give you an idea of the correct C++syntax, Something like Sams "Teach yourself C++ in 24 hours"
ISBN-10: 0672315165 Pay close attention to the mathematical syntax.

ISBN-10: 3527407588 Mathematical Modeling (Based on CAELinux programs)
good luck

Novi · October 19, 2010, 11:36

Thank you so much for your help. I will try it first and if I'm having another problem, I'll ask the forum again.

October 18, 2010, 13:27	Help for a beginner CFD OpenFoam User	#1
Novi New Member Noviyani Lim Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 16	Hello, I am really new to this Open foam program. I am currently using it for my final year project of my degree. My questions may sound silly, but I am really lost. I am stuck at the NACA airfoil tutorial. I cant run the blockMesh. It said the program can't locate the blockmeshdict. How to fix that? and what a file with gz extension do?for what? Thank you for you help.

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October 19, 2010, 02:33		#2
andyj Member Andy Jones Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 78 Rep Power: 16	Hello A .gz file is a Linux file that has been zipped to reduce its size so it is easier to distribute over the internet. More on this at: http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/tgz.html OpenFoam tutorials are based on OpenFoam 1.6. After 1.6 the GUI was changed to Discretizer, as FoamX is no longer available. Discretizer offers more features anyways, but is is still new. the tutorials will work on 1.70 or 1.71 as far as I know with the new GUI. While there is a Windows version available, it works well and is based on 1.6, but I am not sure it has all the features of the Linux version. You can set up a dual boot operating system, windows and Linux. CAELinux is a complete Linux operating system, free, that comes with OpenFoam and many other science and CFD packages. It is a 3.7 Gb download. It is somewhat difficult to build the openfoam app from a raw linux tar file, but CAELinux has already done that for you , you just install the operating system and it is all there and works. CAELinux.com If you are stuck, move on to the next tutorial and come back to the one you had problems with later. Download all the tutorials and user guides, programmers guide and fast start guide. Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Applied Mechanics has a lot of tutorials and info on OpenFoam. Curtin University , Fluid Dynamic Research Group, Dept of Mech Eng, also has some information on openfoam available. An online tool for airfoils and info: http://hvirvel.dk/airfoilmesher/ An airfoil tutorial explained: http://home.planet.nl/~Limme043/Dolf/ You should have a simple book on C++, just to give you an idea of the correct C++syntax, Something like Sams "Teach yourself C++ in 24 hours" ISBN-10: 0672315165 Pay close attention to the mathematical syntax. ISBN-10: 3527407588 Mathematical Modeling (Based on CAELinux programs) good luck

October 19, 2010, 11:36		#3
Novi New Member Noviyani Lim Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 16	Thank you so much for your help. I will try it first and if I'm having another problem, I'll ask the forum again.