Introducing Ansys FreeFlow: A Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics Simulation Solution

The world around us is filled with fascinating free-surface flow phenomena, from the splash of a wave against a rock to the water jet inside a dishwasher. Accurately simulating these complex behaviors has long been a challenge for engineers and researchers. Traditional mesh-based methods often struggle with the dynamic interfaces, large mesh deformation, and fragmentation inherent in these flows.

The smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is a mesh-free Lagrangian particle method that offers an alternative to standard mesh-based approaches. SPH represents fluids as a collection of interacting elements, and properties are interpolated between neighboring elements using a smoothing kernel. This enables the natural handling of complex fluid motion and evolving free surfaces.

The Ansys FreeFlow software solution equips engineers with the tools to tackle intricate free-surface flow applications. This new product complements the Ansys Fluids portfolio and provides a detailed and realistic representation of physical processes that often prove challenging for other simulation tools.

A Mesh-Free Workflow for Free-Surface Simulations

FreeFlow software offers a modern and intuitive interface that streamlines the entire SPH simulation process within a single window. From setting up your simulation with ease in the preprocessing step to visualizing and analyzing your results in post-processing, FreeFlow software provides a cohesive and efficient workflow.

Additionally, FreeFlow software harnesses the power of a multi-GPU solver, enabling you to efficiently manage large-scale simulations involving millions of SPH elements. This parallel processing capability significantly reduces computation time, enabling you to tackle complex problems with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Key features of FreeFlow software include:

• Multi-GPU processing: Leverage the power of multiple GPUs to accelerate your simulations and handle large-scale models with ease.
• Surface tension model: Accurately captures the effects of surface tension, which is crucial for simulating phenomena like ligament formation and capillary action.
• Thermal solver: Analyze heat transfer within your free-surface flows, essential for applications like e-motor cooling.
• Integrated multibody dynamics: Seamlessly incorporate fluid interaction with moving solid bodies, expanding the scope of your simulations.
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA) integration: FreeFlow software enables smooth data exchange with other Ansys tools for comprehensive multiphysics analysis.
• Unique customization and automation application programming interfaces (APIs): Tailor FreeFlow software to your specific needs and automate repetitive tasks, enhancing productivity and enabling advanced workflows.

Unlocking Solutions for Challenging Fluid Applications

With FreeFlow software, engineers can overcome the complexities of simulating free-surface flows in applications such as:

• Automotive water wading: Accurately predict water ingress and its impact on vehicle performance.
• Dishwasher design: Analyze water jet dynamics and cleaning efficiency.
• Dam break scenarios: Model the catastrophic failure of dams and predict downstream flooding.
• Tank sloshing: Understand the dynamic forces exerted by fluids in moving tanks.

By leveraging the inherent advantages of the SPH method and providing a user-friendly, high-performance platform, FreeFlow software empowers you to accurately and efficiently overcome the difficulties in simulating complex free-surface flows. Discover more of what FreeFlow smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulation software can do by checking Ansys Help and the Ansys How-To YouTube channel.