Simulate fluid dynamics and related multiphysics.

Simcenter

CFD simulation

Simulate fluid dynamics and related multiphysics.

Solve engineering challenges that involve fluids

The real-world performance of your product depends on how it interacts with fluids, either gases, liquids or a combination of both. From designers to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineers to researchers, CFD simulation allows engineers to predict the most complex fluid dynamics problems virtually and turn these insights into product innovation. Today CFD analysis is used for fast, accurate simulation of almost any engineering problem that involves fluids, structures, and all of the associated physics.

CFD simulation capabilities

Single-phase flows

Whether it’s gases or liquids, Simcenter offers a comprehensive set of computational fluid dynamics models for single-phase flows. From compressible to incompressible, from laminar to turbulent flows, Simcenter provides CFD analysis for any flow regime. For turbulent flows, aerodynamics engineers across industries can choose from a comprehensive state-of-the-art set of turbulence models including all common Reynolds Average Navier Stokes (RANS) models, Detached Eddy Simulations (DES) and Large Eddy Simulations (LES).

Fluids & thermal simulation on a car, through Simcenter.

Supersonic and hypersonic flows

Hypersonic speed is currently a very interesting topic for research and future commercial flights. With the dissociation and ionization of fluids in hypersonic regimes, ideal gas may not be the appropriate equation of state, real gas equilibrium may be a better option.

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A plane tearing through CFD representing supersonic and hypersonic flows graphic from the Simcenter software.

Multiphase flow simulation

Real-world engineering problems cover multiple flow regimes across stratified, dispersed, discrete, films, etc. To date, there is no single multiphase model that can cover all regimes; however, Simcenter CFD provides a comprehensive range of models for multiphase CFD simulations which can be used together to cover many flow regimes, including the transitions between them. Predict and understand the real-world behavior of your products by simulating multi-regime, multi-scale multiphase flows.

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Multiphase CFD simulations graphic from the Simcenter software.

Particle flows and discrete element method

Particulate flows in engineering exist everywhere – fluidized beds, cyclone separators, coating, conveyors, roasters, etc. Whether lean or dense particle flows, Simcenter CFD simulation offers full particle-flow integration to maximize particle efficiency and distribution, minimize energy consumption, avoid excessive wear and abrasion, and optimize the overall performance.

By simulating realistic particle shapes accurately with proper particle motion and contact, engineers can ensure material handling performance. Unlike other tools, Simcenter offers coupled flow and particulate physics within one single simulation environment, significantly reducing simulation set-up effort. Offering both mesh-based and meshfree Discrete Element Methods (DEM) engineers can always choose the most suitable particle modeling approach.

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A lawnmower graphic from the Simcenter software.

Reacting flows

Simcenter delivers a comprehensive suite of reacting flow and emission models, covering a wide range of applications. It enables tight coupling between reacting flow models and heat transfer, radiation, multiphase reactions and surface chemistry. Our reacting flow models help understand and optimize flame shape and location, minimize solid component temperatures, reduce emissions and maximize performance efficiency. You can predict and understand flame dynamics, heat transfer, thermal wear, emissions, yield, conversion, selectivity, and undesirable conditions to accurately capture real-world physics of your designs.

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Multiple representations of reacting flows.

Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics

Simcenter delivers a comprehensive suite of reacting flow and emission models, covering a wide range of applications. It enables tight coupling between reacting flow models and heat transfer, radiation, multiphase reactions and surface chemistry. Our reacting flow models help understand and optimize flame shape and location, minimize solid component temperatures, reduce emissions and maximize performance efficiency. You can predict and understand flame dynamics, heat transfer, thermal wear, emissions, yield, conversion, selectivity, and undesirable conditions to accurately capture real-world physics of your designs.

Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics - fact sheet

Gear lubrication graphics from the Simcenter SPH Flow software.

Heat transfer

Innovative products of today, from electronic devices to mobility solutions need innovative cooling and thermal management solutions. Simcenter CFD suite allows engineers to simulate heat transfer in a medium or between media accurately and efficiently. With conduction, convection, radiation, conjugate heat transfer, and boiling, Simcenter CFD simulation offers a full suite of heat transfer physics to accurately predict temperature distributions in fluids and solids. The Simcenter portfolio includes leading CFD analysis with specific electronics cooling simulation capabilities for chip package level, printed circuit board (PCB), rack, and enclosures to large datacenters.

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CFD simulation to represent heat transfer physics.

Aeroacoustics

Flow-induced noise is a significant component of the acoustic signature of a vehicle (or other product). Simcenter offers an extensive library of accurate models for predicting aeroacoustics noise sources, including: steady state models, direct models (DES/LES), propagation models and acoustic perturbation equations (APE) solver. 

Simcenter supports hybrid aeroacoustic methods: first, a CFD simulation is used for capturing flow turbulences, which are translated into aeroacoustic sources to be plugged into a second acoustic (FEM) simulation model. The latter then predicts the acoustic propagation of these sources, including reflections and absorption in the environment. For instance, the HVAC system or side-mirror noise in a car can be predicted.

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Hybrid aero-acoustic simulation visual from the Simcenter software.

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI)

Almost all real-world engineering problems ultimately depend on the interaction between fluids and solid structures. Simcenter CFD simulation offers both finite volume (FV)-based computational fluid dynamics and finite element (FE)-based computational solid mechanics (CSM). This enables engineers to simulate fluid-structure interaction FSI in an easy-to-use single integrated user interface. Using this approach, you can solve static, quasi-static, and dynamic problems including those with nonlinear geometry and multiple parts using bonded and small sliding contacts.

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Fluid structure graphic from the Simcenter CFD software.

Thermomechanical stresses

Extending mechanical fluid-structure interaction, Simcenter CFD simulation offers efficient workflows for thermal stress analyses. Thermal engineers can solve heat transfer problems between a fluid and a structure, and based on that assess thermal stresses in the solid regions.

A visual from the Simcenter computational fluid dynamics software.

Rheology

With computational rheology in Simcenter CFD analysis, engineers can simulate fluids dominated by diffusion and viscous or viscoelastic behavior. Computational fluid dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids is useful to engineers in consumer product, waste processing, and food and beverage industries who work with mixers, flow containers, slurries, extrusions, and material processing. Simulating rheology accurately is the key to reducing power consumption, emissions, and raw material usage while improving product reliability, user experience, and liability costs.

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Computational rheology modeling graphic from the Simcenter software.

Electromagnetics

Simcenter CFD suite comes with a wide range of electromagnetic models to address a range of electromagnetics simulations from magnetic valves, solenoids, actuators and transformers to electric machines. As a multiphysics CFD suite, it offers integrated electromagnetics capabilities that allow you to tightly couple to coolant flow, heat transfer and electromagnetics in one single simulation. It also enables engineers to simulate magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) applications including plasma arc simulation, gas-blast circuit breakers and welding.

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Electromagnetic graphics from the Simcenter software.

Multidisciplinary CFD simulation coupling

For the realization of a holistic digital twin, Simcenter CFD simulation is embedded into the wider Simcenter portfolio. This allows engineers to stay integrated while running extended multidisciplinary projects when analysis needs to go beyond multiphysics CFD. Simcenter enables you to couple to other simulation tools through dedicated interfaces and common data formats. This allows engineers to create holistic multidisciplinary simulations using time scales ranging from microseconds to thousands of seconds, and physics ranging from sophisticated solid mechanics to rapid system simulations while leveraging the best-suited simulation technology for each discipline.

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A small fast boat - Nonlinear dynamics graphics from the Simcenter software.