Research and development in CFD and fluid mechanics
Scientific innovation, the backbone of modern industry. In a sector where many rely on commercial solutions, developing our own tools is proof of technological leadership and innovation.
Our R&D themes
Developing our own CFD calculation tools is not just a technical choice: it's a strategy that strengthens our expertise, enables us to adapt to our customers' unique problems and guarantees rigorous scientific quality. By investing in these tools, we ensure total control of our methods, while offering our customers innovative, customised solutions with high added value.
01
Unique simulation capabilities thanks to OpenFOAM
Development of solvers, algorithms and physical models within the OpenFOAM toolbox code, providing unique modelling possibilities not offered by commercial tools.
02
Numerical machinery: robustness and precision
Development of algorithms and tools for the Finite Volume Digital Machine to improve the robustness, speed and accuracy of CFD calculations
Mastery of methods and algorithms
Developing our own tools gives us a total understanding of numerical and algorithmic methods, unlike commercial 'black box' software.
Innovating and pushing back the boundaries of modelling
The development of in-house tools provides the flexibility and adaptability for which commercial tools have limitations.
Added value
Our in-house tools enable us to respond to specific customer issues with a high degree of adaptability.
Training and skills transfer
The development of in-house tools is a major advantage, enabling our teams to continually upgrade their skills.
Our recent research
Publications, pre-prints and conference papers
solver marineFoam
We have developed a custom solver (marineFoam) based on the OpenFOAM toolbox code for marine and naval applications. Compared with OpenFOAM's standard two-phase solver (interFoam), marineFoam is more robust and produces accurate results even with a large number of CFLs (~300) (e.g. for ship resistance assessment). This allows us to carry out accurate simulations in a shorter time. marineFoam also incorporates implicit advection of the volume fraction and a number of optimised numerical schemes, including the use of the Ghost Fluid Method to manage the flow density discontinuity. A 6 DoF library has been specially developed to model certain problems with large rigid body displacements (manoeuvrability, planing hulls) while avoiding the use of time-consuming overset methods. marineFoam also benefits from improved Rhie-Chow interpolation (pressure-velocity coupling) to obtain results that are independent of relaxation factors and time step.
VoF
Volume-of-Fluid method and algebraic schemes: HRIC, BICS, CICSAM ...
6 DoF
Special formulation for 6 DoF movements with the Adams/Bashfort/Moulton scheme and Atkins dynamic relaxation
Ghost Fluid Method
Management of pressure and density discontinuities
Helix disc theory
Development of propeller disc models to simulate propulsion systems
Wave simulation
waves2foam package by Niels Gjøl Jacobsen
Solver
LSFoam
LSFoam is an incompressible two-phase (immiscible) solver using a Level-Set method to transport the interface between the two fluids. The Level-Set method has, by construction, a much smoother numerical behaviour compared with the VoF approach: transport is facilitated, as is the calculation of the curvature of the interface. On the other hand, the method does not conserve mass. Our developments have focused in particular on solving the reinitialization step in order to drastically limit mass variations with a new approach using anchoring cells. We have also developed an equation to encapsulate redistanciation during the transport step.
The Level-Set method is particularly interesting for free-surface flows with moderate interface deformation (e.g. maritime, coastal or river applications).
Like marineFoam, LSFoam benefits from the use of the Ghost Fluid Method and improved Rhie & Chow interpolation.
