OpenFOAM Case Setup

This skill provides specialized guidance for setting up OpenFOAM CFD cases, including:

Key Features

• •Standard OpenFOAM case structure setup
• •Solver selection guidance (simpleFoam, pimpleFoam, icoFoam, etc.)
• •Turbulence model configuration
• •Boundary condition setup for various physics
• •Mesh generation workflows
• •Example case adaptation strategies

Common Use Cases

• •Setting up new CFD simulations
• •Configuring turbulence models
• •Optimizing solver settings
• •Troubleshooting case setup issues
• •Adapting tutorial cases for specific problems

Instructions

Tutorial-First Setup Workflow

ALWAYS start with tutorial cases - they provide validated, working configurations

1. •Find Match: Use OpenFOAM keywords to search tutorials
   code

   # By solver
   grep(pattern='simpleFoam|pimpleFoam|rhoSimpleFoam', path=config.openfoam.tutorials_path, include='system/controlDict')
   
   # By turbulence model
   grep(pattern='kEpsilon|kOmegaSST|kOmega', path=config.openfoam.tutorials_path, include='constant/momentumTransport')
   
   # By physics/problem type
   grep(pattern='incompressible|compressible|turbulent|heatTransfer', path=config.openfoam.tutorials_path, include='README*')
   

2. •Copy Base: cp -r /tutorials/path/case/* ./
3. •Adapt: Modify geometry, BCs, physics from working baseline
4. •Troubleshoot: Compare with tutorial when issues arise

Tutorial-Based Troubleshooting

When cases fail to run:

1. •

   Find similar working tutorial case using specific keywords:

   code

   # For divergence issues
   grep(pattern='simpleFoam|pimpleFoam', path=config.openfoam.tutorials_path, include='system/controlDict')
   
   # For boundary condition problems
   grep(pattern='fixedValue|zeroGradient|noSlip', path=config.openfoam.tutorials_path, include='0/*')
   
   # For convergence issues
   grep(pattern='residualControl|tolerance', path=config.openfoam.tutorials_path, include='system/fvSolution')
   

2. •

   Compare ALL settings (controlDict, fvSchemes, fvSolution, BCs, mesh)

3. •

   Use tutorial values as starting point - modify incrementally

4. •

   Reference tutorial outputs for expected behavior

Common Fixes from Tutorials:

• •Divergence: Copy discretization schemes from tutorial fvSchemes
• •Boundary Errors: Use tutorial BC patterns from 0/ directory
• •Convergence Issues: Adopt tutorial solver tolerances from fvSolution
• •Mesh Problems: Reference tutorial mesh settings from blockMeshDict