Simplified CFD workflow using FreeCAD, Rocket Workbench, CfdOF Workbench, and OpenFOAM

[grandcross]

This is a bit of a teaser since it's not available yet, but it will be with the next release of the Rocket Workbench. It can all be done manually now.

Start by building your rocket, or importing it from OpenRocket. The example shown here is one of the OpenRocket sample files.

Select any part of the rocket and click the CFD button. The dialog allows you to set the rocket Angle of Attack (AOA), and the number of processors you're going to use when running your CFD simulation. Click create and voila!

This creates a solid version of your rocket and places it in a virtual wind tunnel. There are 3 refinement zones that are used to generate finer meshes as you get closer to the rocket. It also sets up a final refinement on the surface of the rocket.

The CFD components are set up for a standard static study at Mach 0.3. All parameters can be adjusted before you generate the meshes and run your simulation.

There are no built in reporting functions yet, but expect that to be added over time.

View attachment CFD Workflow.mp4

 

[bad_idea]

This is a bit of a teaser since it's not available yet, but it will be with the next release of the Rocket Workbench.

First, you have my attention.

Second, is there a rough timeframe for release? No worries if not, just curious.

The dialog allows you to set the rocket Angle of Attack (AOA), and the number of processors you're going to use when running your CFD simulation.

Are GPUs in any way relevant, or only CPU?

 

[cwbullet]

This is a bit of a teaser since it's not available yet, but it will be with the next release of the Rocket Workbench. It can all be done manually now.

Start by building your rocket, or importing it from OpenRocket. The example shown here is one of the OpenRocket sample files.

Select any part of the rocket and click the CFD button. The dialog allows you to set the rocket Angle of Attack (AOA), and the number of processors you're going to use when running your CFD simulation. Click create and voila!

This creates a solid version of your rocket and places it in a virtual wind tunnel. There are 3 refinement zones that are used to generate finer meshes as you get closer to the rocket. It also sets up a final refinement on the surface of the rocket.

The CFD components are set up for a standard static study at Mach 0.3. All parameters can be adjusted before you generate the meshes and run your simulation.

There are no built in reporting functions yet, but expect that to be added over time.

View attachment 671248

Subscribed.

 

[NTP2]

This is a bit of a teaser since it's not available yet, but it will be with the next release of the Rocket Workbench. It can all be done manually now.

Start by building your rocket, or importing it from OpenRocket. The example shown here is one of the OpenRocket sample files.

Select any part of the rocket and click the CFD button. The dialog allows you to set the rocket Angle of Attack (AOA), and the number of processors you're going to use when running your CFD simulation. Click create and voila!

This creates a solid version of your rocket and places it in a virtual wind tunnel. There are 3 refinement zones that are used to generate finer meshes as you get closer to the rocket. It also sets up a final refinement on the surface of the rocket.

The CFD components are set up for a standard static study at Mach 0.3. All parameters can be adjusted before you generate the meshes and run your simulation.

There are no built in reporting functions yet, but expect that to be added over time.

View attachment 671248

Can you grab multiple parts? I don’t know how useful just a body tube or nose would be?

 

[Buckeye]

First, you have my attention.

Second, is there a rough timeframe for release? No worries if not, just curious.

Are GPUs in any way relevant, or only CPU?

OpenFOAM in the workbench runs on cpus.

 

[grandcross]

First, you have my attention.

That was the intent

Second, is there a rough timeframe for release? No worries if not, just curious.

Nothing precise but more like a couple of weeks versus a couple of months. My SME had some improvement suggestions that I'm currently reviewing, and there are some non-CFD issues left to address

Are GPUs in any way relevant, or only CPU?

The actual CFD is performed by OpenFOAM. I don't believe it supports GPUs at the moment but I don't know for sure. Certainly the CfdOF Workbench does not. It does support MPI though so you can parallelize to as many machines as you have available.

Luckily my server is a 24 core/48 thread Threadripper, although I can run a basic sim on my 4 core/8 thread Ryzen 3 5300U laptop.

 

[grandcross]

Can you grab multiple parts? I don’t know how useful just a body tube or nose would be?

When you select a part it grabs the whole rocket. If you want just the part, create a copy and delete all the undesired pieces.

 

[NTP2]

When you select a part it grabs the whole rocket. If you want just the part, create a copy and delete all the undesired pieces.

Ok cool, because in the video it was just a tube.

 

[grandcross]

Ok cool, because in the video it was just a tube.

Yes, I can see how that would be misleading. I'll have some training videos on release to better explain the process

 

[SiboVG]

Wow, this will be extremely useful for us OpenRocket devs. We've been thinking of refining OR's calculation using CFD results, but haven't had the time or energy to learn CFD analysis.

 

[grandcross]

Wow, this will be extremely useful for us OpenRocket devs. We've been thinking of refining OR's calculation using CFD results, but haven't had the time or energy to learn CFD analysis.

It will certainly flatten the start of the learning curve, but it won't eliminate it. It should reduce the "scary" and intimidation factor.

My hope is it will encourage more people to try it. Given how much this is blowing up here and on Twitter I'm certainly optimistic!

 

[StanO]

I be watchin'

 

[grandcross]

If you want to play with this now, you can. Follow the directions shown here: https://github.com/davesrocketshop/Rocket/blob/master/TESTING.md

The branch you want to use is dev_4_0. There are other branches in various stages of development that you use at your own risk. I make no attempt to ensure they are stable. In particular, I'm working on some refinements that I hope to add before releasing but they don't yet work.

This dev branch requires features only available in v1.0 so you'll need to use either the latest release candidate, or a recent weekly development build. The latter comes with its own risks. If you don't know where to find them then this post is not for you.

I will be able to answer questions, but I will not be supporting beginners with this test. If you don't know how to install and configure CfdOF then you're on your own. Tutorials will come after release.

The short form tutorial: Select any rocket part, and it will select the whole rocket. Click on the CFD button and you're on your way. Currently it only supports rockets in the Rocket tree, so no random parts at this time. Importing an OR file creates a tree. Many OR features such as pods are not yet supported.

 

[SiboVG]

If you want to play with this now, you can. Follow the directions shown here: https://github.com/davesrocketshop/Rocket/blob/master/TESTING.md

The branch you want to use is dev_4_0. There are other branches in various stages of development that you use at your own risk. I make no attempt to ensure they are stable. In particular, I'm working on some refinements that I hope to add before releasing but they don't yet work.

This dev branch requires features only available in v1.0 so you'll need to use either the latest release candidate, or a recent weekly development build. The latter comes with its own risks. If you don't know where to find them then this post is not for you.

I will be able to answer questions, but I will not be supporting beginners with this test. If you don't know how to install and configure CfdOF then you're on your own. Tutorials will come after release.

The short form tutorial: Select any rocket part, and it will select the whole rocket. Click on the CFD button and you're on your way. Currently it only supports rockets in the Rocket tree, so no random parts at this time. Importing an OR file creates a tree. Many OR features such as pods are not yet supported.

Great, thanks a lot Dave!

 

[grandcross]

Rocket Workbench V4.0 for FreeCAD officially released. This includes the CFD workflow as well as a number of other features and bug fixes.

I'm working on some training videos now, and will let you know when they're available.

 

[justforfun]

Rocket Workbench V4.0 for FreeCAD officially released. This includes the CFD workflow as well as a number of other features and bug fixes.

I'm working on some training videos now, and will let you know when they're available.

Being new to Freecad, I'm having an issue with the workbench Rocket. Installing that workbench, try as I might, it does not show in the workbench drop down menu. What might I not be doing?

Hope this question is allowed in this thread.

Roy

 

[grandcross]

What version of FreeCAD are you using? The new version of the workbench requires FreeCAD V1.0, which as of now means v1.0.0RC2 to work. It shouldn't install in older versions but perhaps that mechanism isn't working as expected. If it does install but you don't have the required version it just won't show up, which is what you're seeing.

 

[justforfun]

What version of FreeCAD are you using? The new version of the workbench requires FreeCAD V1.0, which as of now means v1.0.0RC2 to work. It shouldn't install in older versions but perhaps that mechanism isn't working as expected. If it does install but you don't have the required version it just won't show up, which is what you're seeing.

Thanks

OS: Windows 10 build 19045
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.21.2.33771 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: releases/FreeCAD-0-21
Hash: b9bfa5c5507506e4515816414cd27f4851d00489
Python 3.8.10, Qt 5.15.2, Coin 4.0.1, Vtk 8.2.0, OCC 7.6.3
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
Installed mods: 
  * InventorLoader 1.4.0
  * package.xml
  * Rocket 4.0.1
  * sheetmetal 0.5.3

 

[justforfun]

With you pointing out that FreeCAD V1.0, which as of now means v1.0.0RC2. I searched, found and installed. Now as you showed me, rocket is now in the list.

Thanks you very much.

Roy

 

[grandcross]

Hmmm. This is a problem you shouldn't have had. I need to investigate.