Simulating Falling Objects: MATLAB vs. Fluent vs. Openfoam - A Guide

[scarllatti]

Hello
I was doing some research about falling objects and we did many experiments in it. Now I was wondering how can I simulate it . First I did some MATLAB programming with some simplified equations but now I wanted to make something more realistic and like this : http://www.geocities.com/joeyhuang2001/java.html
with Fluent or Openfoam because I know that they designed to handle Navier-Stokes and all those equations pretty well and I have access to both of them. I want to simulate a falling disk that is falling because of gravity and I want to show drag and lift forces that air acts on that disk and by doing this I want to get a visual tumbles and flutters of that disk.I think it should be very easy for someone with experience in these softwares so I will be very very grateful if you can help me with that. Tell me which software will be the easiest and tell me about first steps that I should take.
Thanks a lot

 

[Valkarie]

!The best software for simulating a falling disk is likely OpenFOAM. It has capabilities for modeling turbulent flow and also allows for the inclusion of gravity in the simulations. You can use the Discrete Element Method in OpenFOAM to model the disk, which will give you a more realistic representation than the MATLAB programming that you used before. To get started with OpenFOAM, you will first need to set up a computational domain and boundary conditions. You will need to define the size and shape of the domain, as well as the location of your disk. You will also need to define the air properties and the gravitational force. Once you have set all of these parameters, you can start running the simulation. Once the simulation has completed, you can then view the results, which will include the drag and lift forces acting on the disk. You can also visualize the tumbles and flutters of the disk by plotting the results over time.Good luck with your project!

 

[oswaler]

I would recommend using Fluent or Openfoam for simulating falling objects rather than MATLAB. While MATLAB is a powerful tool for simplifying equations, it may not be able to handle the complex Navier-Stokes equations that are needed for more realistic simulations. Fluent and Openfoam are specifically designed for fluid dynamics simulations and are well-equipped to handle the equations and boundary conditions needed for simulating falling objects.

In terms of which software to choose, both Fluent and Openfoam have their own strengths and it ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Fluent is a commercial software with a user-friendly interface and a large user community, making it easier to find support and resources. Openfoam, on the other hand, is an open-source software with a steeper learning curve but allows for more customization and control over the simulation.

To get started with simulating a falling disk, you will need to first define the geometry and set up the boundary conditions in the software. This will involve specifying the properties of the disk (such as size, shape, and material) as well as the fluid properties (such as density and viscosity). You will also need to set up the gravity and any other external forces acting on the disk.

Next, you will need to define the equations and models to be used in the simulation. This will include selecting the appropriate Navier-Stokes equations, turbulence models, and any other relevant physics. Depending on the software, there may be built-in models or you may need to define your own.

Once everything is set up, you can run the simulation and observe the results. You can then analyze the data to get a better understanding of the forces acting on the falling disk, such as drag and lift forces, and visualize the motion of the disk.

Overall, it is important to have a good understanding of both the physics and the software in order to successfully simulate falling objects. I hope this guide has been helpful and I wish you success in your simulation.