Simulate rotating machinery. Understand every step.
How can we model a rotating machine without physically rotating its mesh?
This practical course introduces the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) approach through the OpenFOAM MRF Turbomachinery Starter. You will follow a complete workflow—from preparing the environment to examining the flow field and questioning the numerical results.
The emphasis is on understanding the engineering choices behind the simulation.
What you will learn
- Explain the purpose and limitations of the MRF approach.
- Navigate an OpenFOAM case and identify its main settings.
- Understand the rotating region, rotation axis, and boundary conditions.
- Inspect mesh quality before running the solver.
- Assess convergence using residuals, conservation, and monitored quantities.
- Visualize pressure and velocity fields in ParaView.
- Document assumptions, numerical checks, and remaining limitations.
Who this course is for
Engineering students, early-career CFD practitioners, and engineers seeking a practical introduction to rotating-flow simulations with OpenFOAM.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of fluid mechanics, pressure, velocity, and boundary conditions. Some familiarity with terminal commands is helpful. Previous turbomachinery simulation experience is not required.
What you need
- A computer capable of running the supplied case.
- The OpenFOAM distribution and version specified in the starter’s installation guide.
- A compatible Linux environment, or the documented Windows/WSL setup.
- ParaView for post-processing.
- The course starter files.
How to follow the course
Work through the lessons in order. Run each step, inspect its output, and answer the checkpoint before continuing. Keep your logs and screenshots so you can explain and reproduce your work.
Your final deliverable
A short simulation report containing the case definition, modelling assumptions, mesh checks, convergence evidence, selected flow visualizations, and an interpretation of the results.
Downloads and resources
Use the starter release linked below so your files match the course instructions. Record the release version and OpenFOAM version in your report.
Course syllabus
0 of 7 lessons completed
- Understanding MRF: Rotating Physics on a Stationary Mesh
- Preparing Your OpenFOAM Environment
- Reading the Case: Files, Boundary Conditions, and MRF Settings
- Checking the Mesh Before Trusting the Solver
- Running the Simulation and Assessing Convergence
- Visualizing Pressure and Velocity in ParaView
- From Flow Fields to Engineering Conclusions