FLOW-3D HYDRO 2025R1 is an advanced three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software designed specifically for the civil and environmental engineering industries. Built on the industry-leading FLOW-3D solver engine, it equips engineers and water management professionals with powerful tools to tackle complex 21st-century challenges in water resource management and protection. Below is an overview of its core features and updates:

Key Features and Updates

  1. New Discrete Element Method (DEM) Model
    FLOW-3D HYDRO 2025R1 introduces a fully coupled Discrete Element Method (DEM) model, enhancing the core CFD solver. Unlike traditional Lagrangian particle models, the DEM model simulates particle-particle interactions, including collisions and friction, significantly improving the analysis of granular material behavior.

    • Applications: Ideal for hydraulic and environmental engineering scenarios involving rocks or riprap, such as natural riverbeds, channels, and protective structures (e.g., revetments). The DEM model enables detailed analysis of rock stability under various flow conditions, supporting the design of riverbank and structural protection systems to reduce risks and costs.
    • Additional Uses: Suitable for modeling gravel separation systems, stormwater separation devices, and tracking granular pollutants in complex flow conditions.
  2. High-Performance Computing (HPC) Support
    The new version supports high-performance computing platforms, significantly accelerating simulation speeds. Compared to standard workstations, HPC platforms can deliver up to 9x faster simulations, streamlining product development and process optimization.
  3. Hydraulic Engineering Applications
    FLOW-3D HYDRO 2025R1 excels in CFD applications for dams and spillways, rivers and environmental systems, water treatment, and transportation infrastructure, enabling optimized flow efficiency in intakes and spillways and enhancing engineering design precision.
  4. User Interface and Workflow Improvements
    • Offers a unified interface with preloaded simulation templates to simplify the setup of complex models.
    • Supports automation and optimization workflows through FLOW-3D (x) nodes, facilitating model validation, parameter studies, and process optimization with minimal manual intervention.
  5. Other Technical Enhancements
    • Result File Format: Adopts the EXODUS II format, improving post-processing speeds by an average of 5x. It supports finite element meshes and is compatible with other post-processing tools for enhanced visualization and analysis.
    • Terrain Support: Integrates GeoTIFF and LandXML formats for direct import of high-resolution terrain and bathymetry data, improving model setup efficiency.
    • Turbulence Model Improvements: Enhances dynamic mixing length calculations, applicable to a wider range of flow scenarios, reducing the need for manual adjustments.

Application Areas

FLOW-3D HYDRO 2025R1 is widely applicable in the following domains:

  • Dams and Spillways: Optimizes flow efficiency and assesses structural stability.
  • Rivers and Environmental Systems: Analyzes riverbank protection and granular pollutant behavior.
  • Water Treatment: Simulates gravel separation, stormwater diversion, and related processes.
  • Transportation Infrastructure: Enhances design reliability for complex flow conditions.