Particleworks 8.1: Mesh-Free CFD Software for Multiphysics Simulation

Particleworks 8.1 is the latest version of the advanced particle-based CFD software from Prometech, specializing in Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) technology. This release introduces enhanced multiphysics capabilities, multi-resolution refinement, and significant GPU acceleration for complex fluid behavior analysis .

Key New Features in Particleworks 8.1

Improved Air Solver with Two-Phase Flow

Particleworks 8.1 introduces a new two-way coupled two-phase flow model (MPS-MPS) that enables more realistic simulation of gas-liquid interactions . Key enhancements include:

• Two-Phase Flow Model: Simulates gas-liquid flows using only MPS particles, crucial for scenarios like gearbox lubrication where air influences oil behavior .

• Pressure-Explicit Algorithm: Enhanced accuracy for analyses with significant density differences, ideal for production line cleaning, oil injection, and high-speed rotating bodies like EV motors .

• Space Fill Tool: Simplifies gas phase initialization by directly filling closed volumes with particles, eliminating filling planes for faster setup .

FVM Thermal Solver Integration

The Finite Volume Method (FVM) solver receives major upgrades:

• Thermal Solver Addition: Computes temperature fields in air volumes, enabling heat transfer analysis between air and particles, and assessment of wall temperature influences .

• Simultaneous Heat Transfer Analysis: Supports concurrent analysis between FVM grid (gas), CHT grid (solid), and MPS particles (liquid) .

• Enhanced Stability: Improved solver speed and stability for more reliable simulations .

Multi-Resolution Capabilities

Efficiency and accuracy improvements through variable resolution:

• Local Refinement: Refine particle size in specific regions while maintaining coarse resolution elsewhere, balancing accuracy with computational cost .

• Custom Grid Interval: Define varying grid intervals for different elements, achieving significant memory savings—demonstrating tenfold reduction compared to uniform grids .

• High-Resolution Region Types: Define refined zones using Box Region (rectangular) or File Region (STL-defined custom shapes) .

Enhanced Mapping and Analysis Tools

Deeper insights through improved data analysis:

• Wetting Time & Film Thickness: Map accumulated wetting time and oil film thickness for applications like dishwasher cleaning performance, fluid property comparisons, and gearbox lubricant verification .

• Enhanced Mapping Features: New outputs, default value settings, and statistics.csv files containing average HTC, total map area, wetted area, and average wetting time .

• CHT Grid Improvements: Support for different-sized grids per body during heat transfer analysis, enabling higher resolution for complex shapes .

Multi-Physics and GPU Acceleration

Rigid Body Motion
Simulate 6-DOF rigid body motion for polygons influenced by forces from MPS particles, supporting DEM particles, FVM, and LBM for objects like flap gates and tanks .

Granuleworks 3.1 Integration

• Non-Spherical Particles: Analyze anisotropic behavior of powders more realistically .

• Excluded Volume Effect Model: Accurate fluid displacement representation in high granule volume fraction scenarios .

• Coarse Grain Model: Scale up powder particle sizes for feasible simulations .

GPU Computing
Leverage GPU acceleration for faster simulations, with multi-GPU support for larger, more complex models and improved analysis speed through Light Weight Mode in Aeration .

Enhanced Co-Simulation

• RecurDyn Integration: Multi-GPU support for co-simulation with RecurDyn models containing FFlex bodies, enabling faster flexibility analysis .

• CFD-DEM Interaction: Enhanced simulation of interactions between fluids and particles with new features and models .

Aeration Improvements

• Multi-GPU Support: Expanded support for multi-GPU analysis in Aeration .

• Light Weight Mode: Improved analysis speed for more efficient processing