DHI FEFLOW 2026 V11: Finite Element Subsurface Flow & Transport Simulation

FEFLOW 2026 (Version 11) is DHI’s industry-leading finite element software for simulating groundwater flow, mass transfer, and heat transfer in porous and fractured media. Released in January 2026, this milestone version introduces native geological modeling workflows, eliminating reliance on third-party applications for conceptual model construction .

Key New Features in FEFLOW 11

Geological Modeling & Mesh Generation

  • Structural Model Editor: Build mesh-ready 3D geological models directly from borehole and structural data, including stratigraphic layering, fault planes, and geological contacts

  • New Layered-Mesh Generator: Simplified creation of computational meshes from geological interpretations

  • Interactive Geometry Tools: Fuse-Delete and Split-Layer tools for handling complex layer pinch-outs and vertical resolution adjustments

  • 3D Slice/Layer Configurator: Enhanced control over model layering

Geothermal System Design

  • Open-Loop System Editor: Flexible design and simulation of open-loop geothermal systems

  • New Well-Group Creation Workflow: Interactive assignment and management of well groups

  • Enhanced Geothermal Reporting: Dedicated charts and reporting tools for geothermal results

Performance & Automation

  • Up to 50% Faster Simulations: Significant performance gains for complex models

  • Python Scripting Panel: Expanded Python API for automation, including geometric tools and FEFLOW interpolators

  • Enhanced Cross-Sectional Views: Improved visualization and analysis tools

Core Capabilities

Simulation Physics

  • Flow: Saturated and unsaturated groundwater flow, variable density flow, free-surface problems

  • Transport: Mass transport with advection, dispersion, sorption, decay, and multi-species reactions

  • Heat Transport: Thermal energy transfer, geothermal applications, coupled fluid-solid heat exchange

Numerical Methods

  • Finite Element: Galerkin finite element method with control-volume formulations

  • Unstructured Meshes: Support for triangular, quadrilateral, tetrahedral, and hexahedral elements

  • Advanced Solvers: SAMG solver for efficient handling of large models

Coupling & Integration

  • MIKE Integration: Coupling with MIKE 11 for surface water-groundwater interaction

  • FePEST: Parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis tools

  • piChem: PHREEQC integration for complex geochemical reactions

  • 3D GeoModeller: Data import from geological modeling platforms