"ANSWER Express" CFD Package by ACRi - Any Comments? 1

[jhardy1]

I have been looking at buying the $80 "ANSWER Express" CFD package by ACRi.

http://www.acricfd.com/software/answerexpress/

At the moment, I am "playing" with the 30-day free download of the full product (which I gather is not exactly the same in functionality as the $80 Express version). It certainly seems to be pretty user-friendly for the sort of problems I have in mind.

My interests are pretty basic - a bit of self-education in CFD, with an emphasis on predicting wind loads and pressures on buildings and the like.

Does anyone have any experience with this product (good or bad)? Any issues I should be aware of before committing to a purchase? Are there any comparable or better "budget" CFD packages I should consider?

Thanks for any help.

 

[mereaux]

Hi JulianHardy,

I would like to know if you are satisfied of this software now?
Is it easy to use? What can this software simulate, I see the wwebsite but I dont understand ?

Thank you for you answer!

 

[jhardy1]

Well, I went ahead and bought the $80 Express version. Yes, for $80, I am pretty happy.

The Express version has a 10,000 node limit, which means you can do reasonable 2D models of basic problems (e.g. 100 x 100 grid, 50 x 200, or similar), but it limits you to very simple 3D models (eg 25 x 20 x 20 grid).

It can simulate single phase laminar and turbulent flows - no free surfaces, limited capability of doing reacting flows (if you know what that means.)

Its built in grid generator works fine for basic rectangular and prismatic grids and the like. The "Wizard" can help you set up simple models pretty quickly - eg modelling a prismatic blockage in a wind tunnel, and the like.

Supposedly, it can also work with non-structured grids. I have been able to get some unstructured grids to load and apparently run OK, but I can't get the graphic output to show on screen. (No such problems if I run a problem using the built-in "Wizard" and automatic grid generator.) I don't know if this is just me, or a problem with the software.

The Express version doesn't come with any user support (which I guess is understandable), and when I politely asked for some basic guidance on this problem, I was equally politely reminded of this fact by the software developers, so I guess I am on my own, unless there are any other users of the Express version out there who would like to set up a user's support group? (The web site doesn't have any user forums.)

All in all, it's probably a pretty good way to get access to some basic CFD capability, either for university studies or personal interest and self-development. I don't know of any alternatives that are as easy to use for a comparable price. However, you would need a package with a significantly bigger node limit, and better capability to read in 2D and 3D CAD models and the like, in order to undertake real-world analysis and design.

Hope this helps.

 

[jhardy1]

Another low-cost option I have come across is Fluids5, available from here:

http://www.raczynski.com/pn/fluids.htm

For US$50, you get access to a basic package which can handle some reasonably-sized 2D & 3D problems, can build reasonably complex models with its own "3D duct editor", or can import from STL CAD models, etc. The program is essentially a 3D transient package, but it can also be used for 2D problems, and can also be used to attempt to find steady-state solutions as well.

While it is certainly no Fluent, it is an affordable entry-point if you want to dabble in CFD.