Symscape

SymLab

Our free SymLab download provides a unified simulation environment for Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) that is easy to learn and fun to use.

SymLab In Action

Use this free package to share 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation results for interactive viewing. SymLab supports multiple simulations, multiple 3D views of a simulation, and up to 4 camera angles of a view.

Expand SymLab's capabilities by purchasing affordable subscriptions to SymLab add-ons (described below). All the SymLab add-ons seamlessly interact within the same unified simulation environment.

See our SymLab Product Comparisons for a detailed breakout of each add-on.

SymLab Professional

For a complete concept design analysis system, consider our Professional add-on, which combines all our add-ons at a discounted price.

SymLab Panel Flow

Simulate 3D airflow over racing cars or evaluate the aerodynamic performance of airplane wings and airfoils with respect to their lift and form drag forces using our Panel Flow add-on. This add-on uses a panel method that assumes inviscid flow to rapidly solve surface-based potential-flow equations. Panel methods are ideal for analyzing subsonic fluid flow (e.g., air, water) over streamlined shapes such as cars, airplanes and submarines.

Airflow Simulation

Our seamless integration of advanced 3D visualization techniques within SymLab such as streamlines, vectors, iso-surfaces and contours makes it easy to extract and share stunning fluid-flow images. 2D XY plotting is also an integral part of the Panel Flow add-on making it easy to compare results with other SymLab simulations or with imported results such as those from wind tunnel experiments.

SymLab Builder

Create your own geometry or modify existing designs using our 3D solid modeling, NURBS-based Builder add-on. Using advanced Boolean operations such as unite, subtract and intersect, rapid geometry construction is easy.

SymLab Transient

Simulate time-dependent flow with geometry motion using our Transient add-on. Then review your transient flow results in real-time using familiar multimedia-like controls.

SymLab Exchange

Import and export geometry in standard IGES (.igs), STEP (.stp) and faceted file formats using our Exchange add-on. Combine imported geometry with geometry created using our Builder add-on.

SymLab Viz Export

Create stunning photo-realistic images using lights and shadows for fun or marketing with our Viz Export add-on that exports POV-Ray (.pov) and Renderman (.rib) file formats. Also share 3D views in standard Alias/Wavefront (.obj) and VRML (.wrl) file formats with other visualization systems.

View Exported to POV-Ray

Free Trials

Our software is available to download and install directly from this website. We offer straightforward free 30-day trials and affordable subscriptions for SymLab add-ons.

Automated Payment

Our automated, secure payment system uses:

As soon as your payment clears you will receive an email with your product activation key. Simply enter the activation code in SymLab to unlock and use your new SymLab add-on.

Most people are intuitively aware that the fluid flow of both gases and liquids is inherently transient (unsteady) by nature. As an example, just ponder the movement of leaves on a tree in a breeze or the flow of water from a tap. Less intuitive is that even a relatively steady flow in a wind tunnel has transient velocities that vary at scales and frequencies that our human senses are unable to discern. Such variations are known as turbulence. The treatment of turbulence in the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations lies at the heart of most practical Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approaches.

Abstract accepted for: Fourth OpenFOAM Workshop, June 1-4 2009, Montreal, Canada

SymLab: An Interactive Simulation Environment for OpenFOAM

Richard Smith, Symscape

SymLab is a CAE system designed to support CFD and other forms of analysis. The latest addition to the SymLab modular architecture is the RANS Flow add-on [not yet released], which provides an interactive environment for a selection of RANS OpenFOAM solvers.

Transient air flow simulation over an idealized horizontal-axis rotating wind turbine, created using our Professional add-on.

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis tools, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), have become an integral part of product design for many industries. The early adopters (and initial developers) of such tools were the aerospace and automotive industries. These industries were quick to notice the promise of CAE analysis tools to reduce the need for expensive physical modeling and prototypes. And where the aerospace and automotive industries led, many others have followed.

We have updated our Windows patch for OpenFOAM to match the latest OpenFOAM release (v1.5.x). Be warned - to build OpenFOAM for Windows with a cross compiler requires expert knowledge of Linux utilities and compilers.

Introduction

This screencast shows an entire simulation performed using our SymLab Professional add-on; starting with geometry creation, motion specification, and physics definition, and finishing with transient 3D pressure coefficient contours on the wing surface. Using our intuitive drag-and-drop tools you'll see how simple and easy it is to simulate air flow within our SymLab unified simulation environment.

To many observers the rivalry between wind tunnels and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a zero-sum game - as CFD matures it simply replaces wind tunnels. However, this is far from the truth. Often you'll find wind tunnels and CFD used together in a symbiotic process where one technique fills in knowledge gaps left by the other.

Image create by SymLab and its Professional add-on, demonstrating internal fluid flow simulation, texture mapping (branding) and transparency.

All Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis software, including SymLab, proceeds from geometry creation or import through physics specification to results analysis. This general process is reflected in the 3 major categories in the SymLab Tool Palette. Each phase has a specific role to play in an analysis, as outlined in this article. The simulation process description that follows assumes you are using SymLab Professional (Pro).