BRACKNELL, UK, Jul 1, 2023 – OpenCFD is pleased to announce the June 2023 release of OpenFOAM v2306. This release extends OpenFOAM-v2212 features across many areas of the code. The new functionality represents development sponsored by OpenCFD’s customers, internally funded developments, and integration of features and changes from the OpenFOAM community.

OpenFOAM is distributed by OpenCFD under the GPL License. In addition to source code packages suitable for compilation on a variety of Linux and other POSIX systems, this release also has a number of pre-compiled binary packages

• Ubuntu Linux: packaged installation for Ubuntu 22.04 (LTS), 20.04 (LTS), 18.04 (LTS), 22.10
• openSUSE Linux: packaged installation for Leap15.4, Leap15.3
• Redhat Linux variants: packaged installation for CentOS/Rocky 8, 7 and Fedora 37, 36, 35, …

Windows users have three options for pre-compiled packages (more information):

• Using Windows Subsystem for Linux (based on Ubuntu, openSUSE etc.)
• Native executables with cross-compiled
• A docker installation

OpenFOAM apptainer support is provided via description files rather than pre-assembled images

• See packaging/containers

Mac OSX users have the option to compile from source, or use Docker containers for pre-compiled packages (more information).

Upgrading

• Help for users is provided in the user upgrade guide
• Help for developers is provided in the developer upgrade guide
• Note that the minimum C++ standard will increase from C++11 to C++17 in 2023

Pre-processing

• snappyHexMesh: avoiding excess balancing more…
• Improved checkMesh more…

Numerics

• New cache-gradient mechanism in finiteArea more…
• New parallel preconditioners more…
• Community contribution: New FPCG linear solver more…
• Improved handling of tensor inversion more…
• Community contribution: Improved (faster) mesh cell/point calculations more…

Solvers and physical models

• Improved vanDriest LES delta model more…
• New Lagrangian particle force: Coulomb more…
• Community contribution: New fvOption: fanMomentumSource more…
• New fvOption: limitTurbulenceViscosity more…
• Improved rigid-body motion constraint: axis more…

Boundary conditions

• New boundary condition: specularRadiation more…
• New uniformMixed condition more…
• New finite area boundary conditions more…

Post-processing

• Improved Lagrangian function objects more…
• Improved function objects: forces and forceCoeffs more…

Parallel

• Improved parProfiling function object more…
• Scotch – support for multi-level decomposition more…
• Non-blocking linear solver more…
• Improved masterCoarsest processor agglomeration more…
• General changes in parallel (MPI) handling more…

Usability

• New documentation system more…
• Changes to expressions more…

About OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM is the free, open source CFD software released and developed primarily by OpenCFD Ltd since 2004. It has a large user base across most areas of engineering and science, from both commercial and academic organizations. OpenFOAM has an extensive range of features to solve anything from complex fluid flows involving chemical reactions, turbulence and heat transfer, to acoustics, solid mechanics and electromagnetics. For more information, visit https://www.openfoam.com.