Comparison between SU2 and Fluent
 

What is the main difference between Fluent and SU2 like computation time, solution methods and convergence criteria etc.

Hey darshangowda046,


as I know, SU2 is free of charge and opensource software.
It is not so well-known.
As I know SU2 is very usefull for compressibile highspeed flow.


Fluent is a commercail software, so you have to pay to use it, but can perfom every kind of simulation.


SU2 can be parallized on how many cores you want/have
Fluent can't be parallized so well (the number of CPs is related on the license).

1- As mentioned SU2- unlimited free license while Fluent u have to pay good amount based on features required.

2a- coming to Methods- Fluent has pressure based solver, coupled solver and density based solver. Pressure based solver (SIMPLE, SIMPLEC, PISO) for low speed flows, coupled solver can handle both low and high speed compressible flows and density based solver (Roe, AUSM) is recommended for high speed compressible flows.
Variety of Turbulence models, DES, LES, Multiphase flows, dynamic mesh etc.

2b- Coming to SU2, It is primarily designed for compressible flow applications with many convective numerical schemes, SA and SST turbulence model.
One of the key feature that sets SU2 apart is Adjoint solver for shape optimization.
There are many other MODULES exists/ under continuous development like CHT, FSI, DES, preconditioning and pressure based solver for low speed flows etc.

3- Coming to convergence, for a given reasonably good quality grid, Fluent is very fast and rapidly converges (few hundred to few thousand), depending upon the case.

SU2 is relatively younger and being continuously developed by enthusiastic community. New methods related to convergence enhancement are being continuously added.

4- Convergence criteria - For both, Residual drop+monitor the required quantities like forces and moments etc.

I hope this broadly answers some of the aspects.

Best
Amit