Professor:
P.G. Ledda, DICAAR, Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Hours: 20 hours
Dates: From Monday January 19th, 2026 (14:00) to Thursday January 22nd, 2026 (13:30).
Location: I_IB – Aula BA [Ingegneria e Architettura – Edificio I], Via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari Italy. Attendance is in person only.
Material: Participants must bring a personal laptop with an installed SSH client (e.g. MobaXterm or any equivalent software). The laptop will be used to access a workstation equipped with OpenFOAM for practical exercises.
Abstract
Computational Fluid Dynamics plays a central role in modern engineering by enabling the numerical simulation of fluid flows through the discretization of governing equations. Beyond specific fluid dynamics applications, this course aims to provide students with the theoretical and practical foundations necessary to understand, set up, and analyze engineering problems using the finite volume method. Participants will learn the use of the open-source software OpenFOAM®, from case configuration to advanced post-processing and technical reporting. The course combines lectures, guided exercises, and teamwork, culminating in a oral presentation and critical discussion of a scientific paper in the field of computational mechanics Upon completion, students will be able to independently configure, execute, and analyze simulations and effectively communicate results in a professional engineering context.
Extended description
The program covers the mathematical structure of partial differential equations (PDEs) and key numerical concepts such as consistency, stability, and numerical diffusion. Students will learn the meshing pipeline, and gain familiarity with different flow modeling approaches (DNS, RANS, and near-wall treatments). Through hands-on exercises, such as the classical lid-driven cavity and the flow around a circular cylinder, participants will develop practical skills in mesh and time-step independence studies, solver convergence monitoring, and quantitative data visualization with ParaView and gnuplot. Advanced sessions will address function objects, coupling with external solvers, and the numerical treatment of solid mechanics, multiphase flows, fluid–structure interactions, heat transfer and other problems at the frontiers of engineering.
The course will be structured as follows:
- January 19th, 2026 – (4 hours from 14:00 to 18:00)
Introduction to Partial Differential Equations and Classical Discretization Methods
- January 20th, 2026 – (4 hours from 9:00 to 13:00)
Introduction to OpenFOAM® and Basic Applications
- January 21st, 2026 – (7 hours from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00)
Fundamental Problems and Model Validation
Advanced Applications
- January 22nd, 2026 – (5 hours from 8:30 to 13:30)
Frontier Problems and Final Discussion
| Lecturer | Title | Module description |
| P.G. Ledda | Introduction to Partial Differential Equations and Classical Discretization Methods | Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) form the foundation of most physical and engineering models. This lecture will introduce the basic concepts of PDEs and classical discretization methods, including finite differences and Galerkin methods, with a 1D application to the classical advection–diffusion equation. The concept of convergence from discrete to analytical solutions will be presented. The lecture will then introduce the Finite Volume Method (FVM) with a 1D application and its generalization to multiple dimensions. Special attention will be given to parabolic (time-dependent) and convection-dominated problems, focusing on numerical stability and strategies to ensure robust solutions. |
| P.G. Ledda | Introduction to OpenFOAM® and Basic Applications | OpenFOAM® is an open-source CFD platform for simulating complex fluid dynamics (but not only!) problems. This lecture will provide an overview of OpenFOAM® solvers and the structure of a case directory. Students will install OpenFOAM® and work on the classic “lid-driven cavity” exercise, exploring basic post-processing with ParaView. Through mesh and parameter modification, participants will gain practical skills in simulation setup and interpretation. This lecture aims to build confidence in running simple CFD cases and understanding the role of mesh quality and boundary conditions in solution accuracy. |
| P.G. Ledda | Fundamental CFD Problems and Model Validation | This lecture will guide students through the creation of meshes using blockMesh and snappyHexMesh, as well as STL manipulation and integration with external solvers. The hands-on exercise focuses on the flow around a circular cylinder. Students will analyze mesh convergence, model validation, CFL conditions, and solver tolerances. Real-time monitoring tools, such as residuals and force plots (via gnuplot), will be introduced. Advanced post-processing in ParaView will allow for in-depth flow visualization and result interpretation. Additionally, topics of interest for the final group presentation on a scientific paper will be discussed. |
| P.G. Ledda | Advanced Applications | Building on the previous exercises, this lecture focuses on advanced CFD problems using OpenFOAM®. Students will generate a case starting from an STL geometry, employing tools like snappyHexMeshDict, surfaceFeatureExtract, and extrudeMesh. The lecture deepens the concept of function objects in OpenFOAM®, their general use, and specific applications for in-situ data processing and analysis. Further advanced post-processing techniques in ParaView will also be presented. |
| P.G. Ledda | Frontier Problems and Final Discussion | This final session will address frontier topics in OpenFOAM®, illustrating how applied engineering problems can be translated into scientific and numerical challenges. Areas of discussion include multiphase flows, solid mechanics, and fluid–structure interaction. The course will conclude with group presentations (3–4 students per team) on selected scientific papers, where participants will demonstrate their understanding of CFD modeling, simulation setup, and critical analysis of numerical results, thereby enriching the range of frontier problems discussed in this lecture. |
Contact
Pier Giuseppe Ledda, piergiuseppe.ledda@unica.it
Registration method
Send an e-mail to the professor before December 28th.
The course is free of charge, but participants will have to cover travel and accommodation costs at their own expense. When applying, students, scientists and professionals are asked to attach to the registration e-mail a short CV that includes a short motivation for participation. Admissions based on the CV are reserved for up to 35 participants. The certificate is issued for participants that attend more than 80% of the lectures and successfully pass the oral exam.