Sunday, October 25, 2026 4,350 lists 78,100 records on file
List your app or device
MOBILE US PRESSTECH, ON THE RECORD.
AppsAIDevicesGalaxyChipsCompareStories Every list
  1. Home
  2. Physics Simulation Software
  3. FEST-3D
On the recordRead 5 Oct 202631 facts

FEST-3D

FEST-3D · Chennai, India

Visit fest3d.github.io Alternatives

What it is

FEST-3D is a free, open-source Fortran 90 finite-volume solver for aerodynamic Navier–Stokes problems on structured grids. Its modular, multiblock design handles incompressible and compressible flows, including inviscid, laminar, transitional, and turbulent cases. Users can select from multiple flux schemes, higher-order reconstruction methods, time-integration options, turbulence models, and transition models. MPI distributes computation across processors on one or more machines. The source is available from GitHub; tutorials are kept in a separate repository included as a source-code submodule. Verification examples cover ramp and smooth-bump flows, a lid-driven cavity, flat plates, and a transonic RAE-2822 airfoil. The installation script supports Ubuntu/Debian, CentOS, and macOS, with manual instructions for Linux. Building requires a Fortran compiler, an MPI library, CMake, and Make. Grid generation and post-processing are separate tasks: the solver writes VTK or Tecplot output for use with tools such as VisIt, ParaView, or Tecplot. The project notes that its halt/stop condition does not work with MPI.

For and against

For

  • Free and open source under GNU GPL version 3.0.
  • Handles compressible and incompressible flow problems.
  • MPI distributes computation across processors.
  • Includes verification tutorials for several flow cases.
  • Outputs VTK or Tecplot files for visualization.

Against

  • Grid generation must be handled separately.
  • Post-processing is outside the solver.
  • The halt/stop condition does not work with MPI.
  • Building requires a Fortran compiler and MPI library.

The verdict

FEST-3D offers a broad set of aerodynamic flow models and numerical options in a free, modular solver. Users need separate grid-generation and visualization tools, and the MPI halt/stop limitation is documented.

Who it suits

FEST-3D suits users working on aerodynamic flow simulations who can build and configure scientific software. Its tutorials also provide verification cases for learning and checking solver workflows.

Plans and prices

Free and open source

Free

GNU General Public License v3.0

Read 5 Oct 2026 · fest3d.github.io

Every plan, in full

On the record

Assessment tools
Nofest3d.github.io · read 24 Sep 2026
Authoring tools
Yesfest3d.github.io · read 24 Sep 2026
Data export
Yesfest3d.github.io · read 24 Sep 2026
Delivery mode
desktopfest3d.github.io · read 24 Sep 2026
Dependencies
The documented dependencies include a Fortran compiler, an MPI library, CMake, Make and Python NumPy.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Downloads
The solver source is available from GitHub, while tutorials are in a separate repository included as a submodule.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Flow models
The documentation lists SA, SST, SST2003 and k-kL turbulence models, plus Gamma LCTM2015 and SA-BC transition models.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Flow types
The solver handles incompressible or compressible, and inviscid, laminar, transitional, or turbulent flow problems on structured grids.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Grid generation
Grid generation is separate from the solver and must be handled independently; the documentation suggests writing a grid-generation program or using software such as Pointwise for complicated geometries.fest3d.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
Grid generation limit
Grid generation is handled separately from the solver; the documentation suggests writing grid-generation code or using Pointwise for complicated geometries.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Installation platforms
The installation script supports Ubuntu/Debian, CentOS, and macOS; manual installation instructions are provided for Linux platforms.fest3d.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
Intended audience
The team describes FEST-3D as an aerodynamic flow solver and provides tutorials for cases including a wedge, smooth bump, lid-driven cavity, flat plates and an airfoil.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Intended users
The project describes its team as students from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Madras, and its tutorials are provided for learning and verification.fest3d.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
Known issue
The project notes that the halt/stop condition does not work with MPI.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Lesson library
Yesfest3d.github.io · read 24 Sep 2026
Notable limitations
The homepage reports that the halt/stop condition does not work on MPI and turbulent simulations cannot run on Windows Subsystem for Linux because of outdated OS and libraries.fest3d.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
Numerical methods
Available options include AUSM-family and SLAU flux schemes, MUSCL, PPM and WENO spatial reconstruction, and explicit and implicit time integration.fest3d.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
Numerical schemes
It offers multiple inviscid flux, higher-order face reconstruction, time-integration, turbulence, and transition model options.fest3d.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026

Alternatives to FEST-3D

SimFlowWebWindows+2Open Source PhysicsAndroidiPhone & iPad+4OpenFOAMWindowsMac+2OpenSimWindowsMac+2XcosWindowsMac+1COMSOL MultiphysicsWebWindows+4ngspiceWindowsMac+2FeenoXWebLinux+2

Every alternative, ranked