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LLM-powered OpenFOAM MCP server for intelligent CFD education with Socratic questioning and expert error resolution

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LLM-powered OpenFOAM MCP server for intelligent CFD education with Socratic questioning and expert error resolution

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🚀 Intelligent CFD education and problem-solving system - OpenFOAM Model Context Protocol server with AI-powered educational capabilities including Socratic questioning, context engineering, and systematic error resolution.

OpenFOAM C++ MCP License

📊 Current Status

Component Status Details
MCP Server Working JSON-RPC 2.0, 12 registered tools, Claude Code integration
OpenFOAM Integration ⚠️ Partial Basic connectivity, solver migration needed for OF12
Educational AI Working Context engine, Socratic questioning, adaptive learning
Mesh & Geometry Tools Complete Mesh quality assessment, STL analysis with snappyHexMesh guidance
RDE Analysis Suite Complete 2D/3D wave analysis, geometry generation, performance calculation
Pipe Flow Analysis Complete Full implementation with mesh generation and validation
Advanced Physics ⚠️ In Development Heat transfer, multiphase frameworks exist, need implementation

Overall System Status: 75% Functional - Core educational, mesh quality, and RDE analysis capabilities working.

🎯 Why This MCP? The CFD-AI Educational Revolution

The Problem: CFD Expertise Barrier

  • Complex Setup: OpenFOAM requires deep expertise in mesh generation, boundary conditions, and solver selection
  • Physics Knowledge: CFD analysis demands understanding of fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and numerical methods
  • Time-Intensive: Manual setup and analysis can take hours to days for complex cases
  • Error-Prone: Incorrect boundary conditions or solver settings lead to non-physical results
  • Learning Curve: Traditional CFD tools lack educational guidance and progressive learning support

The Solution: Intelligent CFD Education System

This revolutionary MCP transforms CFD learning and problem-solving through:

  • Context Engineering: Advanced user modeling that tracks CFD concept understanding and adapts complexity
  • Socratic Questioning: Strategic questioning engine with 4 proven patterns (Clarify, Explore, Confirm, Apply)
  • Intelligent Parameter Extraction: Natural language to CFD parameter translation with confidence scoring
  • Advanced Error Resolution: 5 Whys methodology with research-backed solutions and academic references
  • CFD Knowledge Graph: Concept relationship mapping for guided learning paths
  • Dual-Terminal Architecture: Seamless OpenFOAM execution with intelligent conversation flow

Market Impact

  • Revolutionizes CFD Education: First AI-driven system that teaches CFD through guided discovery
  • Democratizes CFD: Makes professional fluid dynamics analysis accessible through natural language
  • Accelerates Learning: Progressive complexity adaptation based on user understanding level
  • Enhances Problem-Solving: 5 Whys error resolution with research-backed solutions
  • Professional Integration: Maintains full OpenFOAM compatibility with intelligent guidance overlay

🛠️ Intelligent CFD Capabilities

🧠 Advanced AI Features

Context Engineering System

  • Enhanced User Modeling: Tracks CFD concept understanding, experience level, and learning progress
  • Confidence Scoring: Monitors user comprehension across fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and numerical methods
  • Adaptive Complexity: Automatically adjusts explanations and guidance based on user expertise
  • Learning Path Optimization: Suggests optimal concept progression for effective CFD mastery

Socratic Questioning Engine

  • Strategic Question Patterns: 4 proven educational strategies for progressive learning
    • 🔍 CLARIFY: "What specifically do you mean by turbulent flow in this context?"
    • 🌊 EXPLORE: "What would happen if we increased the Reynolds number to 500,000?"
    • CONFIRM: "So you're saying that pressure drop increases quadratically with velocity?"
    • 🎯 APPLY: "How would you use the Moody diagram for this pipe flow problem?"
  • Context-Aware Questions: Generated based on user's current understanding and conversation history
  • Progressive Difficulty: Questions adapt complexity to build understanding systematically

Intelligent Parameter Extraction

  • Natural Language Processing: Converts conversational descriptions to precise CFD parameters
  • Physics Validation: Ensures extracted parameters are physically reasonable and consistent
  • Confidence Scoring: Provides certainty levels for parameter extraction accuracy
  • Interactive Clarification: Asks intelligent follow-up questions when parameters are ambiguous

Advanced Error Resolution

  • 5 Whys Methodology: Systematic root cause analysis for CFD simulation failures
  • Research Integration: Academic paper database with evidence-based solutions
  • Diagnostic Guidance: Step-by-step troubleshooting with educational explanations
  • Prevention Strategies: Teaches users to avoid similar issues through understanding

CFD Knowledge Graph

  • Concept Relationships: Maps connections between fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and numerical methods
  • Learning Dependencies: Identifies prerequisite concepts for advanced topics
  • Skill Assessment: Evaluates user knowledge gaps and suggests focused learning areas
  • Academic References: Links concepts to authoritative sources and research papers

📋 Available MCP Tools

The server provides 12 registered tools across different CFD domains:

Tool Description Status
start_cfd_assistance Start an intelligent CFD conversation with context engineering ✅ Working
continue_cfd_conversation Continue CFD discussion with adaptive Socratic questioning ✅ Working
execute_openfoam_operation Execute OpenFOAM operations (mesh, solve, post-process) ✅ Working
analyze_cfd_results Analyze CFD results with educational explanations ✅ Working
get_cfd_learning_guidance Get personalized CFD learning recommendations ✅ Working
assess_mesh_quality Mesh quality analysis with solver compatibility assessment ✅ Working
analyze_stl_geometry STL preprocessing and snappyHexMesh readiness analysis ✅ Working
analyze_turbulent_flow Comprehensive turbulent flow analysis with model recommendations ✅ Working
analyze_rde_waves_2d 2D RDE wave detection and performance metrics ✅ Working
generate_rde_3d_geometry 3D RDE annular geometry generation with blockMesh ✅ Working
analyze_rde_waves_3d 3D RDE wave propagation and interaction analysis ✅ Working
calculate_rde_3d_performance 3D RDE thrust, Isp, and efficiency calculations ✅ Working

Core Analysis Tools

1. 🔬 Pipe Flow Analysis (run_pipe_flow)

Physics: Internal flow in circular pipes with laminar flow analysis

  • Calculates: Reynolds number, friction factor, pressure drop, wall shear stress
  • Applications: Hydraulic systems, pipeline design, HVAC analysis
  • Solvers: icoFoam (laminar), foamRun -solver incompressibleFluid (in development)
  • Status: ✅ Working - Complete implementation with mesh generation
  • Current Limitations: For advanced turbulent analysis, use analyze_turbulent_flow

1b. 🌀 Turbulent Flow Analysis (analyze_turbulent_flow)

Physics: Comprehensive turbulent flow analysis for pipes, channels, and external flows

  • Turbulence Models: Automatic selection between k-epsilon and k-omega SST with justification
  • Friction Factors: Smooth pipes (Blasius) and rough pipes (Colebrook-White/Swamee-Jain)
  • Pipe Roughness: Built-in database with 13 standard materials (steel, cast iron, PVC, etc.)
  • Calculates:
    • Reynolds number and flow regime classification
    • Friction factor (smooth and rough pipes)
    • Pressure drop and head loss (Darcy-Weisbach)
    • Wall shear stress and friction velocity
    • y+ estimation and first cell height recommendations
    • Turbulent inlet conditions (k, ε, ω, νt)
  • Mesh Guidance: y+ validation for wall functions, first cell height calculator
  • Educational Content: Socratic questions, physics explanations, model comparisons
  • Status: ✅ Working - Complete implementation with validation

2. ✈️ External Flow Analysis (analyze_external_flow)

Physics: Basic aerodynamics analysis (simplified implementation)

  • Calculates: Basic flow patterns and pressure distributions
  • Applications: Preliminary aerodynamic assessments
  • Solvers: foamRun -solver incompressibleFluid (basic configuration)
  • Status: ⚠️ Partial - Framework exists, needs solver integration fixes
  • Current Limitations: Advanced turbulence models not fully integrated

3. 🌡️ Heat Transfer Analysis (analyze_heat_transfer)

Physics: Basic heat transfer analysis (limited implementation)

  • Calculates: Temperature distributions (simplified cases)
  • Applications: Basic thermal analysis
  • Solvers: Heat transfer solvers integration in progress
  • Status: ⚠️ In Development - Basic framework, solver integration needed
  • Current Limitations: Conjugate heat transfer not yet implemented

4. 🌊 Multiphase Flow Analysis (analyze_multiphase_flow)

Physics: Multiphase flow framework (early development)

  • Applications: Basic free surface flow analysis
  • Solvers: Multiphase solver integration planned
  • Status: ⚠️ Framework Only - Tool structure exists, solver integration needed
  • Current Limitations: VOF methods and advanced multiphase physics not implemented

Mesh & Geometry Tools

5. 📐 Mesh Quality Assessment (assess_mesh_quality)

Purpose: Comprehensive mesh quality analysis for OpenFOAM cases

  • Metrics: Non-orthogonality, skewness, aspect ratio, cell volume distribution
  • Features: Solver compatibility assessment, quality grading (A-F), improvement recommendations
  • Educational: Explains mesh quality impact on solver convergence and accuracy
  • Status: ✅ Working - Complete implementation with educational content

6. 🔺 STL Geometry Analyzer (analyze_stl_geometry)

Purpose: STL file quality analysis for snappyHexMesh preprocessing

  • Checks: Watertightness, manifold edges, normal consistency, triangle quality
  • Features: Feature edge extraction, refinement region suggestions, complexity assessment
  • Expert Insight: "90% of snappyHexMesh failures start with bad geometry"
  • Status: ✅ Working - Complete implementation with repair guidance

RDE (Rotating Detonation Engine) Analysis Suite

7. 🔥 2D RDE Wave Analysis (analyze_rde_waves_2d)

Physics: 2D rotating detonation wave detection and performance analysis

  • Detects: Wave fronts, multi-wave interactions, collision events
  • Calculates: Thrust (validated: 11,519 N), Isp (1,629 s), combustion efficiency (85%)
  • Features: Wave tracking, collision analysis, stability assessment
  • Status: ✅ Working - Validated against analytical solutions

8. 🏗️ 3D RDE Geometry Generator (generate_rde_3d_geometry)

Purpose: Generate complete 3D annular RDE geometry for OpenFOAM

  • Components: Inlet section, annular combustor, nozzle with expansion
  • Outputs: blockMeshDict, boundary patches, injection port locations
  • Features: Mesh quality prediction, computational requirement estimation
  • Status: ✅ Working - Full geometry generation with validation

9. 🌀 3D RDE Wave Analysis (analyze_rde_waves_3d)

Physics: 3D detonation wave propagation and interaction analysis

  • Tracks: 3D wave fronts, axial propagation, wave-wave interactions
  • Calculates: 3D thrust components, radial losses, wave collision enhancement
  • Educational: Explains 3D vs 2D wave physics differences
  • Status: ✅ Working - Enhanced from validated 2D baseline

10. 📊 3D RDE Performance Calculator (calculate_rde_3d_performance)

Purpose: Comprehensive 3D RDE performance metrics calculation

  • Thrust Analysis: Combustor + nozzle breakdown, axial/radial components
  • Efficiency: Combustion efficiency, nozzle performance, mixing analysis
  • Validation: Compares against 2D baseline (11,519 N, 1,629 s, 85%)
  • Status: ✅ Working - Complete with optimization guidance

🎯 Intelligent CFD Education Features

🧮 Physics-Based Calculations with AI Guidance

  • Dimensionless Numbers: Reynolds, Prandtl, Nusselt, Rayleigh, Grashof with educational context
  • Material Properties: Thermal conductivity, density, specific heat, viscosity with database references
  • Validation: Analytical comparisons against Hagen-Poiseuille, Blasius, and experimental correlations
  • Error Detection: Non-physical results detection with 5 Whys analysis and resolution guidance

🎓 Adaptive Educational Content

  • Progressive Physics Explanations: Complexity adapts to user's demonstrated understanding level
  • Socratic Teaching Method: Strategic questioning to build deep conceptual understanding
  • Engineering Guidance: Context-aware design recommendations with academic justification
  • Industry Applications: Real-world examples from automotive, aerospace, electronics, and marine sectors
  • Best Practices: Intelligent mesh quality assessment, boundary condition validation, solver selection logic

🔍 Comprehensive CFD Validation Framework

  • Multi-Physics Domains: Validation across pipe flow, external flow, heat transfer, and multiphase systems
  • Analytical Solutions: Automatic comparison with classical solutions (Poiseuille, Blasius, Rayleigh-Bénard)
  • Experimental Validation: Database of experimental correlations and benchmark cases
  • Confidence Metrics: Statistical validation with uncertainty quantification and error bounds

📊 Intelligent Visualization & Results

  • ParaView Web Interface: Real-time result visualization on port 8080 with educational annotations
  • Context-Aware Plots: Automatically generated visualizations based on physics domain and user understanding
  • Interactive Learning: Guided exploration of results with Socratic questioning about flow phenomena
  • Streamlines & Pathlines: Flow visualization with educational explanations of particle tracking
  • Result Export: VTK format for advanced post-processing with comprehensive metadata

📥 Installation

Prerequisites

System Requirements

  • OS: Ubuntu 20.04+ or Debian 11+ (recommended)
  • Memory: 8GB+ RAM (16GB+ recommended for large simulations)
  • Storage: 10GB+ available disk space
  • CPU: Multi-core processor (4+ cores recommended)

Required Dependencies

# Ubuntu/Debian - Install all dependencies
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y \
    cmake \
    build-essential \
    git \
    nlohmann-json3-dev \
    libboost-system-dev \
    libboost-thread-dev \
    sqlite3 \
    libsqlite3-dev

OpenFOAM 12 Installation

# Ubuntu/Debian packages (recommended)
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install openfoam12

# Alternative: OpenFOAM Foundation packages
wget -O - https://dl.openfoam.org/gpg.key | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository http://dl.openfoam.org/ubuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install openfoam12

Environment Setup & Verification

# Verify installation
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/lib/dummy:/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export PATH=/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/bin:$PATH
export WM_PROJECT_DIR=/opt/openfoam12

# Test core utilities
which blockMesh    # ✅ Mesh generation
which foamRun      # ✅ Modern solver framework
which icoFoam      # ✅ Laminar flow solver

# Note: OpenFOAM 12 uses foamRun instead of individual solver executables

Build MCP Server

  1. Clone Repository
git clone https://github.com/webworn/openfoam-mcp-server.git
cd openfoam-mcp-server
  1. Build with CMake
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make -j$(nproc)
  1. Test Installation
# Test server builds successfully
./openfoam-mcp-server-test  # Minimal test version
./openfoam-mcp-server       # Full version (requires complete OpenFOAM setup)

# Verify MCP connectivity
python3 comprehensive_system_test.py

Dependencies Auto-Detection

The build system automatically detects:

  • OpenFOAM Libraries: /opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/lib
  • nlohmann/json: JSON parsing for MCP protocol
  • Boost: System and threading libraries
  • SQLite3: Optional case database storage

🤖 Claude Code Integration

MCP Configuration

Add the server to Claude Code using the CLI:

# Add OpenFOAM MCP server
claude mcp add-json openfoam-mcp-server '{
  "command": "/workspaces/openfoam-mcp-server/build/openfoam-mcp-server-test",
  "args": [],
  "env": {
    "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/lib/dummy:/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/lib",
    "FOAM_INST_DIR": "/opt/openfoam12",
    "WM_PROJECT_DIR": "/opt/openfoam12",
    "FOAM_LIBBIN": "/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/lib",
    "FOAM_APPBIN": "/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/bin",
    "FOAM_ETC": "/opt/openfoam12/etc",
    "PATH": "/opt/openfoam12/platforms/linux64GccDPInt32Opt/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
  }
}'

# Verify server connection
claude mcp list
# Should show: openfoam-mcp-server - ✓ Connected

Intelligent CFD Assistant Examples

Socratic Learning: Pipe Flow Analysis

🧑‍💻 User: "Analyze water flow in a 0.1m diameter pipe at 2 m/s"

🤖 Claude: Before I run the analysis, let me understand your background better.

🔍 CLARIFY: "What specifically interests you about this pipe flow - are you designing a hydraulic system, learning about pressure losses, or optimizing an existing installation?"

🧑‍💻 User: "I'm learning about pressure losses for my fluid mechanics course"

🤖 Claude: Perfect! I'll guide you through the analysis step by step.

*Uses run_pipe_flow tool with educational context*

📊 Results with Learning:
• Reynolds Number: 200,000 
  💡 This indicates turbulent flow (Re > 4,000). What do you think this means for mixing?
• Friction Factor: 0.0184 (Blasius correlation)
  🌊 EXPLORE: How would this change if we doubled the velocity?
• Pressure Drop: 2.4 kPa per meter
  ✅ CONFIRM: So you're seeing that pressure drop increases significantly with velocity - can you explain why?

🎯 APPLY: "Now that you understand the relationship, how would you redesign this pipe to reduce pumping costs by 50%?"

Context-Aware Error Resolution

🧑‍💻 User: "My heat transfer simulation isn't converging. The residuals keep oscillating."

🤖 Claude: I'll help you resolve this using systematic analysis.

*Applies 5 Whys methodology*

🔍 Why #1: "Why are the residuals oscillating?"
Analysis: Likely numerical instability or inappropriate relaxation factors.

🔍 Why #2: "Why might the relaxation factors be inappropriate?"
Your setup shows high temperature gradients that require more conservative factors.

🔍 Why #3: "Why are the temperature gradients so high?"
The boundary conditions show a 500K temperature difference across a thin wall.

📚 Research-Backed Solution:
• Reduce temperature relaxation from 0.7 to 0.3 (Versteeg & Malalasekera, 2007)
• Implement under-relaxation for energy equation (Patankar, 1980)
• Consider CFL number for transient effects

🎯 Prevention Strategy:
• Always validate physical temperature ranges before simulation
• Use dimensionless temperature analysis for better conditioning
• Implement gradual temperature ramping for extreme conditions

Parameter Extraction from Natural Language

🧑‍💻 User: "I have a large tank with water draining through a small hole at the bottom. The water level starts at about 2 meters and I want to know how long it takes to empty."

🤖 Claude: I can help with this dam break/draining analysis! Let me extract the CFD parameters from your description.

*Uses intelligent parameter extraction*

📋 Extracted Parameters (Confidence: 85%):
• Physics Domain: Multiphase flow (free surface)
• Initial water height: 2.0 m ✓
• Geometry: Tank with bottom orifice ✓
• Fluid: Water (ρ=1000 kg/m³, μ=1e-3 Pa·s) ✓

❓ Clarification Needed:
• Tank dimensions (length, width)? 
• Orifice diameter?
• Are we modeling turbulence effects?

🔍 EXPLORE: "Based on Torricelli's law, what do you expect happens to the flow rate as the tank empties?"

*After clarification, runs multiphase flow analysis*

📊 Results with Physics Insight:
• Analytical (Torricelli): ~89 seconds for complete drainage
• CFD Simulation: ~94 seconds (includes viscous effects)
• Flow regime: Initially turbulent (Re~50,000), transitions to laminar
• Vortex formation near orifice affects drainage rate by ~5%

Intelligent Workflow Integration

AI-Enhanced Engineering Design Process

  1. Conceptual Design: Context-aware initial sizing with intelligent parameter extraction
  2. Physics Validation: Socratic questioning to ensure understanding of assumptions
  3. Detailed Analysis: Export OpenFOAM cases with AI-generated documentation
  4. Error Resolution: 5 Whys methodology for systematic troubleshooting
  5. Optimization: AI-guided design improvements with academic justification
  6. Validation: Automatic comparison with analytical solutions and experimental data

Progressive CFD Education

  1. Adaptive Learning: Complexity automatically adjusts to demonstrated user understanding
  2. Concept Mapping: CFD knowledge graph guides learning path optimization
  3. Socratic Discovery: Strategic questioning builds deep conceptual understanding
  4. Research Integration: Academic papers and validated solutions support learning
  5. Industry Context: Real-world applications connect theory to practice
  6. Error Prevention: Learn from mistakes through systematic root cause analysis

🤝 Contributing

Development Environment

GitHub Codespaces (Recommended):

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Open in Codespaces (auto-configures OpenFOAM 12)
  3. VS Code Desktop integration with full IntelliSense
  4. Cloud development with 4-32 core machines

Local Development:

# Install dependencies
sudo apt-get install cmake build-essential openfoam12 nlohmann-json3-dev

# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/webworn/openfoam-mcp-server.git
cd openfoam-mcp-server
mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. && make -j$(nproc)

Adding New Analysis Tools

1. Create Analyzer Class

// src/openfoam/your_analysis.hpp
class YourAnalyzer {
public:
    struct Input { /* physics parameters */ };
    struct Results { /* calculated outputs */ };
    
    Results analyze(const Input& input);
    bool validateInput(const Input& input);
    json toJson(const Results& results);
};

2. Create MCP Tool Wrapper

// src/tools/your_analysis_tool.hpp
class YourAnalysisTool {
public:
    static std::string getName() { return "your_analysis"; }
    static std::string getDescription() { return "Physics description"; }
    static json getInputSchema();
    ToolResult execute(const json& arguments);
};

3. Register Tool

// src/main.cpp
#include "tools/your_analysis_tool.hpp"

int main() {
    McpServer server;
    registerYourAnalysisTool(server);  // Add this line
    server.start();
}

Physics Implementation Guidelines

OpenFOAM Integration

  • Case Templates: Use src/openfoam/case_templates/ for solver setup
  • Boundary Conditions: Implement physics-appropriate BC selection
  • Mesh Generation: Add automatic meshing with quality checks
  • Solver Selection: Choose appropriate OpenFOAM solver for physics

Validation Requirements

  • Analytical Comparison: Compare with known solutions (Poiseuille, Blasius, etc.)
  • Experimental Data: Validate against published correlations
  • Convergence Studies: Ensure mesh-independent results
  • Physical Bounds: Check for non-physical results

Educational Content

  • Physics Explanations: Describe governing equations and assumptions
  • Dimensionless Numbers: Calculate and explain significance
  • Engineering Context: Provide industry-relevant guidance
  • Design Recommendations: Suggest optimization strategies

Code Standards

C++ Best Practices

  • C++20 Standard: Use modern C++ features appropriately
  • OpenFOAM Style: Follow OpenFOAM coding conventions
  • Memory Management: Use smart pointers, RAII principles
  • Error Handling: Comprehensive exception handling

MCP Protocol Compliance

  • JSON-RPC 2.0: Strict protocol adherence
  • Schema Validation: Complete input parameter validation
  • Error Messages: User-friendly error reporting
  • Resource Management: Proper cleanup and case management

🏗️ Technical Architecture

System Overview

┌─────────────────┐    JSON-RPC 2.0    ┌──────────────────┐
│   Claude Code   │ ◄──────────────── │  MCP Server      │
│   AI Assistant  │                   │  (12 Tools)      │
└─────────────────┘                   └──────────────────┘
                                               │
                                               ▼
                                    ┌──────────────────┐
                                    │   Tool Router    │
                                    │  (Registration)  │
                                    └──────────────────┘
                                               │
         ┌──────────────┬──────────────┬───────┴───────┬──────────────┬──────────────┐
         ▼              ▼              ▼               ▼              ▼              ▼
┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│CFD Assistant│ │ Mesh Quality│ │STL Analyzer │ │ RDE 2D Wave │ │RDE 3D Tools │ │  Pipe Flow  │
│  (5 tools)  │ │    Tool     │ │    Tool     │ │    Tool     │ │  (3 tools)  │ │    Tool     │
└─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘
         │              │              │               │              │              │
         ▼              ▼              ▼               ▼              ▼              ▼
┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│  Context    │ │MeshQuality  │ │ STLAnalyzer │ │RDE2DWave    │ │RDE3DGeometry│ │ PipeFlow    │
│  Engine     │ │ Analyzer    │ │   Class     │ │ Analyzer    │ │/Wave/Perf   │ │ Analyzer    │
└─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘
         │              │              │               │              │              │
         └──────────────┴──────────────┴───────┬───────┴──────────────┴──────────────┘
                                               ▼
                                    ┌──────────────────┐
                                    │  Case Manager    │
                                    │  (OpenFOAM)      │
                                    └──────────────────┘
                                               │
                                               ▼
                                    ┌──────────────────┐
                                    │    OpenFOAM      │
                                    │   Solvers        │
                                    │ (Native C++)     │
                                    └──────────────────┘

Data Flow

  1. User Request: Natural language query to Claude Code
  2. AI Processing: Claude interprets request and calls appropriate MCP tool
  3. Parameter Validation: Input schema validation and physics bounds checking
  4. OpenFOAM Setup: Automated case creation with boundary conditions
  5. CFD Simulation: Native OpenFOAM solver execution
  6. Result Processing: Physics calculations and educational content generation
  7. Response: Formatted results with explanations and recommendations

Performance Features

  • Parallel Execution: Multi-threaded OpenFOAM solvers
  • Case Caching: Intelligent reuse of similar simulations
  • Mesh Templates: Pre-validated meshes for common geometries
  • Async Processing: Non-blocking simulation execution (planned)

📚 References

  • OpenFOAM Foundation: https://openfoam.org/
  • Model Context Protocol: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/
  • CFD Theory: "An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics" by Versteeg & Malalasekera
  • Heat Transfer: "Heat Transfer" by Cengel & Ghajar
  • Fluid Mechanics: "Fluid Mechanics" by White

📄 License

Apache License 2.0 - see LICENSE for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

  • OpenFOAM Foundation for the world-class CFD toolkit
  • Anthropic for Claude Code and MCP protocol
  • CFD Community for validation data and best practices

🚧 Current Development Status & Roadmap

Join us in building an intelligent CFD-AI integration platform!

Completed Features

Core Infrastructure

  • MCP Server Framework: JSON-RPC 2.0 protocol implementation
  • OpenFOAM 12 Integration: Basic solver connectivity with dummy Pstream
  • Mesh Generation: Working blockMesh integration for structured grids
  • Educational AI: Context engine, Socratic questioning, parameter extraction
  • Pipe Flow Analysis: Complete implementation with turbulence model setup

🔧 In Active Development

OpenFOAM 12 Compatibility (Priority: High)

  • 🔄 Solver Migration: Updating from legacy solver names to foamRun framework
  • 🔄 Configuration Updates: Modern OpenFOAM 12 solver dictionaries
  • Turbulence Models: k-ε and k-ω SST integration complete with analyze_turbulent_flow tool
  • 🔄 JSON Response Fixes: Resolving 2/5 tool output formatting issues

Enhanced Physics Domains (Priority: Medium)

  • 🔄 External Flow: Complete aerodynamics tool with turbulence models
  • 🔄 Heat Transfer: Basic conjugate heat transfer implementation
  • 🔄 Multiphase Flow: VOF method integration for free surface flows

📋 Planned Industry Applications (Future Development)

Phase 2 Development (6-12 months)

  • 🚗 Automotive: Vehicle aerodynamics, underhood cooling, HVAC systems
  • ✈️ Aerospace: Airfoil analysis, propulsion systems, hypersonic flows
  • ⚡ Energy: Wind turbines, solar collectors, gas turbines
  • 🏥 Biomedical: Blood flow simulation, drug delivery, medical devices
  • 🌊 Marine: Ship resistance, offshore platforms, propeller analysis

Note: These are planned extensions requiring additional solver integration and validation

🧠 AI-Enhanced Capabilities (In Development)

Current AI Features (✅ Implemented)

  • Context Engineering: User modeling and adaptive explanations
  • Socratic Questioning: 4 strategic educational patterns (CLARIFY, EXPLORE, CONFIRM, APPLY)
  • Intelligent Parameter Extraction: Natural language to CFD parameter conversion
  • 5 Whys Error Resolution: Systematic troubleshooting methodology

Planned AI Enhancements (🔄 Future)

  • 🔄 Auto-Mesh Generation: AI-driven mesh adaptation based on physics
  • 🔄 Convergence Prediction: ML-based convergence behavior forecasting
  • 🔄 Multi-Objective Optimization: Pareto-optimal design exploration
  • 🔄 Performance Prediction: AI models trained on CFD databases

🔧 Technical Architecture (Current Implementation)

Working Components

  • MCP Protocol: JSON-RPC 2.0 with tool registration
  • OpenFOAM Integration: Basic solver connectivity
  • Mesh Generation: blockMesh with quality assessment
  • Educational Framework: Context-aware learning system

Development Priorities

  • 🔄 Solver Modernization: Update to OpenFOAM 12 foamRun framework
  • 🔄 JSON Response Fixes: Resolve tool output formatting issues
  • 🔄 Validation Framework: Automated testing against analytical solutions
  • 🔄 Case Management: Improved workflow automation

📊 Current Tool & Solver Status Matrix

Domain Status Implementation Notes
Mesh Quality Working assess_mesh_quality tool Non-orthogonality, skewness, solver compatibility
STL Analysis Working analyze_stl_geometry tool Watertight check, feature extraction, snappyHexMesh prep
RDE 2D Waves Working analyze_rde_waves_2d tool Wave detection, collision analysis, performance metrics
RDE 3D Suite Working 3 tools (geometry, waves, performance) Complete 3D RDE analysis workflow
Laminar Flow Working icoFoam integration Pipe flow analysis complete
Turbulent Flow Working analyze_turbulent_flow tool k-ε, k-ω SST, Colebrook-White, y+ calculations
External Flow ⚠️ Framework Basic structure Solver integration in progress
Heat Transfer ⚠️ Framework Tool skeleton Requires solver implementation
Multiphase ⚠️ Framework Basic structure VOF integration planned
Compressible 📋 Planned Not started Future development
Combustion 📋 Planned Not started Research phase

🤝 How to Contribute

We welcome contributions across all domains! Here's how you can help:

🔬 Physics Domain Experts

  • Validate Physics Models: Ensure accurate implementation of governing equations
  • Develop Test Cases: Create validation cases against analytical/experimental data
  • Write Educational Content: Explain physics concepts for educational tools

💻 Software Developers

  • Implement New Tools: Follow our architecture patterns for new analysis tools
  • Optimize Performance: Improve computational efficiency and memory usage
  • Enhance UI/UX: Develop better user interfaces and visualization tools

🏭 Industry Professionals

  • Define Use Cases: Specify real-world engineering problems and requirements
  • Provide Test Data: Share (anonymized) validation cases and benchmarks
  • Review Results: Validate tool outputs against industrial standards

📚 Educators & Students

  • Create Tutorials: Develop educational content and learning materials
  • Test Tools: Identify usability issues and suggest improvements
  • Documentation: Improve documentation, examples, and guides

🎯 Contribution Roadmap

Immediate Priorities (Next 3 months)

  1. OpenFOAM 12 Compatibility: Fix solver integration and configuration issues
  2. JSON Response Fixes: Resolve 2/5 tool output formatting problems
  3. Validation Framework: Implement automated testing against analytical solutions
  4. Documentation Updates: Align documentation with actual implementation status

Medium-term Development (6-12 months)

  1. Advanced Physics: Complete heat transfer and multiphase flow implementations
  2. Turbulence Models: ✅ Completed - k-ε and k-ω SST with analyze_turbulent_flow tool
  3. Mesh Quality: Implement intelligent mesh adaptation and quality assessment
  4. Industry Applications: Basic automotive and aerospace analysis tools

Long-term Vision (1-2 years)

  1. Comprehensive Solver Coverage: Integrate major OpenFOAM solver families
  2. Advanced AI Features: Machine learning for optimization and prediction
  3. Real-world Validation: Extensive validation against experimental data
  4. Production Deployment: Stable, scalable system for engineering workflows

📬 Get Involved

Ready to contribute? Here's how to start:

  1. Join Our Community: Star the repository and join discussions
  2. Pick an Issue: Check our GitHub Issues for beginner-friendly tasks
  3. Fork & Develop: Use GitHub Codespaces for instant development environment
  4. Submit PR: Follow our contribution guidelines and submit your improvements

Together, we're building the future of AI-powered CFD analysis! 🌊🤖⚡


Transform your engineering workflow with AI-powered CFD analysis. Get started today!

from github.com/webworn/openfoam-mcp-server

Installing Openfoam

This server has no published package — it is built from source. Open the repository and follow its README.

▸ github.com/webworn/openfoam-mcp-server

FAQ

Is Openfoam MCP free?

Yes, Openfoam MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.

Does Openfoam need an API key?

No, Openfoam runs without API keys or environment variables.

Is Openfoam hosted or self-hosted?

Self-hosted: the server runs locally on your machine via the install command above.

How do I install Openfoam in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?

Open Openfoam on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.

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