Kerf vs OpenFOAM

OpenFOAM solves the Navier-Stokes equations — Kerf wraps it so you describe the flow problem in plain language.

24/25in Kerf today

16/25in OpenFOAM (included)

0behind a paid tier

2026-05-24last reviewed

Grouped by discipline (D1–D14), same as Kerf's own capability list. Click a section to expand it.

D1 Geometry & core CAD 0 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenFOAM
CAD geometry modelling	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep`	no source ↗
Unified CAD + simulation project	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	no source ↗

D2 Structural / FEA 0 of 1 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenFOAM
Structural FEA (stress / displacement)	yes `packages/kerf-structural/`	no source ↗

D4 Thermal / fluid / HVAC 11 of 16 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenFOAM
CFD — incompressible flow	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — compressible flow	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — conjugate heat transfer	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — multiphase flow	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — combustion / reacting flow	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — turbulence models (RANS)	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — LES / DES / DNS	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/src/kerf_cfd/les/`	yes source ↗
CFD — mesh generation (snappyHexMesh)	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — Lagrangian particle tracking	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — dynamic mesh / FSI	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — parallel MPI execution	partial `packages/kerf-cfd/`	yes source ↗
CFD — post-processing (ParaView / VTK)	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/src/kerf_cfd/vtk_export.py, packages/kerf-cfd/src/kerf_cfd/vtk_tools.py`	yes source ↗
Psychrometrics (moist air)	yes `packages/kerf-hvac/`	no source ↗
Heat exchanger sizing (LMTD / Bell-Delaware)	yes `packages/kerf-hvac/src/kerf_hvac/sizing.py`	no source ↗
HVAC duct sizing (SMACNA)	yes `packages/kerf-hvac/`	no source ↗
Pipe network (Hardy-Cross)	yes `packages/kerf-hvac/`	no source ↗

D5 Aero / marine / space 3 of 3 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenFOAM
External aerodynamics (vehicle / airfoil)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/`	yes source ↗
Wind loading / wind engineering	yes `packages/kerf-structural/`	yes source ↗
Marine / offshore hydrodynamics	yes `packages/kerf-marine/`	yes source ↗

D7 Manufacturing / CAM 0 of 1 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenFOAM
Mold filling / injection simulation	yes `packages/kerf-manufacturing/src/kerf_manufacturing/moldflow`	partial source ↗

D14 Cost / materials / LCA 1 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	OpenFOAM
Open-source licensing	yes `LICENSE`	yes source ↗
Python scripting / automation API	yes `packages/kerf-sdk/`	partial source ↗

yes shipped
partial works with limits
paid tier present, but behind an add-on or meter
no not available

Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/openfoam.md and every claim in it carries a link.