shonDy | Meshless CFD

Particle-based fluid dynamics is a Lagrangian simulation approach that tracks the motion of individual particles instead of solving equations on a fixed mesh. Unlike conventional CFD methods based on the Finite Volume Method, this technique discretizes the fluid itself rather than the surrounding space. A well-known Lagrangian method is Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). shonDy builds on a similar concept but uses the Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method as its core, which includes an additional pressure-solving step and generally achieves higher accuracy. This enables robust handling of free-surface flows and interactions with moving solids.

Particle-based fluid dynamics offers several key advantages over traditional mesh-based methods. It naturally handles large deformations and complex free-surface flows without the need for remeshing. Splashes and interactions with moving solids are modeled more easily and accurately. Because particles follow the flow, regions with high fluid activity are automatically resolved in greater detail. The method is also computationally efficient: many industry-relevant cases can be simulated on a single workstation with 1–2 GPUs, making high-fidelity simulations accessible without large clusters. Overall, it enables highly dynamic fluid simulations that would be difficult or computationally expensive with conventional CFD.

Particle-based methods excel in simulations involving free-surface flows, splashing, sloshing, and fluid-structure interactions. They are widely used in multiphase flows, droplet dynamics, and processes such as pouring, mixing, or filling operations. The approach is particularly useful for engineering cases with moving or deformable solids, like automotive cooling systems, marine engineering, and industrial fluid handling. Thanks to their efficiency, many of these industry-relevant scenarios can be simulated on a single workstation with 1–2 GPUs.

Yes and no. The fluid domain in shonDy is completely meshless. However, solid geometries are defined using surface meshes. shonDy supports standard STL files as well as its own mesh format. Using a mesh-based definition for solids removes the need for additional solid particles, allowing all particles to be used to resolve the fluid with higher efficiency.

Yes. shonDy can simulate interactions between multiple solid bodies. It offers two main modes: mesh collision, where the exact geometry of each body is used for interaction, and a simplified mode where each body is represented by one or several primitives (boxes, cylinders, or spheres). The simplified mode greatly increases simulation speed. Both modes can also be combined within the same simulation.

The setup time depends heavily on the complexity of the case. shonDy is designed to ensure a smooth start:

• A user-friendly workflow with a gentle learning curve.
• A step-by-step manual guiding the first case setup.
• A built-in library of example cases, allowing new users to start from pre-configured, working setups.

Runtime depends on the use case and workstation. As an orientation: an industrial gearbox lubrication case takes about 12 hours on a state-of-the-art workstation (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, 62 GB RAM, AMD Ryzen 9 9900X).

Yes. Each product can be purchased individually. At the same time, they are designed to interact seamlessly — for example, shonMesh, shonDy, and shonTA can be combined into a single workflow.

We provide flexible models, depending on customer needs:

• Perpetual license: Includes the current version and one year of updates. The license remains valid afterwards, but without further updates.
• Time-limited license: Valid for a specific period, during which all updates are included.

After requesting a trial, one of our colleagues will confirm details such as:

• Full name
• Company or institution
• Job title
• Intended application
• Operating system
• Preferred license type (online or offline)

Once confirmed:

• Online license: You receive a license key and can start right away.
• Offline license: You install the product, generate an activation code, and we send you a file for offline use.

We also provide a short remote session to introduce the key features and guide you through your first steps. Our support team is available throughout the trial.

The standard trial lasts three weeks, but extensions can be arranged if needed.

Yes. Every purchase includes comprehensive training, tailored to your needs. Together with you, we define the scope and format — either online or on-site.