Foam-Agent: A Large Language Model-Based Multi-Agent Framework for Automating Computational Fluid Dynamics Workflows
On the map: LLM agents and tool use → Web, search, and research agents
Abstract (arXiv)
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been the main workhorse of computational physics, yet its steep learning curve and fragmented, multi-stage workflow create significant barriers to entry. We present Foam-Agent, a multi-agent framework that leverages large language models (LLMs) to automate the end-to-end CFD workflow in OpenFOAM from a single natural-language prompt. Foam-Agent rests on three methodological contributions. First, a multi-index retrieval scheme organizes domain knowledge along four complementary structural dimensions and selects indices by workflow stage, sharpening retrieval precision over conventional single-index retrieval-augmented generation. Second, dependency-aware file generation is formulated as a topological traversal of the OpenFOAM case dependency graph, so that each configuration file is synthesized in the context of its already-generated predecessors, enforcing cross-file consistency. Third, a trajectory-conditioned reviewer loop iteratively repairs failed runs by conditioning each correction on the accumulated error-and-diagnosis trajectory of its own previous attempts, applying a minimal configuration edit that targets a reduced solver-error set. Around these contributions, six specialist agents span planning, meshing, file writing, execution, review, and visualization; Foam-Agent additionally exposes its capabilities through the Model Context Protocol as a deployment surface for external orchestrators. On FoamBench, Foam-Agent achieves an 88.2% execution success rate on the 110 Basic-tier tasks and 62.5% on the out-of-distribution Advanced tier, all without expert intervention. These results show how strategic harnessing of specialized multi-agent systems can reduce expertise barriers while preserving the rigor of solver-based simulation workflows.
Key facts. Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Web, search, and research agents, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 12 of its 49 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 8 May 2025.
Builds on
12 of 49 references.
References · 12
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Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2025: 3; 2026: 6.
9 papers.
- 2025From AI for Science to Agentic Science: A Survey on Autonomous Scientific Discoverycited by 74
- 2025ChatCFD: An LLM-Driven Agent for End-to-End CFD Automation with Structured Knowledge and Reasoningcited by 9
- 2026MOOSEnger: A Simulation-Aware AI Agent Framework for the MOOSE Ecosystemcited by 2
- 2026FlowEvo: Self-Evolving Agents through the Co-Evolution of Workflows and Executable Skillscited by 1
- 2025SOCIA-Nabla: Textual Gradient Meets Multi-Agent Orchestration for Automated Simulator Generationcited by 0
- 2026Large language models for partial differential equation workflowscited by 0
- 2026ECAS: An Edge-Controlled Agentic System for Validation-Gated Scientific Application Executioncited by 0
- 2026ASCEND: Personal AI Agents for Autonomous Scientific Computing Across HPC Clusters and GPU Workstationscited by 0
- 2026GPUPhysBench: Benchmarking Coding Agents for Correct and Efficient GPU Physics Simulationcited by 0
- 2026GPUPhysBench: Benchmarking Coding Agents for Correct and Efficient GPU Physics Simulation28 Sep 2026
- 2026ASCEND: Personal AI Agents for Autonomous Scientific Computing Across HPC Clusters and GPU Workstations26 Sep 2026
- 2026ECAS: An Edge-Controlled Agentic System for Validation-Gated Scientific Application Execution13 Sep 2026
- 2026Large language models for partial differential equation workflows4 Aug 2026
- 2026FlowEvo: Self-Evolving Agents through the Co-Evolution of Workflows and Executable Skills18 Apr 2026
- 2026MOOSEnger: A Simulation-Aware AI Agent Framework for the MOOSE Ecosystem5 Mar 2026
- 2025SOCIA-Nabla: Textual Gradient Meets Multi-Agent Orchestration for Automated Simulator Generation21 Oct 2025
- 2025From AI for Science to Agentic Science: A Survey on Autonomous Scientific Discovery18 Aug 2025
- 2025ChatCFD: An LLM-Driven Agent for End-to-End CFD Automation with Structured Knowledge and Reasoning28 May 2025
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2025Fine-tuning a Large Language Model for Automating Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations
- 2025Foam-Agent 2.0: An End-to-End Composable Multi-Agent Framework for Automating CFD Simulation in OpenFOAM
- 2025CFD-copilot: leveraging domain-adapted large language model and model context protocol to enhance simulation automation
- 2026AutoFOAM: The Self-Refining Autonomous OpenFOAM Agent
- 2026AI CFD Scientist: Toward Open-Ended Computational Fluid Dynamics Discovery with Physics-Aware AI Agents
- 2025MetaOpenFOAM 2.0: Large Language Model Driven Chain of Thought for Automating CFD Simulation and Post-Processing
- 2025OptMetaOpenFOAM: Large Language Model Driven Chain of Thought for Sensitivity Analysis and Parameter Optimization based on CFD
- 2025A Status Quo Investigation of Large Language Models towards Cost-Effective CFD Automation with OpenFOAMGPT: ChatGPT vs. Qwen vs. Deepseek