Butterfly is a Grasshopper/Dynamo plugin and Python library for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using OpenFOAM. It enables advanced airflow modeling for buildings and urban environments, supporting simulations of indoor ventilation, outdoor wind patterns, buoyancy-driven flows, and HVAC-induced air movement. By integrating with parametric design platforms, it allows users to quickly set up and run simulations, making airflow analysis more accessible for architects, engineers, and urban planners.
The tool helps visualize and analyze ventilation effectiveness, thermal comfort, and the impact of air movement on the built environment. Users can simulate wind-driven airflow inside buildings, predict outdoor wind patterns in urban settings, and evaluate stack effects in atria or chimneys. Additionally, it facilitates the spatial mapping of thermal comfort conditions, both indoors and outdoors.
Butterfly serves as a powerful resource for optimizing building and urban design by providing precise airflow simulations that improve environmental performance and occupant comfort.
