Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD)

Theoretical fluid dynamics, experimental fluid dynamics, and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) are the three approaches for the study of problems in fluid dynamics. CFD as a flow simulation tool requires physical models described by the governing partial differential equations of fluid dynamics, appropriate accurate and stable numerical algorithms for the discretization of the governing equations on a mesh generated inside a chosen computational domain, and computer hardware for the solution of the discretized algebraic equations in the computational domain with appropriate boundary conditions. The discretized algebraic equations are coded to generate a computer code in a computer language (such as Fortran, Fortran 90, C, C++, Java, and Python). The computer code is debugged and validated by conducting benchmark simulations; this computer code is run on computer hardware to obtain the numerical solution of the flow field. In this context, CFD can be considered a multi-disciplinary field involving fluid dynamics, numerical mathematics, and computer science. CFD builds a bridge between the theoretical models and experiments since it is difficult to obtain the analytical solutions of the complex 3D fluid motions using the theoretical models, and it is costly to build the experimental apparatus and conduct experiments for a wide variety of flows of interest. As a result, CFD has become one of the most important technologies for conducting fluid dynamics research. Numerical simulations are also sometimes called “numerical experiments.” However, unlike experiments, CFD can often provide detailed three-dimensional flow field data to analyze, design, and optimize industrial products such as the aerodynamic systems described in this book.