Using CFD as a Replacement for Expensive Experiments in Education

In this paper, the authors analyzed the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in education. The teaching of fluid mechanics today is mostly based on the theoretical approach. Although, throughout history, it has been shown that the earliest knowledge of fluid mechanics was gained through practical experience and experiments. Apart from this advantage, laboratory exercises and experiments also have numerous disadvantages. Experiments require significant financial resources, equipment and device maintenance. Many complex and specific experiments are not easy to perform in laboratory conditions. This leads to repeating the same experiments over generations. Student safety is also an important factor. During certain experiments, an increase in pressure or temperature may occur, leading to the risk of explosion or fire. Here we consider the possibility of replacing laboratory exercises by using CFD software. Computational fluid dynamics is gaining more and more importance as an alternative to classical laboratory exercises. This technology enables reliable virtual simulation of various fluid phenomena. The application of CFD in education would allow students to experiment with different parameters and scenarios without exposure to hazards, with more accurate and deeper data analysis. The paper also compares CFD software. Software is generally classified into two groups: open source and commercial software. Two open source software are presented in detail: OpenFOAM and SimFlow. On the example of airfoil NACA 0012, in both software, the simulation results were analyzed.