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Fluid Dynamics is the science concerned with studying the response of fluids (most liquids and gases) to forces exerted upon them. It is a branch of classical physics with applications of great importance in hydraulic and aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, and meteorology. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) involves the use of computational methods to solve mathematical equations to predict how fluids will flow, and what will be their quantitative effects on the solids they are in contact with. CFD complements experimental and theoretical fluid dynamics by allowing the cost effective and rapid simulation of physical fluid systems. Another advantage CFD provides is the ability to model physical fluid phenomena that cannot be easily simulated or measured with physical experiment.

CFD plays a fundamental role in the development of products as diverse as vacuum cleaners, racing cars, and aero-space systems. It is now the preferred means of testing alternative designs in many engineering companies before final, if any, experimental testing takes place. In the near future remote CFD computing, optimisation and design search via the Internet will be available. CFD is a field where existing tools have the maturity to support the kind of work envisaged, but which are by no means straightforward to use. Their effective deployment is therefore also a highly knowledge intensive area. The service we envisage would embed much of the knowledge available to us and would allow advanced design processes to be made available to a much wider user community than the large aerospace companies who can afford specialist personnel with high-level optimisation skills.

Knowledge Management

Last Updated: 21/2/05
School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ
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