TABLE OF CONTENTS Computational Fluid Dynamics, known today as CFD, is defined as the set of methodologies that enable the computer to provide us with a numerical simulation of fluid flows.
We use the word 'simulation' to indicate that we use the computer to solve numerically the laws that govern the movement of fluids, in or around a material system, where its geometry is also modeled on the computer. Hence, the whole system is transformed into a 'virtual' environment or virtual product. This can be opposed to an experimental investigation, characterized by a material model or prototype of the system, such as an aircraft or car model in a wind tunnel, or when measuring the flow properties in a prototype of an engine.
This terminology is also referring to the fact that we can visualize the whole system and its behavior, through computer visualization tools, with amazing levels of realism, as you certainly have experienced through the powerful computer games and/or movie animations, that provide a fascinating level of high-fidelity rendering. Hence the complete system, such as a car, an airplane, a block of buildings, etc. can be 'seen' on a computer, before any part is ever constructed.
To situate the role and importance of CFD in our contemporary technological world, it might be of interest to take you down the road to the global world of Computer-Assisted Engineering or CAE. CAE refers to...
