The objective of this course is to equip engineers with the skills necessary to apply Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to the solution of problems or the design of equipment involving fluid motion and/or heat and mass transfer.
The objective will be met by providing exposure to the commercial CFD package CFX together with the underpinning theoretical methodologies and analysis tools. The use of potential flow methods will also be discussed. An important focus will be the issue of estimating how well the CFD predictions are true representations of physical reality.
Assignments will explore aspects of CFD technology via sample problems (using packages) or numerical hand exercises. A research project will enable the student to demonstrate how well they have understood the way that a CFD package can be used in the engineering context.
Topics covered include:
- Governing equations of fluid flow and heat transfer
- Finite difference and finite volume approximations of the governing equations
- Solution methods and boundary conditions
- Turbulence and its simulation or modelling
- Meshing
- Application to particular problems
- Alternative solver methods, parallelisation
This is an advanced Level 9 course designed to contribute to the Level 9 requirements in a Masters degree. Students completing this course need to demonstrate the independent application and development of highly specialised knowledge and skills. This course shares lectures with MECHENG 718, but is assessed at a higher level by requiring the completion of a 30% individual research project. Undergraduate students, and students who do not require a Level 9 Masters course are recommended to enrol in MECHENG 718 instead. Students completing this course are restricted against future enrolments in MECHENG 718.