Combining Experiments With Numerical Simulations In The Teaching Of Computational Fluid Dynamics

Due to the rapid increase in computing processing power and technology over the past two decades, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become an essential tool, in addition to experimental and analytical methods, for the solution and analysis of fluid mechanics and heat transfer problems. The proliferation of commercial CFD software packages, such as Fluent, Star-CD, and Flow-3D, attests to the growing use of CFD in industry. This is in large part due to its usefulness in the design process. CFD analysis can provide insight and foresight into the operation and design of fluid systems, while reducing the “test-and-build” cycle by evaluating multiple designs cost-effectively. In academia, CFD methods have traditionally been taught at the graduate level. However, CFD computer programs and packages are also increasingly being integrated into the undergraduate curriculum, serving as “virtual fluids laboratories” to teach and reinforce concepts from fluid mechanics and heat transfer , or incorporated into senior-level engineering course electives 2, .