Supercomputing

This paper traces the development of computers and discusses the capability of supercomputers. As examples of the application of a supercomputer, the Global Circulation Model, the consequences of a nuclear war, and climatic change due to the greenhouse effect, each worked out by computer, are discussed. Finally, the transonic flow of a wing body configuration obtained by numerical calculation is presented. Mach number and velocity potential are calculated for every lattice point. Different difference-formulas are applied for subsonic and supersonic flow regions. The location of the shock wave is determined as a curved plane of discontinuity satisfying the shock condition.