Chapter 2 - CFD Solution Procedure—A Beginning

Abstract

This chapter focuses to expose potential or novice users to a powerful tool or technique for tackling problems associated with fluid flows. It intends to capture the quintessence of how the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) discipline has evolved; the prevalence of many commercial, shareware, and in-house computer codes is unquestionably a true testimonial of the dynamically evolving discipline. The widespread availability of these codes has certainly provided a favorable environment for students or new users learning CFD. The appropriate usage of either an in-house or a commercial CFD code commands the core understanding of the underlying numerical aspects inside the CFD solver. It focuses on the treatment of the solver element. A CFD solver can usually be described and envisaged by the solution procedure. The prerequisite processes in the solution procedure that have implications on the computational solutions are initialization, solution control, monitoring solution, CFD calculation, and checking for convergence. Furthermore, it provides proper guidance and possible supplementary knowledge emphasizing the many practical aspects within the framework of CFD analysis. A complete CFD analysis consists of preprocessor, solver, and postprocessor. It encompasses the procedures of appropriately setting up the flow problem, solving and monitoring the solution, and analyzing the CFD results at the end of the simulation. Nevertheless, in the midst of these rather mechanically driven “black-box” operations, there are many underlying fundamental principles beneath each of these three elements.