The changing roles of experimental and computational fluid mechanics

Abstract

When computational fluid mechanics was in its infancy, experiments and theoretical analysis were often the primary approaches used to study flow physics. Numerical simulations were performed after an experiment was complete, and the measured, theoretical, and numerical results were compared to assess the accuracy of the numerical results. As numerical simulation techniques have matured, computational, analytic, and experimental efforts have become equal partners in fluid mechanics research. Today numerical simulations are being used to guide the design of experimental hardware, to determine those areas of the flow field in which to concentrate the measurement effort, and to complement measurements in studying flow physics. The changing roles of experimental, analytical, and computational research will be traced by reviewing several investigations in which these approaches were used in varying degrees. A case will be made for maintaining a high degree of interaction between these approaches throughout the course of an investigation. The development of prototype computing systems designed to enhance the integration of numerical simulations and flow physics experiments will also be described.