Verification of Codes and Calculations

Abstract

Background discussion, definitions, and descriptions are given for some terms related to confidence building in computational fluid dynamics. The two principal distinctions made are between verification vs validation and between verification of codes vs verification of individual calculations. Also discussed are numerical errors vs conceptual modeling errors; iterative convergence vs grid convergence (or residual accuracy vs discretization accuracy); confirmation, calibration, tuning, and certification; error taxonomies; and customer illusions vs customer care. Emphasis is given to rigorous code verification via systematic grid convergence using the method of manufactured solutions, and a simple method for uniform reporting of grid convergence studies using the Grid Convergence Index (GCI). Also discussed are surrogate single-grid error indicators.