PRACTICAL AND FUNDAMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF FLUID-FLOWS

The reasons for the recent growth of computational fluid dynamics (CFD ) for industrial and environmental applications are briefly explained, and thence why the users and managers of CFD systems should understan d the main underlying principles, the different options and future pos sibilities of this essential element in modern engineering design. The paper reviews in non-mathematical terms (a) current concepts of turbu lence and the mechanisms that need to be modelled, (b) the three level s of computer code, classified according to their output level, their requirements for data and computational resources; (c) the way the cod es are constructed and used; (d) how the results have to be interprete d and qualified for all practical applications; and (e) finally how CF D is developing, with better accuracy in specific areas and applicatio ns to more complex problems (with thermodynamics, chemistry, etc.) and even to flows where the turbulence is controlled interactively.