Object-oriented design and implementation of CFDLab: a computer-assisted learning tool for fluid dynamics using dual reciprocity boundary element methodology

As lecturers, our main concern and goal is to develop more attractive and e fficient ways of communicating up-to-date scientific knowledge to our stude nts and facilitate an in-depth understanding of physical phenomena. Compute r-based instruction is very promising to help both teachers and learners in their difficult task, which involves complex cognitive psychological proce sses. This complexity is reflected in high demands on the design and implem entation methods used to create computer-assisted learning (CAL) programs. Due to their concepts, flexibility, maintainability and extended library re sources, object-oriented modeling techniques are very suitable to produce t his type of pedagogical tool. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) enjoys not only a growing importance in today's research, but is also very powerful f or teaching and learning fluid dynamics. For this purpose, an educational P C program for university level called 'CFDLab 1.1' for Windows(TM) was deve loped with an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) for multitasking a nd point-and-click operations. It uses the dual reciprocity boundary elemen t method as a versatile numerical scheme, allowing to handle a variety of r elevant governing equations in two dimensions on personal computers due to its simple pre- and postprocessing including 2D Laplace, Poisson, diffusion , transient convection-diffusion (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.