Course on Computational Fluid Dynamics

Computational Fluid Dynamics is essentially a branch of continuum mechanics which deals with numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer problems.Mathematical modelling of continuum problems leads to a set of differentials, integral or integro-differential equations. Exact analytical solution of such equations will be limited to problems in simple geometries. Since most of the problems of interest based on industrial applications are complex problems, an approximate numerical solution is sought. In the context of mechanics, the science and practice of arriving an approximate numerical solution using digital computers is termed computational mechanics. When this is applied to thermo-fluid problems, the approach is commonly known as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)which deals with approximate numerical techniques to solve space and time integral governing partial differential equations which are based on the fundamental conservation laws of physics, namely mass, momentum and energy conservation. This course includes the methodology for conversion of the governing equations for a continuum medium into a set of discrete algebraic equations using a process called discretization and then use the concepts of accuracy, stability, consistency of numerical methods for solving  the governing equations and arrive at the numerical solution to desired level of accuracy of the discrete equations by using a high speed digital computer.