i am an aerospace graduate from Kingston University london. My Degree only had a couple of modules of aerodynamics in it. However, Aerodynamics and CFD, both subjects fascinate me. I am planning to apply for Msc CFd in 2002, at cranfield university.

Now what i want, is to develope a strong background in CFd before starting the course..as i have a year out to learn stuff in my free time.

People here in the forum are obviously intelligent and well developed in CFD field, so i want on your advice on how to go about developing my knowledge. What books are good for beginners ??? any reccomended software ?? online tutorials ???? My interests do lie in the aerospace field though.

Any help from anyone here will be much appreciated.

Thanx in advance.

This is a very good introductory book:

Ferziger and Peric, "Computational methods for fluid dynamics", Springer-Verlag

have a look to this book;

Riemann Solvers and Numerical Methods for Fluid Dynamics

Springer-Verlag. Second Edition, June 1999, 624

pages. E. F. Toro (author).

(1). CFD by my definition is "Numerical Analysis and Mathematical Modeling in Fluid Mechanics". (2). So, the most difficult part is "the numerical analysis" and "the turbulence modeling". (3). If you can study these two subjects thoroughly, you will in good shape. (4). To write a program and solve a problem, you normally pick only one scheme and one model. So, there is no need to learn every method and model available. (5). It takes time to learn these two subjects, so focus your time and effort there. (6). To solve a problem is quite simple after you have these basic skill, it is just like : define your problem, create geometry and mesh, apply the boundary conditions, select the numerical scheme and turbulence model, write the code to solve the system of algebraic system, get converged solutions. That's all.

Hi Rafaqat Ullah

I recommend two book:

(1) J. D. Anderson: Computational Fluid Dynamics, McGraw-Hill, a very good intrduction book, talks about: - Finite Difference - Accuracy - Stability => the basics you have to know working with CFD (2) M Griebel, T. Dornseifer, T. Neunhoeffer: Numerical Simulation in Fluid Dynamics, SIAM - based on the implementation of the code - 2D - Finite Differneces - Implementation in C - very good description of the matter - you can run you first "basic solver (lid driven cavity, backward facing step, cannal flow)" within 4 weeks of intensive programming => this book helped me very much, I strongly recomment it

Thank you very much to all for your help, it is well and truly appreciated.

Try also the books by (1) Tannehill, Anderson, and Pletcher and (2) Culbert Laney (Computational Gasdynamics) (3) Hirsch (the classic reference).

The CFD books list on CFD-Online is good too and will have the names of all these books.

My approach to self teaching CFD is to take a book (say one of the three above) go through it as much as possible and get a hold of some of the more significant reference articles (the most interesting, the parts you don't understand etc) you'll probably need access to a good engineering library.

Good luck Cranfield is a good school

Download my CFD shareware from www.cfd4pc.com

It is geared towards academics, first time CFD users, etc., and it will give you a good feel for compressible aerodynamic flow.

Steps outlined in the John C Chien is turns to be followed different approach, if one considers to real 3d flow with multiphysics and multi dome geometry. Full utilisation of commerical packages like CFX-TASCflow, CFX-4, Star-CD, fluent and Phoenics and repeated runs for optimisation of components provides tangible benefits to design engineers. Howerever, skills for usagae of cad softwares for geometrical modelling and grid generation varies from person to person. Leaving these trends, going to writing codes for 2D and single domain 3D flow problems for prediction of viscous turbulent flow is still a time consuming and to the restricted usage.

(1). The only reason to write your code is that you can put in what you like and you can control what is in it. (2). If you like to save time and money, the best way to do is to find a professional consultant. In this way, you don't have to worry about the code, the training, the experience, etc. (3). People sometimes use the word "designer", or "design engineer" vagely. (4). From my point of view, a designer is usually a "CAD designer", and expert, or experienced draftman. (5). If you do analysis, then you are an engineer. (6). If an engineer can not do the analysis on his own, then he is not an engineer. (7). To run a CFD code, we usually use a different name "CFD mechanics" or "CFD engineering assistant". (8). It is confusing, because CFD is a post-doctor research activities when the accuracy and reliability of the solution is important. At the same time, people tend to upgrade the "CFD engineering assistant" level to a full level. (9). For an engineer doing analysis, he is free to use "ANY analytical or computational methods or tools" in the process, assuming that he has the capability to get the right answer or the accurate answer. The task to run a code(s) can be done by himself or someone else. (10). If the engineer doing analysis think that he can get accurate solution by using a commercial code(s), then he is going to do it, and it is perfectly all right to do so. (11). But if he is having trouble in getting the right answer, then he must perform his analysis using his model or codes. Otherwise, he can not be called "engineer". (12). It is very important to recognize the difference. An engineer must be able to do modeling and analysis. A code is just a code which can not produce solution by itself. And a person running a code is just a mechanics, performing certain step-by-step task. (13). If a person using a PC, can you say that he is a computer programmer? a system analyst? The answer is NO. (14). If a person knows how to run a CAD software, he is a CAD designer. He is not an engineer, because he is not doing the analysis. A person using a commercial CFD code, can be called CFD designer. But in general, this is not possible, because CFD is analysis.