Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids (gases and liquids) 
either in motion or at rest and it is divided to major 
disciplines: fluid statics (fluids at rest) and fluid 
dynamics (fluid in motion). Computational Fluid Dynamics 
(CFD) is one of three branches of fluid dynamics dedicated 
to study of fluids in motion.

  
Experimental and theoretical (analytical) fluid dynamics 
were two widely practiced branches before 1970's and 1980's. 
Theoretical fluid dynamics involves solution of differential 
equations while Experimental fluid dynamics involves 
building a physical model and testing that model in a wind 
tunnel or other facilities. However, with advent of digital 
computer, a third approach was born.

The differential equations describing fluid dynamics 
problems are generally a system of non-linear partial 
differential equations with irregular boundaries, which are 
often too difficult to solve without the aid of computers. 
Additionally, experimental fluid dynamics often has to deal 
with challenges such as instrumentation, intrusive 
measurements, testing at small scale, high cost of model and 
testing, long fabrication lead-time, and limited 
information.


CFD is computer-based simulation of predicting what will 
happen when fluids (gases & liquids) flow and complements 
experimental and analytical approaches by providing an 
alternative cost-effective mean of simulating real-life flow 
problems.


CFD has now become a leading research, educational, and 
design tool. It is being used to better understand physical 
events and processes and perform numerical experiments 
(analogous to wind tunnel tests). As an education tool, CFD 
is used to understand concepts of fluid flow and expose 
students to expanded range of flow problems. Most 
importantly, CFD has now become a design tool by providing 
capabilities to facilitate design optimization, reduce 
design bottlenecks and improve engineering performance, 
enhance communications, and answer what-if questions.


CFD has become an essential tool to predict fluid motion, 
which may include heat and mass transfer, phase change, and 
mechanical movement of boundaries. CFD is now routinely used 
to solve complex flow problems in the aerospace, automotive, 
chemical, electronics, environmental, biomedical industries. 

The course is completely code independent.

A full set of notes in PDF format will be available for 
download. Each session is presented live and is available 
for review via a streamable recording.

Personal passwords are provided to allow you to access e-
learning backup material via our special bulletin board. 
Reading lists, homework submissions, supplementary data are 
all stored as files on the bulletin board.

Interaction via the bulletin board is strongly encouraged to 
obtain the most from the e-learning class. Typically the 
board runs for 4 weeks after the last live class sessions, 
giving you plenty of time to catch up with homework, review 
and ask questions.

Note: homework is purely voluntary!

Course Process and Details 

This course is completely code independent. No software is 
required.

E-learning courses are great alternatives and complements 
for continued education as they offer convenience and 
eliminate the need to travel.  This e-learning course runs 
over a four week period with a single two hour session per 
week.

This course offers the attendees the fundamental knowledge 
for using CFD in real life engineering applications. Through 
a simple and moderately technical approach, this course 
describes the steps in the CFD process and provides benefits 
and issues for using CFD analysis in understanding of 
complicated flow phenomena and its use in the design 
process. Best practices for reducing errors and 
uncertainties in CFD analysis are also presented in the 
course. Many of the governing equations will be presented 
for illustration purposes and they would be dealt in depth 
in this course. Strong effort is made for the course to be  
CFD software neutral. However, examples from some of the 
more well known and popular software will be used throughout 
the sessions. 

Interaction is encouraged throughout the course. Students 
are welcome to send in problems from industry and these will 
be discussed as time permits.

Full notes are provided for the students, together with 
personal passwords for e-learning backup material, bulletin 
board access, etc.

Students will join the audio portion of the meetings by 
utilizing the VoIP (i.e. headset connected to the computer 
via headphone and microphone jacks) or by calling into a 
standard toll line. If you are interested in additional 
pricing to call-in using a toll-free line, please send an 
email to: e-learning @ nafems.org .

Who Should Attend?

The target audience for this course is engineers and 
managers with limited CFD knowledge who are interested or 
considering to incorporate CFD in their design practices. 
The material that is presented is independent of any 
particular software package, making it ideally suited to 
current and potential users of all commercial and non-
commercial CFD software systems.

E-learning classes are ideal for companies with a group of 
engineers requiring training. E-learning classes can be 
provided to suit your needs and timescale. Contact us to 
discuss your requirements.

Course Program

Note:This is a four-week course. Each session represents one 
2-hour session each week.

Session 1 - CFD: Definition, Role, & Basic Formulation

Tuesday September 20th 2011
9am EDT, 6am PDT, 2pm WEST/BST, 3pm CEST

•       What is CFD and why is it needed?

•       CFD use and its role in industry

•       Basic Formulation

-          Finite difference

-          Finite volume

 

Session 2 - Governing Equations

Tuesday September 27th 2011
9am EDT, 6am PDT, 2pm WEST/BST, 3pm CEST

•       Governing equations

•       Simplification & model equations

•       Turbulence

•       Heat Transfer

 

Session 3 - CFD Process

Tuesday October 4th 2011
9am EDT, 6am PDT, 2pm WEST/BST, 3pm CEST

•       The CFD Steps

•       Geometry & mesh generation

•       Setup, initialization, & boundary conditions

•       Solving & monitoring

•       Analysis & visualization

•       Assessing accuracy of numerical solutions

 

Session 4 - Best Practices & Chronicle

Tuesday October 11th 2011
9am EDT, 6am PDT, 2pm WEST/BST, 3pm CEST

•       Use of CFD for engineering estimates

•       Presenting computational results in a useful fashion

•       CFD Issues

•       A brief history of CFD

•       CFD future