Table of Contents
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| Streamlines of an F1 car obtained using computational fluid dynamics [1] |
What is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)?
Computational fluid dynamics is an engineering analysis method used to understand how fluids flow in or around an object [1]. CFD analysis uses theoretical fluid dynamics models obtained from the Navier-Stokes equation to simulate how a specific fluid will flow around an object [1]. Other CFD software use the Lattice Boltzmann Method to solve CFD simulations [2]. By doing CFD analysis on a part you can drastically reduce the amount of prototypes and lower the development cost of the final product [1]. CFD has many applications as it can be used for anything that involves a fluid in motion. CFD can be used to simulate incompressible flow, compressible flow, laminar flow, turbulent flow, mass transport, and thermal transport [2]. The most common applications of CFD are HVAC, aerodynamics, heat transfer, turbomachinery, high-performance computing (HPC), electronics cooling, cleanrooms, and pipes and valves [2].
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| SimScale Compressible Flow Analysis [2] |
Computational Fluid Dynamics Software
The 6 most popular CFD software from highest to lowest popularity are ANSYS, OpenFOAM, PowerFLOW, SimScale, COMSOL Multiphysics, and Autodesk CFD [3]. The most accessible CFD software for University of Waterloo students is flow simulation in SOLIDWORKS. For projects that require a high degree of accuracy, it would be best to use a dedicated CFD software such as ANSYS or OpenFOAM.
SOLIDWORKS
In SOLIDWORKS you can perform flow simulations on parts and assemblies. There are 2 modules that can be added to the base SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation package that add more types of flow simulations [4]. The base SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation package has head conduction in solids, radiation, time-dependent, gravity, rotation, and free surface simulation features. The HVAC Module adds heating, cooling, and ventilation tools for simulating HVAC systems and radiation [4]. The Electronics Cooling Module adds thermal management tools for simulating printed circuit boards (PCBs) and enclosures [4]. The Student Edition of SOLIDWORKS appears to come with the base SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation package.
Starting a Flow Simulation in SOLIDWORKS
Navigate to the SOLIDWORKS Add-Ins tab and click SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation. Once it appears select the Flow Simulation tab and click the wizard tool. Once the wizard appears, name the study, select a configuration, select a unit system, enter unit precision, select internal or external analysis, select simulation features, select fluid(s), wall conditions and roughness, initial simulation parameters, and then select finish to close the wizard. If you select certain gases you can choose to add humidity to the simulation and if you add specific liquids you can add cavitation to the simulation.
SOLIDWORKS
cavitation, wizard, fix computational domain for faster computing, then regions you want, added goals of whats recorded, run, expand and view results, flow trajectories are flow points (lines)
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