This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

MAE5406 - Computational fluid mechanics

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Engineering

Organisational Unit

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Coordinator(s)

M Thompson/P Ranganathan

Offered

Not offered in 2016

Synopsis

This unit examines the theoretical foundations of the numerical methods used for modelling fluid flows. In particular, the finite-volume and finite-difference methods will be explored, as well as approaches to solve both time-dependent and steady state problems. The project work will mainly focus on using commercial computational fluid dynamics software to model relevant flows, and relating the results back to the theoretical work. Both incompressible and compressible flows will be considered. Some project work will examine modeling flows past airfoils, and another aerospace application.

Outcomes

Development of an understanding of the main methods used for computational fluid dynamics: finite-differences, the finite-volume method, methods for elliptic equations, time-stepping methods, and grid generation and optimization. The unit develops expertise in flow modeling using commercial software, an understanding the capabilities and limitations of the flow modeling and the treatment of turbulence.

Assessment

Assignments and computer-based activities: 30%
Examination (3 hours) 70%

Workload requirements

3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of practical classes and 7 hours of private study per week

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Mark Thompson