Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods to analyse problems that involve fluid flows. When applied to aerodynamics, CFD can provide detailed and quantitative information about pressure distribution, flow field velocity and heat transfer of airflow around an object.
CFD is an extremely powerful tool that's an integral part of many aerodynamic studies in the aerospace, automotive, maritime and construction sectors, plus other civil applications.
Due to the huge amount of information that CFD provides in comparison to basic wind tunnel tests, users can comprehensively analyse airflow – particularly in the preliminary design phase – and obtain a basic understanding of aerodynamics. The combination of CFD-generated information and that from traditional wind tunnel tests provides an extremely accurate and reliable tool for aerodynamic design and development.
