Ensuring that CFD for Industrial Applications is ‘Fit for Purpose’

Overview

CFD is a very powerful simulation tool which can be used in a wide range of engineering applications. However, most industrial flows are extremely complex. And since there is a need for continual enhancement in the performance of products and processes, there is also a need for improved accuracy in the simulation tools which are increasingly used in their design.

Nevertheless, the technical challenges imposed by complexity and simulation accuracy must still be met within commercial constraints. This requires a balancing of resources across the various activities involved in CFD, so that an appropriate compromise is obtained between accuracy, timeliness, staff effort and computing costs. Essentially, CFD simulation must be undertaken so as to make optimum use of available resources if it is to fulfil project requirements. This is our meaning of CFD which is ‘fit for purpose’.

NAFEMS recognised the need to provide guidance targeted at new and improving CFD analysts facing industrial applications with significant model complexity. The outcome is a new book to be published later this year; How to Ensure that CFD for Industrial Applications is ‘Fit for Purpose’.

Often the key to making optimum use of resources is knowing where, when, and how to idealise complex CFD applications. Therefore, the book provides guidance on the appropriate and cautious idealisation of such applications.

This webinar provided an introduction to the book, and is delivered by its author; Chris Lea. It presents the issues which should be considered when making decisions on the allocation of resources, provides guidance on idealisation and simplification, and is illustrated with examples drawn from a wide range of sectors - kindly contributed by industry, software vendors, consultants and research organisations.

This webinar covered:

Agenda

Webinar Presenter

Chris has been deeply involved in the CFD modelling of industrial flows since 1985. For most of this period he has been using CFD tools and managing CFD practitioners and projects. However, he also has hands-on experience of designing and undertaking flow measurements, and so is well aware that neither simulation nor measurement is infallible.

He began his career in the UK aerospace industry in the mid 1980’s, prior to gaining an MSc in experimental fluid mechanics, followed by a PhD in CFD. He then joined the UK regulatory authority for industrial health & safety - the Health & Safety Executive - to establish and grow the CFD team. During 15 years at HSE he undertook and led a wide variety of flow simulations, as well as providing expert advice on CFD modelling in onshore major hazards, offshore and nuclear safety cases.

Since 2004 he has been running Lea CFD Associates Limited – a consultancy offering CFD and other modelling solutions, support and independent advice.

Chris has been involved with NAFEMS’ CFD Working Group since its formation and has contributed to many of its publications.