MEC4447 - Computers in fluids and energy

Overview

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a well-established analysis, design and optimisation approach for industrial fluid and heat transfer problems. Examples include turbomachinery, vehicle aerodynamics and aeronautics. It is also a powerful research tool and is being increasingly used to answer fundamental questions in a wide range of fields, from astrophysics to nanomaterials. This Unit provides an introduction to this mathematically sophisticated discipline. This involves a review of the equations governing motion and energy of fluids, the mathematical properties of these equations and the relevance of such properties to obtaining numerical solutions. The basics of numerical discretization and solution methods will be discussed. The Unit will also introduce you to using commercial CFD packages in analysing complex industrial problems involving fluids.

Offerings

S1-01-CLAYTON-ON-CAMPUS

Requisites

Prerequisite

ECE3093

6 CP

Optimisation estimation and numerical methods

MAE3456

6 CP

Aerospace computational mechanics

MEC3456

6 CP

Engineering computational analysis

AND

TRC4802

6 CP

Thermo-fluids and power systems

Contacts

Chief Examiner(s)

Professor Mark Thompson

Unit Coordinator(s)

Professor Mark Thompson

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Discuss the main approaches used to discretise the compressible and incompressible fluid flow equations.

Appraise the capabilities and limitations of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) packages to model engineering problems in fluid flow and heat transfer.

Apply a theoretical understanding of the concepts of resolution, stability and order of numerical methods for solving partial differential equations relevant to engineering.

Execute suitable approximations when modelling turbulent flows.

Formulate an approximate solution to an engineering problem using a CFD package, with appropriate selection of boundary conditions, grid size and turbulence model.

Synthesise this knowledge to program simple numerical models relevant to heat transfer and fluid flow.

Assessment summary

Continuous assessment: 50%

Final assessment: 50%

This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment

1 - Mid-semester class test

2 - Assignment 1

3 - Assignment 2

4 - Assignment 3

5 - Final assessment

Scheduled and non-scheduled teaching activities

Practical activities

Workshops

Workload requirements

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Other unit costs

The following item is mandatory for practical aspects of the unit and should be purchased at your own cost as you will be reusing them throughout your course.

Calculator

Availability in areas of study

Minor: Computational engineering