CTA Leader: Dr. Roger C. Strawn
The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) CTA covers high-performance computations whose goal is the accurate numerical solution of the equations describing fluid and gas motion, and the related use of digital computers in fluid-dynamics research. CFD is used for basic studies of fluid dynamics for engineering design of complex flow configurations, and for predicting the interactions of chemistry with fluid flow for combustion and propulsion. It is also used to interpret and analyze experimental data and to extrapolate into regimes that are inaccessible or too costly to study. Work in the CFD CTA encompasses all velocity flow regimes and scales of interest to the DoD. Incompressible flows are generally slow, e.g., governing the dynamics of submarines, slow airplanes, pipe flows, and air circulation. Compressible flows are important at higher speeds, e.g., controlling the behavior of transonic and supersonic planes, missiles, and projectiles. Fluid dynamics itself displays some very complex physics, such as boundary-layer flows, transition to turbulence, and turbulence dynamics that require continued scientific research. CFD also must incorporate complex additional physics to deal with many real-world problems. These effects include additional force fields, coupling to surface atomic physics and microphysics, changes of phase, changes of chemical composition, and interactions among multiple phases in heterogeneous flows. Examples of these physical complexities include Direct Simulation Monte Carlo and plasma simulation for atmospheric re-entry, microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS), materials processing, and magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) for advanced power systems and weapons effects. CFD has no restrictions on the geometry, and includes motion and deformation of solid boundaries defining the flow.