A perspective of computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is maturing, and is at a stage in its technological life cycle where it is now routinely applied to complex problems. It is starting to create an impact on the design cycle of aerospace flight vehicles and their components. CFD is also being used to better understand the fluid physics of flows heretofore not understood, such as three-dimensional separation. CFD is also being used to complement and is complemented by experiments. In this paper, the primary and secondary pacing items that have governed CFD in the past are reviewed and updated. The future prospects of CFD are explored, which will offer people working in the discipline challenges that should extend the technological life cycle to further increase the capabilities of a proven and demonstrated technology.