Richard Smith's blog

CFD Simulates Distant Past

Richard Smith — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:57:18 +0000

There is an interesting new trend in using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Until recently CFD simulation was focused on existing and future things, think flying cars. Now we see CFD being applied to simulate fluid flow in the distant past, think fossils.

CFD shows Ediacaran dinner party featured plenty to eat and adequate sanitation

Background on the Caedium v6.0 Release

Richard Smith — Fri, 31 May 2019 14:55:57 +0000

Let's first address the elephant in the room - it's been a while since the last Caedium release. The multi-substance infrastructure for the Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) capability was a much larger effort than I anticipated and consumed a lot of resources. This lead to the relative quiet you may have noticed on our website. However, with the new foundation laid and solid we can look forward to a bright future.

Conjugate Heat Transfer Through a Water-Air Radiator
Simulation shows separate air and water streamline paths colored by temperature

Long-Necked Dinosaurs Succumb To CFD

Richard Smith — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 13:11:06 +0000

It turns out that Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has a key role to play in determining the behavior of long extinct creatures. In a previous, post we described a CFD study of parvancorina, and now Pernille Troelsen at Liverpool John Moore University is using CFD for insights into how long-necked plesiosaurs might have swum and hunted.

CFD Water Flow Simulation over an Idealized Plesiosaur: Streamline VectorsIllustration only, not part of the study

CFD Provides Insight Into Mystery Fossils

Richard Smith — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:08:45 +0000

Fossilized imprints of Parvancorina from over 500 million years ago have puzzled paleontologists for decades. What makes it difficult to infer their behavior is that Parvancorina have none of the familiar features we might expect of animals, e.g., limbs, mouth. In an attempt to shed some light on how Parvancorina might have interacted with their environment researchers have enlisted the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

CFD Water Flow Simulation over a Parvancorina: Forward directionIllustration only, not part of the study

Wind Turbine Design According to Insects

Richard Smith — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 19:36:33 +0000

One of nature's smallest aerodynamic specialists - insects - have provided a clue to more efficient and robust wind turbine design.

Dragonfly: Yellow-winged DarterLicense: CC BY-SA 2.5, André Karwath

Runners Discover Drafting

Richard Smith — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 18:01:49 +0000

The recent attempt to break the 2 hour marathon came very close at 2:00:24, with various aids that would be deemed illegal under current IAAF rules. The bold and obvious aerodynamic aid appeared to be a Tesla fitted with an oversized digital clock leading the runners by a few meters.

2 Hour Marathon Attempt

Wind Tunnel and CFD Reveal Best Cycling Tuck

Richard Smith — Wed, 10 May 2017 12:37:07 +0000

The Giro d'Italia 2017 is in full swing, so how about an extensive aerodynamic study of various cycling tuck positions? You got it, from members of the same team that brought us the study of pursuit vehicles reducing the drag on cyclists.

Chris Froome TuckStage 8, Pau/Bagnères-de-Luchon, Tour de France, 2016

Active Aerodynamics on the Lamborghini Huracán Performante

Richard Smith — Wed, 03 May 2017 18:08:38 +0000

Early on in the dash to develop ever faster racecars in the 1970s, aerodynamics, and specifically downforce, proved a revelation. Following on quickly from the initial passive downforce initiatives were active aerodynamic solutions. Only providing downforce when needed (i.e., cornering and braking) then reverting to a low drag configuration was an ideal protocol, but short lived due to rule changes in most motor sports (including Formula 1), which banned active aerodynamics. A recent exception to the rule is the highly regulated Drag Reduction System now used in F1. However, road-legal cars are not governed by such regulations and so we have the gloriously unregulated Lamborghini Huracán Performante.

Active Aerodynamics on the Lamborghini Huracán Performante

Fluidic Logic

Richard Smith — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 20:14:28 +0000

Fluidic logic (fluidics) uses specially designed fluid paths to perform logic operations, such as AND, OR, and NOT gates. In electronics logical operations underpin all the digital devices that depend on CPUs for their brains. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) we can quickly explore potential fluidic components.

CFD Simulation of a Fluidic AND Gate

Stonehenge Vortex Revealed as April Fools' Day Distortion Field

Richard Smith — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:02:28 +0000

As I'm sure you suspected the "Stonehenge Vortex Revealed by CFD" story was a figment of the April Fools' Day distortion field.

Ribbons Tracing a Contrived Vortex at StonehengeCFD simulation shows ribbons colored by velocity