Had any wacky/extreme/unusual/innovative/interesting/off-the-wall fluid dynamics design ideas recently? Then let Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) guide you through the impossible until only the best remain, no matter how wacky.

CFD Simulation of an Unusual Drone Design

There is a certain circular symmetry to the process by which you can perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations on a computer, which is also due in part to CFD.

CFD Performed for a Dust Collector

News just in from Bloomberg is that Larry Page, of Google fame, is funding not one (Zee.Aero) but two (Kitty Hawk) personalized flying-machine (dare I say flying cars?) startups. With a number of other companies pursuing the same goal, it seems a gold rush of sorts is on. Yet remember the real gold rush? The real benefactors were the pick and shovel makers. The equivalent in this flight to the future are employees with highly prized skills brought to bear on a decidedly tricky problem. And at the sharp end of those with specialized skills are...Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) experts - providing valuable insights into aerodynamics, propulsion, batteries, and electrical/electronics cooling.

Fig. 1 from Zee.Aero Patent Filing For A 'Personal Aircraft'Patent US20130214086

It turns out that preparing geometry models for 3D printing has a lot of similarities with preparing geometry for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Both require watertight non-manifold geometry, otherwise your model will plunge your 3D printer or your CFD software into chaos.

Airflow CFD Simulation Around the Smithsonian Air and Space MuseumStreamlines

Yet another way to reveal the hidden secrets of your Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation is to create a face, usually a plane and often referred to as a cutting plane, to serve as a target for interpolated results.

HVAC CFD Simulation of a RoomVelocity vectors on two cutting planes

Clipping planes are another tool to reveal hidden regions of your Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results.

CFD Simulation of an Air MultiplierVelocity iso-surfaces after using XYZ-clipping planes

Following on from "Transparency Reveals Hidden CFD Secrets," using symmetry is another way to reveal the hidden secrets of your Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

CFD Simulation of Airflow Around a CarVelocity contours on symmetry plane

I'm sure you realized that the post on Colorful Fluid Dynamic Paint published on April Fools' Day was more than a coincidence. Full confession - Colorful Fluid Dynamic Paint is fake. However, if we ever do get something like it, I'll be first in line to try it!

CFD Simulation of Air Speed Surface Contours

Forget having a single paint color for your next vehicle purchase and instead go with Colorful Fluid Dynamic paint that changes color according to the airflow around your vehicle. Once only the domain of wind tunnels, pressure sensitive paint and the newly available air speed paint can produce stunning dynamic surface contours as you drive.

Colorful Fluid Dynamic Paint for Air Speed

Do you find that visual elements in your Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations sometimes obscure the areas where you would like to see your results? If so, then let transparency reveal the hidden secrets within your results.

CFD Simulation Results Revealed by Transparency