Location

West Lafayette, Indiana

DOI

10.5703/1288284316856

Abstract

Western Illinois University engineering faculty introduce ANSYS workbench during Fluid Dynamics, a junior level core-engineering course in many engineering programs. Traditionally, advanced analytical software is not introduced until the senior year or in graduate courses. However, since the methods of teaching engineering have evolved dramatically toward using advanced technological tools and software, the use of ANSYS workbench software in the junior year is now quite natural. Using advanced numerical software provides students with better understanding and visualization of a flow field. The current generation of students is accustomed to watching videos and animations to grasp a concept or an idea. The animations, contours and figures generated using a CFD numerical analysis program provide X university's engineering students with a greater understanding of flow behavior in all but the simplest dynamic fluid problems. As in most programs, physical laboratory experiments are conducted in the fluid dynamics class. Then the students model the experiments using CFD simulations. Consequently, both the experimental and numerical results are able to be compared and validated. The decision to use advanced CFD software in the fluid dynamics class has produced a positive impact on the student's overall knowledge of fluid mechanics. The students are excited to use state of the art analysis techniques and demonstrate greater enthusiasm in class.

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Introducing CFD Numerical Analysis in Fluid Dynamics to Junior Engineering Students

West Lafayette, Indiana

Western Illinois University engineering faculty introduce ANSYS workbench during Fluid Dynamics, a junior level core-engineering course in many engineering programs. Traditionally, advanced analytical software is not introduced until the senior year or in graduate courses. However, since the methods of teaching engineering have evolved dramatically toward using advanced technological tools and software, the use of ANSYS workbench software in the junior year is now quite natural. Using advanced numerical software provides students with better understanding and visualization of a flow field. The current generation of students is accustomed to watching videos and animations to grasp a concept or an idea. The animations, contours and figures generated using a CFD numerical analysis program provide X university's engineering students with a greater understanding of flow behavior in all but the simplest dynamic fluid problems. As in most programs, physical laboratory experiments are conducted in the fluid dynamics class. Then the students model the experiments using CFD simulations. Consequently, both the experimental and numerical results are able to be compared and validated. The decision to use advanced CFD software in the fluid dynamics class has produced a positive impact on the student's overall knowledge of fluid mechanics. The students are excited to use state of the art analysis techniques and demonstrate greater enthusiasm in class.