Computational Fluid Dynamics in Building Design

Catalog description

Theory and applications of building environmental modeling with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A E 559 A E 559 Computational Fluid Dynamics in Building Design (3) This course will be a primary interest to Architectural Engineering graduate students in the Mechanical Systems emphasis. Other students interested in the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to Architectural Engineering may schedule the course if they have satisfied the prerequisites. The main objective of this course is to build the knowledge necessary for successful simulations of building indoor and outdoor environments using CFD. The skills developed in the course build on the knowledge of fluid mechanics and building mechanical systems. The course will also add to the available pool of electives for students in the integrated BAE/MAE program.The first part of the course covers general CFD topics on the solution of Navier-Stokes partial differential equations. Different concepts necessary for the solution of the partial differential equations expressing the conservation laws will be introduced along with a CFD software package. In this phase, the course focus will be on the derivation of different equations and their solutions. Analytical solutions will be derived when possible, while most of the problems will require use of numerical solutions. Several homework assignments will require development of small computer programs. The introduced CFD software package will prepare students for the second part of the course that is more applied.The use of CFD in building design is different from its use for other engineering applications because of the domain size and specific boundary conditions such as diffuser airflow, wind, or solar radiation. Most of the time, appropriate boundary conditions distinguish successful from unsuccessful applications of CFD. To address the issues of quality control in CFD simulations, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently developed CFD guidelines that the course will follow from the beginning. The actual guidelines will be introduced to fortify everything learned during the course.Evaluation will be based primarily on analytical homework assignments (30%), two projects (30%), a mid-semester quiz (20%), and a final examination (20%). This course will be offered each Spring, with an anticipated enrollment of 10 students.