Application of the Navier-Stokes Equations to Solve Aerodynamic Problems,

The numerical simulation of gas flows achieved by numerically solving the compressible Navier Stokes equations has recently emerged as a supplement to the data base for aerospace vehicle design. The three dimensional compressive Navier Stokes equations offer a approach to provide useful information for future designs. This has been brought about by remarkable computer advancements and the labor of a new generation of world wide computational aerodynamicists. This paper provides a current assessment of the use of the Navier Stokes equations to solve three dimensional problems. For practical applications, the governing equations required are the Navier Stokes Reynolds averaged equations with a turbulence model. An attempt is made herein to discuss several critical issues concerning flow simulation by the use of the Navier Stokes equations. In order to understand these issues, a survey of the open literature was performed in summarizing the past achievements and identifying the need for improvement. The future outlook of computational fluid dynamics will be projected based on current trends in computer architecture development and the expanding applications of Navier Stokes equations into interdisciplinary areas of scientific interest.