Institution news
Q: Please briefly explain your role and how you use CFD?
James Tyacke (JT): I am a lecturer in Aerospace engineering at Brunel University London. I develop multi-fidelity CFD to model flows with disparities in scale. In general, this leverages the truly predictive capabilities of Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) to model complex turbulent flows (jet noise, gas-turbine zones, electronics cooling) using High Performance Computing (HPC).
Q: Are there any specific modelling challenges which arise in your sector or industry?
JT: Turbulence modelling is an ongoing challenge due to wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Multi-physics modelling will be key in future and resulting in further considerations. For example, conjugate heat transfer of turbine blade or electronics cooling results in solid to fluid timescales exceeding 1000.
Q: What particular developments or new applications are you excited about for the next 5 years?
JT: Automation of time consuming processes and seamless coupling of many technologies. This might involve using high-fidelity data to drive machine learning or to develop lower-fidelity models. Then we need to run ever more complex simulations on rapidly changing and growing HPC architectures, with minimal user input. (This will exceed 5 years).
Q: What are the key areas of focus for your presentation?
JT: Determining where high-fidelity CFD makes sense is the key. This also applies to geometry representation. Examples will show where these technologies will fit in with current design processes.
Q: Are there other speakers on the programme who you are particularly excited to hear from and why?
JT: There are too many really, but based on my interests: Sergio Campobasso on multi-fidelity, Paul Harrison and Ahmed Kovacevic on automation, and Neil Ashton for high-fidelity CFD using HPC.
Q: What specifically are you hoping to get out of this seminar more generally?
JT: I’m always interested to hear people’s views on how to model something and where we might be in the next few decades.
Next-Generation CFD seminar takes place online on 23 March 2021.
The growth of cloud computing technology is unlocking the potential to perform more processor intensive models and analysis including using machine learning. This one-day online seminar brings together the foremost practitioners from multiple industries and academia to showcase advanced CFD applications and the innovative technologies that are enabling greater complexity and speed.
For more information, full programme and to book your place to get involved, please visit the event website.