Use of COMSOL Simulation for Undergraduate Fluid Dynamics Course

Hyun J. Kwon

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Conference: 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 10, 2012
Start Date: June 10, 2012
End Date: June 13, 2012
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Computers and Simulation
Tagged Division: Computers in Education
Page Count: 7
Page Numbers: 25.1410.1 - 25.1410.7
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--22167
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/22167
Download Count: 699

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Paper Authors

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Hyun J. Kwon Andrews University

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Hyun J. Kwon grew up in South Korea and received her B.S. (1996) and M.S. (1998) from the Separtment of Chemical Engineering at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). She received her Ph.D. (2002) from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Louisville. She joined Andrews University after her postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in neurobiology. She is currently an Associate Professor of Department of Engineering and Computer Science at Andrews University. She teaches various engineering subjects including feedback control systems, fluid, heat transfer and thermodynamics, linear systems analysis, etc. Her research focuses are biosensor development, characterization of biomolecular interactions, and computer simulation on fluid, heat, and mass transfer issues.

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Abstract

The Use of COMSOL Simulation for Undergraduate Fluid Dynamics CoursesIntroduction:The COMSOL software was used to introduce CFD and teach fluid dynamics more effectively.Introduction of CFD has become an important part of fluid dynamics in recent years, however,undergraduate students have less access to practical exposure to it, unless they take additionalelective courses which is seldom offered in undergrad predominant institutes. Simulation hasbecome an essential step in designing and optimizing process in many engineering problems.Therefore, the COMSOL simulation project was assigned to undergraduate CFD as a part oftheir term project to enhance their exposure to simulation software and help understanding theuse of simulation on the model testing. This paper presents the case study of an undergraduatefluid dynamics project where students were challenged to design a shape, estimate the drag andlift coefficient through the COMSOL simulation and examine the value through experiment.Methods:The COMSOL simulation project was assigned to undergraduate CFD as a part of their termproject. Students were challenged to design a shape of choice and estimate a drag and liftcoefficients of the model using COMSOL simulations and confirm the values in a wind tunneltest. The results were evaluated by direct assessment of their performance and indirectassessment through student survey. Students have designed the shapes with their CAD program in 3Dgraphics. The design was taken to the COMSOL software and simulated for its drag and lift coefficientestimation. Once estimation is finished, students were print out their model with 3D printer. The actual3D model was tested in a wind tunnel to measure actual drag and lift coefficient. The results werecompared and presented.Results:The student survey indicated that students were challenged to learn the fluid model more effectivelythrough COMSOL simulation and understood more efficiently the connection between simulation andmodel testing. The project also improved connection with other classes such as engineering graphics fortheir 3D model, and manufacturing class for the actual model shaping. Overall, the project that involvesboth computer simulation and testing improved the learning experience on the fluid dynamics.

Citation
Format

Kwon, H. J. (2012, June), Use of COMSOL Simulation for Undergraduate Fluid Dynamics Course Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--22167

TY - CPAPER
AB - The Use of COMSOL Simulation for Undergraduate Fluid Dynamics CoursesIntroduction:The COMSOL software was used to introduce CFD and teach fluid dynamics more effectively.Introduction of CFD has become an important part of fluid dynamics in recent years, however,undergraduate students have less access to practical exposure to it, unless they take additionalelective courses which is seldom offered in undergrad predominant institutes. Simulation hasbecome an essential step in designing and optimizing process in many engineering problems.Therefore, the COMSOL simulation project was assigned to undergraduate CFD as a part oftheir term project to enhance their exposure to simulation software and help understanding theuse of simulation on the model testing. This paper presents the case study of an undergraduatefluid dynamics project where students were challenged to design a shape, estimate the drag andlift coefficient through the COMSOL simulation and examine the value through experiment.Methods:The COMSOL simulation project was assigned to undergraduate CFD as a part of their termproject. Students were challenged to design a shape of choice and estimate a drag and liftcoefficients of the model using COMSOL simulations and confirm the values in a wind tunneltest. The results were evaluated by direct assessment of their performance and indirectassessment through student survey. Students have designed the shapes with their CAD program in 3Dgraphics. The design was taken to the COMSOL software and simulated for its drag and lift coefficientestimation. Once estimation is finished, students were print out their model with 3D printer. The actual3D model was tested in a wind tunnel to measure actual drag and lift coefficient. The results werecompared and presented.Results:The student survey indicated that students were challenged to learn the fluid model more effectivelythrough COMSOL simulation and understood more efficiently the connection between simulation andmodel testing. The project also improved connection with other classes such as engineering graphics fortheir 3D model, and manufacturing class for the actual model shaping. Overall, the project that involvesboth computer simulation and testing improved the learning experience on the fluid dynamics.
AU - Hyun J. Kwon
CY - San Antonio, Texas
DA - 2012/06/10
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Use of COMSOL Simulation for Undergraduate Fluid Dynamics Course
UR - https://peer.asee.org/22167
DO - 10.18260/1-2--22167
ER -