This project supports collaborative research by Dr. J.N. Reddy, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg and Dr. K.N. Seetharamu, Department of Mechnaical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India. These two scientists plan to develop a finite element computer program for the analysis of complex fluid flows with heat transfer in three-dimensional domains. The solution of the Navier-Stokes equations with the energy equation in three dimensions will use the finite element method based on the penalty-function approach. Account will be taken of variation of material properties, such as viscosity, coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, with temperature and/or strain rates. The result could be the development of a powerful tool for solving complex problems in engineering applications such as in heat exchangers. The development of such a tool is possible at this time with the availability of extremely powerful computers in many laboratories thus making it possible to apply the finite element methods to geometries of material and flows that are unwieldly by analytical methods. Scope: The topic of this research project was developed following an Indo-U.S. workshop on research needs in heat transfer, held in Madras, India in December, 1981. The development of the proposal was completed in 1986 with contributions by Drs. Reddy and Seetharamu who are leaders in the field of numerical and finite element analysis. The cooperative research is of direct importance to the development of these tools of solving engineering problems, and should benefit engineers and scientists in both countries.
