What is a Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD Solver?
The CFD process involves discretization of the geometry, solving the discretized governing equations on the discretized geometry and finally viewing the results obtained at the discrete points (cell centers, nodes, etc). The solution at the discrete points for the governing equations is obtained by the solver. Therefore, it is the solver that has the governing equations transformed into the discretized form using one of the discretization techniques (FDM, FVM or FEM) and performing the solution of these equations. Depending on which discretization technique is employed in the solver, the PDEs stating the governing principles in mathematical form are converted into algebraic equations using the initial and boundary conditions. These algebraic equations are obtained at each of the points (cell-centers, nodes, etc) where the solution for the variables (u, v, w, T, etc) is to be obtained. The final algebraic equation set results in a matrix which has to be solved for obtaining values of th
