The reasons for the recent growth of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for industrial and environmental applications are briefly explained, and thence why the users and managers of CFD systems should understand the main underlying principles, the different options and future possibilities of this essential element in modern engineering design. The paper reviews in non-mathematical terms (a) current concepts of turbulence and the mechanisms that need to be modelled; (b) the three levels of computer code, classified according to their output level, their requirements for data and computational resources; (c) the way the codes are constructed and used; (d) how the results have to be interpreted and qualified for all practical applications; and (e) finally how CFD is developing, with better accuracy in specific areas and applications to more complex problems (with thermodynamics, chemistry, etc.) and even to flows where the turbulence is controlled interactively.
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