The Computational Fluid Dynamics Laboratory was established in 1986 within the Department of Mechanical Engineering to conduct research and develop software in the areas of computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer. The laboratory is supported through research grants. Current research projects include the finite element solution of three-dimensional flow problems, high speed compressible flow calculations for internal and external flows, unsteady flow computations, parallel computing, and load balancing for parallel computing on parallel processors and network of workstations. Other research projects include the design and simulation of pulse detonation engine and wave rotor non-steady flow cycle, and transient flow and combustion calculations.

Some of the projects are:

• NASA Glenn Research Center for parallel computing, dynamic load balancing, and metacomputing on PC and workstation clusters
• NASA Glenn Research Center for new CFD algorithms for large-scale parallel computing using the Lattice Boltzmann method
• NASA Glenn Research Center for combustion wave rotor and pulse detonation engine ejector flow simulations and design
• Dassault Aviation for parallel computing on heterogeneous computer environments
• Aeronautics Department/Middle East Technical University for CFD code parallelization and development of solid-fluid interaction models for aeroelasticity
• AYT Corporation for combustion simulations using the CE/SE (Conservation Element/Solution Element) method
• Dresser Rand for internal combustion engine flows· Allison Advanced Engine Development Company for pulse detonation engine simulation code enhancement
• State of Indiana 21st Century Research Fund for advanced propulsion and power systems research
• Eli Lilly and Company for Development of Computational Fluid Dynamics Models for Improving Performance of Pharmaceutical Isolators