Computational fluid dynamics software

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics modelling can be provided to customers using a network, so the customer only needs a network access device that includes client software, for example a Web browser. The computational fluid dynamics software is provided on a server computer also connected to the network. The customer logs on to the server computer, using the client software, and is offered a menu of several different categories of engineering problems from which he makes a selection. Specific details such as dimensions relevant to the selected category of problem are then requested through the client software, and are entered by the customer. The server computer models the specified problem, prepares results in an output form, and informs the customer by email. The results, which may include images showing the flow patterns, are provided to the customer over the network via the client software. The customer consequently requires no experience of creating fluid dynamics models and using conventional Computational Fluid Dynamics software.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of supplying computational fluid dynamics modelling to customers, wherein the customer has a network access device that includes client software, and is connected to a computer network, and the computational fluid dynamics software is provided on a server computer also connected to the network, the method involving: 
 (a) the customer connecting via the network to the server computer, using the client software;    (b) the server computer providing a menu of several different categories of fluid flow problem, for display by the client software to the customer, and then the customer selecting a category, using the client software;    (c) the server computer requesting dimensional or other specific details relevant to the selected category of fluid flow problem, for display by the client software to the customer, and then the customer providing those details, using the client software;    (d) the server computer performing the modelling of the structure as specified by the customer, and converting the results into an output form;    (e) the server computer notifying the customer that the results are available, and providing those results to the customer via the network.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein, in step (c), the customer is provided with the option of allowing one or more of the parameters to have a range of values.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein, in step (c), the customer is provided with the option of specifying a parameter to be optimised over that range.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the customer also is provided with the option of combining problems together, so that the output flow from a structure in one problem provides the input flow for the next, each problem being selected as in step (b) and its details specified as in step (c), before the modelling is performed on the combined problems.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the network linking the customer's network access device to the server computer is a network within an individual company.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the network linking the customer's network access device to the server computer uses the Internet.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the network access device used by the customer is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, and a mobile phone.