Abstract

The fundamental equations which are required to process any model or system designed are the
governing equations. The vivid understanding about these equations is highly needed in the field of
fluid dynamics and wherever the airflow is involved and it plays a major role. These equations solely
deal with the conservation of mass, energy and momentum. Multiple variables pressure, velocity
and density can be found while solving any type of problems taken by using governing equations.
Particularly in a flow field the dominance of the governing equations cannot be denied. The nature
of the flow can be identified when using these equations with the given boundary conditions. As the
boundary conditions vary, the respective varied resulted flow can be found easily. The motion of the
fluids is different from one fluid to other fluid due to various factors which is difficult to predict
without using governing equations. The flow field characteristics are measured and simulated even
for complex problems. The invention of these equations plays a major role in solvers too since it is a
generic form of equation. However the flow fields are characterized, the balance within the system
is done mainly in the form of mass, momentum and energy. The continuity equation explains the
conservation of mass inside the system considered. With one dimensional, one inlet and outlet
conditions, the rate of mass enters the system is equal to the mass leaves the system while the
momentum equation gives the details about the isolated object without any external disturbances.
For which, the momentum (multiplication of mass and velocity) is constant. The motion remains
same until any external forces act on it. The energy equation represents the energy neither be
created nor destroyed so the energy within the system remains constant. The mathematical model is
designed by using the governing equations. This modelling is useful to examine how the unknown
variables vary with respect to the change of many known variables. The variables are two types, one
is independent variables and the other is dependent variables. Generally, the independent variables
are considered as known variables which are much important to find the unknown variables that are
the secondary variables to be found and also dependent on the independent variables. Even a small
variation in the independent variables, the dependent variables will vary according to the change
made in the known variables. The applications of governing equations in aerodynamics are countless
involving any object that experiences aerodynamic forces in fluid flow. A few examples are fixed or
rotary wing aircraft, wind turbines, automobiles and propellers. This analysis will not only provide
the understanding but also the basis of the air movement around the objects and its respective
changes.

The extension of governing equation covers the Navier-Stokes equation consisting the partial
differential equations of the time dependent conservation of continuity, three time dependent
conservation of momentum and time dependent conservation of energy equation. These equations
describe mainly how the velocity varies with respect to pressure, density and other variables. Mainly
these equations are helpful in solving problems where the fluid nature is viscous and able to conduct
heat. The Navier-stokes equations are the vector equations primarily used in Computational Fluid
Dynamics. Most of engineering problems are solved by using these equations analytically even
complex problems are also solved in CFD. The steps involved in solving problems are the modelling
and numerical methods. The mathematical physical problems to be solved are formulated in the first
step of modelling then in the numerical methods the discretization is followed to transfer it as
discretized form either by using finite volume, finite element method or finite difference method
since Navier-Stokes equations are analytical. Further, the grid generations and solvers are used.
Computational fluid dynamics has become a dominant tool in aerospace, automotive, biomedicine,
chemical processing, heat ventilation air condition, hydraulics, power generation, sports and marine.
This simulation method possesses countless advantages such as safe, economical, short time taking,
repeatable method with the possibility of using any scale. Contrarily, experimental methods are
expensive, complicated, long time taking with safety concerns and limited to small and medium scale
only. For all turbulence model approach, different set of equations are there. The most commonly
used models are k-ε, k-ω and SST methods. Based on the preference where the flow effects should
be monitored closely and the place it is used, the applications can be divided into many types such
as CFD simulation for preventing cavitations, simulating rotating machinery using CFD, Laminar and
turbulent flow analysis, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, battery simulation, aerodynamics
simulation, thermal and heat transfer management simulation, pipe and valve simulation, simulating
electronics cooling, turbo machinery CFD simulation, high rheology material, incompressible and
compressible flow with CFD.

Considering the fluid nature is viscous as real fluid, boundary layer effects have to be considered for
any fluid flow. It is a thin layer of gas or liquid taken over the surface which is contact with the liquid.
The boundary layers are classified into two types according to the structure of the boundary layer
and the circumstances under which they are created. Laminar boundary layer is less stable while the
turbulent boundary layer is more stable with the turbulence energy in the form of eddies and swirls.
The boundary layer equations relate the interaction between the creations of vortices at a wall, its
diffusion and its transport. The mathematical application of the boundary layer theory converts the
character of governing Navier-stokes equations from elliptic to parabolic. The solutions of the
boundary layer equations are simplified by making boundary layer approximation in which the flow
is divided into two types one is inviscid that can be easily solved by many methods and the other is
boundary layer that can be solved by partial differential equations. Not only are the flow types
considered in the equations but also the heat and mass transfer. In conclusion, this book chapter
clearly explains the importance and specific characteristics of governing equations, boundary layer
equations and Navier-stokes equations with its applications and description.