Despite great advances in computer-aided engineering, certain
deficiencies remain, of which the chief are:
The road from CAD to CFD is not yet easy to travel;
The analyses of stresses in solids and of the flow of fluids are
handled by two distinct sets of algorithms, computer codes and
specialists;
In respect of fluid flow (at least) the models of the physical
processes are often either inexact or computationally expensive,
and frequently both;
The expense of the necessary hardware, software and personnel limits
the wide use of available techniques.
Some progress can be reported regarding the CAD-to-CFD difficulty,
with the STL format proving to be of key importance.
It will be shown that solid stress and fluid flow can be analysed by
a single algorithm, a single code, and therefore a single specialist.
In respect of turbulence and radiation, the LVEL and IMMERSOL models
are advocated as being good compromises between economy and realism
for simple circumstances; and MFM, the "multi-fluid model", promises
the same for more complex ones.
Remote computing-plus-advisory services reduce the expense of
computer-aided engineering.