Preface

Over the last half a century, the rapid integration of mathematical modeling, computing technology, and real-life applications has made computational simulation a powerful tool for researchers to study complex phenomena in the nature and the society around us. Along with theory and experiment, computational simulation has now become the third pillar for the foundation of scientific exploration. In many circumstances, computational simulations enable researchers to study complex problems in greater detail with better understanding than theory or experiments, such as in the study of protein dynamics. In other circumstances, computational simulations allow researchers to explore numerous different scenarios much more quickly and cost-effectively than experiments, such as in optimal design of modern aircrafts or screening of potential drug molecules.

One of the main challenges facing researchers in the field of computational simulations is the highly interdisciplinary nature of the field, which typically involves complex real-world application problems, mathematical models describing those problems, appropriate numerical solution algorithms for solving those model equations, and necessary computer hardware and software to carry out simulations. Successful computational simulation projects often require team-efforts and knowledge in mathematical modeling, computer programming, and specific application problems being studied.

The purpose of this book is to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of computational simulations and to introduce researchers and graduate students who are interested in computational simulations to a broad range of applications, with a particular emphasis on those involving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The book is divided into three parts:


9 – 12), fluid heat exchange (chapter 13 – 14), airborne contaminant dispersion over buildings and atmospheric flow around a re-entry capsule (chapter 15 – 16), gas-solid two phase flow in long pipes (chapter 17), free surface flow around a ship hull (chapter 18), and hydrodynamic analysis of electrochemical cells (chapter 19).

 Part III covers applications of non-CFD based computational simulations, including atmospheric optical communications (chapter 20), environmental studies involving climate system simulations, porous media flow, and combustion (chapter 21 – 23), solidification (chapter 24), and sound field simulations for optimal acoustic effects (chapter 25).

I am grateful to InTech for the opportunity to serve as the editor for this book, and I wish to sincerely thank all contributing authors around the world for their diligence in following editorial guidelines, their willingness to support open access publications, and their valuable technical contributions that made this book possible. Special thanks are due to Ms. Ana Nikolic, Mr. Zeljko Spalj, and the technical staff at InTech for their editorial efforts, detailed reviews, and professional assistance. I also would like to thank the University of Texas at Arlington for supporting my participation in this book project. Without the support from the authors, InTech staff, and the University, this book could not have become a reality.

> **Jianping Zhu, Ph.D.** Professor and Chair Department of Mathematics The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas, USA
