Airfoil optimization via CFD: reducing drag by 18%
How computational simulation enables iterating hundreds of geometries without physical prototypes. A real case of aerodynamic optimization using OpenFOAM and genetic algorithms.
Blog
Engineering with no filter
Technical articles on CFD, biomimetics, materials engineering and everything in between. No hype, no marketing — just applied science.
From shark skin to the lab: the science behind dermal denticles
Shark skin micro-grooves reduce friction by 9.9%. We analyze surface physics, how to replicate them in composites, and the industrial applications emerging.
Carbon fiber composites: from hand layup to finite element optimization
Ply stacking defines stiffness, weight and strength. How FEA analysis enables predicting first-ply failure, interlaminar delamination and optimal fiber direction in each layer.
VOF multiphase simulation: modeling water-air interaction on hydrodynamic surfaces
The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method captures the interface between two immiscible fluids. From cavity ventilation to propeller cavitation, we break down its fundamentals and applications.
Honeycomb structures: why bees design better than we do
The hexagonal honeycomb is the maximum-strength, minimum-density structure found in nature. We analyze its geometry, how to model it with finite elements, and its applications in ultralight sandwich panels.
Titanium additive manufacturing: freedom-to-design in structural components
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) enables geometries impossible by traditional machining. From AM-oriented design to residual stresses and post-process treatments.
Choosing the right turbulence model in OpenFOAM: k-omega SST vs Spalart-Allmaras
Choosing the right turbulence model in OpenFOAM: k-omega SST vs Spalart-Allmaras compared against experimental data for aerodynamic flows.
LES vs RANS: when does the extra computational cost actually pay off?
LES captures unsteady flow physics that RANS misses, but at 50x the cost. When does the trade-off make sense for real engineering projects?
Humpback whale tubercles on leading edges: lessons from CFD
Humpback whale flipper tubercles delay stall and improve post-stall lift. CFD analysis shows how sinusoidal leading edges can redesign wings, turbines, and fans.
The lotus effect in superhydrophobic surfaces: multiphase CFD analysis
Superhydrophobic surfaces inspired by lotus leaves use dual-scale roughness to achieve contact angles above 150 degrees. Multiphase CFD reveals how it works.
NSGA-II from scratch: selection, crowding distance and Pareto front
The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) explained step by step: Pareto dominance, crowding distance, tournament selection and elitism.
Bayesian optimization with Gaussian Processes: surrogate models for expensive CFD
When each CFD evaluation takes hours, Bayesian optimization finds the optimum with 10x fewer iterations using Gaussian Processes as surrogate models.
Your first OpenFOAM simulation: step-by-step tutorial
The classic lid-driven cavity case explained from scratch. blockMesh, simpleFoam, boundary conditions and ParaView post-processing with zero prior experience.
Flow regimes explained visually: laminar, transitional and turbulent
Reynolds number, boundary layers and laminar-to-turbulent transition explained without equations. With analogies, everyday examples and the mystery of golf ball dimples.
What GPU do you need for CFD in 2026? Hardware guide for simulation
CPU vs GPU comparison, recommended RAM, NVMe storage and budget-tier configurations: from entry-level at $2,000 to professional workstations.
5 inventions we stole from nature (that actually work)
From Velcro to the Japanese bullet train: five real cases where biomimetics solved engineering problems that seemed impossible.
Why insect flight defies classical aerodynamics
The bumblebee myth, leading-edge vortices and how Charles Ellington discovered that insects operate in a completely different physical regime from aircraft.
Carbon fiber vs fiberglass vs Kevlar: how to choose
Stiffness, impact resistance, cost and applications of the three most common composite reinforcements. With selection criteria and comparison tables.
3D printing technologies guide: FDM, SLA, SLS and LPBF
From filament extrusion to titanium laser melting: the four additive manufacturing technologies every engineer should know.
Python for engineers: 10 libraries you should know
NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, Pandas, PyTorch and more: the tools that have turned Python into the new MATLAB of computational engineering.
Genetic algorithms explained with pizza and train schedules
Selection, crossover and mutation explained without code and without formulas. How an idea copied from evolution solves optimization problems impossible for humans.
How Formula 1 killed the wind tunnel: CFD in competition
From the 24/7 tunnels of the 90s to the FIA's ATR restrictions. How computational simulation ate motorsport and what it means for other industries.