In one aspect , water resources engineering(WRE) , has a general and macroscopic way of thinking and studying about the environment and water in any form .
Computational fluid mechanics and numerical methods to solve related equation sound a little off-topic or if better stated , prevent a student from WRE to concentrate and address a comprehensive enough study and career about water management .
Can a WRE student work and tackle numerical problems solely for a research and feel comfortable that he is not going too much stray ! ?
What I mean is , will a WRE student be criticized or underrated in any way in future why he worked on too much detail of governing equations of a water resources subject rather than a more general or managemental view ?
Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is highly technical and specialized. It is much more than general modeling using models prepared by others. While most in the field are mechanical engineers, there are water engineers who work their entire career in CFD. However, there are not as many jobs as the broader water quality, supply, and management areas. If you really enjoy CFD, and are prepared to wait for a job, do it. However, if you want to have more opportunities once you graduate, avoid it.
Dear Alireza,
I do not quite understand your question. But the numerical methods are applied in all areas, including WRE. The WRE student will need numerical methods to solve a number of problems. There are many examples.
With my best regards
Prof. Bachir ACHOUR
Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is highly technical and specialized. It is much more than general modeling using models prepared by others. While most in the field are mechanical engineers, there are water engineers who work their entire career in CFD. However, there are not as many jobs as the broader water quality, supply, and management areas. If you really enjoy CFD, and are prepared to wait for a job, do it. However, if you want to have more opportunities once you graduate, avoid it.
CFD tools are since two decades and more an essential tool for WRE. Not all the computational issues are addressed (properly) by existing codes, so that, as remarked in other answers, there are hydraulic engineers who do nothing but CFD and there is real need for them. Whether you really need or want to go so deep into developing new methods depends on your interest and long term perspectives, but, definitely, it is very important to have a sound knowledge of CFD tools, including to a reasonable extent the underlying theory.
How in-depth do you want to go into hydraulic machinery, turbulence modelling, hydraulic transients in piping systems, cavitation, etc. ? What is your background in numerical solvers (finite volume, finite element, finite difference techniques to solve systems of PDEs)?
I suggest you look at DNV -GL/Advantica web pages, this corporation acquired Stoner Associates which did a lot of CFD (I can't keep up with all M & A of companies anymore); by perusing the web pages you will get a good idea of the CFD-related work in which they are involved. Cheers! John
Alireza,
Understanding the processes/equations governing water movement is a critical component for the development of any water resources engineer! Having this background, even it it doesn't all stay in your head, will help you - understand model results, realize when when an error has been made, explain algorithm use to programmers, know the proper terminology to search if you need more detail, realize weak points in a design, etc.
Finally, I completely agree with Glenn Brown, unless you think you'd really enjoy CFD, spending much time in this area would likely not be the best career building exercise.
I really do appreciate these Guidance and answers from above respected and erudite scientists .
Thank you all .
I really do like CFD and extending or solving numerical methods in a particular hydrology field ( porous media ) , but I cant persuade myself to work and research solely on that field before I studied enough of the hydrological processes involved or a simulation or managemental modeling point of view of that field . since I am a first year Ms student and new comer to the environmental part of civil eng .
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