A Complete Guide for a Lucrative Career in CFD

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a technique that enables you to make simulations or capture how fluid moves or interacts with different objects using a computer. If you're into mechanical or aerospace engineering with a keen interest in fluid dynamics, CFD is undoubtedly a fruitful career option for you to pursue. With that, let's jump into CFD and its employment opportunities.

Which Skills Do You Require as a CFD Engineer?

You must thoroughly understand these fundamental courses right from your undergraduate phase. 

• Thermodynamics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Heat Transfers

Companies expect that the concepts of Heat Transfers are embedded well in a CFD professional's memory. As you pursue postgraduate education and venture into the real world, you will realize that this course has the highest scope of application in your engineering career. 

Further, a strong knowledge of mathematics, predominantly linear algebra and differential calculus, is a plus. This is because the statements that you encounter in a report have been concluded by solving complex mathematical equations. 

You need to conduct these mathematical operations via coding. Therefore, a good command at coding languages and software is necessary from a CFD perspective. Some of the widely used CFD tools are:

• OpenFOAM
• ANSYS Forte
• ANSYS Fluent

How Do You Approach Your Career in CFD? 

There is a great divide between theoretical knowledge and industry operations. Thus, the initiative and effort to bridge this gap depends upon your willingness to learn and will-power to remain consistent. 

Start with grasping fundamental knowledge. Polish your knowledge database in a way that makes you feel confident to tackle any CFD challenges. Next, apply these concepts using computer tools. Use your coding expertise to approach industry-learning projects. 

Think from a company perspective. Why should they hire you? This is where your project portfolio gives leverage. Demonstrating your expertise to undertake and complete complicated projects allows you to earn funding for Masters (overseas) and a chance to strike dialogues with industry professionals. 

What Are the Different CFD Domains? Why Is It Used?

CFD is a branch of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). CFD engineers use this technique to study how fluid flows and behaves in complex geometry that you cannot see, such as the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) or Gas Turbine. 

CFD has wide applications in physics, aerospace, and mechanical industries. Without CFD, companies have to rely on expensive experimental methods that leverage the use of transparent combustion chambers to see what's happening inside, say in ICE. 

CFD allows you to gain insights when developing a product. For building vehicles, it helps understand the downforce capacity your subject can generate at different speeds and angles. These parameters allow you to build sustainable models, for example, a race car that can function under different circumstances and essentially win a race. 

What Is the Difference Between Theoretical Knowledge vs. Tools Knowledge? 

Any simulation software - solid mechanical, multi-body, or CFD simulator tool - is designed to solve some differential equations. These equations are mathematical statements. 

For example, mechanical engineering teaches that mass, momentum, and energy is conserved. These are simple English presentations. For a CFD engineer, the investigation begins with this statement. Converting these statements into balance or governing equations forms part of CFD operations. These equations essentially balance mass, momentum, and energy in a sense. 

Complex equations, however, are in partial differential forms. Solving these equations is what simulation means. There are 3 primary solving methods:

• Finite Difference Method: Can be used for any application
• Finite Element Method: Structural problems
• Finite Volume Method: Fluid flow problems

Note: Approach fundamentals and then move onto using tools. Don't take the opposite route. This knowledge will significantly help you when you have to work with any CFD tool because you will know how to approach and utilize the software for different needs. 

How Do Students Get Access to Simulation Tools? 

Using simulation tools to understand problem statements and the product as deeply as possible will position your profile in a way that the industry would want to pick. The majority of the engineering students are not familiarized with this secret hack. 

We're then left with a question: how do you access these supremely expensive tools? Skill-Lync has the answer here! 

Our programs, like CFD Engineering Master's Certification Program and Advanced Aero-Thermal CFD Application using ANSYS FLUENT, are designed to keep a technical and practical experience for students. You can benefit from the rigorous projects that will build your expertise and strengthen your profile from an employment perspective. 

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) is an Emerging Field. What Skills Do You Require Before Enrolling in This Course?

Skill-Lync's HEV Master's program is designed to equip you well with HEV fundamentals. Upon successful completion of Phase 1, the program then enables you to choose a specialized elective. 

The pre-requisites of this course require a CGPA greater than 60, decent communication skills, and, most importantly, the willingness to invest the time and effort to master this program. The reason why this program is so intensive (and vast) is because it brings in massive value for a candidate's professional growth. 

Can You Get a CFD Job Without a Master's? Is Learning From Skill-Lync Sufficient?

Company signals are inconsistent. The reason why companies hire Skill-Lync students is that they believe that these candidates will provide value, as highlighted from their project portfolios. 

However, some students, even though good at their jobs, lack technical expertise. This is where the difficulty to override the Master's requirement arises. In India, the very few who take up M.Tech in CFD are not enrolled in more than 2 courses. With us, our students are enrolled in a minimum of 6 courses! 

If you wish to overcome this M.Tech requirement, you need to demonstrate your capability as a CFD engineer. We'd recommend strengthening your maths and coding skills. Undertake a minimum of 10-12 projects that uses different simulation tools. Our CFD Masters & HEV programs allow you to build a strong portfolio this way. 

What is the Placement Process for CFD Master's Candidates?

Here, we provide you with a job assistance program. Upon completing the course, our career team helps you shape your portfolio, resume, and LinkedIn profile. We even roll out Letter of Recommendation to those who perform supremely well. It is teamwork of your efforts + our guidance. 

Automation is Rising. What Does the Future Look for CFD as an Industry?

Yes, automation is rising exponentially. But this does not pose a threat to the CFD industry, except for the pre-processing application stage. For one, the individual who writes and conducts automation in CFD needs to have a strong working knowledge of the industry. This is where the CFD engineers will be in action. 

Even if a company's operation necessitates using Machine Learning (ML) to CFD processing, it is imperative that a CFD professional undertake this activity (with a working knowledge of ML and related automation technicalities).