Modelling Computational Fluid Dynamics with Swarm Behaviour

Abstract

The paper looks at replacing the current top-down approach to modelling, predominantly used in dynamic simulation tools, with a nature inspired bottom-up approach based on principles of swarming. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is chosen for this research, as one of the most time-consuming processes under the traditional simulation approach. Generally based on Navier-Stokes simultaneous differential equations, CFD requires considerable user preparation time and considerable CPU execution time. The main reason is that the top-down equations represent the system as a whole and generate a large solution space, requiring a solver to find a solution. However, air and building materials do not have cognitive capabilities to solve systems of equations in order to ‘know’ how to transfer heat. Instead, heat transfer occurs through proximity interaction between molecules, leading to self-organised behaviour that is much faster than the behaviour modelled by the top-down systems of equations. The paper investigates how the bottom-up approach using the principles of swarming could improve the speed and interactivity of CFD simulation.