The Advanced Aerodynamics and Multiphysics (AAM) team is a research group (made up of around twenty people) at the Centre Européen de Recherche et de Formation Avancée en Calcul Scientifique (CERFACS).

The AAM team is dedicated to the development of innovative numerical methods, physical modelling and high-performance computing (HPC) techniques for new CFD solvers. In close collaboration with CERFACS partners, the work focuses on fluid dynamics simulations for aircraft, rockets and turbomachinery.

Among the innovative numerical approaches developed by the team is the spectral difference method (SDM), a discontinuous high-order method well suited to high-fidelity unsteady simulations. This technique enables fine resolution of turbulent structures, while being optimised for modern parallel architectures. At the same time, the team is contributing to the development of solvers based on the Boltzmann lattice method (LBM), a promising alternative to traditional methods, distinguished by its algorithmic simplicity, its natural ability to handle complex geometries and its performance in HPC. These two approaches offer complementary solutions for efficiently modelling realistic flows in complex industrial environments.

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Airflow simulation around aircrafts, engines, buildings …

The AAM team focuses on flow simulation while developing advanced numerical methods applied to planes, rockets, helicopters, car engines, turbines, etc. The CFD team is strongly tied to other teams like GLOBC or PAE that also use CFD to forecast climate changes or the environmental impact of aviation: indeed, behind these themes, the equations that govern fluid flows are to be found first.

Calculate this engine before building it !

The AAM team develops essential tools in numerous applicative fields with a today well-known leitmotiv in the industrial world: let's calculate systems (planes, engines) before building them. This allows to reduce the cost of testing by one order of magnitude.  The AAM team is at the centre of this research along with its shareholders.

CFD is also a field where High Performance Computing is to be found : CFD simulations rely on fine computational grids with billions of points running on million-core supercomputers. Performing reliable and efficient calculations is another main focus for which Cerfacs is recognized as a key partner.

Aerodynamics and optimization. Author: Julien Laurenceau Combustion chambers Power gas turbines. Author(s): P. Schmitt – Credit: CERFACS Aero gas turbines. Y. Sommerer and M. Boileau Turbomachinery CFD-Tandem_T-Heat Transfer Turbomachinery CFD_Turbomachinery Explosions in building Two phase flows: Author(s): J.-M. Senoner and M. Sanjosé – Credit: CERFACS