Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Elements Analysis

[s.mosfet]

I would like to know the main differences between these two method.
Particularly, i'm interested in the numerical study of the natural convection with Matlab.
Maybe someone can help me...Any help about this particular study is welcome (matlab, which method to use..etc..)
Thanks

[Time]

Finite element analysis is simply one method for numerically solving a dynamic fluid system.

[Zad]

I imagine that FEA models are generally rigid, or at least semi-rigid and consist of connected polygons, whereas CFD may well be unconnected (free) particle based.

[Mechatrommer]

each node has parameter of how strong they are connected to adjacent nodes. the lower the parm, less rigid it is hence, more fluid, and will affect the load/force distribution. at least thats what i imagined (half read the book long time ago) but i never got passed that subject. that realm only lies in the software (tool) that the engineers used.

last time my discussion with marine eng. friend was that they use Navier-Stoke Equation to solve fluid problem. i guess thats fully pure continuous mathematical system. in order to calculate it numerically, FEA is used... i guess.

[Time]

You can apply the FEA approach to any system governed by partial differential equations.  In this case the system is a fluid dynamics system.  Depending on the boundary conditions in your system, what you are trying to do might be easily achievable in matlab (analyzing a CFD system with an FEA approach).  The really tricky part about the stuff is doing it efficiently and quickly.  I think the kicker is your algorithm used for solving and dividing down your polygon matrix.