  This article considers the NURBS-Enhanced Finite Element Method (NEFEM)
applied to the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. NEFEM, in contrast to
conventional finite element formulations, utilizes a NURBS-based computational
domain representation. Such representations are typically available from
Computer-Aided-Design tools. Within the NEFEM, the NURBS boundary definition is
utilized only for elements that are touching the domain boundaries. The
remaining interior of the domain is discretized using standard finite elements.
Contrary to isogeometric analysis, no volume splines are necessary. The key
technical features of NEFEM will be discussed in detail, followed by a set of
numerical examples that are used to compare NEFEM against conventional finite
element methods with the focus on compressible flow.
