CrunchYard has spent over a decade applying high performance computing capabilities to a wide range of scenarios, problems and use cases. Our payoff line says we offer the POWER TO SIMULATE – ANYTHING – and we mean it. Some of the biggest challenges of our age can be solved quicker and better through the use of true HPC capabilities. In this blog, we look at HPC applications in Computational Fluid Dynamics.
Fluid dynamics is a subdiscipline of fluid mechanics – and describes the flow of fluids, both liquids and gasses. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to analyse and solve problems that involve fluid flows. Its most obvious applications are in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.
By applying computational techniques, scientists and engineers can simulate the behaviour of fluids (liquids and gases) and predict their patterns under various conditions. This enables better designs, cost savings, increased efficiencies and more.
CFD can be applied in a wide range of fields and industries to solve real-world problems. Some of the industries that utilise CFD include:
- Aerospace Engineering:
- Aircraft Design: CFD is used to optimize the shape of aircraft components, such as wings and fuselages, to improve aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency.
- Spacecraft: Simulation of re-entry vehicles to understand heat transfer and aerodynamic forces.
- Automotive Engineering:
- Vehicle Aerodynamics: Enhancing the aerodynamic efficiency of cars to reduce drag and improve fuel economy.
- Engine Combustion: Analysing and optimizing combustion processes in internal combustion engines for better performance and lower emissions.
- Civil Engineering:
- Wind Loads on Structures: Evaluating the impact of wind on buildings and bridges to ensure structural integrity and safety.
- Environmental Impact Studies: Simulating the dispersion of pollutants in air and water bodies.
- Marine Engineering:
- Ship Design: Optimizing hull shapes to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
- Offshore Structures: Analysing the impact of waves and currents on offshore platforms and wind turbines.
- Medical Engineering:
- Blood Flow Simulation: Studying blood flow in arteries and veins to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
- Respiratory Flows: Modelling airflow in the human respiratory system to improve the design of medical devices such as inhalers and ventilators.
- HVAC and Building Design:
- Thermal Comfort: Designing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to ensure optimal thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings.
- Fire Safety: Simulating fire and smoke propagation to improve building safety and evacuation plans.
CFD Simulations offer substantial benefits to users. It offers cost efficiency as it reduces the need for expensive physical prototypes and experiments. It provides comprehensive data on fluid behaviour that can be difficult, or even impossible, to measure experimentally. It allows for the optimisation of designs and processes before implementation and it enhances the safety and reliability of designs by predicting potential issues in advance.
The specialised nature of CFD has led to a very large range of software packages. CrunchYard works with all software solutions so that users of all types and sizes can enjoy the benefit of true, managed high performance computing.
A not comprehensive list of CFD simulation software packages would include:
Commercial CFD Software
- ANSYS Fluent: Comprehensive solver, multiphysics integration; used in aerospace, automotive, HVAC.
- ANSYS CFX: High-performance, turbomachinery focus; used in aerospace, power generation.
- STAR-CCM+ (Siemens): Integrated CFD and multiphysics, advanced automation; used in automotive, aerospace, marine.
- COMSOL Multiphysics: Multiphysics simulations; used in biomedical, environmental.
- Autodesk CFD: User-friendly, cloud-based, CAD integration; used in building design, electronics cooling.
- Altair AcuSolve: Robust solver, strong in structural analysis; used in aerospace, automotive.
- CFX: General-purpose, strong in rotating machinery; used in aerospace, chemical processes.
- Flow-3D: Specializes in free-surface flows; used in water engineering, metal casting.
- AVL FIRE: Internal combustion engine focus; used in automotive, power generation.
- SimScale: Cloud-based platform; used in architectural engineering, HVAC.
Open-Source CFD Software
- OpenFOAM: Customizable and extensible; used in academic research, automotive.
- SU2: Aerodynamic shape optimization; used in aerospace, research.
- DualSPHysics: Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics; used in environmental and coastal engineering.
- Palabos: Lattice Boltzmann method; used in biomedical, porous media.
- Elmer: Multiphysics with strong CFD; used in research, environmental engineering.
- Code_Saturne: General-purpose, industrial applications; used in energy, research.
Specialised CFD Software
- FINE/Turbo (Numeca): Turbomachinery; used in aerospace, automotive.
- XFlow (Next Limit): Particle-based Lattice Boltzmann; used in aerospace, marine.
- MSC Cradle (MSC Software): High-fidelity solver, multiphase; used in automotive, building design.
- EXA PowerFLOW: Lattice Boltzmann method; used in automotive, aerospace.
Academic and Research-Oriented CFD Software
- Nek5000: Spectral element method; used in turbulence research.
- NekRS: GPU-accelerated Nek5000; used in large-scale simulations.
- Turbostream: Turbomachinery CFD; used in research and design.
- CFD-ACE+ (ESI Group): General-purpose with multiphysics; used in aerospace, electronics.
CrunchYard has over a decade of experience creating bespoke HPC Systems and can customise your Office HPC Unit as required (they also have a range of workstations and larger HPC solutions).
For more information on how Office HPC can work for you, or to have any of your other HPC questions answered, visit crunchyard.com or send us a mail and an expert will be glad to help.
info@crunchyard.com