Software

Autodesk Project Ventus

• Autodesk Project Ventus [likely a variation on the Latin ventum meaning wind] is now available to shrink wrap a model and create a CFD quality mesh for their Simulation CFD product. Watch a video about it here.
• If you have point cloud data you need converted to geometry, in early 2015 you’ll be able to try Thinkbox’s recently announced Sequoia.
• Meshmixer v2.5 is now available.
• I can’t tell whether this is a new project or not, but on SourceForge you can get OpenFOAM for MS Windows.
• In case there was any lingering confusion about Autodesk’s acquisition of NEi Nastran [or parts thereof or whatever], Autodesk Nastran 2015 has been announced.

Applications & Other News

This LES computation of the wake behind SWiFT wind turbine was computed using the VWiS code from U. of Minnesota. Image from Windpower Engineering and Development. Click image for article.

• Flow Science shares this video of a mixing tank simulation computed with FLOW-3D.
• CD-adapco shares this video demonstration of how to simulate fuel tank sloshing with STAR-CCM+.
• Here’s a case study showing how use of a private cloud reduced simulation cost by 40%.
• For more cloud-based reading, Rescale writes about a couple of their software partners. And Rescale announced the availability of AVL Fire.
• General Motors has an open position in Michigan for a Senior Vehicle Aerodynamics and Aero-Acoustics CFD Engineer.

Reading

• This is the best [only?] resource on hexagonal grid generation I’ve ever seen. [Not hexahedral grid generation.]
• CD-adapco wrote about their global academic program which I think is great. We have a very large academic program as well. But one statement in the article got my attention: “Employers want engineering graduates to have experience using the same engineering tools they themselves use.” As you can see from the comments, if an engineering degree is about learning specific tools we’ve reduced it to a trade school.
• Symscape takes a page from FYFD’s playbook with fluid visualization in nature. And they also published their newsletter for August 2014. [I like the heading “Design is Compromise.”]
• The Gothenburg Region OpenFOAM User Group Meeting will be held on 12 Nov 2014.

Not Meshing – Metaphysics

This video by Ben Ridgway has absolutely nothing to do with mesh generation or CFD but I thought I’d share it anyway. Cosmic Flower Unfolding investigates “the metaphysical features of reality.” For those of you who grew up in the 1970s like me, some of these visuals might be familiar – if you know what I mean.

Cosmic Flower Unfolding by Ben Ridgway. As first seen on Colossal. Click image for video.