This Week in CFD

News

Symscape makes the case for wacky CFD. Image from Symscape. Click image for article.

Symscape makes the case for wacky CFD. Image from Symscape. Click image for article.

Software

  • [At the risk of being a jerk], the article 7 Challenges CFD Engineers Face and How They Can be Solved with the Use of Simulation Tools leaves me scratching my head. For example, #3 is Presenting Data to a Non-Technical Audience – which truly is a challenge – mentions “appealing display” and “colours [sic] or contours.” I’ll propose that non-technical consumers of simulation results need to receive data in the same form as any other engineering data; presented as performance maps in the vernacular of the application domain. [Every time this issue comes up I’m reminded of the “machine that goes ping.”]
  • How does cloud-based software address the issues of crashes and data loss? [Can’t we address this on the desktop too?]
  • Beta CAE announced the release of v16.2.1 of their software suite.
  • Frustrum announced the beta of the new Generate software that promises to integrate design and topology optimization.
  • Looking for free, open source, 3D CAD? 3D CAD World lists several options for you.

Applications

Sample simulation of a Jaguar vehicle using Exa's software. Image from imeche.org. See link below.

Sample simulation of a Jaguar vehicle using Exa’s software. Image from imeche.org. See link below.

Structured and Unstructured Art

Serendipity led me to London’s Jessica Carlisle gallery where I found artists exploring both structured and unstructured grid motifs.

Vera Boele-Keimer explores (dis)order, and searches for a balance between stability and fragility – as though she’s generated structured grids before.

Vera Boele Keimer, Woodblock (Blue, Green, Yellow), 2012. Image from Jessica Carlisle Gallery. Click image for source.

Vera Boele Keimer, Woodblock (Blue, Green, Yellow), 2012. Image from Jessica Carlisle Gallery. Click image for source.

Katrina Blannin, on the other hand, goes for the unstructured mesh motif through works that are rule-based (Delaunay?) yet allow her to explore tonal variations that produce visual rhythms. The work shown below looks like it could be a screen shot from Pointwise.

Katrina Blannin, Double Hexad Black Naples, 2013. Image from Jessica Carlisle Gallery. Click image for source.

Katrina Blannin, Double Hexad Black Naples, 2013. Image from Jessica Carlisle Gallery. Click image for source.

Bonus: Alert reader Tessa Uroic found the structured grid below IRL in Porto, Portugal.

Tessa-Uroic-grid-Porto-Portugal

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1 Response to This Week in CFD

  1. John Chawner says:

    I know it’s uncool to be the first to comment on your own blog post but…

    Two people have pointed out to me that “colour” is the correct British/Canadian way to spell the word us Yanks spell as “color” and therefore my inclusion of “[sic]” (from the Latin sic erat scriptum meaning “intentionally so written”) was erroneous.

    My sense of humor (humour?) is sometimes too dry. My inclusion of “[sic]” was meant as a playful needling of our friends across the pond (pound?).

    Vive la difference! (From the French meaning “Never make fun of my writing.”)

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