This week’s news includes a long introduction to quantum computing that’s worth reading just in case we’ll be running CFD on such things. Lots of CFD applications are included, such as the one shown here about data used to validate CFD for cyclists. And do come see us if you’ll be in Dallas next week for AIAA Aviation. But we begin with several articles on meshing including an object that probably hasn’t been meshed before.

Meshing

Hex meshing for FEA in MSC Apex. Image from mscsoftware.com. See link below.

• No better way to start this post but with some meshing, specifically an introduction to hex meshing from MSC Apex. What are their key points? The geometry must be loftable and the mesh must consider subsequent features. (See image above.)
• “Hexahedral mesh generation is an art.”
• What’s new in Femap 2019.1.
• From the “I’ve never seen that meshed before” category comes the bird’s nest shown below, scanned and meshed with Simpleware and simulated with Abaqus.

Mesh of a bird’s nest from Simpleware for a structural simulation using Abaqus. Image from 3ds.com. See link above.

Pointwise, Meshing, and AIAA Aviation

If you’ll be attending AIAA Aviation next week in Dallas here’s how our paths may cross.

• Presentation: “Progress in Geometry Modeling and Mesh Generation Toward the CFD Vision 2030”
• Presentation: “Mixed-Order Curving for Viscous Meshes”
• Presentation: “Summary of Exascale and Remeshing Efforts for the Second Geometry and Mesh Generation Workshop”
• Exhibit Hall: Booth 314
• Oh, we’re also hosting a reception to celebrate our 25th anniversary.

Read all the details on our website.

And AIAA will be having their Twitter contest again so tweet using #aiaaAviation for fun and maybe for a prize.

CFD for…

• cyclist drag.
• Automotive heat exchangers for water vapor recovery.
• weather modeling.
• rotating detonation engines. (See image below.)
• invisible doors.
• cryogenic storage of liquids.

CFD results for a rotating detonation engine performed by Argonne National Lab in collaboration with Convergent Science. Image from newswire.com. See link above.

Software

• Caelus v9.04 includes updated thermophysical and Lagrangian libraries and more.
• C3D Viewer 2019 has been released for free geometry model viewing.
• New [to me] is CFD consultancy NDS Aerodynamics.

Computing

• In computing news, Microsoft will be shipping a Linux kernel with Windows.
• Because quantum computing is often hypothesized as a future platform for CFD, you might want to read Quantum Computing for the Very Curious.
  • “In Turing’s day, however, the idea of a universal programmable computer was remarkable. Turing was arguing that a single, fixed device could imitate any algorithmic process whatsoever, provided the right program was supplied. It was an amazing leap of imagination, and the foundation of modern computing.”
  • “physicist David Deutsch suggested a deeper approach to the problem of defining what is meant by an algorithm. Deutsch pointed out that every algorithm is carried out by a physical system, whether it be a mathematician with paper-and-pencil, a mechanical system such as an abacus, or a modern computer. Deutsch then considered the following question (I’ve slightly rephrased to make it easier to read): Is there a (single) universal computing device which can efficiently simulate any other physical system?”
• Old news by now but Cray was acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise for $1.3 billion.
• [Easiest to just quote the article directly:] “AMD and Microsoft Azure announced the achievement of previously unobtainable levels of performance for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) using an Azure HB cloud instance running on a 1st Gen AMD EPYC-processor-based system.”

Events

• The 3rd AIAA Sonic Boom Prediction Workshop will be held the weekend prior to AIAA SciTech 2020 (4-5 January) in Orlando. It’s too late to register as a participant but attending would still be worth your time.
• An interview with the co-founder of Elemental Numerics.

A Job & Viz

• CHAM has an opening in London for a CAD and GUI Software Development Engineer.
• From Visualizing Data comes best of the visualization web for March 2019.

Mesh or Textile or What?

This week I found two artworks that, to me, are very similar.

The folks at Colossal shared the work of Alice Pegna who, in her exploration of unusual materials, used uncooked spaghetti to create polygonal structures around the human body in an attempt to redefine both. You can read more about project Ex Nihilo on the artist’s website.

Alice Pegna, Ex Nihilo. Image from colossal.com. See links above.

And then there’s the work of Leonor Antunes who transforms everyday objects into abstract sculptures that redefine modernism by drawing influences from the past.

Both artists use simple materials and a grid motif to define space.

Leonor Antunes, title unknown. Image from kurimanzutto.com. See link above.