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Aerodynamics

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Prior to CFD in order to understand a body’s aerodynamic performance, one would need to create a scale model of the body and then use a wind tunnel to analyze its performance. This was costly and made iterating on the design challenge, limiting the aerodynamic design and optimization capabilities.

CFD completely changed industries related to aerodynamics. With computer simulations generated by CFD we can create a model, analyze it for aerodynamics and then iterate on the design with insights from the analysis. CFD accelerates the aerodynamic design and optimization process and makes iterating on a design affordable.

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CFD can be applied to not only validate and optimize aircraft, automobiles, and other products for aerodynamics, but it can also be applied to better understand wind loading on structures such as high-rise buildings, wind turbines, and bridges.

 

This can be critical for buildings with geometrical irregularities, dense urban areas where wind loads can be complicated due to surrounding structures, and for structures where wind load requirements can add significant costs in reinforcement. With an understanding of accurate wind loads, the structural system of a building can be optimized and the potential for failure due to missing a critical wind load scenario can be averted.

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We implement today’s most advanced CFD software along with highly trained engineers to generate accurate models for design validation and optimization using a data-driven iteration process so that your products and designs are more competitive in today’s market.

Example Applications

• Aircraft

• Automobiles

• Wind Turbines

• Turbines

• Structures – Bridges & Buildings

• Rockets & Spacecraft

 

Heat Transfer

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Fluids are frequently used for heat transfer whether through the use of fans, heatsinks or liquids. Fans use convection to carry heat away from components by increasing the flow rate of air and therefore the number of particles that can accept energy to cool a component. Heatsinks have a high amount of surface area exposed to air which significantly increases convective cooling. Liquid cooling offers even greater heat transfer and cooling properties and is used in many applications where cooling requirements are demanding such as electronic packaging, motor/generators, heat exchangers, and de-icing systems.

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Whenever fluids are involved with heat transfer a coupled fluid-solid CFD analysis is used  to ensure the convection portion of the energy balance is calculated accurately.  Regular finite element analysis is capable of accurately simulating conduction, and radiation heat transfer. Only CFD has the ability to calculate the flow conditions within complex geometry to accurately simulate convection heat transfer. The coupled fluid-solid CFD combines these analysis capabilities into a single computer model.

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Coupled fluid-solid CFD analyses have the capability to generate an accurate heat transfer model and guide the design iteration process without the need for creating an expensive physical prototype. Because materials thermally expand and do it at different rates, temperate change and thermal gradients create forces within and between components of a structural system.   On the structural side of engineering, we call this the thermal load and it must be included to fully understand the durability of many systems.  A coupled fluid-solid CFD is commonly used to calculate the thermal load.

Example Applications

• Electronics

• Engines

• Turbines

• Rocket Valves

• Cooling Systems

• Power Plants

• Spacecraft

Hydrodynamics

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Whether you’re looking to reduce heat loss in a pipeline or drag on a ship to improve fuel economy, having a strong understanding of hydrodynamic performance is critical when making design improvements. With the use of CFD, we can generate particle tracking models to determine velocity, pressure, drag, laminar vs turbulent flow, and more.

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CFD applies Navier-Stokes equations to large and complicated models in order to simulate fluid characteristics. With the results generated from the CFD model, we can determine design changes to improve performance and affordably iterate on the design without the need of creating expensive physical models.

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We use CFD as a cost-effective way to validate and optimize hydrodynamic designs prior to the need for expensive physical testing.

Example Applications

• Watercraft

• Submarines

• Pipelines

• Water management

Icing

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Icing analyses are used to predict where and if the ice will tend to build upon an aircraft or other structure.

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Aircraft depend upon the shape of their wings to develop lift with a minimum of drag.  Freezing rain or suspending water particles can accumulate rapidly on an aircraft changing the wing's shape, adding weight, and increasing drag with catastrophic consequences. As a result, icing conditions are avoided whenever possible. However, some aircraft are expected to operate regardless of conditions and all aircraft have the potential for some exposure.  For these aircraft, understanding where ice will tend to build up is critical for the design of heating and other anti-ice systems.

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The icing analysis combines CFD with a specialized particle tracking algorithm. Using this software we can analyze for airflow, droplet size, ice accretion, and de-icing heat loads.

Aircraft designed to tolerate icing have heating elements or expandable bladders located where ice builds ups. These devices are too expensive to place everywhere. As a result, an icing analysis is highly desired to gain insight as to where to locate the anti-ice components.

Example Applications

• Aircraft

Microfluidics

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Microfluidics is coming to revolutionize many industries. Set to disrupt clinical diagnostics, drug detection, defense, explosive detection, and more through accelerating detection and reducing costs. While microfluidics is still primarily only found in research labs and startups, they are slowly beginning to emerge into the market as manufacturing costs are driven down. With an abundance of potential applications and variable chip designs, it is an exciting time to be involved in the development of microfluidics.

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We apply CFD to the microfluidics development process in order to accelerate development, optimize flow designs, and increase channel density on chips. CFD and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in combination allow us to implement design revisions to generate working designs, maximize the number of channels on a chip, locate points of sample contamination, and use analytical data to drive design optimization. CFD also allows us the ability to generate model validation prior to chip fabrication for use in proposals, or pitches.

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Our engineering and manufacturing experience can also assist with the development of microfluidic chip mass production. We have a culture focused on design for manufacturability.

 

Example Applications

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• Drug Detection

• Clinical Diagnostics

• Explosive Detection

• Mass Production

 

Multiphysics

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Many products and designs need the combination of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and CFD in order to provide accurate models. We use multiphysics analysis to simulate multiple physical phenomena to provide accurate models.

Example Applications

• Coupled Fluid-Solid Heat Transfer

• Fluid-Solid Interaction (fluid loads)