As technology progresses, the software tools we use to design, simulate, and validate designs gain new features and capabilities. Unfortunately, those new features and capabilities usually increase computational capacity requirements to the point that the computational capacity of workstations and PCs are now being stretched to the limit, resulting in longer simulation and validation times. Cloud-based computing can solve this problem by pulling in additional computational resources as required, and offers the added benefit of improving collaboration capability among different sites.
The recently announced partnership between ESI and Huawei combines ESI’s software tools with Huawei’s cloud computing platform. ESI, a recognized leader providing virtual prototyping and computer-aided engineering (CAE)tools,is partnering with Huawei to develop a CAE public cloud solution, which will make their tools more accessible worldwide.This platform integrates ESI’s CAE and virtual prototype capabilities with Huawei’s high-performance computing infrastructure to provide modeling, visualization, and collaboration through a browser-based interface.
The partnership plans to support a range of CAD, CAE, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and virtualization tools on this platform.Currently available tools include:
● Virtual Performance Solution, a flexible compute-on-demand resource allocator
● CFD using a popular open source solver
● OpenFOAM, ESI’s sand casting application
Global availability of the platform and interface will enhance ESI’s Hybrid Virtual Twin solution. A hybrid model that combines and integrates performance data measured on actual products in the field with design and simulation data provides a more accurate comparison between design performance and experienced performance. Design models can be updated with the latest data from the field to support product improvement and provide complete product performance lifecycle evaluation.
The cloud-based computing platform simplifies the process of gathering performance data needed for virtual twin modeling. Engineers will no longer have to gather files at geographically diverse locations, transport them to a common location, and then integrate them into the model - the enhanced capabilities allow them to upload performance data directly and analyze the virtual twin from anywhere in the world. The time savings could be significant, particularly when large numbers of products are evaluated.
The partnership was just announced at the Hannover Messe show in April 2017. More information is available at the show site and on the websites for ESI and Huawei.