September 2013 Summaries

Engineers and scientists often face challenges in managing vast amounts of simulation data, which can impede their focus on product development and design iteration. This issue arises as simulations become more complex, leading to larger and more numerous input and output files, some exceeding 100GB, and requiring multiple iterations and versions for a single project. The accumulation of redundant and unnecessary data complicates file sharing and tracking, resulting in wasted time. Rescale addresses this problem by providing low-cost cloud HPC storage and features like Clone and Share, which streamline file management by automating the association, transfer, and version control of simulation data. This automation facilitates efficient metadata management, collaboration, and informed decision-making, thus allowing engineers and scientists to focus on solving real engineering challenges.

The Rescale University Program (ReUP) Simulation Research Grant competition, aimed at enabling university researchers in engineering and science to conduct simulations using high-performance cloud computing, concluded with various awards announced. Participants submitted proposals detailing their research problems and intended use of Rescale's secure, web-based platform. Notable winners included Dr. Alison Marsden from the University of California San Diego, who will use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to improve pediatric heart surgery devices, and a team from the University of California San Francisco modeling dialysis access with numerical simulations. Dr. Gasser Abdelal and Dr. Anthony Robotham received third place for their work on simulating lightning strike effects on composite structures. Additionally, three honorable mentions were awarded, and all winners received Rescale credits to facilitate their research. The winners have until January 17th to complete their simulations and produce case studies of their findings.

Rescale and Convergent Science have formed a strategic partnership to integrate CONVERGE™ CFD software with Rescale's cloud-based simulation platform, offering users the ability to run complex simulations with pay-per-use pricing. This collaboration introduces "CONVERGE™ in the cloud," a scalable solution that enhances computing and licensing flexibility for users. Rescale provides a secure, web-based platform with high-performance computing capabilities, full simulation tool integration, and an intuitive interface, ensuring data security and user confidence. This partnership aims to eliminate computational and licensing bottlenecks, giving CONVERGE™ users more freedom in conducting CFD analyses. Customers interested in utilizing this service are encouraged to contact Rescale for more information.

Rescale recently completed a cloud-based aerospace simulation project with Bombardier Aerospace, demonstrating the viability and advantages of industrial-scale simulation in the cloud for engineering and scientific applications. The project, part of an HPC experiment by Ubercloud, utilized open-source data and tools to simulate unsteady airflow around aircraft landing gear, using the Gerris software and model files from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Rescale's platform provided a browser-based simulation environment that facilitated setup, execution, and real-time visualization of results, allowing the engineer to access significant computing resources efficiently. The final analysis required substantial computational power and memory, concluding after 10 days and producing 60GB of results for further analysis. The customer praised Rescale's responsiveness and intuitive interface, highlighting its effectiveness for complex computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis. Rescale offers comprehensive support for industrial-grade simulations through its software access, high-performance computing capabilities, and expert engineering assistance.