April 2014 Summaries

Rescale aims to overcome the hardware and software resource constraints that engineers face when running simulations, offering on-demand access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources. This access enables engineers to explore new engineering challenges and improve simulation fidelity without the need for significant upfront investments in infrastructure or software licensing. By lowering the barriers to entry, engineers can conduct more extensive design space explorations, utilize algorithmic design development, and perform multidisciplinary analysis and co-simulation, which are critical for innovation across industries like aerospace, life sciences, and electronics design. The on-demand model also allows for more dynamic resource allocation and budgeting, helping management to directly correlate simulation investments with returns on investment, thereby enhancing the role of simulation in the product development process.

The SAE 2014 World Congress in Detroit highlighted a growing connection between Silicon Valley and the automotive industry, with cloud-based simulation emerging as a key area of interest for engineers and developers. The event underscored the shift towards leveraging high-performance computing resources on-demand to address the complexity and time constraints of automotive design, with cloud simulation seen as a natural evolution. Young engineers, well-versed in modern technological tools, are entering a revitalized job market in Detroit, bringing fresh perspectives to an industry long associated with traditional manufacturing. This convergence of new talent, innovative cloud solutions, and a robust job market is transforming the automotive sector, with significant investments being made in cloud strategies to enhance areas such as material composition, aerodynamics, and hybrid powertrain research. The discussions at SAE confirmed that cloud-based simulation is pivotal in shaping a dynamic and evolving automotive landscape, offering scalable resources that drive research and development in electric, hybrid, and natural gas technologies.

Rescale offers a comprehensive suite of simulation and workflow software tools, partnering with key software vendors to ensure users have access to necessary simulation packages like Abaqus, CONVERGE, LS-DYNA, Nastran, and Fluent. To facilitate ease of use, they provide various resources, including written tutorials, step-by-step instructions, and video tutorials, to guide users in running simulations on their customizable HPC platform. These resources are designed to accommodate both users who seek in-depth guidance and those with limited time. Recent collaborations include video tutorials with Siemens and Ricardo Software, demonstrating specific applications like predicting automotive sound pressure with NX Nastran and executing a Ricardo Wave RDM simulation. Rescale continually updates its Resources page with new materials and invites users to suggest additional tutorial topics via email.

On April 7th, a critical vulnerability in the widely-used OpenSSL cryptographic software library, known as the Heartbleed bug, was discovered, allowing memory content leaks between servers and clients. In response, measures were taken including patching systems with a secure OpenSSL version, generating and installing new SSL certificates, revoking old ones, and resetting all active browser sessions. Users will need to log back into the Rescale platform, and ongoing monitoring will ensure continued security updates, with further inquiries directed to Rescale Engineering.