Altair Releases New Version of Its Industry-Leading AcuSolve CFD Simulation Tool

TROY, Mich., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair Engineering, Inc., today announced the release of AcuSolve V1.8b, a powerful new version of its industry-leading finite element based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software within the HyperWorks suite of computer-aided engineering solutions. The advanced analysis tool, which offers superior robustness, speed and accuracy for analyzing complex designs driven by multiphysics and multidisciplinary simulations, introduces many new features and improvements in its post-processing, solver and pre-processing capabilities while dramatically enhancing the user experience.

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Post-processor: Managing more complex CFD data

AcuSolve V1.8b offers a new and improved version of AcuFieldView. This OEM version of Intelligent Light's class-leading FieldView CFD post-processor furnishes the ability to manage large and complex CFD data visualization requirements.  It incorporates Intelligent Light's most recent advancements in FieldView, including a new codebase that produces optimized graphics performance and a common graphical user interface (GUI) on all platforms.

The new AcuFieldView provides eight-way parallel operation instead of the standard four-way parallel FieldView base model. As a result, it is able to manage the largest AcuSolve results efficiently, with no model size limits or feature restrictions. With the addition of AcuFieldView to AcuSolve, users gain complete CFD capability, from pre-processing through solver solutions and post-processing, all within the AcuSolve solution environment. Customers will have access to these capabilities through their purchased pool of HyperWorks Units, the innovative token-based licensing model from Altair.

Solver: New turbulence models and viscoelastic material model

The AcuSolve V1.8b solver implements three new turbulence models:

• SST (Menter's Shear Stress Transport model)
• SST-DES (SST-Detached Eddy Simulation model)
• k-omega (2008 Variant of Wilcox's k-omega model)

The addition of these new turbulence models provides a broader selection of turbulence modeling options within AcuSolve. Extensive work has been done to produce a robust implementation with an optimal convergence rate. These selections add to AcuSolve's existing key turbulence models including LES (Large Eddy Simulation), DES (Detached Eddy Simulation), and other RANS models.

Pre-Processing: Edge-based surface mesh extrusions

AcuSolve V1.8b features full support for edge-based surface mesh extrusions through the AcuConsole GUI. With this powerful technique, users can mesh highly anisotropic (directionally dependent) features while retaining the simplicity and flexibility of automatic unstructured meshing on complex geometries.

Other features in the new release serve to increase performance and further improve the user experience. For example, compared to the previous AcuSolve version, improvements on domain decomposition for massively parallel applications allow V1.8b to deliver as much as a 15-times reduction in pre-processing time on large models with high core counts. This dramatic performance improvement comes at no expense in memory consumption.

"AcuSolve is highly valued for its speed, accuracy and robustness that make it the technology leader for CFD simulations," said Farzin Shakib, vice president of CFD technology at Altair. "This release continues to build AcuSolve's reputation for providing high-quality, fast, and robust solutions by introducing new physical models, techniques to reduce computation time, and a powerful post-processing solution."

Registered Altair clients can download AcuSolve from the HyperWorks software downloads site and use it with their current HyperWorks license.

About HyperWorks

HyperWorks, a Platform for Innovation, is a comprehensive simulation solution for rapid design exploration and decision-making. HyperWorks provides a tightly integrated suite of best-in-class tools for all facets of the simulation process: modeling, analysis, optimization, visualization, reporting and collaborative knowledge management. Leveraging a revolutionary pay-per-usage licensing model, HyperWorks delivers maximum value and flexibility for customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.altairhyperworks.com. Don't miss the opportunity to join Altair and hundreds of other industry experts at the 2012 HyperWorks Technology Conference in Detroit May 15-17, 2012. Visit www.altairhtc.com/na for more details.

About Altair

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,500 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 26-year track record for high-end software and consulting services for engineering, computing and enterprise analytics, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com and www.simulatetoinnovate.com.

SOURCE Altair Engineering, Inc.