Intelligent Light Awarded NASA SBIR for Development of Specialized Post-Processing System for Large, Unsteady CFD Simulations

Intelligent Light has been awarded a NASA Phase 1 SBIR contract to develop a specialized prototype post-processing system designed for large rotorcraft acoustics problems. This system is designated as RCAAPS - Rotorcraft Computational Aero-Acoustics Post-processing System. It is designed to expedite the exploration of large transient datasets that result from multi-physics based (i.e. Large-Eddy Simulation with aero-elasticity and acoustics) simulations as it pertains to rotorcraft performance predictions especially maneuver. Under the contract, Intelligent Light Applied Research Group (ARG) will develop a breakthrough visualization system prototype capable of exploiting contemporary hardware systems during both compute and data handling. The prototype system developed under this SBIR will revolutionize the way investigators explore large datasets and allows for more complete and thorough use of CFD and acoustics data.

RCAAPS has two potential benefits to NASA: as a highly effective tool to advance the usefulness of rotor-craft simulations and as a post-processing tool to support all types of unsteady design and analysis tools. RCAAPS's primary focus is aeroacoustics, which has application in environmental noise reduction for rotorcraft and fixed wing aircraft in high-lift configurations. The fundamental technologies (integrated high-performance parallel I/O, high performance CFD-specific numerical methods, 'point and click' interrogation of large unsteady data) will be applied to future software development including and will benefit users of FIELDVIEW and FIELDVIEW eXtreme.

Aero-acoustic analysis is of high importance to manufacturers of both fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft. A system such as RCAAPS will significantly advance the tools available to US industry for the design and analysis of environmental noise from such machines; a growing priority for both combat and commercial operations. The technology will benefit CFD practitioners utilizing large unsteady simulations for any application. RCAAPS will become a critical tool for the development of future designs in aerospace, automotive, and wind turbines that feature lower airflow-induced noise than current technologies.

"Rotorcraft airflows are highly complex and unsteady. The size of the datasets are large and growing and as we look toward multi-terabyte, high resolution unsteady datasets, a more powerful and efficient system is needed," said Earl P. N. Duque, manager of Intelligent Light's Applied Research Group and principal investigator on this project. "The RCAAPS program takes a holistic view of the CFD simulation process and the specific demands of post-processing to increase capability and throughput. The anticipated benefits will enable a dramatic leap forward in the use of large scale unsteady simulations for aeroacoustics and CFD."

Collaborating investigator Professor Kenneth Brentner of Penn State University and Dr. Duque are two of the world's leading experts on rotorcraft simulation. Their respective expertise in computational aeroacoustics and the application of CFD for aeromechanics provide the engineering platform for the development of this new visualization system.

Dr. Duque leads the Applied Research Group which consists of a team of CFD and computer science experts that possess the experience and deep expertise required to collaborate with leaders in CFD around the world. With expert team members in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Intelligent Light can support customer needs for short term implementation projects as well as long term research ventures. The Applied Research Group is working at the leading edge of CFD to develop methods and techniques that will benefit the entire CFD community.

About Intelligent Light

Intelligent Light, located in Rutherford, New Jersey, was founded in 1984 with a mission to provide the scientific and engineering community with the best possible tools for understanding data and communicating results. The company provides CFD post-processing and big data visualization capability, under the industry leading FIELDVIEW brand, to thousands of HPC users in the aerospace, automotive and general manufacturing industries. Their unique development team is composed of CFD experts, computer scientists, and visualization experts focused on listening to clients and delivering products that meet their needs.

FIELDVIEW and FIELDVIEW eXtreme are trademarks of Intelligent Light. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.