HP 9000 V-Class Enterprise Server Powers Fluent's Motor-Sports Consulting Business
2 June 1999
HP 9000 V-Class Enterprise Server Powers Fluent's Motor-Sports Consulting Business
PALO ALTO, Calif./LEBANON, N.H.--June 1, 1999--Cycles, Improve Performance
Hewlett-Packard Company and Fluent Inc., a market leader in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, announced today that Fluent(TM) has procured a 16-processor HP 9000 V2250 Enterprise Server to support Fluent's growing motor-sports consulting business.
In a never-ending quest to find more speed, motor-sports teams are relying more and more on CFD software, such as Fluent's, to evaluate race-car designs and configurations. According to Fluent, this increased demand on CFD usage is responsible for the company's growing motor-sports business -- both in consulting and end-user licensing.
"Fluent looked to the HP 9000 V2250 Enterprise Server because it needed more power," said Rick Sam, U.S. automotive business director for Fluent. "Our models are three times larger than they were just two or three years ago. HP's V-Class servers and robust HP-UX(1) 11.0 operating environment provide an exponential increase in processing power that's critical to providing race teams with timely information."
In addition to Fluent's consulting business, prominent teams, including Benetton Formula 1, Jordon Grand Prix Limited, Stewart-Ford and Team Rahal, use Fluent's CFD software on HP systems to refine race-car designs.
Benetton Formula 1 makes extensive use of CFD running on HP systems. "The use of CFD has become an integral part of our aerodynamic program, allowing specific parts of the car to be tested without actually having to build them," said Nick Wirth, chief designer for the Bennetton Formula 1 team. "This, combined with the benefits of our new on-site wind tunnel, makes the Benetton Formula 1 design operation as streamlined as its cars."
"Fluent software and HP V-Class hardware provide an ideal combination for the latest generation of design and development," said Don Hayward, technical liaison for Team Rahal, a Championship Auto Racing Team (CART).
Like other businesses, motor-sports teams operate under challenging conditions with tight deadlines, limited budgets and intense competition. The ability to evaluate design options quickly and with greater accuracy provides a competitive advantage.
CFD modeling allows engineers to study the aerodynamic drag of a race car and the downforces generated by its airfoils -- both of which directly impact the speed and handling of the car.
"Current CFD modeling techniques allow us to develop and refine aerodynamic components without expending manufacturing and wind-tunnel resources, which are more costly and time-consuming," said Mike Gascoyne, chief designer of Jordon Grand Prix Limited.
"A faster server means faster feedback on proposed changes," said Gary Anderson, technical director and designer of Stewart-Ford Formula One cars. "That's a tremendous benefit because it prevents us from wasting time on modifications that do not produce the desired results."
About Fluent
Fluent, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aavid Thermal Technologies Inc. . Fluent is a world leader in the rapidly growing field of computerized design and simulation software. Fluent's software enables the engineer to build a computer model of a design and simulate fluid flow, heat transfer, chemical reactions or related phenomena.
Because designs can be tested and optimized before physical prototyping, time and cost are saved throughout the design process. Fluent's corporate headquarters are located in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. Fluent's European headquarters are located in Sheffield, England, with local offices in France, Germany, and Italy.
Fluent's CFD software is also available around the world through joint ventures, partnerships and distributors in Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and most European countries. Additional information can be found at http://www.fluent.com or by e-mailing info@fluent.com. More information on Aavid Thermal Technologies is available at http://www.aavid.com.
About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.
HP had computer-related revenue of $39.5 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. HP plans to launch a new company consisting of its industry-leading test-and-measurement, semiconductor products, chemical-analysis and medical businesses. These businesses represented $7.6 billion of HP's total revenue in fiscal 1998. With leading positions in multiple market segments, this technology-based company will focus on opportunities such as communications and life sciences.
HP has 123,000 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.
(1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.0 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.
UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
Fluent is a trademark of Fluent Inc.