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Fluent Releases Version 1.1 of its GAMBIT Software

13 September 1999

Fluent Releases Version 1.1 of its GAMBIT Software; The Synergy of Flow Modeling and CAD Increases Designer Efficiency

    LEBANON, N.H.--Sept. 13, 1999--Fluent Inc. , the world's leading supplier of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow modeling software announces the release of GAMBIT 1.1. This newest version of GAMBIT tightens the link between CAD and flow modeling, enabling engineers to use both tools more efficiently. "A significant reason I use GAMBIT 1.1 is because I can import my geometry from Pro/E," says Dwayne Terracina of Smith Tool International. "We're analyzing drill bits, which typically have several hundred surfaces to mesh. It would be a detriment to our program if we had to rebuild the geometry from scratch. I really like the flexibility of GAMBIT meshing and the capacity to refine, tailor, and examine the mesh. This has enabled us to reduce the element count on our problems and at the same time, get a better solution. Using GAMBIT 1.1 has definitely advanced our analysis capabilities," he concludes.

    Preprocessing Software Essential in CFD Modeling

    GAMBIT 1.1 is preprocessing software. Its role is to build the computer model, which is then processed by the solver portion of the software. The model structure, or geometry, is built. Then, a mesh of numerical coordinates is overlaid onto it, so that the analysis can take place. In many cases, the designer already has a CAD geometry and mesh of the product or system. The ability to read that model into the preprocessor is a significant time saver over re-building the model from scratch. Although both CAD and flow modeling preprocessors are model-building tools, and both are 3-dimensional, they have different goals. CAD geometries are highly detailed. CFD models must be more selectively detailed and focused on aspects of the geometry concerned with the phenomena to be studied. The preprocessor must help the designer to quickly and easily convert a CAD geometry to one appropriate for CFD.
    GAMBIT 1.1 has a new IGES translator which gives excellent results with complicated CAD geometries from leading CAD packages, such as Pro/ENGINEER, Unigraphics, and IDEAS. It has new, automatic "healing" and "virtual cleanup" technologies, which help the designer to quickly convert files. Pro/ENGINEER part files can be directly imported via VRML, a geometry format popular on the World Wide Web. Other enhancements to this newest version of GAMBIT include import of Optegra Visualizer geometry files and PLOT3D mesh files, and performance improvements across the board.

    Improved Technology Increases Usability

    Ease of use was a major goal in Fluent's development of GAMBIT. "We recognize that bringing flow modeling into the mainstream of product design provides tremendous benefit to the engineer, but only if the tools can be quickly put to work," says GAMBIT product manager Scott Gilmore. Mark S. Bohn, of Rentech, Inc., has been using GAMBIT 1.1 for petrochemical analysis applications. "Meshing took virtually no work on my part and I got about as good of a mesh as I've seen," he says. "I was able to turn around results for the client very quickly...GAMBIT is very well laid out. Once you understand a few concepts, you can move forward very efficiently."
    Flow modeling software is used by engineers and product designers worldwide as a tool for analyzing their designs under simulated real-world conditions. A virtual prototype of the product or system is built with the software, and the effects of fluid flow, heat transfer, and/or chemical reaction are imposed on the computer model. The result is a prediction of performance that is extremely useful for fine-tuning the design or troubleshooting problems with existing equipment. The software is used in most major manufacturing industries. It is becoming more widely known and used as the tools become more practical and user-friendly.

    Pricing and Availability

    GAMBIT 1.1 is available on UNIX and PC platforms. It is available to all users of Fluent's flow modeling software, in most cases free of charge. Fluent produces two general-purpose flow, heat transfer, and chemical reaction modeling software packages: FLUENT and FIDAP. It also offers software customized for niche applications, such as MixSim (mixing), POLYFLOW (polymers/materials), and Icepak (electronics cooling).

    Corporate Background

    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 is used to predict fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reaction and related phenomena. Fluent's software products and services help engineers in leading corporations world-wide with detailed product development, design optimization, trouble shooting, scale-up and retrofitting. Fluent's software significantly reduces engineering cost, while improving the final design of products in applications ranging from design of electronic components and systems to automotive engineering, and from combustion system design to process plant troubleshooting. 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 Japan, Korea, Australia, the Czech Republic, and most European countries.

    Additional information on Fluent's products can be obtained on the World Wide Web 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.

    FLUENT, FIDAP, POLYFLOW, MixSim and Icepak are trademarks of Fluent Inc.

    Graphical images and accompanying captions to support this release can be found on the web at http://www.fluent.com/news/pressrel/PressRel.htm by following the links to this release. Fluent Inc. grants permission for use of these graphics and their captions in conjunction with any or all of this press release.