The display allows for 360-degree all-around viewing for multiple people. Recently, the US Army Research Lab has undertaken a project to determine the potential for the technology in the military simulation field.

There are several basic volume rendering methods. Actuality Systems uses a translucent screen, spinning at 730 rpm onto which 2-D slices of the 3-D model are projected. The result is a convincing, interactive, colorful 3D image that can be seen from any angle in the room.

Currently, displays such as this one cost around $50,000 US. However, as the cost drops, we may begin to see this technology in CFD visualization.

The new Fluent Simulation Portal provides for fully secure 128 bit encrypted SSL service that is monitored and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This new capability is an excellent choice for existing FLUENT users who require occasional "surge capacity" for time-critical simulations, for the throughput of many jobs with varying parameters, or for periodic simulations of large models.

The Fluent Remote Simulation Facility assumes the user is an existing Fluent license holder. Models are created using a "local" Fluent pre-processor, and case/data files are then uploaded to the remote site. The facility provides all necessary components to perform the simulations including parameter set-up, file storage and management, all licenses required to operate, and access to multiple processors to improve time to completion. Accounts are provided on an individual user basis, and users are billed for simulation time only.

ICEM CFD Hexa CAA V5 runs as a plug-in application within CATIA V5. This application allows the user to create hexahedral volume meshes within CATIA V5. The ICEM CFD Hexa meshing set-up, mesh size, family definitions are defined with the ICEM CFD toolbar. These meshing specifications as well as the resulting ICEM CFD Hexa mesh are stored within the CATIA V5 Analysis document. Users can make changes to the original design and the mesh can be regenerated based on the stored mesh set-up data.

To use the HEXA CATIA V5 software, you must have a CATIA V5 license for ME2.

According to Icepak Product Manager Dr. Rajesh Nair, "Icepak 4.0's new 'Assembly Meshing' retains geometric shape fidelity, improves accuracy by maintaining model detail, reduces mesh counts by 20-70%, and decreases solution time, design time and project costs."

TrancenData's CADfix software enables the exchange, reuse, and recovery of CAD data. GridPro/CadFix will help streamline your analysis problems by providing a bridge from CAD models to the best Hex grid generation tool in the industry.