FLUENT 6.1 incorporates a new cavitation model which is accurate even under very high pressure conditions and new reaction modeling functionality targeted for exhaust system design. IC engine modeling capabilities are further enhanced by crevice and spray-wall interaction models. Also, FLUENT 6.1 offers dynamic coupling capability with WAVE (Ricardo) – in addition to GT-Power (Gamma Technologies, Inc.) and Virtual Engines (Optimum Power Technology).

The conference aims to provide delegates with a unique insight into established methods, along with a visionary view of new technologies. The combination of these insights will have a real impact on the product development process.

With papers being presented from the leading industrial experts and academic researchers from no less that 18 countries, the Congress promises to be a truly international representation of the state of simulation and analysis technology worldwide.

The keynote address is being provided by Tom Curry of LMS International, and will focus on the business benefits of simulation, but will also touch on the people issues which are vital to successful implementation. With over 25 years experience in the analysis, simulation and testing markets, Tom is uniquely placed to provide a leading edge insight into the business benefits of simulation.

Delegate registration is still open, and anyone wishing to register for the congress should contact Anne Creechan at the NAFEMS office on +44(0)1355 22 56 88, or e-mail anne@nafems.org. You can find out more and also register online at www.nafems.org/nwc2003.

Nozzle propellers are used in many types of ships and for dynamic positioning of platforms. Their operation at high thrust loadings and low inflow velocities requires high-tech designs. SVA Potsdam specializes in these propulsion systems and is investing in continuous research to ensure that its designs meet expectations.

The flow in the gap between the propeller tip and the inside wall of the nozzle strongly influences the performance of the propeller, and the greater the thrust loadings, the greater the influence. CFD allows visualization of these flows, which are difficult to study experimentally because the gap can be less than one millimeter. Unfortunately, the required computational effort increases rapidly as the thrust loading increases (due to slower convergence as the rotational speed of the propeller increases), and we have realized that combining experimental and numerical investigations can overcome the shortcomings of each method. The experimental data provide a good overview of the forces and moments for the whole range of operational conditions, while CFD reveals the detail of the flow for selected loadings.

For more than a decade numerical predictions of blood flow inside vessels have aided the research efforts. An increase in CFD software user-friendliness and computer performance has caused the simulations to gain more and more practical importance.

AVL will present a lecture at Biomedicine 2003 in Ljubljana, Slovenia 2-4 April 2003. If you are interested, do not hesitate to ask for the complete publication by email: ast@avl.com.

At the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland - the Official Scientific Advisor to the Alinghi Challenge for the 2003 America's Cup - researchers working in the group of Prof. Alfio Quarteroni have applied leading-edge numerical flow simulation techniques using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. These simulations have provided valuable information to the Alinghi Designers Rolf Vrolijk and Manolo Ruiz del Elvira who, together with Coordinator Grant Simmer, designed the winning high-performance Alinghi racing yacht.