The first News deals with:

• Actual projects (contaminant control in pharmaceutical industry and airflow around the new stadion of Zurich)
• About AFC, the staff, the competences
• AFC is moving! Due to more people working at AFC, the offices are getting narrow. AFC is therefore moving to new and large office rooms at a new location in Zurich

Hope you have fun with the Newsletter and sorry for no english version. Please contact me if you would like a translation.

John Deere is using the Linux Networx cluster for advanced engineering analysis including computational fluid dynamics and structural finite element analysis. The cluster has demonstrated improved computing performance for the company, performing several classes of analysis jobs at more than double their previous speed. The flexibility of Linux cluster technology also allows John Deere to make the cluster available as a central corporate resource to be tuned for multiple applications in the future.

Linux clustering is a method of linking multiple computers together to form a unified and more powerful system. The Linux Networx cluster designed for John Deere uses 24 AMD Athlon MP processors, Clusterworx and ICE Box™ cluster management tools from Linux Networx and STAR-CD software from CD adapco Group.

“The cost advantage of clusters is outstanding, and with companies like Linux Networx delivering turnkey clusters optimized for engineering designs, our clients are regularly achieving fast solutions previously accessible only to supercomputers," said Steve Feldman, Director of Software Development for CD adapco Group.

• Fluid structure interaction (FSI)
• Optimization for die design and blow molding
• Adaptive meshing with sizing functions
• User Defined Templates
• New Graphical User Interface (GUI)

The workshop is being organized by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., Research and Development Tiruchirappalli, Corporate R&D Hyderabad and the Indian Institute of Metals, Tiruchirappalli Chapter.

The workshop aims at defining the state of the art in CFD, inspiring both research and practical application and promoting interaction between scientists and practitioners. The workshop will consist of invited talks from several CFD organizations covering a wide variety of topics.

To attend, please contact:

P. Chellappandian

Convener

pcp@bheltry.co.in

Marshall engineers have been working on short- and long-range plans that will eliminate known problem areas on the tank where foam comes off during flight, which led to the destruction of the shuttle Columbia Feb. 1. They eventually plan to move the complex fuel lines and cables, which need excessive amounts of insulating foam, from the outside of the tank.

Lab technicians at Marshall in Huntsville have been trying to design improved ways to apply foam to the tank by hand and to devise test programs for a newly shaped external tank, said Neil Otte, Marshall's external tank deputy program manager.

The Version 10 release includes new capabilities in three key areas: plotting tools, data management, and the user interface. These enhancements help give Tecplot users complete control to explore, analyze and communicate their results. This flexibility is the key differentiator between Tecplot and competing data visualization products, which restrict or limit the options users have to create the exact plot that they want.