Blue Ridge Numerics

Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc. (BRNI) has developed its own pre- and post-processor using the GLview Visualization API. The main product CFdesign integrates with I-DEAS, Pro/Engineer, SolidWorks, and others.

BRNI is a US based software company developing software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The collaboration with Ceetron dates back to 1996 when Ceetron made a customized post-processor for bundling with CFdesign. Later BRNI has developed both the pre- and post-processing solutions using the GLview Visualization API.

In the CFdesign software environment, CAD import, setup of boundary conditions, meshing, monitoring while solving, and result visualization can be performed. The results visualization software has extensive functionality for flow visualization such as cut planes, iso-surfaces, and particle traces.

The initial version of CFDisplay (a separate post-processor) was based on a customized version of GLview Pro. Data from the solver was transferred using files. The need for a closer interaction between the visualization system and the solver led to a decision to develop a new solution using the GLview Visualization API. The most recent CFdesign system now has integrated pre- and post-processing functionality. The development was carried out by BRNI’s staff, and with some support from Ceetron.

BRNI have recently added export to the free viewers GLview Express and GLview 3D plug-in to CFdesign. Adding this capability for GLview Visualization API required only a couple of extra lines of source code. The ’DesignCommunicationsCenter‘ (BRNI’s custom name of GLview Express) enables the users of CFdesign to share the results of the analysis in real 3D to anyone, without requiring the recipient to have CFdesign installed. This new feature has made BRNI even more competitive in the CFD market.

www.cfdesign.com:

“CFD software - also known as fluid flow and heat transfer simulation - integrated within the MCAD design process leads to innovative new products and sustainable business advantages. Our customers say CFdesign gives them the ability to develop superior products while reducing project schedules by 70% and department-level budgets by 65%.

CFdesign works directly and associatively with native models from Autodesk Inventor, Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, and Unigraphics.

CFdesign software puts full-feature Mechanical CFD and Electronics Cooling simulation on your desktop and into the mainstream product development process.”