ACCELERATING THE PERFORMANCE OF REALISTIC SIMULATION

Microsoft® Windows® HPC Server 2008 Speeds Virtual Testing

PARTNER PROFILESIMULIA is the Dassault Systèmes brand that provides scalable simulation solutions, including Abaqus Unified FEA and CATIA Analysis product suites, as well as an open platform to support multiphysics analysis.

CHALLENGEMechanical simulation software is used to cut costs and accelerate time-to-innovation in product development and research. It enables engineers to evaluate their conceptual ideas early in the design process, analyze their designs to understand the interactions between parts, and simulate realistic product performance to reduce the need for physical prototypes.

However, scientists and engineers often rely upon analysis software from multiple vendors, which creates inoperability challenges. Additionally, since simulations are comprised of many complex calculations, a large amount of computing power is required to run them efficiently. High-performance computing (HPC) solutions have traditionally been difficult to set up and administer, often requiring a dedicated IT staff with specialized skills to maintain them.

SOLUTIONSIMULIA, the Dassault Systèmes brand for realistic simulation, provides customers with a Unified Finite Element Analysis (FEA) solution that consolidates the number of analysis products they need to capture real-world behavior. The Abaqus Unified FEA software suite provides robust analysis technology and provides a powerful and complete solution for both routine and sophisticated linear and nonlinear engineering problems. When the Abaqus Unified FEA software suite runs on Microsoft® Windows® HPC Server 2008, companies can achieve a scalable simulation solution on an easy-to-use computing platform that supports realistic simulation.

OVERVIEWWhen Abaqus calculations are run on a Windows HPC Server, you can accelerate time-to-insight by using a cluster solution that is easy to deploy, operate, and integrate with existing infrastructure and tools.

CUSTOMER STORYAbaqus Unified FEA is used to analyze stress and deformation in products such as gaskets used to seal an axle housing. In this model from Dana Holding Company, running Abaqus on an Intel Xeon-based Windows HPC Server 2008 compute cluster enables a reduction in solution time from 52 hours using a single multi-core computer to 3.5 hours using 16 cluster nodes.

ABAQUS UNIFIED FEAThe Abaqus Unified FEA software suite reduces dependency on physical testing and supports multidisciplinary collaboration. The suite consists of three core products: Abaqus/Standard®, Abaqus/Explicit ®and Abaqus/CAE®.

Model from Dana Holding Company

Abaqus/Standard provides analysis technology for implicit finite element analyses, such as static, dynamics, and thermal, all powered with the widest range of contact and nonlinear material options.

Abaqus/Explicit provides Abaqus analysis technology that focuses on transient dynamics and quasi-static analyses which are appropriate for drop testing, crushing, and other manufacturing processes.

Abaqus/CAE provides a complete modeling and visualization environment for Abaqus analysis products. Through its feature-based parametric modeling capability, open access to computer aided design (CAD) models, and advanced meshing and visualization features, Abaqus/CAE is the premier model building results-visualization, and process automation solution for Abaqus analyses.

WINDOWS HPC SERVER 2008Windows HPC Server 2008 helps users do more science and less IT. With its easy integration from desktop applications to remote clustering and cost-effective scale out capabilities, it utilizes the existing Windows infrastructure and administrator’s skill set for managing an HPC system. The benefits of Windows HPC Server 2008 extend to the user as well. Job creation and submission transpire within the application, simplifying the workflow process. The integration of Windows HPC Server 2008 with Microsoft Active Directory® domain service eliminates the need for multiple logins, and extends valuable security policies to your HPC jobs.

WINDOWS HPC ARCHITECTUREThe Windows HPC Server 2008 head node:

• Controls and mediates all access to the cluster resources.

• Is the single point of management, deployment, and job scheduling for the compute cluster.

• Windows HPC Server 2008 uses the existing corporate infrastructure and Active Directory for:

• Security features.

• Account management.

• Operations management.

System requirements include:

• CPU Requirement: 64-bit architecture computer Intel Pentium, or Xeon family with Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) processor architecture, or AMD Opteron family, AMD Athlon family, or compatible processor(s).

• Minimum RAM: 512 MB

• Maximum RAM: 32 GB

• Multiprocessor Support : Up to 4 processors

• Disk Space for Setup: 4 GB

• Disk Volumes:

THE COMBINATIONThe Abaqus and Windows HPC Server 2008 combination provides scientists and engineers with an integrated, efficient, and easily scalable HPC platform for solving some of the most complex simulation and multiphysics analysis equations in less time than before.

The following table shows execution times for an Abaqus/Standard job running on a Intel Xeon-based Windows HPC Server 2008 cluster. The results show that 52 hours of day of execution can be reduced to 3.5 hours using this cluster computing setup.

BENEFITSAbaqus and Windows HPC Server help you:

• Improve efficiency.

• Increase performance.

• Decrease operational complexity.

• Integrate job scheduling and workflow.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information about Windows HPC Server 2008 and HPC, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/hpc

For more information about SIMULIA and Abaqus, please visit http://www.simulia.com

© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This data sheet is for informational purposes only. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WAR-RANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Microsoft®, Windows®, Active Directory® and the Windows logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.Microsoft Corporation • One Microsoft Way • Redmond, WA 98052-6399 • USA

Number of cores

Windows HPC Network