Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Nigel P. Weatherhill, Head of School of Engineering and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) Swansea University, School of Engineering, Swansea, U.K.
Talk Title: Tim Baker - His contributions to CFD

Invited Speakers:

• David Halt, Visteon
  
  Biography: Dr. Halt is responsible for the Simulation Based Design activities including development and global deployment at the Climate Control Division of Visteon Corporation. Dr. Halt has worked the past 12 years at Visteon and Ford Motor Company. Prior to that, he worked for 14 years at McDonnell Douglas Aerospace. He has published several papers in computational fluid dynamics. Dr. Halt also holds 3 patents related to heat exchangers. He is a member of ASME and AIAA and has served on several technical committees. Dr. Halt earned a Doctor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University.
  

  Abstract: Simulation Based Design (SBD) Mesh Generation used in Automotive Climate Control Applications
  Simulation Based Design (SBD) is a specific type of CAE automation that enables one to apply CFD (thermal flow simulations) to 'real life' product development processes quickly and accurately. Innovative SBD methodologies to use CAD to author the shape of one's control volume and to use FluidConnection to author abstract CFD simulation models enable the speed. But, without an effective CFD solver and automatic mesh generator one will have speed but no accuracy in the simulation. The purpose of this presentation is to present what mesh techniques are currently available to generate appropriate automotive CFD (thermal
  flow) simulations in a SBD paradigm and to discuss what gaps remain. In particular, the presentation will review the following meshing techniques and how they are used in automotive climate control applications:

1. isotropic surface meshing with curvature based refinement (size, curv, min_curv), 2. boundary layer meshing with limited blends and limited heuristics to deal with complex geometric interactions, 3. isotropic volume meshing with 2 to 1 transition, 4. enforce mesh size techniques to help in the transition from the boundary layer to isotropic volume meshing, 5. linear extrusion meshing.

Also, the presentation will discuss how the current SBD meshing process and desired meshing process is solver specific. In particular, how a FEA CFD solver and a finite volume CFD solver have different implicit mesh shape requirements. And as a result, what are future priorities for desired mesh techniques.

• Robert Meakin, Senior Scientist, U.S. Army AMRDEC and DoD HPCMO CFD-CTA Lead
  
  Biography (PDF Format)
  

  Abstract: Mesh Requirements for Simulating the Unsteady Dynamics of General N-Body Flows
  N-Body problems are inherently unsteady and multi-disciplinary in nature. The problem class includes applications that involve any number of geometrically complex bodies in relative motion, flight/transport in close proximity with six-degrees-of-freedom, and the possibility of arbitrary inter-body collisions. Practical applications of this problem class exist in virtually every engineering discipline. The 15th IMR presentation on this topic will include several examples and technical discussion of associated meshing requirements.

• Tim Tautges, Sandia National Laboratories
  
  Biography: Dr. Timothy J. Tautges received his PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990. After a post-doc in Italy, he joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1992, where he performed research and development in nuclear reactor safety analysis before transferring to the CUBIT project in early 1994. He was one of the developers of the Whisker Weaving all-hexahedral meshing algorithm, and has also contributed to research in many other technologies associated with geometry and meshing. He lead the project from 1996-1998. Dr. Tautges has telecommuted from the pastoral setting of Madison, Wisconsin, since 1998, and holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Engineering Physics department at UW-Madison. At the time of this writing, Dr. Tautges remains the longest continuously-serving member of the CUBIT team.

  Abstract: An Abbreviated History of Sandia’s CUBIT Mesh Generation Project
  The CUBIT mesh generation project has been in existence at Sandia National Laboratories since about 1992, with its precursors starting several years before that. During that time the CUBIT code has been used as a research sandbox, a development platform, and a production meshing application, often simultaneously. The project has played an important role in Sandia’s increased reliance on simulation-based design, and has been an integral part of Sandia’s participation in DOE’s Advanced Simulation Computing Initiative (ASCI) and Scientific Discovery for Advanced Computing (SciDAC) programs. This project has made an indelible mark on the meshing community, from its contribution of the patented Paving algorithm in 1990 to its continuing sponsorship of the International Meshing Roundtable.

  I will describe the history of this important project in terms of the people working on it, the programs which sponsored it, and the technology and research delivered by it. I will discuss the high and low points of large code development in large, distributed teams of highly educated scientists. The talk will conclude with my views on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for CUBIT and for the meshing field in general.
  

Banquet Speaker: Lawrence DeLucas, Director, UAB Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering

Biography: Dr. DeLucas is the Director of the Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, Director and Senior Scientist of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center X-ray Crystallography Facility, a Professor in the School of Optometry (adjunct Professor in BioChemistry and Physiology & Biophysics), a member of the Computational and Structural Biology Core, the Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and the Laboratory of Medical Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He currently serves as a member of the U. S. Space and Rocket Center Advisory Committee, the Illinois College of Optometry Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee of the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation, as Co-chair of the Spacehab Science Advisory Board and is a member of the Japanese Space Agency Science Advisory Board. He is a member on the Science Advisory Boards for Bionanomatrix, Fluidigm Corporation, Diversified Scientific, Inc. and Vivo BioSciences, Inc. Among his numerous awards, Dr. DeLucas was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame in 2002. Dr. DeLucas received the UAB Distinguished Faculty Lecturer award, a prestigious merit award honoring individuals in the UAB Academic Health Center who have made major contributions in education, service and drug discovery research. He received the State of Alabama Howard Heflin Statesmanship Award for Technology Innovation. He was recognized as one of the scientists who could shape the 21st Century in an article titled “The Brains Behind the 21st Century” published by “The Sunday Times” of London. He was the recipient of the Order of Rio Branco, rank of Commander from the Brazilian Government on behalf of the President of Brazil and the Grand Master of the Order of Rio Branco (1998) for the Chagas Disease Research Project. The Order of Rio Branco recognizes the merits of Brazilian and foreign individuals who have significantly contributed to the promotion of Brazil’s relations with the world.

Dr. DeLucas received 5 degrees from UAB achieving both a Doctor of Optometry and a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry. He has also received Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Ferris State University (May 2002), Ohio State University (June 1999), Illinois College of Optometry (May 1998), and State University of New York, College of Optometry (May 1997). He has published over 130 research articles in various peer reviewed scientific journals, co-authored two books on protein crystal growth and is an inventor /co-inventor on 15 patents mainly involving protein crystal growth and structure based drug discovery. He has been an invited lecturer at numerous US and international scientific, industrial, and governmental meetings concerning his research in protein crystallography. He was selected as one of the “Pioneers in Proteomics” by the GenomeWeb LLC publication in 2004. An early interest in microgravity research led him to qualifying as a flight Payload Specialist on the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia STS-50 mission launched in June 25, 1992. During his two week space flight mission he participated in thirty-one different scientific experiments in the areas of materials processing and fluid dynamics on the space shuttle. After his mission, Dr. DeLucas was principal investigator for a variety of microgravity experiments that were performed on 43 different shuttle flights. These experiments also resulted in the development and commercialization of hardware that reproduces conventional and novel ground based crystal growth techniques with specific adaptations made to maximize the benefits of a microgravity environment. His research utilized the experience of a large co-investigator group that consisted of scientists and engineers from universities, pharmaceutical companies, and government laboratories from around the globe. Research data from these missions have supported several successful structure based drug discovery projects for pharmaceutical and academic collaborators as well as the development of many useful research methods and novel scientific laboratory systems improving ground based research. Dr. DeLucas received the NASA Public Service Medal for exemplary performance in support of the Microgravity Projects Office in June, 1997 for his decade of service. He was also appointed and served as Chief Scientist for the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. from 1994 to 1995.

Dr. DeLucas’ research center focuses on structure based drug discovery with x-ray crystallography in the fields of Genomics and Proteomics coupled with development and integration of innovative tools and technologies for drug discovery platforms. The Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering is a leading structural biology center with over 120 researchers, including 18 + in-house crystallographers. The CBSE capabilities center around a suite of commercial and proprietary High Throughput Technologies that embrace the genes to drug paradigm by attaining both speed and accuracy in the identification, optimization, and development of new therapeutics that are central to modern pharmaceutical research and development. Our drug discovery services are offered to both academic and industry partners on a cost competitive basis. The Center is part of the NIH Southeast Regional Center for Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infections (SERCEB), a founding member of the Southeast Regional Collaborative Access team (SERCAT) for dedicated synchrotron access and is has been involved in many multi-institutional consortiums for research in structural proteomics The CBSE is currently involved with over twenty different academic institutions and more than eight different industrial projects involving various aspects of structure base drug design.

Abstract: Space Flight and Research on the International Space Station
This presentation will illustrate Dr. DeLucas’ personal experiences as an astronaut flying on the Space Shuttle Columbia. The United States Microgravity Laboratory-1 flight, Mission STS-50, on which Dr. DeLucas was a Payload Specialist, launched on June 25, 1992 and was the longest space shuttle mission at that time (14 days). More than 30 different experiments were conducted in areas of materials processing and fluid dynamics. In addition, Dr. DeLucas will describe biotechnology experiments that have been performed on past space shuttle missions as well as planned experiments for the International Space Station. The areas of science include combustion, fluid physics, crystal growth experiments (zeolite, semiconductor, and protein), and a variety of life science investigations. Finally, Dr. DeLucas will present images of earth taken by his crew on STS-50.