Mentor.com :: Mechanical Analysis Resources

Blog Post:Hockey Puck Aerodynamics

Travis Mikjaniec — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:26:37 GMT

Hockey Puck Aerodynamics This blog has been in the works for about a year. I think it was worth the wait. Let me explain, as a number of things were at play here. First, I had just attended a Siemens NX CAD system training in advance of our release of FloEFD for NX last year. So I was looking for an application I could cut my teeth on for my first FloEFD for NX analysis. Something with CAD requirements

Blog Post:Top 10 Things I Learned From Engineers

Nazita Saye — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:35:08 GMT

I admire mechanical engineers. I really mean it. If the world ever implodes, then I want to be hanging out with you guys. You know how to build and fix things. I on the other hand can probably contribute to the betterment of future society by picking berries (so long as I don’t have to deal with any creepy crawlies) or by spreading good cheer – I can’t help it I’ve got a sunny disposition (that

Blog Post:Smoke, Smoke, Everywhere?

Travis Mikjaniec — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:52:15 GMT

Smoke, Smoke, Everywhere? This has the possibility to be my most unpopular blog ever, which I’m ok with. The topic of this blog is smoking, specifically the second hand kind. Let me start by saying I am not a smoker. I don’t care for the smell, and am happy that it is not allowed in most building, Vegas casino’s being the main exception. My mom was for a long time though, and in general it seems

Blog Post:Agile software development practices in the Mechanical Analysis Division

Robin Bornoff — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:35:46 GMT

From a software user’s perspective it really doesn’t matter exactly how that application was developed. A user is concerned with functional capability (what the software does), non-functional performance (how the software behaves) and ultimately their personal experience when using the software. Those tasked with creating the application though need to meet such user expectations whilst

Blog Post:A Little Goes A Long Way (But A Lot Doesn’t Go Much Further)

Robin Bornoff — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:49:21 GMT

It has been almost 3 years since I started this blog and I hope you’ve found it as interesting as I have cathartic. Although I’m not as yet bereft of topic ideas, I thought this would be a good time to solicit a guest blog from industry. It was either that or a Simponsesque montage of previous posts. I covered the highly successful provision of FloTHERM models of power packages from NXP

Blog Post:Comfy cars

John Day — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:16:48 GMT

One of the more significant obstacles to automotive start-stop systems is how to keep the car comfy with the engine off. Saving fuel is great, but not if the infotainment system, HVAC et al were to shut down at every red light. At the SAE World Congress in Detroit last week, Delphi Automotive introduced a Phase Change Material (PCM) Evaporator that it said will keep start/stop vehicle cabins cooler

Blog Post:Physician Heal Thyself

Nazita Saye — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:18:47 GMT

A virtual version of one of the MGC data center representing one of the configurations tested. Image courtesy of Mentor Graphics. Over the weekend I realized I have become English. No, I haven’t picked up the accent. Nor do I eat Marmite. Actually eating Marmite can be relegated to one of those things I’d never do. Never, ever. So why have I become English? I tend to discuss the weather and temperature

White Paper:Using Numerical Methods to Study the Effects Opening Ratio Made to Temperature Field in Micro-Desktop

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

This research uses the advanced simulation tool FloTHERM to study the effects of different opening ratios of the front panel to temperature field in the micro-desktop. Based on the studies, the best opening ratio with better cost performance and lower temperature is selected. Simulation results match experimental data well. Micro-desktop is a new smaller volume product with higher integration, which leads to smaller space for internal components and higher flow resistance inside. Therefore, the opening ratio of the front panel strongly influences the flow from internal fan at specific speed. Hence, this will further determine surface temperature distribution of important components and product performance. However, a larger opening ratio might also cause problems to structural strength and safety. This paper calculates flow fields and temperature fields inside the enclosure at different opening ratios, evaluates correlation between opening ratio and temperature of important components under different ambient temperatures, and selects the best solution where the system operates the most cost effectively. The simulation results are compared with experimental data to verify the validity of simulation calculation.

Blog Post:More Than Two Decades and Still Going Strong; FloTHERM and FloVENT V9.3 Now Released

Robin Bornoff — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:36:01 GMT

In 1989 Flomerics was the first organisation to provide application specific CFD based simulation software where all pre and post-processing capabilities were contained within a single WIMP based graphical user interface. That pioneering period involved missionary sales to add simulation to the arsenal of the design engineer, enabling virtual prototyping to be used as a precursor to physical build and

Blog Post:Beep, Beep

Nazita Saye — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:50:10 GMT

I suddenly find myself needing to buy a car in England. I won’t bore you with why I had to let go of my beloved Audi but instead let me tell you that renting cars in England especially when you don’t drive stick shift is really really expensive. That is a very pleased blogger sitting in her fave car last year (and so happens her fave color too) Being a rather sensible person, at first I thought I