DNS-CFD simulations of aircraft trailing vortices
Trailing vortices that form during aircraft takeoff cause delays of several minutes between consecutive starts and therefore create waiting queues during peak traffic hours. Using a Blue Gene supercomputer, researchers at IBM Research - Zurich and ETH Zurich can accurately simulate and gain new insights into the formation and dissipation of these vortices. This could lead to improved aircraft designs and eventually to shorter lead times at airports.
For more information, see this press release.
Micro finite-element simulations of bone structures
Researchers of IBM Research - Zurich in collaboration with ETH have demonstrated the most extensive simulations of a real human bone structure ever achieved, running on 8 racks of the Blue Gene supercomputer. In order to analyze bone strength, the researchers used massively parallel simulations to obtain a “heat map” of strain, which changes with the load applied to the bone. The group at IBM Research - Zurich is working now to push the technique into a usable clinical tool for the early diagnosis of osteoporosis.
For more information, see this press release.
