Audi, ESI Group work with HP for auto industry's fastest supercomputer

ESI Group, which provides digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes, recently announced that AUDI AG has implemented the auto industry’s fastest supercomputer to advance safety standards.

Crucial in optimizing car safety, the new system is based on ESI Group’s PAM-CRASH 2G simulation software and an HP Cluster Platform 3000BL system, providing 15.36 teraflop/s of computing performance for crash simulation models of Audi. The supercomputer implementation places the leading premium car manufacturer at No. 123 on the Top 500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers, making it the auto industry’s fastest system, according to the automaker.

Audi partnered with ESI Group to establish and drive its global vehicle safety projects around the world. Audi recognized the unparalleled computing efficiency and ease-of-use of the PAM CRASH 2G software and, as a result, the implementation improved the reliability of its crash safety and impact simulations.

The software enhancements combined with compact, fast and power-efficient HP hardware has enabled Audi to run its refined models overnight, ensuring an effective design process that includes analysis of the safety elements of its vehicles, the manufacturer adds. With the hardware and software investments, Audi has maintained its position as one of the safest vehicle manufacturers in the world, while it also improved its bottom line by reducing operating and power and cooling costs.

The ease-of-use and latest algorithms in the PAM-CRASH 2G software encouraged Audi to raise their expectations for simulation design. For example, airbag models now routinely take into account fluid-structure interactions, leading to realistic interactions of the airbag with structures and occupants.

Furthermore, prediction testing for material rupture, which usually requires high resolution models, can now be treated using a multi-scale approach. This helps save days of computing time and unnecessary costs.

Audi selected HP, a recognized industry leader in high-performance computing (HPC), to implement technology that would provide enhanced reliability, high server density and computing power. Audi installed the HP Cluster Platform 3000BL, a system built using 320 nodes based on HP ProLiant BL460c server blades and the InfiniBand cluster interconnect. This HPC system provides the computing power and speed needed to calculate the tremendous volume of data generated during the simulation process.

For further information, visit www.esi-group.com