Pointwise Interns Win for Muffin Mesh

By DE Editors

Pointwise interns won the Intern Hero contest conducted by Little Debbie Muffins. Their winning entry, seeking to answer the question “Are Little Debbie Muffins Aerodynamic?”, included a 3D model of a muffin created by Pointwise software and a flow visualization. The interns encouraged Little Debbie to send them some of the contest prizes, large muffin sampler boxes, so “physical testing” could be conducted.

Interns who worked on the project were Matt Kijowski,  Allison Johnson, Riane Kiraly, Travis Carrigan, and Satyam Kondle.

“Using Pointwise’s built-in database tools, I was able to effortlessly create a three dimensional model of the muffin,” said Carrigan. “After the database was created using a series of revolves, the domains on database entities tool was used to create a hybrid type mesh consisting of both structured and unstructured domains.”

Carrigan, who graduated Suma Cum Laude this spring with a BS in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, will begin graduate school there this fall. He is focusing his study on the optimization of a helical vertical axis wind turbine using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

“I’ve meshed a truck’s intake manifold, UT-Arlington’s formula SAE race car, and an F-16 fighter jet, but this project was particularly exciting because who has meshed a muffin before?” asked Johnson, an intern with Pointwise since April 2007. She will graduate in December with a BS in mechanical engineering from UT-Arlington.

Kiraly, a marketing intern at Pointwise, said, “The great thing about this contest, besides winning muffins of course, is that the meshing of a muffin is a fun and unique marketing opportunity for Pointwise. We are able to Tweet and send emails out across the globe about our software and how the interns were able to use it. Current and potential users can get a kick out of our muffin meshing from Israel to Japan.”

Kondle is working on his master’s degree in engineering at Texas A&M University, focusing on laminar flow through microchannels with microencapsulated phase change materials.

Kijowski is a junior mechanical engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin.

For more information, visit Pointwise, Inc.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.