Renault Sport F1 Deploys CD-adapco’s Engineering Simulation Software

By DE Editors

Renault Sport F1 is using CD-adapco’s engineering simulation tools to aid its engine design efforts.

The Renault Sport F1 engine design engineers use CD-adapco’s CFD tools,  STAR-CCM+ and STAR-CD, to explore new concepts and validate design variables through the use of DOE (Design Of Experiment), thus accelerating the design process by eliminating costly prototyping and testing phases.

This year, Renault Sport F1 is representing one-quarter of the Formula 1 field by supplying four teams: Red Bull Racing, Lotus F1 Team,  Caterham F1 Team and Williams F1 Team. In the previous two seasons,  Renault Sport F1 engines have powered Red Bull Racing to consecutive World Championships.

“Computation fluid dynamic technology plays a fundamental role in the design and development of a modern F1 engine,” said Cedric Libert, head of the simulation department at Renault. “The ability to simulate the behavior and performance of our designs quickly and accurately has a direct influence on our on-track performance. In addition to providing highly optimized solutions for the current V8 era, one of our biggest challenges at the moment is to develop the most innovative, energy saving 1.6 V6 turbocharged engine for the 2014 season. It is very clear that numerical simulation is vital for Renault Sport F1 to be able deliver this brand new F1 engine in less than 30 months.”

For more information, visit CD-adapco.

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