Cloud-based shape optimisation for super-cars

Automobili Lamborghini is an Italian manufacturer of luxury sports cars and SUVs. Founded in 2006, OPTIMAD is an Italian SME active in shape and topology optimisation in the engineering sector. The objective of this experiment was to demonstrate that by combining High-Performance Computing (HPC) and optimisation software, there is an opportunity to change current design practices and bring automatic shape optimisation (ASO) to a wider audience of manufacturing SMEs.

There are several issues associated to the use of automatic shape optimization. It takes significant computational power, because many simulations need to be evaluated, and only specialised engineers can set up a viable ASO procedure. The challenge facing this experiment was therefore to develop a platform which combined Cloud-based HPC resources with in-house computing capabilities, and develop an intuitive user interface for non-expert users.

The SOUTH platform has been developed. This provides an integrated environment with access to optimization software and both in-house and cloud-based HPC computing resources. There is a high degree of automation, but users can interact with the optimisation process and investigate partial solutions. Users experienced in simulation but inexperienced in optimization can easily set up runs. This is an innovative and cost-effective approach to making shape-optimisation software available to SMEs.