Success Stories

Our Success Stories, a term coined to represent the success of research projects run at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) DoD Supercomputing Resource Center (DSRC), continue to represent our role as a HPC organization serving DoD scientists and researchers. The AFRL DSRC continues in its pursuit to help provide insight and answers to some of the DoD's toughest problems. Recent AFRL DSRC Success Stories include:

CFD Simulations for SPACEX to ensure Successful Space Vehicle Launches CFD Simulations for SPACEX to ensure Successful Space Vehicle Launches, Use of High Performance computing resources helps SpaceX take off. Read More

High Performance Computing Enables Rapid Medical Treatments for the Warfighter High Performance Computing Enables Rapid Medical Treatments for the Warfighter, To rapidly create customized medical and human performance treatments tailored to an individual person. Read More.

Quantum Chemistry Aids the Design of Bio-Inspired Drugs and Materials Quantum Chemistry Aids the Design of Bio-Inspired Drugs and Materials, To use quantum chemistry to model the influence of fluorine atoms on the structure of organic compounds. Read More.

SPIRIT Demystifies the Physics of a Powerful Explosion SPIRIT Demystifies the Physics of a Powerful Explosion, Use High Performance computing resources to simulate the physics of a simple realistic numerical simulation of the transitions during a violent explosion. Read More.

Bio-Inspired Simulations Study Flight Dynamics for MAVs Bio-Inspired Simulations Study Flight Dynamics for MAVs, Use High Performance computing resources to simulate the physics associated with the structure and flapping motion of a dragonfly wing. Read More.

Molecular Dynamics Simulate the Molten State of Super Alloys for Tomorrow's Aircraft Molecular Dynamics Simulate the Molten State of Super Alloys for Tomorrow's Aircraft, Enable advances in aerospace propulsion by predicting fundamental material parameters controlling the processing of high performance turbin airfoils. Read More.

Innovative Solvers Address UAV Airframe/Propulsion Integration Innovative Solvers Address UAV Airframe/Propulsion Integration, The goal of this project is to investigate the inlet/fan interaction adaptive propulsion system applications using High Performance Computers (HPCs) coupled with real-world experiments. Read More.

Flow Solver Predicts Condensation During Supersonic Wind Tunnel Tests Flow Solver Predicts Condensation During Supersonic Wind Tunnel Tests, Working with the lead code developer Dr. Jack Edwards of NCSU, Dr. Susan Cox-Stouffer, a Taitech employee, performed simulations on ten processors on AFRL and ERDC computers (particularly Eagle, Hawk, Sapphire, and Jade) and required approximately two days to reach convergence.Read More.

Research Accelerates the Design of Scramjets Research Accelerates the Design of Scramjets, Dr. Datta V. Gaitonde, AFRL Computer Sciences Branch Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, is the principle investigator of this Challenge project. This project has performed many successful runs using HPC codes: FDL3DI, AVUS, GPACT (CHSSI), GASP, UFS, and CFD++. Read More.

HPC Reveals the Phenomena of Flight on a Small Scale HPC Reveals the Phenomena of Flight on a Small Scale, Challenge Project "High-Fidelity Computation of Moving and Flexible Wing Sections with Applications to Micro Air Vehicles", Principal Investigator Dr Raymond Gordnier (AFRL/RB). Using HPC codes to recreate a flapping wing capable of lift for small electro-mechanical devices for autonomous missions. Read More.

Designing Ionic Liquids for a Greener Space Frontier Designing Ionic Liquids for a Greener Space Frontier, Challenge Project "Design of Energetic Ionic Liquids", Principal Investigator Dr Jerry Boatz, (AFRL/RZSP). Using molecular dynamics code on HPC systems to theoretically simulate new liquids to replace hazardous fuels for advanced propulsion applications. Read More.

A-10 Aircraft Flies into the Future A-10 Aircraft Flies into the Future, This HPCMP High Priority Project, "A-10 ARC-210 Antenna," was run at the AFRL DSRC by Mr. Thomas Booth, Principal Investigator (PI), 508th Aircraft Sustainment Group, Engineering Division, Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah -
Fall 2008, Wright Cycles

HPC Technology Enables Advancements for Increased Gas Turbine Engine Efficiencies HPC Technology Enables Advancements for Increased Gas Turbine Engine Efficiencies, Challenge Project, Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Steve Gorrell, Associate Professor, Brigham Young University -
Fall 2008, Wright Cycles

Urban Battlespace Simulations Seek to Understand the City's Most Complex System - Its Population Urban Battlespace Simulations Seek to Understand the City's Most Complex System - Its Population, The Principal Investigator for this project was Mr. Jim Blank, of the Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Directorate (J9) Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia. Utilization: DoD Dedicated HPC Project Investment (DHPI) award -
Fall 2008, Wright Cycles

P-3C Aircraft Provides Surveillance of the Battlespace to Protect Land and Sea P-3C Aircraft Provides Surveillance of the Battlespace to Protect Land and Sea, High Priority Project, "P-3 CFD Flight Clearance," Principal Investigator (PI) Mr. Joeseph Laiosa, Naval Air Systems Command (Navair) Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Maryland -
Spring 2008, Wright Cycles

Massive Quantum Research Project Pushes Boundarie Massive Quantum Research Project Pushes Boundaries, Capability Applications Project (CAP), "Quantum Algorithms for MHC and Turbulent Flows," Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. George Vahala, Professor of Physics, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia -
Spring 2008, Wright Cycles

Virtual Prototyping of Directed Energy Weapons Enhances Military Capabilities Virtual Prototyping of Directed Energy Weapons Enhances Military Capabilities, Challenge Project, "Virtual Prototyping of Directed Energy Weapons," Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Keith L. Cartwright, and Co-PI Dr. Matthew Bettencourt , and Co-Investigator Dr. Andrew D. Greenwood, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Directed Energy Directorate (DE), High Powered Microwave Division, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico -
Fall 2007, Wright Cycles

Ferroelectric Study Seeks to Improve Protection in the Ocean's Depths and Airwaves Ferroelectric Study Seeks to Improve Protection in the Ocean's Depths and Airwaves, Challenge Project, "First Principles Studies of Ferroelectric Materials," Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Andrew Rappe, University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with Dr. Ilya Grinberg, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia -
Fall 2007, Wright Cycles

Protection and Cure in the Face of Nerve Agent Exposure Protection and Cure in the Face of Nerve Agent Exposure, Challenge Projects, "Defense Against Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs): Filtration, Prophylaxis and Therapeutics," Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Margaret Hurley, Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Aberdeen, Maryland -
Spring 2007, Wright Cycles

Research Reduces Airplane Tests with Increased Resolution of Simulations Research Reduces Airplane Tests with Increased Resolution of Simulations, Challenge Project, "Multidisciplinary Applications of Detached-Eddy Simulation to Separated Flows," and "High Resolution Simulation of Full Aircraft control at Flight Reynolds Numbers," Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Scott Morton, Technical Manager of the Institute for HPC Applications in support of the Air Armament, AF Seek Eagle Office at Eglin Air Force Base. -
Spring 2007, Wright Cycles

Protecting Our Undersea Warfighters From Underwater Explosions Protecting Our Undersea Warfighters From Underwater Explosions, High Priority Project, "Shock weapon analysis for weapon handling and launcher systems. Weapon stowage and launch," Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Joseph M. Ambrico, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport -
Fall 2006, Wright Cycles

Study Improves F-22 Fighter Flight Worthiness Study Improves F-22 Fighter Flight Worthiness, High Priority Project, "F/A-22 External Static Loads," PI Mr. Brian Bohl, F-22 Structures Certification IPT-Loads and Criteria team, Lockheed Martin Corporation, supporting the F-22 Aircraft Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base -
Fall 2006, Wright Cycles

Ship Airwake Flow Study Enhances Pilot Training and Mission Safety Ship Airwake Flow Study Enhances Pilot Training and Mission Safety, High Priority Project, "Integrated Ship/Rotorcraft Airwake Simulation," PI Ms. Susan Polsky, Naval Air Weapons Center -
Spring 2005, Wright Cycles

Air Circulation Modeling Over Steep Coastal Mountains Air Circulation Modeling Over Steep Coastal Mountains, High Priority Project, "Coastal Mesoscale Modeling," PI Dr. James Doyle, Naval Research Laboratory -
Fall 2005, Wright Cycles

ASC DSRC Assists NASA With Safety for Discovery Mission ASC DSRC Assists NASA With Safety for Discovery Mission, High Priority Project, "Space Shuttle STS-114 Return to Flight Prep,” PI Dr. Kueichien Hill, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate -
Fall 2005, Wright Cycles