• About Us
• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• People
• Research & Facilities
  • Research at WPI
  • Current Graduate Research
  • Faculty Textbook
  • Faculty Current Research
  • Graduate Research Computer Laboratory
  • Structural Mechanics Impact Laboratory
  • Geotechnology Laboratory
  • Materials & Structures Laboratory
  • Environmental Laboratory
• Department Library
• CE 591 - Sustainable Solutions in CE
• Stantec Project Center
• News & Events
• About WPI

Graduate Research Computer Laboratory

 

The Graduate Research Computing Laboratory is for the use of Civil and Environmental Engineering graduate students in the pursuit of their research and coursework. The laboratory is located in Kaven Hall Room 203. One of the lab's primary uses is for performing finite element impact simulations using LS-DYNA. The lab is specifically equipment with hardware and software for performing these types of finite element analyses. The lab has been used in numerous projects to develop finite element models of vehicles, barriers and other structures involved in collision events. WPI is one of the Federal Highway Administraiton's Centers of Excellence in LS-DYNA Modeling. The GCRL is a key component in the FHWA Centers of Excellence Program. The GCRL contains the following equipment:

• 8 dual-processor Pentium computers (4 Windows 2000 and 4 Linux),
• 8 single-processor Pentium computers (Windows 2000),
• 1 Pentium computer with a Digitizer pad,
• 1 Power PC with a scanner,
• 1 HP LaserJet printer and
• Access to the University's 32-node IBM SP parallel computer.

All the hardware is connected to the WPI Novell network. The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is continually adding hardware and software to this facility in support of research activities in the Department.

The software packages used in the GRCL include:

• The LS-DYNA nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis program.
• The TrueGrid finite element mesh generator.
• The FEMB finite element pre-processor.
• The PostGL finite element post-processor.
• AutoCAD Plotting.
• GIS Projects.
• Graphic Projects (Scanning, PhotoShop, Translations, ...etc).
• WebPage Development.
• General productivity software (e.g., Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Netscape etc.).

Some recent uses of the Graduate Research Computing Laboratory include:

• Finite element simulations of the Weak-Post W-beam Guardrail.
• Finite element simulations of the Strong-Post W-beam Guardrail.
• Finite element simulations of the Side Impact performance of roadside barriers.
• Finite element simulations of the modified eccentric loader breakaway cable terminal.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: July 01, 2010 09:59:32