Questions and Answers
Just what are computational engineering and the SimCenter?
Computational engineering is the study of real world designs in computer simulation. By taking an engineering design and studying it under virtual conditions, engineers can modify and enhance their work before they produce costly prototypes. The result is designs that are more efficient, more productive and more profitable because so much is saved in the experimental stages of design work.
The University of Tennessee SimCenter at Chattanooga has been the premier research institution for computational engineering since 2002.
How is it connected to UTC?
The SimCenter is the research partner to the UTC Graduate School of Computational Engineering. The SimCenter provides practical applications experience for UTC students enrolled in the University’s master’s and doctoral programs in computational engineering, and many of the SimCenter’s staff members serve as faculty members at the University.
What kinds of businesses require the Center services?
Any industry that relies on engineering can benefit from the work of the SimCenter, including companies engaged in hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, heat transfer, electro-magnetics and any kind of engineering design. For example, the logistics industry is working with the SimCenter to design tractors and trailers with minimal wind resistance in order to improve gas mileage.
Health care, especially simulating the fluid dynamics of the cardiovascular system, is emerging as a new field of opportunity for computational engineering.
What other kinds of real-world problems has the SimCenter helped to solve?
Researchers from the SimCenter have been involved with studying Osprey helicopter design issues and submarine navigability. The center has studied distribution patterns for airborne contaminants in urban settings.
Expanding beyond computational simulation, the UTC SimCenter is also testing hydrogen fuel cell designs that could lead to alternative fuel capabilities for homes and commercial buildings.
How many people work there?
More than 20 full-time research faculty and staff are employed at the UTC SimCenter.
Is there a major or a course of study associated with computational engineering?
The UTC Graduate School of Computational Engineering offers both a master’s degree and Ph.D. program. For fall 2007, twenty-five students from around the country and world are enrolled to study with what is considered one of the best collection of computational engineering research faculty teaching today.
When was the SimCenter established?
The UTC SimCenter was established in 2002.
How does this announcement change the SimCenter?
The fundamental work of the center will not change, but the resources that are being committed and the collaborations that are being established will allow it to do more. More importantly, the National Center status will serve as a magnet for the best minds in the discipline and for companies who require the services the SimCenter offers. Finally, it is likely that the “national center” status will attract a new generation of research grants to enhance the work even further.
Where will the Center be located?
The Center is currently located at 701 ML King Blvd. on the UTC campus. As the program develops, all options will be weighed in order to determine whether the present location or a new site best serves the goals and objectives of the national center.
Who else is involved in this initiative?
The establishment of the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering is made possible through the support of private partners who are providing funding for this expansion: the Benwood Foundation, the Lyndhurst Foundation, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, the Maclellan Foundation, the Tucker Foundation, and several anonymous donors.
Additionally, the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering benefits from a close partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee-ORNL Joint Institute for Computational Sciences. Through this partnership, the National SimCenter will gain access to the next-generation supercomputing resources at Oak Ridge.
What does it mean for Chattanooga?
The SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering will serve as a focal point for new technology-based industries and will establish Chattanooga as a significant part of the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor. Community leaders expect businesses with high-tech research needs to locate in Chattanooga, similar to how Radiance Technologies has opened a new office here to support its Huntsville-based operation.
Computational engineering is a $150 billion industry that is experiencing 24 percent annual growth. The establishment of the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering will better position Chattanooga to attract investments in this emerging industry and could transform the Chattanooga economy as more high-tech careers are created.
Is the Center unique to Chattanooga?
Arguably, the UTC SimCenter has the most prominent collection of computational engineers working at one institution in the world. An outside evaluator hired by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to assess the SimCenter’s application to award Ph.D. programs said, “The SimCenter is the most advanced computational modeling and simulation center in the nation, with outstanding teaching and research faculty.” There are other computational engineering research programs, but none can claim the expertise shared by the SimCenter researchers who reside here in Chattanooga.
How much does it cost and who will pay for it?
The total costs associated with the establishment of the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering will be determined by the size and scope of the new programs that develop. Each research project will bring a unique set of costs and resources.
Technology transfer has become a significant support for existing businesses and to facilitate entrepreneurship. The use of university research and innovation to create startup companies is another area of strong growth. University-sponsored startups have increased 107 percent since 1995, and some of the largest research institutions have become prolific in the number of startup companies they generate. The SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering can generate significant revenue by fully developing its technology transfer potential while also driving economic development in the region.
For more information on the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering, contact the UTC Office of University Relations at (423) 425-4363.
