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There’s a frustration familiar to almost every simulation engineer: the analysis that needs to be done urgently is the one that takes the longest to run. Large structural models, complex CFD meshes, multi-physics coupled analyses — these are the simulations that matter most and take the most time to complete.

The solution isn’t to run less rigorous simulations. It’s to run them faster — and that’s exactly what HPC simulation with Altair and cloud-based computing enable.

Why Simulation Speed Matters in Engineering

Simulation is most valuable when it informs decisions while there’s still time to act on the results. A simulation that takes four days to run in a design cycle that moves on a weekly cadence is a simulation that regularly arrives too late to influence anything.

High performance simulation computing compresses this timeline. Jobs that once ran overnight can complete in hours. Studies that required sequential processing can run as parallel batches. Design engineers get answers when they need them, not after the decision has already been made.

The Altair Engineering Simulation Platform and HPC

The Altair engineering simulation platform is built with high-performance computing in mind. Altair solvers — OptiStruct, AcuSolve, FEKO, Radioss, and others — are designed to parallelise effectively across multiple cores and nodes, making them well-suited for both on-premise HPC clusters and cloud-based compute environments.

Altair high performance computing integration means:

• Large finite element models are distributed across processor cores efficiently
• Fluid dynamics analyses that require millions of mesh elements are handled without memory constraints
• Multi-physics coupled analyses can leverage dedicated resources for each solver domain
• Optimisation studies running hundreds of design variants execute simultaneously rather than sequentially

The practical impact: simulation turnaround times that once measured in days now measure in hours.

On-Premise HPC vs. Cloud: Choosing the Right Approach

Both Altair HPC computing on on-premise clusters and Altair simulation on cloud platforms have distinct advantages. Understanding the trade-offs is important.

On-Premise HPC

• Predictable cost for high-volume, consistent workloads
• Low-latency access to local data and CAD/CAE models
• Full control over security and data governance
• High upfront capital investment and ongoing maintenance responsibility

Cloud-Based Engineering Simulation

• Elastic scaling — access more compute on demand without hardware procurement
• No capital investment — pay for what you use, when you use it
• Geographic flexibility — teams in different locations access the same compute resource
• Ideal for variable or peak workloads — avoiding underutilisation of on-premise hardware

Many engineering organisations are moving toward hybrid approaches — using on-premise HPC for baseline workloads and cloud bursting for peak demand periods.

Practical Strategies for Scaling Altair Simulations

Whether you’re working with on-premise HPC or cloud-based engineering simulation, these practices improve throughput and efficiency:

• Profile your models before scaling — Understand where the computational bottlenecks are. Meshing, solving, and post-processing have different scaling behaviours.
• Optimise mesh strategy for parallel solving — Poorly partitioned meshes reduce parallel efficiency. Altair’s mesh partitioning tools help distribute models effectively.
• Use Altair’s PBS Works for job scheduling — Efficient job queuing and resource allocation maximises utilisation across a compute cluster.
• Leverage Altair’s cloud partnerships — Altair has established integrations with major cloud providers, simplifying deployment and licensing for HPC for CAE simulation in cloud environments.
• Automate pre/post processing pipelines — Manual steps before and after solving can negate the time savings from faster solve times. Automate them.
• Monitor licence utilisation — Altair’s licensing model should be reviewed regularly as HPC usage scales, to ensure it remains cost-effective.

The Competitive Advantage of Faster Simulation Cycles

Engineering organisations that can turn simulation results around faster than their competitors have a structural advantage. They explore more design variants. They respond to client change requests without programme delays. They iterate on simulation findings while the design is still fluid enough to benefit from them.

Altair simulation on cloud and HPC infrastructure removes the compute constraint from the simulation process. What remains is the engineering expertise to use that speed wisely.

At PELF Engineering, we are experienced in deploying and optimising the Altair engineering simulation platform across HPC and cloud environments. We help engineering teams configure their compute infrastructure for maximum simulation throughput — so that faster answers become a regular part of how you work, not just an occasional achievement.

If simulation turnaround time is limiting your engineering programme velocity, let’s explore how HPC and cloud scaling can help.