New Tecplot 360 CFD Visualization Software Released

By DE Editors

Tecplot, Inc. has released the 2011 version of Tecplot 360, the company’s software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) visualization. The latest release provides enhanced support for unsteady analysis solutions including new tools for time-dependent solutions, discrete Fourier transform (DFT), updated data loaders, additional animation formats, plus a number of new general analysis tools and usability enhancements.

“The increasing use of unsteady simulations is one of the most dramatic trends in the industry today, thanks to low-cost, more powerful computers,” says Mike Peery, CEO and president of Tecplot, Inc. “The newest version of Tecplot 360 is designed to help users take full advantage of this trend in order to study things like rotating equipment, turbomachinery, and turbulent flows more effectively.”

Enhancements in the 2011 version of Tecplot 360 include:

• More analysis tools for time-dependent solutions, including DFT. A variety of new tools and options have been added to address challenges associated with unsteady analysis simulations: one-dimensional DFT; a Time Series Probe that allows users to examine how a variable changes over time; an Integrate by Time Strands option; the new Time Marker option gives users the ability to visualize the current time step on the XY line plot; and the Time Linking feature allows users to step through and animate a solution time across frames.
• Updated data loaders that better support multi-file data sets. Tecplot 360 supports many commercial data formats. The most significant updates have been made to the Plot3D loader to support uniform and non-uniform grids and to the CGNS loader to support multiple file loading, files with rigid body dynamics, and larger file handling.
• New general analysis tools and usability enhancements. General tools or enhancements include new color maps and 3D Multi-frames for quick tiling of the primary preset XY, YZ, and XZ views. Optional new tools for Distribution Plots and Compare XY Maps are also available. In addition to Flash (SWF) and AVI, the 2011 version supports the export of animations to MPEG-4, Windows Media Video (WMV), and Flash Video (FLV) animation formats.

Tecplot 360 2011 is available for 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7, Vista, and XP; 32- and 64-bit Mac OS X and major UNIX platforms; and 64-bit Linux platforms. Pricing starts at $4,000 in the U.S. for a single-user perpetual license. Tecplot 360 users with current SMS agreements can upgrade to the latest version at no cost.

For more information, visit Tecplot.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.