Comfort Meets Safety - CFD Solutions Transform Development, Reducing Costly Experimental Tests

To ensure performance and passenger safety of its ski resort transport systems, the Doppelmayr Group, an international manufacturer of ropeways and innovative transportation systems, needed an assessment of the wind forces exerted on ski resort transport systems. As wind tunnel tests are expensive and time-consuming, the manufacturer needed simulation results that would enable them to accurately calculate the generated drag, conduct an analysis of the flow field surrounding the lift’s structure, and compare the aerodynamic performance of various configurations across different operating conditions. Using Altair® ultraFluidX®, engineers conducted a set of simulations that showed a strong correlation with existing wind tunnel data. As a result, the high degree of accuracy signifies a major advancement, as it implies a substantial reduction in time and cost associated with wind tunnel testing.