Mentor Graphics Introduces the Industry’s First General Purpose 1D-3D CFD Simulation Software Solution

Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) today announced a unique general-purpose software solution that combines 1D and 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This is an industry first, providing a tight coupling of 1D and 3D software technologies engineered to work natively together with integrated source code. This innovative solution is based on 1D Flowmaster®, recently acquired by Mentor Graphics, and 3D FloEFD™ Concurrent CFD. The new combination is the first result from the merged technologies made possible by the recent acquisition of Flowmaster Ltd. This enables customers to further speed up the design process while ensuring accurate upfront systems analysis based on fluid flow and heat transfer data by using 3D simulation at the component level. The result is higher quality, more competitive products to market faster.

Systems engineers commonly use 1D and 3D CFD software in the automotive, aviation, oil, gas, power and energy industries. For designing complex systems, 3D CFD would be extremely accurate but it can be computationally expensive depending on the size of the models used. Therefore, 1D CFD is used, which is faster, but it may require significant amounts of data to characterize the components accurately. To facilitate 1D CFD systems analysis, data is needed to describe the component. Until now, the process to achieve a high level of design accuracy has been tedious and based on assumptions.

“Mentor is delivering a very innovative solution for fluid and thermal system simulation,” noted Dr. Keith Meintjes, practice manager for Simulation and Analysis at CIMdata. “If the system performance is of primary interest, Mentor’s 1D-3D combination is a superior solution.”

This tightly coupled, general purpose 1D-3D CFD simulation software combination can characterize the more complex components of the system in 3D and insert those component characteristics into the 1D system-level models for simulation. This provides higher accuracy for the components while minimizing the computational resources and execution times at the system level. Consistent with the Mentor® strategy of virtual prototyping analysis early and throughout the design process, this technology breakthrough now enables systems engineers to examine more variables across a wider range of design scenarios to quickly achieve optimal system and component design.

Mentor Graphics announced acquisition of Flowmaster Ltd. in January 2012, the industry’s leading general purpose 1D systems simulation software used for all industry sectors. “Mentor’s investment in leading technologies such as the Flowmaster 1D family of products has allowed us to further advance our strategy of putting upfront analysis into the hands of the systems engineer,” stated Erich Buergel, general manager of the Mentor Graphics® Mechanical Analysis Division. “With the escalating complexity of systems designs and shorter time-to-market windows, more effective and timely solutions are needed. We see this as an important fulfillment of that market need.”

The Mentor Graphics 1D-3D product line will be available for shipping the second half of the year. For more details, click http://youtu.be/BMI64XOpniI or visit the company website www.mentor.com/mechanical.

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world’s most successful electronic, semiconductor and systems companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues in the last fiscal year of about $1,015 million. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com.

(Mentor Graphics, Mentor and Flowmaster are registered trademarks and FloEFD is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owner.)