High-performance computing use cases

Guide to high-performance computing

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Aerospace and aviation

Complex multiphysics computations through CFD

HPC is used for a variety of purposes in the aerospace industry. From optimising aircraft design to turbine flow using complex multiphysics computations such as fluid dynamics, to structural and thermal simulations, and electromagnetic analysis - all requiring large scale clusters.

These complex multiphysics computations also drive an increased need for VDI resources.

Agriculture

Simulating future food systems

HPC solutions drive discoveries in plague control, pesticide design, and the analysis of pesticide effects for increased efficiency in the agricultural sector. Plant growth simulations help reduce the number of field trials needed, speeding up optimisation.

Climate data is used to better understand the impacts of water and climate conditions on agriculture.

Data from sensors, drones, and satellite imagery is analysed with AI/ML or HPDA to improve anything from crop yield prediction to life stock health.

Automotive

Improved efficiency through simulations

Automotive companies are optimising vehicle design through multiphysics simulations, such as using computational fluid dynamics to analyse airflow or wind resistance. Other use cases include simulating the performance of individual parts of a vehicle and how they respond to stress, or simulating manufacturing optimisations. All of these drive a huge need for large-scale high-performance computing clusters.

Large-scale simulation and machine learning clusters also power up training and safety validation for autonomous vehicles.

Data is being used for anything from fault detection to fleet management, all requiring solutions such as HPDA and AI/ML.

VDI enables the creation of models through computer-aided design and the visualisation of complex multiphysics simulations.

Banking and finance

Minimising risk with Monte Carlo simulations

The financial services industry uses simulations such as Monte Carlo to analyse multiple possible outcomes for improved decision-making. High performance computing clusters also power up risk analyses and fraud detection and protection.

HPC is helping banks deliver improved compliance and portfolio management.

Construction

Improved building safety and materials through simulations

Construction companies can build safer, more efficient and cost-effective structures thanks to fire and smoke simulations, powered by HPC. Complex multiphysics simulations are enabling the industry to create improved materials.

Data can be collected at a faster rate using in-structure sensors and imagery to assess and predict structural conditions. All of this can be analysed using HPDA and AI/ML solutions on a large-scale.

Defence and security

Simulations that improve safety

Complex multiphysics simulations can optimise the efficiency of defence solutions and simulate the decommissioning of nuclear components for improved safety.

Electronics

Efficient production and design

The design and manufacturing of electrical components require complex computations. HPC enables electronics manufacturers to simulate electrical flows and temperature, allowing for both efficient design in terms of materials and effective management of heat dissipation.

Energy and utilities

Discovery and processing

The time to leverage HPC in energy is now.

HPC can be used to analyse seismic data or data produced by geophones. This allows exploration teams to get an understanding of the underlying geological area, allowing for the discovery of previously hidden natural resources.

Complex chemical processes are then required to refine these resources into useful products. This complexity requires the use of chemistry simulations.

Government

Increased safety and understanding

HPC can level-up how governments decommission materials, engage in large-scale infrastructure projects and analyse census information, among many other use cases.

National laboratories are using HPC to drive discovery in nuclear power, nuclear fusion, renewable energy, nanotechnology and space exploration.

Healthcare and pharmaceuticals

Cancer detection and protein folding

Digital twins are being used to great effect by healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations, for anything from simulating the effects of drug uptake on vital organs to simulating brain functions or blood flow.

Simulations are also valuable to develop and test medical prosthetics.

Complex algorithms can enable a better understanding of the underlying chemical processes behind life, leading to breakthrough medical discoveries.

Cancer detection and growth analyses are made possible through machine-learning and image analysis.

Life sciences

Genome sequencing and protein folding

HPC is opening new doors for genome sequencing. It can help life sciences organisations better understand genetics and diseases. These use cases depend on large high-performance computing clusters.

A more robust understanding of protein folding is now possible thanks to complex simulation workloads and advanced AI solutions such as AlphaFold.

Manufacturing and industry

Simulations improve assembly and components

HPC is being used to optimise materials used in manufacturing. It allows companies to create more durable components while using the lowest amount of materials, driving efficiency.

Simulations can also be used to optimise assembly lines and get a better understanding of processes.

Media and entertainment

Rendering, audio and video processing

HPC can also be highly entertaining. Movie and TV studios use HPC workloads for anything from the rendering of visual effects (VFX) to full-blown animated movies. This, along with video processing, requires large-scale rendering clusters.

Gaming companies deploy large clusters for the processing and delivery of audio, driven by player-to-player communication.

Research and universities

Simulations and discovery

Science and research depend on large-scale high performance clusters for new discoveries. Anything from the discovery of new materials or properties of new compounds is made possible through physics simulations.

Within our planet and across the universe, HPC makes the analysis of instrument data possible — from particle accelerators to space telescopes.

Weather

Simulations and prediction

Our understanding of climate change and weather disruptions is more sophisticated thanks to HPC. Simulations deliver weather predictions through computations on large-scale high-performance clusters.