Increase CFD Productivity with bramble
Engineering productivity in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been constrained by complex, time-consuming workflows. As well as data that varies depending on who runs them, and endless folders of results. Bramble CFD introduces a revolutionary new approach. Undeniably transforming CFD simulation from a specialised, time-intensive process to an accessible, high fidelity, rapid engineering tool.
Productivity Barriers in Traditional CFD
Traditional CFD workflows have long been plagued by operational challenges that dramatically impede engineering productivity. In particular, the process of preparing and executing CFD simulations has historically required extensive manual intervention. Engineers have spent countless hours on pre-processing, geometry preparation, and complex meshing processes. These technical barriers create a steep learning curve that limits simulation accessibility. As well as dramatically increasing the time and resource investment required for each computational analysis.
A traditional CFD timeline
A bramble CFD timeline. Increase CFD productivity with more time for analysis and engineering.
bramble's Productivity Toolkit
Workflow Automation and Productivity Acceleration
Intelligent Geometry Management
bramble’s approach to geometry processing represents a revolutionary productivity enhancement that can be customised for each company. By implementing a zone naming convention system, the platform eliminates the time-consuming manual steps that have previously encumbered CFD workflows. Engineers no longer need to manually configure complex geometry settings; instead, the system automatically interprets and validates component definitions.
The naming convention system does more than just standardise nomenclature. It serves as an intelligent interface that automatically assigns appropriate mesh recipes, configures boundary conditions, and performs integrated error checking. This also means an automotive engineer designing a front wing can upload a new piece of geometry. bramble then ensures it has the same mesh recipe, boundary condition, force monitors and so on. Reducing setup time from hours to mere moments.
An example of setting up naming conventions in bramble
Geometry Set-up Acceleration
The platform’s kinematic capabilities allow bramble to automatically reposition geometries, update associated boundary conditions, and test multiple design variations with minimal manual intervention.
While traditional CFD workflows require engineers to manually reconfigure suspension geometries or reposition components. Plus manual adjustment of domain settings for each test condition. bramble will increase CFD productivity by automating these time-consuming processes. A ride height modification that previously consumed hours can now be accomplished in seconds. Enabling engineers to explore a dramatically wider design space in significantly less time.
bramble’s kinematic setup menu →
Reliability and Safety Mechanisms
Automated Pre-Simulation Validation and Post-Simulation Checks
Productivity isn’t just about speed, it’s also about confidence. bramble’s automated pre-launch checking system prevents costly simulation errors before they occur. The platform comprehensively validates model setups. Detecting potential configuration issues and other common CFD setup errors that might otherwise lead to failed or unreliable simulations.
For instance, if an engineer attempts to run a simulation requiring mass flow planes but fails to include the geometry, bramble will immediately flag the issue. After simulation completion, bramble performs additional automated checks. Verifying convergence and identifying any anomalous velocities or pressures that could indicate simulation issues. This dual-stage validation approach, both pre- and post-simulation, prevents wasted computational resources. As well as reducing the iterative debugging typically associated with CFD simulations.
bramble automatically runs pre- and post-checks on all simulations
Data Integrity and Repeatability
The platform’s innovative “locking” mechanism ensures that critical simulation configurations remain consistent and traceable. Once a geometric configuration or simulation setup is used, it can be preserved in its exact state. This means engineering teams can confidently reproduce previous simulation conditions, share consistent configurations across teams, and maintain a reliable historical record of design iterations.
The platform’s robust data integrity extends to bramble’s template system, which encapsulates expert CFD knowledge into prebuilt configurations. For external aerodynamics applications, these templates contain comprehensive, validated settings based on industry best practices. This complementary strategy—preserving configuration states while providing expert-defined templates—democratises CFD across skill levels. Engineers new to CFD can rely on these prebuilt templates to immediately begin productive simulation work, while experienced users retain the flexibility to fine-tune mesh recipes, convergence criteria, and other advanced parameters before locking them ready for the rest of their team to use. The combination of locked configurations and expert templates ensures both consistency and adaptability, enabling teams to maintain rigorous standards while accommodating diverse engineering needs.
↑ bramble’s locking feature ensures consistency in simulations
Performance and Productivity Metrics
The productivity gains are not merely theoretical. The platform demonstrates a consistent 5x overall improvement in productivity, dramatically compressing design cycles by more than an order of magnitude.
Traditionally, critical engineering operations consumed substantial time. For instance: vehicle ride height changes required hours of manual reconfiguration, and measuring drag and downforce of vehicle following vehicle spanned an entire day. bramble revolutionises this process, reducing pre-processing times of adjusting vehicle ride height from hours to seconds. Vehicle following vehicle simulations that previously consumed days can now be completed in mere moments.
Pre-processing time for complex geometrical modifications has been transformed from hours-long manual processes to near-instantaneous automated configurations. Users can now set wing angles with a single click, automatically generate comprehensive simulation results, and access detailed post-processing insights through intuitive, one-click interfaces.
The platform’s automated CFD simulation workflow enables engineers to dramatically expand their design exploration capabilities. What once required 7-11 hours per simulation variation can now be accomplished in just 30-60 minutes. This substantial reduction in computational time directly translates to:
• Faster design iteration cycles
• Significantly reduced engineering costs
• Expanded design alternative exploration
• Increased engineering team productivity
By eliminating traditional computational bottlenecks, bramble empowers engineering teams to focus on creative design innovation rather than time-consuming computational setup and management.
Transformative Data Management
Instantaneous, Comprehensive Results Access
Traditional CFD workflows have been plagued by time-consuming data retrieval and analysis processes. bramble eliminates these productivity barriers by automatically generating standardised post-processing outputs immediately upon simulation completion. Additionally, engineers need no longer spend hours manually extracting and organising data; instead, they can access a complete suite of visualisations, including static pressure plots, flow field movies, and force distribution graphs, with a single click.
The platform’s approach is particularly powerful in its ability to preserve and instantly retrieve historical data. Even simulations completed years ago remain fully accessible, ensuring that institutional knowledge is never lost due to personnel changes or project archiving. This persistent data accessibility means engineers can quickly reference previous work, compare historical designs, and accelerate iterative design processes.
Intelligent Comparative Analysis
bramble’s comparative analysis capabilities represent another increase in engineering productivity. The platform’s innovative ‘switcher’ mode allows engineers to rapidly toggle between simulation runs, revealing subtle flow field variations that would be imperceptible in traditional side-by-side comparisons. This feature transforms complex data interpretation from a time-consuming manual process into an instantaneous, intuitive experience.
Customised Data Configuration and Preservation
The platform provides unprecedented flexibility in data management. Engineers can effortlessly configure force tables, apply custom scaling factors, and create multiple data views with remarkable ease.
Critically, bramble remembers these user configurations, eliminating repetitive setup work in subsequent analyses. A configuration performed once can be instantly recalled in future projects, or shared by engineers on the same account, saving significant engineering time.
Seamless Reporting and Collaboration
bramble transcends traditional reporting limitations by providing an integrated reporting environment. Engineers can create annotations, add contextual comments, and generate comprehensive reports directly within the platform. The ability to share these reports via secure links eliminates cumbersome file exchanges, creating a centralised, perpetual knowledge repository that enhances team collaboration and knowledge transfer.
↑ Some of bramble’s intergrated reporting tools
Performance Democratisation
By automating complex pre-processing, solving, and post-processing tasks, bramble reduces simulation preparation time from hours to seconds. The web-based interface makes advanced CFD analysis accessible to engineers at all levels, removing technical barriers that have traditionally limited simulation exploration.
Conclusion
Bramble CFD represents more than a software platform—it’s a fundamental reimagining of CFD software, designed to accelerate design cycles, enhance collaborative practices, and fundamentally transform how engineering teams interact with CFD data. By eliminating productivity barriers, automating complex processes, providing robust safety mechanisms, and intuitive, comprehensive data management, the platform empowers engineers to focus on creative design innovation rather than computational complexity.