More Bang for Less Buck - UB's Supercomputers Go "Green": In the world of supercomputers, practical considerations like energy consumption have traditionally been overshadowed by the emphasis on high performance. But as energy costs have increased, computational scientists at the University at Buffalo's Center for Computational Research (CCR) have found a way to do more cutting edge science while consuming less power. A new energy-efficiency upgrade to the Center for Computational Research, located in UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, will realize energy savings of approximately $150,000 per year, while boosting the center's total capacity by more than 50% (from 13 Teraflops to 20 Teraflops). The upgrade was made possible by a $300,000 contract from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and a $150,000 investment by UB. For additional details, please click here.
Combustion: How rapidly will flames spread through a burning building, and how soon will the temperature and mix of gases become dangerous enough to make various sections deadly to occupants? Fire is a complex phenomenon in which critically important contributions are, unfortunately, not very well understood. The goal of this research in computational fluid dynamics, which is led by Professor Paul DesJardin of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and supported through an NSF Career Award, is to develop a better understanding of the turbulent flow for improved predictions of fire intensity and growth. This graphic depicts the turbulent instability dynamics of large fire plumes using Large Eddy Simulation techniques. The simulations were conducted using computers at the University at Buffalo's Center for Computational Research.
Volcanology: UB faculty research inspires an episode of the History Channel's "Mega Disasters" series called "The Next Pompeii?" Professor Michael F. Sheridan, director of UB's Center for Geohazards Studies, recently coauthored a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggesting that the next eruption of Vesuvius might pose a serious threat to Naples, home to more than 3 million people. It wasn't exactly welcome news in Naples, where hazard mitigation plans did not include the possibility that the next eruption of Vesuvius might pose a serious threat to Naples. Dr. Chris S. Renschler, UB associate professor of geography, also is featured in the Mega Disasters episode, which was filmed in part at the Center for Computational Research, along with Dr. Maurizio Trevisan, former dean of UB's School of Public Health and Health Professions. More information about this project...
Additional faculty projects
