Choosing Clusters Over Workstations To Accelerate Ansys Applications

In the world of computer-aided engineering (CAE), simulation plays a pivotal role in optimizing designs, reducing physical prototyping, and accelerating time to market. Ansys applications are at the forefront of this transformation. Yet, many engineering teams are still anchored to traditional workstation-based environments that limit the full potential of simulation workflows. High-performance computing (HPC) clusters offer a powerful alternative, designed to enhance engineering productivity, scale simulations, and improve collaboration.

The Case for HPC in CAE Workflows

Historically, HPC was considered too costly or complex for general engineering use, limited to large enterprises or academic research centers. However, this is no longer the case. The emergence of cost-effective, entry-level cluster solutions has changed the equation, bringing HPC within reach of a much broader audience.

Modern CAE workloads, especially those run with solvers like Ansys Fluent fluid simulation software, Ansys LS-DYNA nonlinear dynamics structural simulation software, and Ansys Mechanical structural finite element analysis (FEA) software, increasingly demand more memory, faster processing, and scalable storage. Workstations, while useful for CAD or small-scale simulations, often become bottlenecks. Engineers are forced to reduce model complexity, wait longer for results, or compromise on design iterations. This not only delays innovation but also reduces the quality of final products.

Key Advantages of HPC Clusters Over Workstations

1. Superior scalability and performance: Clusters combine multicore central processing units (CPUs), high-memory nodes, and low-latency interconnects to deliver far higher throughput than even the most powerful workstations. This enables engineers to iterate faster, reach conclusions quicker, and boost overall design velocity.
2. Larger, more detailed simulations: High-fidelity FEA and CFD simulations often involve models with tens of millions of finite elements and hundreds of millions of finite volume elements, respectively. Workstations can struggle with memory and storage requirements, leading to simplified models or delayed runtimes. HPC clusters eliminate this issue, allowing full-system simulations with high accuracy and confidence in engineering decisions.
3. Reduced prototyping costs: HPC clusters make it feasible to perform more simulations earlier in the design process. Engineers can iterate digitally instead of physically, minimizing the need for costly prototypes. This benefit is particularly valuable in the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries.
4. Improved product quality through more iterations: Faster runtimes enable more design variations and design of experiments (DOEs). Teams can explore edge cases, uncover hidden flaws, and optimize products more thoroughly.
5. Centralized infrastructure and efficient licensing: Clusters consolidate compute resources and can be shared across departments. They can support remote visualization and virtualization tools, reducing the need for expensive, high-end local workstations. With Ansys Elastic Licensing and job schedulers like PBS Pro, users can dynamically allocate resources to improve license use and reduce idle time.

HPC Starter Cluster Configurations

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Ansys have partnered to develop preconfigured HPC clusters tailored for CAE workloads. Powered by AMD EPYC processors, HPE's Cray and ProLiant systems deliver record-breaking performance for Ansys applications. HPE tests and validates configurations to ensure compatibility and performance for key solvers, including Fluent software, Mechanical software, LS-DYNA software, and Ansys HFSS high-frequency electromagnetic simulation software.

Recommended cluster configurations use AMD EPYC processors and scalable DDR5 memory. Networking options include 100GbE or InfiniBand. These clusters can start with as few as two nodes and expand as needed. Clusters can be installed into standard racks or integrated into existing networks. HPE also offers services for training, onboarding, and support.

Enabling Remote Visualization

Remote display tools and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) eliminate the need to transfer large files across the network. In this distributed model, engineers can rapidly access the HPC hardware and interactively post-process the simulation results from any computer. This distributed setup not only saves time but makes it easier to share results and collaborate across the organization.

NICE DCV, included in HPE's solutions, enables engineers to access Ansys applications securely from anywhere without transferring large files. This improves productivity and protects sensitive IP.

HPC for Everyone

HPC clusters aren’t just for elite engineering teams anymore. For engineers using Ansys software, moving from workstations to clusters can be a game-changer. It unlocks simulation potential, reduces design cycles, and helps create better products faster. HPE and Ansys deliver a validated, supported, and scalable path to HPC adoption — making it the right time to evolve from legacy systems to future-ready engineering infrastructure.

Ready to scale your simulations? Download “Workstations vs. Clusters for Ansys Applications: The Right Solution for Engineering Productivity,” and explore how HPE and Ansys can help you deploy the right HPC solution for your engineering workloads.