Dynomation-5

[Devious]

It looks like Motion Software (creator of the original versions) have reacquired Dynomation, and will be releasing a version 5 in late April, 2008.

Motion Software, Inc. Automotive Engine And Vehicle Simulation Software

" Dynomation-5 lets you peer inside a running engine! It reveals–otherwise invisible–pressure waves and mass flow in cylinders and engine passages. Dynomation-5 will accurately display how much power an engine will produce, but it will also show you why it makes that power and where you should put your efforts to optimize performance!

This major new release adds much requested combustion and ignition modeling, environmental modeling, improved integration between the FE and WA models, improved camshaft and rocker-arm modeling, improved tables and charts, new Pressure-Volume and Pressure-Crank-Angle graphs, Crank-Degree data tables, comprehensive support for metric and US measurement systems, and much more!"



I hope this helps,

DVS

Time to upgrade yet again.

[Lasse]

If you have one, please tell your experiences with this new Dynomation 5. Pros and cons. I have old DOS-version of dynomation and I hope new one has better manual input for camshaft (I don't own Cam Pro or such devices). I consider to upgrade new version.

How about other engine softwares?

This would be nice, but I think it is little pricey...
Gamma Technologies - Engine simulation

[Devious]

IMHO, the windows version of Dynomation had a couple of important improvements over the DOS version, and the new version 5 is a nice improvement in several ways. It offers improved cam input with ramp rate and rocker ratio alterations. The older versions seemed to like more lift and duration than worked in reality, and the version 5 seems to address this a bit. The modeling looks to be closer to real world than before (compared to actual dyno results from past engines built), with good graphing that lets you see trends better than the old DOS version.

Larry Meaux's inexpensive PipeMax program is very good at optomizing intake and exhaust details - especially if you already have good dyno data. Basicly it does all the length/diameter/taper calculations I used to do the hard way. PipeMax36xp2

Patrik Hale/RSR offers Engine Pro that is also a decent, relatively inexpensive program - Advanced Engine Simulation Software for Racing & Motorsports

Blair's newest software is very good from what I have seen, but I have only worked with the early versions - Prof Blair & Associates Home Page

I have never seen the simulation stuff from Lotus Engineering, but reports indicate it is very good, but expensive.

If you have experience with the DOS version of Dynomation, you understand that there are issues with most any engine simulation if you incorrectly model aspects of an engine, or if you expect too much from them. They are good to help optimize certain aspects of an engine that you have had on a dyno or track, or if you are looking to see trends on an engine design that you are just starting to work with from scratch.

I use simulations mostly for help with older V8 engine designs, and when working on optomizing intake, exhaust, cam details on motorcycle engines for road and track. Most are based on prior results from engines built in the past - this improves accuracy, but is usless when working outside of the software's abilities or "experience" range. Some of the simulations are good for seeing trends, but don't put too much stock in the final numbers they show.


For those who spend a lot of time working on similar engines/packages on an engine dyno, I doubt that simulation software is worthwile, but for the hobbiest, I feel that it can help educate and reduce expenses, but this is just my .02 (not corrected for the devaluing Dollar, nor inflation).

At this point, I dream of owning or having access to a good CFD software package and rapid prototyping equipment that wouldn't cost me my left..... leg. I figure we are about 5-10 years from this.

I hope this helps,
DVS

[Lasse]

Thanks for very informative reply.

Originally Posted by Devious

IMHO, the windows version of Dynomation had a couple of important improvements over the DOS version, and the new version 5 is a nice improvement in several ways. It offers improved cam input with ramp rate and rocker ratio alterations. The older versions seemed to like more lift and duration than worked in reality, and the version 5 seems to address this a bit. The modeling looks to be closer to real world than before (compared to actual dyno results from past engines built), with good graphing that lets you see trends better than the old DOS version.

I think I will make an order for Dynomation 5. I can upgrade my old DOS version only for $200. Windows version upgrade is $100. Not bad for good software.

Originally Posted by Devious

Larry Meaux's inexpensive PipeMax program is very good at optomizing intake and exhaust details - especially if you already have good dyno data. Basicly it does all the length/diameter/taper calculations I used to do the hard way. PipeMax36xp2

This looks promising. And price is very affordable.

Originally Posted by Devious

If you have experience with the DOS version of Dynomation, you understand that there are issues with most any engine simulation if you incorrectly model aspects of an engine, or if you expect too much from them. They are good to help optimize certain aspects of an engine that you have had on a dyno or track, or if you are looking to see trends on an engine design that you are just starting to work with from scratch.

I agree. You can't use these software as dyno.
Software doesn't see all variables of engine (frictions, quality of burn and internal aerodynamics for example). I think this is true with allmost every computer simulation. They just can't notice everything they should. But I think these software can help designing engines.

Originally Posted by Devious

At this point, I dream of owning or having access to a good CFD software package and rapid prototyping equipment that wouldn't cost me my left..... leg. I figure we are about 5-10 years from this.

You must turn to student, so you can get student version of SolidWorks with FloWorks at very affordable price.

I have done some basic research with FloWorks. I modelled intercooler and tried several locations for input and output pipes for it. For result I got better flow distribution in intercooler core. FEM-software is also very nice in designing engine parts like connecting rods. Even if you don't design them by your own, you can understand why something is better than other.

[Dusty]

Solidworks has a package available called cosmos which one of the programs is called floworks which is a wizard based cfd program that is fairly easy to use. The program runs in solidworks and generates the mesh and helps makes decisions about which governing equations to use, boundary conditions, and post processing

[Lasse]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Solidworks has a package available called cosmos which one of the programs is called floworks which is a wizard based cfd program that is fairly easy to use. The program runs in solidworks and generates the mesh and helps makes decisions about which governing equations to use, boundary conditions, and post processing

I really like to use SolidWorks and Cosmos. I agree FloWorks is easy to use, but if you aren't 100% sure what you are doing, you can easily get very strange result. It's allways better to verify results with some mathematical calculations or other methods (like real world measurements). Same applies to CosmosWorks, CosmosMotion and other FEM-software and computer simulations.