What is Computational Engineering?

Computational Engineering is a new paradigm where engineers write computer algorithms to encode the design process for an entire class of objects. This is in contrast to traditional engineering, where designs are created visually using a CAD program and the end result is a blueprint for just one physical part.

In the Computational Engineering paradigm, any object you create today, contributes to the code base of a development platform for the design of future objects of the same type. This codified aggregate body of knowledge of engineering enables us to create more and more sophisticated products over time.

LEAP 71 is at the forefront of this new paradigm, having pioneered some of the underlying concepts of Computational Engineering. LEAP 71 has released PicoGK, its foundational framework, as open-source.

A computational engineer breaks down an object into fundamental logical parts and builds dependencies, based on the the flow of information between these building blocks. In this first stage, the engineer is less concerned about how the resulting product will look like, but will focus on requirements, fundamental design rules, manufacturing methods, and physical constraints.

In the next step, the engineer will start encoding the construction logic. Given the constraints and the input parameters, how would a traditional engineer, with their domain knowledge and experience, create a three-dimensional design for the object? The initial implementation may be trivial, and serve as a placeholder geometry, until more advanced algorithms are developed.

The engineer will then iterate and build increasingly complex code that will result in more sophisticated output. To make the computational model robust, the engineer will sweep across a broad range of parameters and validate the resulting geometry, first visually, but increasingly by integrating either physical testing or numerical simulation.

The end result is a computational model of the design process for a certain class of objects. The software code will take the parameters and production constraints as input and output a manufacturable file.

This computational model can be deployed at scale, extended and improved by other engineers, and becomes tangible intellectual property in the form of a living code base.

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Advantages of Computational Engineering
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We have been busy #iterating on all these rocket injector heads. Fortunately our #ComputationalEngineering Models allow us to make last-minute changes to the design without manual work.

We ❤️ small thrusters - 1kN thruster generated by our #ComputationalEngineering model for space propulsion RP/CEM.

Energy use of #datacenters will continue to rise in the coming years, as #ai models are trained. Water cooling of electronics, directly at the component level, can dramatically reduce the energy required for cooling.

Lots of connectors and instrumentation ports on this 5kN thruster. Designed with our #ComputationalEngineering Model for space propulsion, RP/CEM.

Getting ready to move rocket thruster development to a new level, using our #ComputationalEngineering Model for space propulsion RP/CEM.

Let’s build some #turbomachinery

That satisfying feeling when the parts emerge from the #3dprinter - thanks @mimotechnik for another great print of a large #heatexchanger created through our #ComputationalEngineering Model.

With the #cherryblossoms in full bloom while we are visiting Japan, we couldn’t resist posting a #quasicrystal #sakura edition.

Industrial #3dprinting enables us to build electric motors that are significantly more capable than conventional ones. Our #ComputationalEngineering Model for electric actuation EA/CEM can generate highly sophisticated motor geometries flexibly and automatically.

We #opensourced the #ComputationalEngineering Model for this heat exchanger a while ago. Check it out on our GitHub.

#eidmubarak to all our friends in the #uae. Islamic scholars created the patterns that led to the discovery of #quasicrystals - let’s harness the power of these structures for #ComputationalEngineering.

Want to use aperiodic tiling and quasi-crystalline structures for engineering? We just released an #opensource library for this on our #github

Big thank you to @mimotechnik for this beautiful #fdm #multimaterial print (@bambulab_official) of our spherical electric motor prototype. Built through #computationalengineering.

Let’s harness the interesting properties of #quasicrystals for engineering structures.

Extended RP/CEM family picture. The tiny 3.5kN engine is the newest output of our algorithm. Looking forward to a hot fire soon. #ComputationalEngineering

#ComputationalEngineering Models easily create complex piping systems and manifolds and can reroute and reconfigure them in seconds when inputs change.

We like to explore new #spacepropulsion systems such as #aerospike and #rde - many of these designs require a #ComputationalEngineering approach to be feasible

Heat exchangers are critical components in many industries. We are building a very broad #ComputationalEngineering Model for many different types and applications.

Our #computationalengineering model for space propulsion in action.

We are very excited to announce our collaboration with @solideonusa on the production of large-scale space systems and infrastructure. @big_seun_

Let’s print some #aluminum #heatexchangers

A touch of color.

Excited to announce our collaboration with @mimotechnik and Astro Test Labs to produce fully qualified metal aerospace parts in the US.

Here is a cut through a small #coaxialswirl injector head, optimized for liquid oxygen and isopropanol - designed by our #ComputationalEngineering Model for space #propulsion, RP/CEM.