Profiles in CFD with Guillaume Martinat

The Profiles in CFD series aims to provide insights into the latest trends and projects in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by interviewing CFD personalities from different career paths and levels.

Our guest for today's interview is Guillaume Martinat, lead aerodynamic engineer at Flying Whales. His enthusiasm for mechanical engineering has steered him into the domain of CFD, and he is currently at Flying Whales, where he is spearheading efforts to transform the air cargo transportation sector while using Cadence Fidelity CFD and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the design workflow.

Tell me something about yourself.

I was raised in Brittany, located in the western part of France. My academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Applied Physics and a master's in Fluid Mechanics. My studies were primarily conducted at the Université de Rennes until the latter part of my master's program, at which point I transitioned to the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse. There, I completed my master's degree and pursued a PhD in Aerodynamics, with a focus on evaluating and analyzing turbulence models. Following my academic pursuits, I relocated to Norfolk, VA, in the USA, where I spent five years working at the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, focusing on large eddy simulations. My career path led me to join Flying Whales, where I am currently employed.

Did you always want to pursue engineering, or was it a decision influenced by your family?

From a young age, I've been captivated by fluid mechanics. While I initially believed naval architecture was my calling, an early internship during my academic career led me to the realization that my true passion lies within aerodynamics.

Did you gain experience with commercial CFD software while pursuing your Master's degree?

As I had pursued a Masters in Research (MRes) degree, most of my time was spent in a computer lab, coding CFD problems rather than working on commercial CFD software. This required me to learn FORTRAN programming, which helped me become proficient in CFD.

At Flying Whales, we currently use Cadence Fidelity CFD for pre-processing and OpenFoam for simulations.

Can you tell us about your current position at Flying Whales?

At Flying Whales, I am the aerodynamics leader, overseeing a dedicated team of five members. Our collective responsibility revolves around the aerodynamic design of airships. My role encompasses overseeing CFD operations applied to aerodynamics, incorporating methodology and software applications, and coordinating resources both within and outside the organization. I am also responsible for managing relationships with industrial affiliates, subcontractors, and academic institutions to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships.

How has the Cadence CFD software helped you overcome some design challenges at Flying Whales?

The decision to select our solvers primarily hinged on the cost associated with licensing fees. Being a small enterprise with a single program, the affordability of multiple floating licenses was beyond our financial reach. Consequently, we chose to utilize OpenFoam coupled with Amazon Web Services for our computational needs.

We benchmarked several preprocessing tools to increase the productivity of our workflow and settled on Cadence Fidelity, which is adapted to OpenFoam meshing requirements. Its ability to deliver high-quality meshes that align perfectly with our needs ensures accurate performance in our simulations.

How do you keep yourself updated with the latest advancements and technologies in CFD?

I generally keep myself updated through OpenFoam release notes or regular meetings with the Cadence Fidelity team. I usually do a bibliographical study and discuss it with partners when a specific need arises.

What are your thoughts on AI in CFD?

My background is more physics-oriented than data-driven, making me somewhat ambivalent about fully relying on AI. I believe in the importance of having explainable models based on physics principles that aren't black boxes. AI has clear applications in optimization or data processing (whether from simulation or tests).

The team I manage is also responsible for data sciences, and we are currently investigating integrating AI into our design process. I believe AI could be a valuable tool, provided we have access to or can generate enough data quickly.

What do you enjoy doing during your free time?

I enjoy many outdoor activities, such as running, open-water swimming, and cycling (especially mountain biking and time trialing). These activities keep me fit, relieve stress, and are generally great fun.

Can you suggest a few must-reads for CFD enthusiasts?

I would suggest Computational Methods for Fluid Dynamics by Ferziger, J.H., Peric, M. and Street, R.L. as a good read from a pure modeling perspective. However, as a physicist by training, I strongly believe you need to understand the physical phenomena you want to simulate, so I would advise Turbulent Flows by Pope, S., and Fundamentals of Aircraft and Airship Design: Vol 2 by Nicolai, L.M. and Carichner, G.E.

French Guiana

What’s your advice for someone looking to pursue a career in CFD?

A strong foundation in mathematics is highly beneficial for technical proficiency and understanding and for effectively applying the underlying physical models. CFD is not merely about generating visually appealing simulations but involves accurately predicting outcomes. Therefore, enhancing one's background in mathematics and physics is key for anyone aiming to succeed in CFD.

Also, one must first identify their specific interest within the field, as the requirements vary significantly for roles such as application engineer, CFD analyst, or developer based on the applications/domains. It's essential to acknowledge the complexity of CFD, which involves numerical methods, physics, and other disciplines.

Connect with Guillaume Martinat and learn how Cadence Fidelity CFD is helping Flying Whales in their airship design process.