For example, it was found on the Scuderi Split Cycle engine that the phase angle between the compression piston and power piston has a large effect on the engine’s performance. When the initial design was modeled the phase angles where too large and the engine did not produce the expected performance.
Through a series of computer simulation runs that sweep a range of phase angles, we were able to determine the optimum configuration for that one feature of the engine. It would have been very difficult, expensive and time consuming to analyze just this one parameter by building prototype engines.

All aspects of the engine are currently being examined prior to cutting metal and building the hardware. As the detailed component designs are developed, that iterative process of new CFD studies and GT cycle simulation runs are done to ensure the performance of the engine. All of this might seem complicated; however, it is the standard method used in the industry to develop new engines, and it is in fact the fastest and most cost effective method.