Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating boundary conditions are described, including rendering at least a portion of a model of a mechanical thing. The model includes mesh data and boundary condition data, which may be rendered with contour lines. User input is received indicating changing at least a segment of at least one of the contour lines. The user input may be input using a graphical user interface to produce a graphical representation of a new contour line to replace at least a segment of one of the contour lines. At least the new contour line may be outputted and/or stored as modified boundary condition data to represent the replaced segment.

Abstract: A method of providing buffer air to a labyrinth seal includes operating a multi-stage compressor system having an earlier stage and a later stage such that the air pressure at the later stage is higher than the air pressure at the earlier stage. The method may further include selectively directing compressed air from one of the earlier stage or the later stage to the seal based on a parameter indicative of air pressure within the compressor system.