ENGINEERING

Advanced CAE technology reduces time and costs to streamline product development cycles: Altair Engineering today announced that Garner CAD Technic GmbH (GCT) -- a member of the GCT Group, which specializes in engineering services for the aerospace market -- has chosen the Altair HyperWorks suite to offer its clients a broader set of services in finite-element modeling and structural optimization. Initially, GCT plans to use HyperMesh and OptiStruct for structural optimization of metal parts such as aircraft elevators and body elements, with plans to use the software on composite parts at customer request. "We enjoyed positive collaboration with Altair on a project with Boeing in January 2006," said Matthias Heinrich, head of Stress Engineering at GCT. "We were quickly able to see the benefits of the HyperWorks suite. After acquiring it, we found that the engineering framework is cost-effective and allows us to work much more efficiently, especially in the area of optimization. HyperWorks also adds to our portfolio of services we can offer our clients." Altair HyperWorks is an integrated CAE framework containing best-in-class solutions for the complete virtual product development process. HyperWorks not only contains powerful finite-element and multi-body simulation solutions, it also delivers an open, programmable platform that is easy to integrate into existing processes. From modeling and assembly, visualization and reporting, virtual manufacturing and robustness assessment, HyperWorks also helps bring highly engineered products to market faster. Altair OptiStruct is an advanced finite element-based software for both structural analysis and design optimization. OptiStruct is used to design, evaluate and improve performance of mechanical structures. HyperMesh is a high-performance finite-element pre- and post-processor that allows engineers to analyze product design performance in a highly interactive and visual environment. "Due to today's high demands for fuel-efficient aircraft design, weight optimization is key, while also satisfying structural integrity requirements," said Detlef Schneider, Ph.D., managing director, Altair Germany. "Many of our customers -- OEMs, as well as suppliers and service providers to the aerospace industry -- face demands for weight optimization. Every structural component of an aircraft, from fuselage sections to ribs and brackets, must be optimized with respect to its weight. The HyperWorks suite perfectly meets these requirements, while also helping reduce overall weight, shorten development cycles and increase design robustness. I am confident that not only the Garner engineers, but Garner customers as well will soon benefit from the advantages of the HyperWorks suite."