MSC Software Corporation

Overview:
Autoliv, the world's largest manufacturer of automotive safety equipment, has developed side-curtain airbag systems by using MSC Dytran to similate the dynamic events that occur during inflation, such as gas flow and enclosure impact stiffness. MSC Dytran provides Autoliv with an effective tool to study OOP (out-of-position) scenarios, enabling engineers to identify and quantify the impact of numerous design variables. The software provides real value in terms of reducing the time and overall development effort required, compared to conventional prototype build and test methods.Simulating airbag deployment is a complex and labor-intensive process, including meshing of the material and folds, analysis of fluid flow, and dynamic stresses on the enclosure. Using MSC Dytran, the engineers at Autoliv were able to pinpoint the key contributing variables and isolate them for optimization.The software provides real value in terms of reducing the time and overall development effort compared to conventional prototype builds and testing.

Overview:
Boeing is responsible for design, development, construction, and integration of the International Space Station (ISS) - Integrated on-orbit from a series of segments transported up to the Station by the Shuttle. MSC ADAMS was used for functional verification of the attachment interface mechanisms, which required a thorough representation of the contacting geometry. The MSC ADAMS solid-to-solid contact force statement allowed simulation of the segment-to-segment attachment including various combinations of contact feature misalignment. The analysis reduced contact model development and helped Boeing minimize the possibility of introducing an error by providing stable, accurate solid-to-solid models.The segment-to-segment attachment interface includes ready-to-latch indicators, coarse and fine alignment guides, a capture latch, and supporting interface structure. Each of the contacting elements was idealized as one or more of the following contact representations: sphere to plane, line to line, line to arc, sphere to cone, sphere to torus, sphere to cylinder, arc to interior of cone, and arc to exterior of cone. Each of the contact equations was resolved to a pair of points representing the minimum distance between any two contacting elements.Model validation was accomplished using component-level tests of the contacting features. Testing was performed on the coarse guides, fine guides, and the capture latch. Testing was performed by slowly moving the contacting elements together while measuring test table strut displacement and force. The results of the tests were then compared with simulation results.

Overview:
Moeller GmbH, a major innovator in switchgear and safety solutions for a wide range of industries, used MSC ADAMS for studies and calculations in new switchgear development, and to analyze improvements in existing products. Moeller engineers performed various tests on the same virtual model, inlcuding forces and load calculations, resulting in fewer physical prototypes and high-speed recordings. Thanks to MSC ADAMS, Moeller reduced the development time of new and modified products and improved the quality of existing products.In order to effectively protect machines and engines, the circuit breakers must operate as predicted and therefore must be tested beforehand. Experimental hardware tests of circuit breakers require the building of a realistic prototype including all essential sub-assemblies and all necessary materials, making these tests laborious, time-consuming and expensive. Before using computer-aided engineering (CAE) software, the AE engineers performed motion analyses of their switches using high-speed video recordings of the physical prototype. Static calculations were done manually with functions and loads - a demanding and tedious method, and a major handicap in the field of advanced engineering.Since computer-aided design (CAD) software was already in use at Moeller for switch development, it was a logical step to implement CAE software for functional analysis of the switchgear. Among several software packages, MSC ADAMS was chosen to be the most suitable for multibody simulation because it enables the engineers to perform a complete analysis of the assembly as well as dynamic calculation of the loads.

• Higher overall quality of the product could be improved
• Results are more accurate and faster
• The MSC ADAMS post-processor offers significant plots and animations, which quickly reveal the right development direction.
• With precise results, management can come to their decisions more quickly and with more confidence
• The number of hardware prototypes can be significantly reduced

Overview:
Sikorsky, a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced helicopters, reduces design bottlenecks by using implicit nonlinear for contact analysis. The integrated solutions from MSC Software allow Sikorsky to perform contact analysis and get an accurate estimate of the true buckling strength of their structures with minimal software training.

Overview:
With sales of 137 million Euros in 2011, Armor is one of the leaders in producing inked ribbon used in thermal transfer printing for product identification and other applications. Ribbon is produced by applying ink to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film in a web coating process in which the speed, tension and position of the web and other variables must be closely controlled in order to ensure the highest possible quality while maximizing throughput.

• Increased machine productivity by 20%
• Achieved optimal coating conditions
• Increased quality

Overview:
Physical testing of prototypes is mainly used as a last check before a new design is approved, providing correlation between simulation and the actual results. Because of the success that Beacon Power has achieved by utilizing simulation early in the design process, most of the companies engineers are being trained in simulation, using MSC Patran and MSC Nastran, which results in a stronger technical organization, directly impacting both the product and processes, lowering costs and improving the final product.With a 150 lb. rotor spinning at an angular speed in the mid 20 KRPM range, stress, vibration, safety containment and thermal issues all must be addressed when designing a flywheel energy storage system. However, developing prototypes for physical testing is time and cost prohibitive.To improve design efficiency, MSC Patran, MSC Nastran, MSC Dytran, were deployed to simulate problems before incurring the expense of prototypes and physical testing. As a side benefit, Beacon Power improved its designs, while reducing material costs 50%.

Overview:
The high up-front cost of product development was hindering the development of an innovative energy absorbing bus bumper system conceived by Talfourd-Jones Inc., parts makers for leading original equipment manufacturers. By retaining the simulation services of MSC.Software Professional Services, Talfourd-Jones Inc. was able to test and prove the concept for the bumper system before investing in the tooling required to produce the technology.

The bumper must protect the bus from any damage as a result of 6.5-mph direct impact into a rigid barrier and a corner impact from a common carriage. In addition, the bumper must return to pre-impact shape within 10 minutes of the impact. The primary system for meeting the impact requirements is through energy absorbing bumpers mounted on the front and rear. To meet this requirement, the Reflex bumper was designed to progressively collapse, cushioning the vehicle from a collision. Following impact, the bumpers return to their original shape without permanent damage or degradation in strength.

• Easy to adapt for a modular design, minimizing tool costs and allowing easy installation for the bus service departments.
• Easily modified, so the design can be tailored to other energy absorbing requirements by modifying cell wall thickness.
• Easy interface with support beam, by incorporating a simple tongue for insertion into beam groove.
• Provides a strong vertical support for front bumper step requirements.

Overview:
Engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center use ADAMS simulations to conceptualize and validate their designs for ships' hull and deck machinery. This has helped them slash equipment design cycles by 50% and more.

Overview:
In this study belly landing of an unmanned mini air vehicle with low velocity impact on the soil and rigid ground has been investigated by explicit finite element analysis using MSC Dytran.

Overview:
Pratt & Miller engineers used Adams and Adams/Car to design the front and rear suspension during the first few weeks of the project, long before there was a complete CAD model of the vehicle. One Adams analyst and two to three designers worked full-time on the front suspension while a similar team focused on the rear suspension. Adams simulations were used to evaluate and tune the suspension according to the specifications and also to supply loads to the designers for use in their FEA analyses. Development of a Fully Engineered Military Showcase Vehicle in Only 12 Weeks

• Quickly build and test functional virtual prototypes of complete vehicles and vehicle subsystems
• Tests are performed in a fraction of the time

Overview:
Founded in 1990, NovaComp Engineering, Inc., provides finite element analysis (FEA) as a service to a wide range of industries. By combining deep experience with state-of-the-art computing and analysis tools such as Marc, NovaComp helps engineers solve complex linear and nonlinear problems in the fields of heat transfer, stress analysis, structural dynamics, and fluid flow.With an extensive list of clients—including some of the most recognizable names in the high-tech industry—NovaComp’s small staff is accustomed to handling huge amounts of data that can be difficult to keep organized. The traditional method of organizing files was proving difficult for the staff at NovaComp to manage, as they often had difficulty identifying the latest version of each file.When the engineers at NovaComp receive CAD files from customers, they write a detailed description of each file as it comes in. Then they write another description after the file is revised, organizing everything within SimManager for quick access and retrieval.

• Improves communication and enhances transparency for all stakeholders in a CAE project
• Reduces the risk of losing critical data whether at the office, at home, or on the road
• Works as an out-of-the-box solution that can be up and running in a matter of hours