Over the past three decades, Altair has pioneered optimization solutions for its customers by developing and implementing simulation technologies that allow users to design innovative, lightweight, and more sustainable products.
Altair begins developing a commercial application for topology optimization based on various researches done at universities around the world.
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Altair releases first commercial version of OptiStruct and starts selling to automotive companies. Video: Courtesy of Opel AG
Altair receives IndustryWeek’s 1994 “Technology of the Year“ award for OptiStruct
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“We appreciate and honor the advancements in optimization enabled by the late Dr. Harold Thomas, a true technology leader, friend, colleague, and inspiration to our global family. Harold had been part of Altair since the early 90’s when we hired him to develop OptiStruct.”
- James R. Scapa, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Altair supported the PACT95 challenger syndicate for the ’95 Americas’ Cup by optimizing their inner hull structure. The beautiful yacht named “Mermaid” was the fastest of the challenger series. Sailing legend Dennis Connor chose it over his own to go up against defender New Zealand in the America’s Cup.
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To avoid damage to the Martian payload, EADS Astrium investigated the use of vented airbags to dampen the impact during landing on Mars’ surface. HyperStudy was essential in exploring the design space effectively and finding a reliable airbag design that is subjected to nonlinear deformations.
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Volkswagen introduced a lightweight engine mount bracket. 20% in weight savings per bracket were accomplished using OptiStruct topology optimization. Images courtesy of VW.
Claas used OptiStruct to redesign their crop harvester reel assembly for lower cost in assembly and maintenance. The part now consists of only two pieces, and displacements are 70% lower than the original design.
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Airbus’ A380 is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Structural optimization enabled project engineers to make the wing ribs 40% lighter and save 1,100 lbs in takeoff weight.
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Technical enhancements for manufacturing constraints such as symmetry and draw direction increased the quality of optimization results. Today OptiStruct provides more than 30 manufacturing parameter controls.
Optimization helps with cost savings and reduction of physical testing in the medical field. The maximum stresses in this heart stent were reduced by 71%.
Optimization of a swirl duct for a directly injected diesel engine (left). Multi-disciplinary optimization with MotionSolve and HyperStudy of a NAFEMS landing gear benchmark (right).
Altair established optimization centers co-located with customers to enable efficient technology exchange.
The example shows an optimization result for the Boeing 787.
The profound impact of optimization was extended to early-phase concept designers with the embedding of OptiStruct technology into solidThinking Inspire. Designs created with optimization as a basis result in much better alignment of performance with aesthetic and ergonomic design intent.
Despite ever higher speeds Dallara Automobili increases the safety of race car drivers using Altair technology. Composites applications formerly used only for high-performance vehicles are now used in standard vehicles to improve fuel economy, performance, and safety.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) applied OptiStruct for structural optimization of their buildings resulting in efficient structures and outstanding design solutions.
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Engineers of the Renault powertrain division used OptiStruct and HyperStudy for a new powertrain development program and managed to achieve 8% in weight savings and improving the NVH performance by 30%.
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EADS Innovation Works cooperated with industrial partners on an A320 nacelle hinge bracket using OptiStruct.
They accomplished 64% in weight savings while maintaining similar bolt loading and stiffness characteristics as the original part.
Altair Engineering and Automation Alley of SE Michigan joined forces to develop a series hybrid-hydraulic powertrain bus that is 110% more fuel efficient and has 20% lower cost of ownership over a conventional diesel bus.
Baker Hughes managed to reduce the development time of their liner hanger assembly by 60%
while achieving a correlation between simulation and physical testing of +/- 4%.
Polaris snowmobiles lowered the weight of their chassis structure by 15 – 20%. OptiStruct and Inspire accelerated the development process.
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Stanley Black & Decker used HyperWorks Unlimited Virtual Appliance to deploy a fully managed high performance cluster for their optimization studies.
Less weight to carry means less fuel on the way into space: RUAG Space chose OptiStruct to develop a revolutionary antenna bracket design geared towards an additive manufacturing process.
The optimization of a fuel pump for electro-magnetic and vibro-acoustic performance led to an average reduction of 1db for the Equivalent Response Spectrum (ERP) using HyperStudy coupled with Flux2D and OptiStruct.
Coupling additive manufacturing (AM) and topology optimization greatly expands design freedom and creativity.
There is a race to create the first truly commercial autonomous vehicle. Altair’s software technology provides solutions to simulate control and electromagnetic systems for a safer and more efficient way of travelling.
To accelerate early-phase automotive design, Altair developed a unique 3-stage concept development process called C123. Each stage deploys optimization technology to provide designers with structural data relating to mass and performance attributes. C123 facilitates informed design decisions and target ‘trade-offs’.
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The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to be the 4th industrial revolution, and a strong differentiator for many industries. Enterprises are looking for solutions and assistance to make their products and services relevant to the coming IoT reality.
“As connectivity and intelligence become part of almost everything with which we interact, Altair’s tools for multidisciplinary simulation and development will become increasingly important in helping product designers create outstanding user experiences.”
James R. Scapa,
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Altair
