ALGOR'S NEW NONLINEAR MATERIAL MODEL MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBES THE BEHAVIOR OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

An engineer used Algor's new nonlinear geological material model to accurately represent the behavior of this granite bridge as it experienced high distributed loads from a large truck moving over it. From the "Model Data Control" panel that accesses data input screens for every aspect of an analysis, the engineer was able to specify all of the test data details of the stress vs. volumetric strain curve of granite. Algor software then accurately predicted stress results in the granite, which behaves differently in tension than in compression.

September 10, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical and civil engineers, today announced that its Release 12 version of nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) software products now includes a nonlinear material model that more accurately represents the behavior of geological and brittle building materials. The new material model can capture all of the test data details of the stress vs. volumetric strain curve of these materials. This enables engineers to accurately model materials with loading-dependent properties, such as granite, concrete and brick, which behave differently in tension than in compression.

"Algor developed the new material model as part of its ongoing effort to offer mechanical and civil engineering software that simulates most real-world conditions," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Algor.

The nonlinear geological material model is now available with Algor's Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models. Accupak/VE is the first FEA-based software to realistically simulate motion and flexing in mechanical events, eliminate the need to input dynamic loads and compute and show resulting stresses on the computer model at each instant in time. The geological material model is also available with Algor's Accupak/NLM software that performs static stress analysis using the powerful linear and nonlinear material models included with Accupak/VE to predict deflection, deformation and displacement.

Algor's Release 12 line of FEA software is available for PC workstations running Windows NT, 95 and 98.

Algor has been a leader in the engineering software industry since introducing FEA for PCs in 1984 and interfacing with CAD systems in 1985. The company recently celebrated 20 years of providing innovative, affordable and easy-to-use software products that have enabled 16,000 engineers in 60 countries to create safe, efficient, cost-effective designs. Algor also offers superior educational support and customer service that has been expanded to include the use of state-of-the-art Internet audio/video technology for live educational "Web Courses" and free public "Webcasts" that include step-by-step Algor software instruction.

Algor's most recent invention, FEA-based Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models, replaces physical prototype testing with virtual prototype testing because it realistically simulates motion and flexing in mechanical events, eliminates the need to input dynamic loads and computes and shows resulting stresses on the computer model at each instant in time. Algor's new kinematic finite element technology now makes it practical to perform Mechanical Event Simulations with Accupak/VE on CAD solid models or assemblies. Algor offers a range of other FEA capabilities including linear stress, vibration and natural frequencies, heat transfer, electrostatics, fluid flow, piping design and composite materials. Algor's software interchanges data with products from ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANSS), Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), Baystate Technologies, Inc., MSC.Software (NYSE:MNS), Parametric Technology Corporation (Nasdaq:PMTC), Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (Nasdaq:SDRC), Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:UGS), SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq:DASTY) company and others.