ALGOR INTRODUCES HYDRODYNAMIC ELEMENTS FOR MODELING THE EFFECTS OF LIQUIDS

This steel tank is filled with Algor's new hydrodynamic finite elements. As shown in Superdraw III's "Model Data Control" window, the hydrodynamic elements were given water's material properties. (The left side of the tank's exterior has been removed from view to show the hydrodynamic elements in blue.) During the Mechanical Event Simulation using Algor's Accupak/VE software, the tank hits the wall. The tank's impact with the wall plus the force from the water's inertia cause the stresses on the tank (shown below).

June 21, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, has announced an advancement to its finite element analysis (FEA)-based Mechanical Event Simulation software: the capability to model liquids and their effects on structures using new 2- and 3-D hydrodynamic finite elements.

"Hydrodynamic elements will enable faster, easier, more accurate FEA because engineers no longer have to make assumptions about the effects of a liquid's inertia," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Algor. "Hydrodynamic elements account for a fluid's changing inertia and its influence on a structure's loading."

With Algor's Release 12 version of Mechanical Event Simulation software, which simulates motion and flexing in mechanical events and shows stresses in the model at each instant in time during the event, engineers can utilize hydrodynamic elements when they are concerned about fluid loading rather than detailed fluid mechanics studies. For example, when analyzing a water-filled tank, hydrodynamic elements can model the water's effect on the tank during a collision. Using these elements will save analysis time because detailed internal fluid flow calculations and turbulence are not considered. Such effects can be analyzed with Algor's fluid flow analysis software if necessary.

Hydrodynamic elements are available with Algor's Release 12 version of Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear and nonlinear material models or Accupak/MES Mechanical Event Simulation software with linear material models. Release 12 software, Algor's most comprehensive software release since 1990, is available for PC workstations running Windows NT, 95 and 98. Release 12 includes many other new and improved features, such as a new single user interface, new kinematic elements for performing Mechanical Event Simulations on CAD solid models or assemblies and the capability to work seamlessly with most CAD solid modelers. These and other Release 12 features were developed as part of the company's ongoing effort to make engineering analysis more intuitive and easier.

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 finite element customers with innovative, affordable and easy-to-use software products and superior educational support and customer service. Algor's FEA software has enabled 16,000 engineers in 60 countries to create safe, efficient, cost-effective designs.

Algor's most recent invention, 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 and eliminates the need to input dynamic loads. 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 entire range of modeling and analysis tools works within or alongside any CAD system. Algor has strategic relationships with all major CAD companies and offers InCAD^Plus plug-ins for Pro/Engineer, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Autodesk and others.