ALGOR, INC. INTRODUCES THE FIRST COMPLETE MATERIAL DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS WITH ITS RELEASE 12 SOFTWARE VERSION

Algor's new Material Library Manager makes it easy to apply material properties to a finite element model. As shown here, engineers simply select a group of elements in the "Model Data Control" window in Superdraw III, Algor's precision finite element model-building tool and single user interface, click on the new "Material" field and point to a material name in a desired material library.

May 21, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, has announced that its Release 12 version of finite element analysis (FEA) software includes a Material Library Manager that stores material property information for use by all Algor processors. Engineers no longer need to spend time entering material data for a finite element model. Now they can quickly access material data stored in the Material Library Manager's default library or a user-defined library and apply it to the model.

"Algor is the first to introduce a complete system for managing material data," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Algor. "This is just one way that Algor is responding to customers' needs."

The Material Library Manager's default library includes values for a variety of common materials drawn from standard engineering references. Engineers can also customize libraries comprised of material data they use often. Algor software will automatically calculate the data for the von Mises bi-linear and general von Mises nonlinear material models based on standard American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) data. The libraries are stored in a standard X-base file format so that customers can interface with material data in existing databases.

Algor's new Material Library Manager makes applying material properties to a finite element model a simple point-and-click operation. Engineers simply select a group of elements in the "Model Data Control" window in Superdraw III, Algor's precision finite element model-building tool and single user interface, click on the new "Material" field and point to a material name in a desired material library. The libraries preserve the material's original unit system and automatically convert it to the active model's defined unit system. The model's material composition is always known because it is listed in the "Model Data Control" window.

The Material Library Manager is included with Algor's Release 12 software, which is available for PC workstations running Windows NT, 95 and 98. Release 12, Algor's most comprehensive software release since 1990, includes many other new and improved features that were developed as part of the company's ongoing effort to make engineering easier.

Algor has been a leader in the engineering software industry since it introduced 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.

One of Algor's most recent inventions is FEA-based Mechanical Event Simulation software, Accupak/VE. Accupak/VE replaces physical prototype testing with virtual prototype testing because it realistically simulates motion and flexing in hypothetical mechanical events, eliminating the need to input a force, and computes and shows resulting stresses on the computer model at each instant in time. Accupak/VE also performs nonlinear static loading analysis that considers large strains (deformation) and large deflections. Algor software works within or alongside any CAD system and the company's new kinematic finite element technology makes it possible to perform Mechanical Event Simulations on CAD solid models or assemblies. In addition, Algor offers advanced FEA meshing tools and a range of other FEA capabilities including linear and nonlinear stress, vibration and natural frequencies, heat transfer, electrostatics, fluid flow, piping design and composite materials.