Software automates repetitive simulation tasks.

Press Release Summary:



LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 5 enables users to simulate and optimize real-life behavior of mechanical designs. It offers applications for structural analysis, vehicle riding and handling, interior acoustics simulation, road noise, and durability analysis. Auto-Recursive Solver helps solve complex simulation models with long series of linked components and high number of contact points. Correlation module validates virtual models with test results or validated models of similar designs.



Original Press Release:


LMS Introduces Revision 5 of LMS Virtual.Lab


New capabilities and applications enable design and engineering teams to accurately simulate and optimize the real-life behavior of mechanical designs

Leuven, Belgium - June 23, 2005 - LMS, the engineering innovation company, announced the introduction of LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 5. The new release of LMS Virtual.Lab offers new and completed applications for structural analysis, vehicle ride & handling, interior acoustics simulation, road noise and durability analysis. With Rev 5, LMS Virtual.Lab gets new capabilities to automate repetitive simulation tasks and to capture complex simulation processes into easy-to-use application templates.

The new Auto-Recursive Solver in LMS Virtual.Lab Motion records up to 60% time savings in solving complex simulation models with long series of linked components and high number of contact points between components. This eliminates the calculation bottleneck for the simulation of the dynamic behavior of timing chains, belts, tracked vehicles, complex production machines, etc. To guarantee realistic simulations with high fidelity, Rev 5 also introduces a new LMS Virtual.Lab Correlation module that enables users to validate virtual models with test results, or alternatively, with validated models of similar designs.

"Revision 5 continues to build on the unique strengths of LMS Virtual.Lab to accurately simulate the real-world behavior of new product designs for mission-critical attributes such as structural integrity, noise and vibration, durability, ride and handling, and system dynamics. Virtual.Lab integrates these different simulation disciplines in one single environment, avoiding time consuming and error-prone data exchanges and eliminating long learning curves of working with many disconnected tools," commented Willy Bakkers, Vice-President and General Manager of the LMS CAE Division. "With the introduction of Rev 5, we sharpened the capabilities of LMS Virtual.Lab to accurately detect weak spots, explore multiple design alternatives and deliver key insights in time to impact major design decisions."

"LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 5 offers a unique and very valuable integration of structural analysis capabilities with multiple attribute-specific simulation applications. This truly addresses the users' need to easily exchange models and engineering results between different design and engineering groups," commented Charles Foundyller, CEO of Daratech, Inc. "We are also impressed by LMS Virtual.Lab's ability to create accurate insights into the real-life performance of complex designs and deliver these early-on in the development process where 80% of the product costs are locked in. This also enables users to optimize and validate designs before committing to prototype testing. Rev 5 therefore creates significant business value for its users."

Overview of new applications and features in LMS Virtual.Lab Rev 5

LMS Virtual.lab Rev 5 introduces new Automation and Customization capabilities, including scripting and journaling features and integrated visual basic programming tools. These capabilities allow Virtual.Lab users to save time by automating repetitive simulation tasks, to capture complex processes and best practices into easy-to-use application templates, and to integrate Virtual.Lab with in-house codes and specialty applications.

LMS Virtual.Lab Structures extends and complements the CATIA V5 Analysis suite with a fully integrated environment for FEA pre- and post-processing. The new LMS Virtual.Lab solution offers a set of integrated drivers to industry-standard solvers such as MSC.Nastran, NX Nastran, ANSYS and ABAQUS. Overall, LMS Virtual.Lab Structures integrates the various process steps and simulation tools that would otherwise run separately and produce isolated results. Rev 5 of LMS Virtual.Lab Structures also offers dedicated pre- and postprocessing features to analyze designs made of composite materials. The advanced spot-weld modeling tool supports the easy creation and management of thousands of spot welds in complex structures, and the accurate prediction of problem areas in terms of structural integrity.

Rev 5 completes the Interior Acoustics solutions of LMS Virtual.Lab with extended cavity meshing capabilities, new trim modeling tools and the integration of both the Nastran and the LMS SYSNOISE solver. Rev 5 also adds specific post-processing tools for path/modal contribution analysis, hot spot detection and modification prediction. LMS Virtual.Lab Interior Acoustics herewith offers a unique solution to accurately simulate the interior sound of a vehicle, taking all structural and trimmed body elements into account.

Next to interior acoustics, Rev 5 of Virtual.Lab also introduces a new module to predict and analyze Vehicle Road Noise in different types of driving conditions. Users can easily create dedicated vehicle-level models for road noise simulation and build realistic load cases for accurate prediction, using measured and/or calculated loads. Virtual.Lab allows them to identify the underlying causes of road noise problems and evaluate possible design changes to eliminate them.

LMS Virtual.Lab Acoustics Rev 5 also gains a new module for Random Vibro-Acoustics, which supports the design and engineering of lightweight structures like aircraft fuselages or satellites that are subjected to random acoustic and mechanical loading. The new module allows to analyze the radiated and transmitted sound through the structure and to minimize the acoustically induced damage and fatigue.

Rev 5 extends LMS Virtual.Lab Motion with breakthrough solver technologies and new modeling capabilities to simulate real-life system dynamics. The new Auto-Recursive Solver records up to 60% time savings in solving complex simulation models with long series of linked components and high number of contact points between components. This eliminates the calculation bottleneck for the simulation of the dynamic behavior of timing chains, belts, tracked vehicles, complex production machines, etc. The new Sub Mechanisms capability in Virtual.Lab Motion introduces a building block approach to efficiently model and simulate complex mechanism models like an engine valve train or a tracked vehicle.

LMS further completed the vertical application for vehicle Ride and Handling simulation in Virtual.Lab Motion Rev 5. The new release integrates standard handling maneuvers and road profiles to accelerate the execution of extensive ride and handling assessments. Rev 5 also adds industry standard tire models like TNO tires to optimize the accuracy of vehicle handling simulation and other applications like ride comfort and durability.

To optimize the durability performance of vehicle body and suspension systems within ever-shorter development cycles, LMS Virtual.Lab Durability Rev 5 supports a streamlined process for spot-weld modeling and accurate prediction of the durability-specific impact on spot welds and surrounding material. Rev 5 improved the ease of use in setting up the analysis and therefore reduces risks for human errors, speeds up the preparation of analysis runs, and improves overall accuracy of analysis results.

Rev 5 introduces a new LMS Virtual.Lab Correlation module that enables users to validate virtual models with test results, or alternatively, with validated models of similar designs. LMS Virtual.Lab Correlation helps users in identifying the cause of modeling errors, as to improve simulation models and understand which design parameters have most influence on the structural behavior of their designs.

About LMS:

LMS is an engineering innovation partner for companies in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing industries. LMS enables its customers to get better products faster to market, and to turn superior process efficiency to their strategic competitive advantage. LMS delivers a unique combination of virtual simulation software, testing systems, and engineering services. We are focused on the mission critical performance attributes in key manufacturing industries, including structural integrity, handling, safety, reliability, comfort and sound quality. Through our technology, people and over 25 years of experience, LMS has become the partner of choice for most of the leading discrete manufacturing companies worldwide. LMS, a Dassault Systèmes Gold Partner, is certified to ISO9001:2000 quality standards and operates through a network of subsidiaries and representatives in key locations around the world.

Kim Winkler

Marketing Manager

LMS NA

Phone: 248-952-5664 x. 139

Fax: 248-952-1610

Web: www.lmsintl.com

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