French Collegiate Team Uses Altair's High-End CAE Tools to Maximize FSAE Race Car Performance

TROY, Mich., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair Engineering, Inc., a leading global provider of simulation technology and engineering services that empower client innovation and decision-making, announced today that the ENIM Racing Team (ERT), the student racing team of ENIM (Ecole Nationale d'Ingenieurs de Metz), is using Altair's HyperWorks CAE suite to tune its racecar for maximum performance.

ENIM initiated MCAC (Mechanical Conception Assist by Computer) one year ago to design and develop a racecar for automotive competitions. The team plans this year to participate for the first time in the Formula SAE® student design competition organized by SAE International.

In September 2009, ENIM began using Altair Engineering's OptiStruct software in the development of the new race car. After participating in a training session at the Altair office in Anthony (France), where they learned how to use OptiStruct for the structural optimization of their vehicle components, team members have successively implemented more tools from Altair's HyperWorks suite into their development process. The ERT currently uses HyperMesh for pre- and post-processing and OptiStruct for structural optimization. Within the near future, the racing team will also implement Altair's RADIOSS solver for crash-test simulations and its MotionSolve solver to improve the dynamics of the vehicle.

With OptiStruct, ERT successfully reduced the weight of an engine mount from 9.5 to 4.9 kg while at the same time improving its eigenmode characteristics. The optimization objective was to achieve a maximum of 5 kg weight, a maximum stress of 200 N/mm2, the first eigenmode above 200 Hz and a maximum displacement of 1 mm of the specific reinforcing device, which was attached to the engine. Based on the given boundary conditions, OptiStruct was able to define the optimal solution. The final part had a weight of 4.9 kg and improved mechanical properties with a maximum displacement of 0.7 mm and a first eigenmode at 207 Hz.

"HyperWorks is the optimal solution for our development tasks," said Vincent Bialeck, manager of the ENIM Race Team. "Not only does HyperWorks give us all the tools we need and enable us to optimize our development process to maximize the vehicle performance, also the partnership with Altair is very helpful within our project in general. Innovation and technology are the fundamental concepts at the basis of our agreement with Altair. They have the vision and the technology we need and provide us additionally with the service and training to use their technology."

"Supporting educational projects is a major focus for Altair, and it is seen as an investment in the future," said Mauro Guglielminotti, managing director, Altair, France. "FSAE race teams all over the world use the technology today that will drive developments in all the companies in which future engineers will work. We are always happy to support these student projects with our passion, technology and knowledge."

About ENIM & ERT

ENIM, Ecole Nationale d'Ingenieurs de Metz, founded in 1961, is a university that offers higher education in theory and practice to train future engineers in general mechanical engineering. The program runs five years, including internships within the industry and a practical project in year five. ENIM is part of the National Engineering School (ENI). The school is located on the Saulcy University Center island in the heart of Metz.

ERT was a spinoff of one of the final university year projects in 2008 and is part of the sport mechanics option students can choose. During this project time the students have one year to design and produce a car intended for racing. Today in France, very few university-level schools enable their students to undertake such a project. With practical and theoretical studies in mind, the ENIM Racing Team will continue to give students the opportunity to use their university knowledge within a real-world project. To learn more please visit: www.ert-fsae.fr

About Altair

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for enterprise analytics, product development and advanced computing, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

SOURCE Altair Engineering, Inc.