Altair's Software Update Enhances Simulation-Driven Design

Altair says it has made significant enhancements to its integrated portfolio of simulation and design tools. According to the company, the update is focused on accelerating simulation-driven design and embracing artificial intelligence (AI) by embedding augmented intelligence in computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools.

One of the enhancements to Simulation 2021.2 is Altair Inspire, a parametric modeling and simulation feature that enables designers and engineers to model and edit geometry even if they do not have time or access to traditional CAD tools. Altair says Inspire extends to flexible bodies for motion analysis and even faster integration with Altair SimSolid.

Simulation 2021.2 also includes Altair Pulse, a new tool that orchestrates  models from the broad workflows required to simulate complex systems to focused workflows. Altair Pulse includes a digital thread that drives script consolidation, process commonization and data traceability for simulation key performance indicators (KPIs) across the enterprise and throughout the product lifecycle. The feature reportedly uses multiple scripting languages to eliminate repetitive tasks across applications, even for complex processes.

In addition, Altair’s software update features machine learning (ML) algorithms. Altair HyperWorks includes features like ShapeAI, which applies ML to quickly find and classify parts by shape inside geometry files or finite element meshes. Altair says HyperWorks’ Design Explorer enables easy set-up and execution of design of experiments (DOE) and optimization studies and deploys ML models to provide real-time field predictions for any design change. The SignalAI tool enables ML to interpret field data to prevent product failures when the data shows health deterioration and predict the effects of environmental changes in real time.