Algor Around the World:
Dutch Engineer Integrates Mechanical Event Simulation for Virtual Prototyping into the Design Cycle

Gerhard Bosch, Ph.D., of Bosch Engineering in Oldenzaal, Holland, is seeing more realistic engineering analysis results with less time investment since he integrated Algor Inc.'s, revolutionary Mechanical Event Simulation software for Virtual Prototyping into his design cycle.

"Mechanical Event Simulation is easier to perform than traditional finite element analysis (FEA) because I don’t have to perform so many calculations in the input phase," said Mr. Bosch, a computer-aided engineering and FEA consultant. "Not only is Mechanical Event Simulation less work, but it also yields more realistic results. And, more realistic results are better results."

Automotive Component Analyzed with Event Simulation

     
These three images show the rubber component for a carburetor being pressed up against a metal seat over time to stop the flow of gasoline. In the inset of each of the three views, Monitor displays a graph of displacement at point A in the Z direction.

Recently, Mr. Bosch simulated an event involving a rubber stopper component for an automotive carburetor. The 4mm stopper is pressed against a metal seat by a spring mechanism to stop the flow of gasoline.

Mr. Bosch modeled the stopper and defined an impact wall to represent the seat against which the stopper would be pressed. He then simulated the stopper being pressed against the wall to determine the force vs. displacement.

"The stopper was going to be used in a dynamic situation that involved contact," explained Mr. Bosch. "Therefore, the capability to simulate the actual, dynamic event enabled me to view realistic results."

"The impact wall capability was useful in this application because no boundary conditions or gap elements needed to be used," concluded Mr. Bosch.

Mr. Bosch also prepared an animation of his results to present to his clients. "Some clients already expect dynamic multimedia presentations, although others appreciate how very cool it is to see animated results," commented Mr. Bosch. "Algor’s monitoring, display and animation developments have been very helpful in many situations."

Mr. Bosch integrated a graph into an animation which he used to present his dynamic results to his client. Click to download bosch.exe, 1.1MB, a self-extracting zipped .avi file.

Saving Time with Mechanical Event Simulation

Mr. Bosch is a strong proponent of Algor's Mechanical Event Simulation tools because they save him time both in setting up an event and in evaluating results.

"Accupak/VE’s Mechanical Event Simulation capabilities do much of the work that I used to have to estimate or calculate by hand," said Mr. Bosch. "Accupak/VE makes performing event simulations really simple with features such as the EASY menu and automatic timestepping."

"Being able to do the kinematic and stress analyses at one time with one program saves me the time and effort of transferring results from one analysis to the other," said Mr. Bosch. "I often use animation to view and evaluate both kinematic as well as finite element specific results at the same time."

"In one recent project, I was able to reduce costly and time-consuming prototype testing with Algor's Mechanical Event Simulation," concluded Mr. Bosch.

About Algor

Mr. Bosch has been using Algor’s finite element analysis software to engineer and design products, components and machines for several years.

"Algor’s automatic meshing tools are very powerful and I appreciate being able to exchange files with virtually any solid modeler or other FEA software," said Mr. Bosch.

"Accupak/VE makes performing event simulations really simple with features such as the EASY menu and automatic timestepping," said Mr. Bosch.