ANSYS Software Enhances Design to Keep Flood Waters at Bay

Pumping Platforms Designed Using Engineering Simulation Software Withstand
Hurricane Forces
SOUTHPOINTE, Pa.--(Business Wire)--
ANSYS, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS), a global innovator of simulation software and
technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced
that its software has been successfully used to build pumping station platforms
in storm-prone New Orleans. Engineers charged with improving water drainage
pumping capacity faced a number of design challenges. Because the platforms are
partially submerged, all design problems had to be identified and addressed
before any construction began. In addition, the project needed to be completed
prior to the onset of hurricane season. Work was contracted after one of the
costliest and deadliest hurricanes in the United States, Katrina, devastated the
Gulf Coast. When Category 2 hurricane Gustav hit in 2008, the platforms and
pumps successfully kept flood waters in check, validating the accuracy of the
ANSYS® simulation results.

When a hurricane or other major weather event hits, high-power pumping units
must work at full capacity to drain excess water out of sub-sea level New
Orleans. The heavy equipment - turbine pumps, diesel engines, gearboxes and
associated piping - produce vibrations and other stresses that can cause the
massive platforms supporting the equipment to fail. Design and analysis
consultant Mechanical Solutions, Inc. (MSI), working for the platform
design-build contractor Weston Solutions, Inc., used software from ANSYS to
simulate these stresses in the pumping platform along the 17th Street Canal,
ensuring that the system would perform optimally during storms.

Simulation-driven design using ANSYS software allows companies to determine
potential problems early in the design phase, long before a structure or product
is built. In addition, many different design modifications can be rapidly
simulated and the corresponding effects assessed. "Our approach with every
project is to bring value to the table by identifying and mitigating risk early
on to reduce the potential for costly modifications after construction has been
completed. By using software from ANSYS to simulate the vibrational response of
the platform, we were confident that the pumping system would perform optimally,
and it did," said William J. Kelly, principal engineer, Mechanical Solutions,
Inc. "In addition, engineering simulation helped us meet a rigid deadline by
identifying issues early in the design process so that the platform could be
completed before hurricane season."

MSI used its well-practiced design audit approach to characterize and predict
the behavior of the system`s structural natural frequencies and vibration levels
at various locations. The team accounted for soil conditions expected to play a
role in the system platform`s vibrational response. Engineers performed analyses
to assess forces imparted to the platform by the diesel engines, gearboxes and
pumps. MSI also analyzed frequencies up to 120 hertz, which corresponded to the
cylinder firing frequency for the diesel engines, and they accounted for
rotating imbalance loads and phase conditions imposed by the gears and pump
impellers. The results indicated that the worst-case loading occurred when the
imbalance loads of all 11 pumps were in phase. Finally, MSI performed an
acoustic evaluation of the discharge piping to assess the potential for acoustic
resonance within the 9-foot diameter manifolds leading to the lake.

For downloadable images, visit http://www.ansys.com/newsimages.

About Mechanical Solutions, Inc.

Mechanical Solutions, Inc. (MSI), based in the United States, is a leading
mechanical engineering firm that performs consulting and R&D. The company also
provides design, analysis and testing services for a diverse range of project
types throughout the world. MSI specializes in stress, thermal, finite element
fluid dynamic, rotordynamic and experimental modal analyses. For more
information, visit http://www.mechsol.com/index.html.

About ANSYS, Inc.

ANSYS, Inc., founded in 1970, develops and globally markets engineering
simulation software and technologies widely used by engineers and designers
across a broad spectrum of industries. The Company focuses on the development of
open and flexible solutions that enable users to analyze designs directly on the
desktop, providing a common platform for fast, efficient and cost-conscious
product development, from design concept to final-stage testing and validation.
The Company and its global network of channel partners provide sales, support
and training for customers. Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,
with more than 60 strategic sales locations throughout the world, ANSYS, Inc.
and its subsidiaries employ approximately 1,700 people and distribute ANSYS
products through a network of channel partners in over 40 countries. Visit
www.ansys.com for more information.

ANSYS, ANSYS Workbench, Ansoft, AUTODYN, CFX, FLUENT and any and all ANSYS, Inc.
brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered
trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States
or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

ANSYS, Inc.
Media:
Kelly Wall, 724-514-3076
kelly.wall@ansys.com
or
Investors:
Annette Arribas, 724-514-1782
annette.arribas@ansys.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009