Engineering Software from ANSYS Used to Simulate Opening and Closing Mechanisms
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 was used to verify parts of the design of the new retractable
roof over Centre Court at Wimbledon, one of the most famous tennis venues in the
world. The U.K.-based engineering firm Advanced Computational Analysis (ACA)
used software from ANSYS to conduct both static and dynamic analyses of the roof
to ensure that it would perform properly under real-world loads and stresses.
The roof operated as designed at its debut at the Championships tennis event,
held this summer at London`s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Five years in development, the 17,000-square foot retractable roof is an
electromechanically operated structure that includes 10 movable steel trusses
that support a translucent, weather-resistant fabric canopy. When open, the roof
sections are "parked" at opposite sides of the court. To close the roof, the
coordinated electromechanical system moves the trusses apart and, at the same
time, unfolds and stretches out the fabric between the trusses, until the two
sections meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of the structure.
While U.K. construction company Galliford Try was responsible for the overall
build of the 3,000-tonne roof, the ambitious project involved many expert
subcontractors. ACA was charged with performing static and dynamic verification
of the mechanisms that open and close the trusses. Dr. Martyn Lacey, founder of
ACA, explained, "Capita Symonds (principal structural engineering consultants)
and Street Crane Express (motive control and automation specialists) had
constructed three roof trusses for physical testing, but obviously it would be
extremely time- and cost-intensive to build a prototype of the entire roof. So
to perform a virtual analysis that would provide accurate, predictive results,
we turned to software from ANSYS, which ACA has used for many years as its
technology of choice. Our verification process was designed to ensure that the
mechanisms on each truss would perform as expected."
ACA used software from ANSYS to conduct both static and dynamic 3-D analyses of
the roof trusses in a virtual environment, confirming that they could withstand
real-world physical loads and mechanical stresses in both moving and at-rest
positions. ACA focused special attention on the electromechanical actuators
between each pair of trusses that are responsible for moving the roof. These
actuators are subject to obvious physical forces, such as the weight of the
trusses, as well as more subtle forces such as the changing tension of the
fabric canopy. ANSYS® software supported the full range of simulation and
analyses needed to verify the design of the roof system. "By using ANSYS
software, we performed a timely, cost-effective verification of the roof`s
design so the designers could proceed with construction," said Dr. Lacey.
The new retractable roof made its Championships debut in late June, when rain
would have otherwise interrupted a match. As the two roof sections came
together, the capacity crowd rose in a standing ovation. Throughout the 2009
tournament, the roof was widely featured in worldwide coverage of the
Championships.
"The Wimbledon retractable roof attracted international attention this summer,
and so it was imperative that it work as intended," said Dipankar Choudhury,
vice president of corporate product strategy and planning at ANSYS, Inc. "While
Wimbledon is steeped in tradition, the roof signals a new era of innovation.
Unique ideas like this can take engineering in new directions, where
`experience` and prototype testing can`t foresee or solve every problem - and
they`re extremely cost prohibitive. Virtual analysis with software from ANSYS
played a groundbreaking role in this project, before construction even began."
Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Club, said, "We set out to make
Wimbledon the world`s premier tennis event - the tournament the players most
want to win, the tournament spectators most want to come to and the tournament
everyone wants to watch. The new Centre Court roof project has been a
sophisticated engineering feat that adds to the prestige of this event."
For downloadable images, visit http://www.ansys.com/newsimages.
About ACA (Advanced Computational Analysis)
Founded in 1988, ACA Engineering Consultants is a Nottingham, U.K.-based
engineering consultancy. The firm provides mechanical stress analysis and
structural stress analysis on all types of structures, as well as mechanical
systems analysis, thermal analysis, thermal stress analysis, vibration analysis,
seismic analysis and physical testing. For clients in a wide range of
industries, the firm is able to reduce development costs and schedules by using
engineering simulation tools to review and verify designs.
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 over 1,600 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.
ANSS-C
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
