Judy M. Vance
Ph.D., Assistant Professor
MechanicalEngineering
Iowa Center for Emerging Manufacturing Technology
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
MSC World, Vol. VI, N, July 1996, PP 1, 13-14.
Abstract
Now that virtual reality (VR) peripherals have matured to the point where practical applications are starting to appear, the use of virtual reality as a common design tool is fast approaching. A case in point is Iowa State University’s Iowa Center for Emerging manufacturing Technology. Engineers here are developing interactive designs based on sensitivity methods and finite element results, effectively demonstrating the active role designers can play in the analysis and optimization of structural systems to achieve easy, quick design included designers, stress analysts, lifting, and materials engineers-used MSC/MVISION Builder to create the database over a period of 18 months. Materials data from the sytem is accessed directly from MSC/PATRAN’s materials module, and may be exported from the database into other CAE applications for stress and thermal analysis of components.
