SAMTECH TO CREATE AN EXPERTISE CENTRE IN BARCELONA FOR WIND TURBINES DESIGN AND VERIFICATION

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SAMTECH TO CREATE AN EXPERTISE CENTRE IN BARCELONA FOR WIND TURBINES DESIGN AND VERIFICATION
15 January 2007 - NAFEMS

SAMTECH, European specialist for the development of Integrated CAE Solutions using Finite Element Method, announces today that its Iberian subsidiary becomes its competence centre for the global design and the detailed mechatronic verification of Wind Turbines, using non-linear Finite Element Method coupled with Multi-Body-System approach and Aerodynamics.

As new competence centre, SAMTECH Iberica regroups top-class engineers in transmissions, mechatronic design and advanced numerical simulation applied to wind turbines design and verification. The team proposes new innovative solutions based on the integration of complementary disciplines like non-linear FEM technologies for composite blades and structures, state-of-the-art gearbox modelling capabilities, generator models, servomechanisms and turbine controllers into a unified modelling environment referred to as SAMCEF for Wind Turbines. The core component of this new environment is the powerful and generic non-linear FEA/MBS solver SAMCEF Mecano, developed by SAMTECH since 15 years and definitely generalizing the FEM based numerical approach to complex mechanical systems.

"Wind turbine power trains are subjected to a very diverse spectrum of dynamic loads which depend on the dynamic properties of the complete mechatronical wind turbine system ", explains Andreas Heege, Manager of SAMTECH Iberica. " The implicit dependence of power train loads on the dynamic characteristics of the assembled wind turbine excludes the classical decoupling of Finite Element Analysis and Multi-Body Simulation techniques. For this reason, the coupled mechanisms, structures and control formulation of SAMCEF Mecano, based on a Finite Element approach has been complemented by new components for aerodynamic loads evaluation and by specific post-processing tools for detailed evaluation of wind turbine power trains Lifecycle".

SAMTECH Iberica expertise applies to the full development cycle, from pre-concept and initial design, over detailed dynamic modelling of the entire wind turbine, to final optimisation phase. SAMTECH Iberica brings thus a huge experience in virtual modelling that experimental data acquisition cannot provide during early design process.

In order to guarantee a very high level of know-how and services, SAMTECH Iberica benefits from SAMTECH HQ assistance, which means a direct support of SAMTECH generic development teams and experts with a combined experience of more than 20 years in virtual prototyping development programs for major industrial customers.

"In addition to its generic engineering software offer, SAMTECH also develops very innovative solutions customized towards the specific needs of some industrial market segments" says Eric Carnoy, Chief Executive Officer of SAMTECH Headquarters. "Because of the strong demand of Wind Turbine market for such combined Product and Engineering expertise, SAMTECH decided to form a team of top engineers in Barcelona".

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About: NAFEMS
NAFEMS is a not for profit organisation aimed at promoting best practices and also fostering education and awareness in the engineering analysis community. In line with its objectives to promote the effective use of simulation technologies, NAFEMS is continually seeking to create awareness of new analysis methodologies, deliver education & training, and stimulate the adoption of best practices and standards by offering a platform for continuous professional development.

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, as computing power became more widely available, increasingly industry was starting to solve practical engineering problems using finite element analysis techniques.

There was however considerable concern that the accuracy of the methods, and software implementations, required to be verified in order to allow the results to be effectively used.

Following extensive lobbying, by industry and academia, the UK Government's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) set up, and funded, a project within the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL), based in East Kilbride, Scotland, to investigate the issues.

As a result the National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards, quickly shortened to the acronym NAFEMS, was founded as a special interest group in 1983 with a specific objective namely:

"To promote the safe and reliable use of finite element and related technology"

In order to keep engineers abreast of the latest developments in the Analysis World the quarterly magazine BENCHmark was launched by NAFEMS in July 1987.

After seven years of seed funding by the UK government, and with the support of its industrial members, the decision was taken to launch NAFEMS Ltd as an independent not-for-profit company, owned by its member's in 1990.

The company celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2000, and has developed both the scope of its technology focus and its membership well beyond the original vision.

Today NAFEMS and its members are involved in many different types of engineering simulation covering both products and processes. Membership continues to grow, now exceeding 700 corporate members in over 30 different countries. Steering groups have been set up in the UK, France, Germany, and the USA to co-ordinate local activities and interaction with members.

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