In product development, simulation technology, such as finite element analysis (FEA), is commonly used to test how products will behave and perform under a range of real-world conditions (stress, heat, vibration, etc.) while those product still remain in
In product development, simulation technology, such as finite element analysis (FEA), is commonly used to test how products will behave and perform under a range of real-world conditions (stress, heat, vibration, etc.) while those product still remain in digital form.
The challenge of modeling and simulating large-scale structures, such as mining equipment, buildings, and oil rigs, is the sheer amount of data crunching, or computation, involved. Running these mammoth-size models through a simulation program can take many hours of computing time even on expensive systems, which requires significant resources in terms of time and money.
Making large-scale simulations faster
MIT spinoff Akselos has been working to make the process more efficient. The Akselos team, which includes CTO David Knezevic, cofounder and former MIT postdoc Phuong Huynh as well as MIT alumnus Thomas Leurent, developed innovative software based on years of research at MIT.
The software relies on precalculated supercomputer data for structural components, like simulated Legos, to significantly reduce simulation times. According to an article on the MIT news site, a simulation that would take hours with traditional FEA software can be carried out in seconds with the Akselos method.
The startup has attracted hundreds of users from the mining, power-generation, and oil and gas industries. An MIT course on structural engineering is introducing the software to new users as well.
The Akselos team is hoping that its technology will make 3D simulations more accessible to researchers around the world. “We’re trying to unlock the value of simulation software, sin