A new case study from VSG, the Visualization Sciences Group, discusses how tire-maker Michelin has integrated MeshViz XLM and OpenInventor into their simulation analysis.

In order to handle the increasing size of data volumes (e.g. full 3D computations with all surrounding objects)‚ Michelin needs more and more high-performance tools such as VSG’s new module MeshViz XLM, which completely lives up to their in-house customers’ expectations. In particular‚ MeshViz XLM can directly access application data structures, avoiding time and memory wasting copying of data, and directly supports parametric nonlinear mesh cells.

Read the full press release after the break, and read the Case Study here (Download PDF, or View Online).

Tire maker Michelin’s FEA post-processing tools developed using MeshViz XLM and Open Inventor® by VSG.

Burlington, MA, March 2, 2010.

Michelin inventiveness in motion : cars‚ two-wheel vehicles‚ trucks‚ construction machinery‚ tractors‚ aircraft… Michelin provides innovative solutions for the different operating conditions corresponding to each vehicle. To make this challenge a reality, they develop dedicated tire analysis software solutions. These solutions need to be very interactive and the visualization of 3D nonlinear data must be accurate to validate design solutions.

Nowadays‚ 3D visualization is essential to validate design solutions at all simulation stages‚ from initial feasibility studies to production control.

Michelin Finite Element Analysis (FEA) post-processing tools have been developed using the Open Inventor® by VSG library. It provides unique advantages such as:
• Availability of advanced modules‚ e.g. MeshViz XLM
• Heterogeneous platform compatibility (Unix, Linux, Windows)
• C++ API
• Top quality support team and training program

Open Inventor technology is fully integrated in Michelin simulation software. It offers sophisticated visualization capabilities for in-depth post-processing and exploration of nonlinear simulation results.

Data are recovered from the FEA solver result database and displayed by selecting a region of interest in the tire, either in 3D or 2D space.

Open Inventor allows great flexibility in the visual representation. For example: clipping along any 3D plane, flexible slicing, wireframe display, iso-lines, iso-surfaces, transparency and stereoscopic views. In order to handle the increasing size of data volumes (e.g. full 3D computations with all surrounding objects)‚ Michelin needs more and more high-performance tools such as VSG’s new module MeshViz XLM, which completely lives up to their in-house customers’ expectations. In particular‚ MeshViz XLM can directly access application data structures, avoiding time and memory wasting copying of data, and directly supports parametric nonlinear mesh cells.

About Michelin:
Michelin manufactures and sells tires for all kinds of vehicles, publishes maps and guides and operates a number of digital services. Michelin Group is active on all continents‚ from China to Brazil and from The United States of America to Germany and Russia.
For more information: www.michelin.com

About VSG:
VSG – Visualization Sciences Group is the leading provider of high-performance 3D visualization toolkits and software for engineers and scientists‚ delivering advanced 3D software solutions for scientific data visualization‚ engineering and simulation, materials science and geosciences.
For more information: www.vsg3d.com

About Open Inventor & MeshViz XLM:
Open Inventor® by VSG is an object-oriented‚ 3D graphics toolkit for the development of industrial-strength interactive 3D graphics applications using C++‚ .NET or Java. MeshViz XLM is a high-level C++ extension of Open Inventor, which provides advanced representations for multidimensional data and fast‚ high-quality rendering techniques and supports any type of regular and unstructured 3D/2D meshes from CAE‚ FEA‚ CFD and Reservoir Engineering applications.
For more information: http://www.vsg3d.com/vsg_prod_openinventor.php