Tyre data monitoring firm cuts 40% materials by simulation

Automotive tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) developer and manufacturer SmarTire in Canada reckons it’s saving more than 40% on material costs as a result of using simulation software developer MSC.Software’s MSC.VisualNastran suite in the design and test phases. The company is gearing up for what’s forecast to be significant growth in demand, certainly in the US as a ruling by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Association (NHTSA) that TPMS must be installed in cars and trucks, bites. During 2004, at least 10% of each auto manufacturer’s production must have TPMS, rising to 100% by 2006. SmarTire’s direct tyre pressure data transmitters, which are located within the tyre, have to be subjected to rigorous simulated and physical tests to withstand temperatures from -40C to +125C, loading conditions and g forces up to 3000g. The firm tests transmitter performance up to 400km/h under all those conditions. “SmarTire tire monitoring systems have to work under a variety of extreme environments, monitoring tyre pressure and temperature continuously to ensure the safety of vehicle occupants no matter what the driving conditions,” says Kian Sheikh Bahaie, senior mechanical engineer for the company. The firm claims that it achieved the savings by running simulated linear static, non-linear and dynamic vibration analyses, while also ensuring the system’s parts would function properly. “Thanks to the data we obtained with the software, our tyre monitoring system successfully passed rigorous automotive tests without failure.” Frank Perna, chairman and CEO of MSC.Software, notes: “For today’s automotive suppliers, the best way to increase profitability is to reduce the time and costs associated with bringing products to market. “Our work with SmarTire is an excellent example of the ways in which our software products can help companies dramatically reduce their costs.”