Troy-based Altair Engineering Inc. Monday announced the release of Altair HyperWorks 9.0, the next generation of its integrated suite of computer-aided engineering software applications.

HyperWorks is an enterprise simulation platform to support product lifecycle management processes. It is the leading simulation-driven design system for product development across the world's top corporations.

"Over the past decade, Altair HyperWorks has become the preferred simulation platform for the worldwide advanced manufacturing community," says James R. Scapa, president and CEO of Altair. "Through advancements in simulation technology, a value-driven business model and superior customer support, the adoption of HyperWorks continues to outpace the CAE market with a five-year compound annual growth rate of more than 25 percent."

Altair says the release of HyperWorks 9.0 is the first engineering simulation system to deeply embed grid computing management tools with computer-intensive CAE software applications. HyperWorks 9.0 clients can now use unallocated HyperWorks units in their existing pool to immediately access Altair's popular PBS GridWorks on-demand grid-computing technology suite at no incremental cost. This common licensing model allows corporations to virtualize their global computing infrastructure -- maximizing the throughput of analysis jobs as well as the utilization of hardware and software resources.

In addition, HyperWorks 9.0 extends its patented business model to deliver on-demand, third-party software applications. Participating partners and the formal roll-out of Altair's partner solutions program will be announced on Wednesday, May 21.

Altair also says HyperWorks 9.0 integrates all of its linear and nonlinear finite-element solvers into a single solver application. RADIOSS 9.0 now delivers a robust solution for simulating linear statics and dynamics, nonlinear transient dynamics and fluid-structure interaction events. This consolidation and integration uniquely positions RADIOSS in the CAE market and further increases the value of HyperWorks. From a user perspective, RADIOSS 9.0 simplifies multi-disciplinary analysis studies and data exchange between analysis types. Business benefits include lower software licensing costs and simplified IT administration.

Also, Altair said the open-systems design of the HyperWorks platform allows engineers to seamlessly work with any CAD solution, any solver, and any pre- and post-processing environment. The 9.0 release extends this interoperability even further to include Microsoft Office suite applications fostering enterprise collaboration and information sharing. This direct integration not only offers efficiencies to the reporting process but also will support design robustness investigations through a direct integration with Microsoft Excel and HyperStudy, Altair's design optimization study application. HyperGraph and HyperView post-processing applications now export directly to Office applications, as well.

Finally, Altair said version 9.0 includes the following modeling and visualization advancements: an enhanced "Windows-like" graphical user interface; HyperCrash, a new automotive crash pre-processor; new rapid HEX solid meshing capabilities; and shrink-wrap meshing to accelerate the creation of large solid models. It also include the following optimization and data management advancements: rapid multi-body dynamics optimization; free-shape optimization with manufacturing constraints; free-sizing optimization for composites; and model assembly, batch meshing and performance data management automation.

For a complete listing of all 9.0 new products and functionality, as well as training schedules, regional roll-out events and to request a HyperWorks 9.0 demonstration, visit www.altairhyperworks.com/hw9.

Global distribution of HyperWorks 9.0 is ongoing; and current customers can download this version and the Release Notes, by visiting Altair's Client Center portal at www.altairhyperworks.com.