Case Study: Alstom achieves 70% weight reduction and accelerated development with Altair (solidThinking Inspire & HyperWorks)

Alstom - Customer Case Study

Alstom, a global leader in railway systems, faced the challenge of optimizing an existing cast part used in train bogies to support the anti-roll system and evaluating options for casting or metal additive manufacturing. To address this, Alstom worked with Altair, using Altair HyperWorks for meshing and FE analysis and solidThinking Inspire and solidThinking Evolve for topology optimization and shape refinement.

Altair’s simulation-driven workflow—topology optimization with solidThinking Inspire, exterior refinement with solidThinking Evolve, and verification via HyperWorks—enabled Alstom to prepare the part for additive manufacturing and collaborate with local 3D printing partners. The Altair-enabled redesign reduced component weight by about 70%, increased stiffness, shortened development time, and provided detailed insights into new production options.

Alstom

Juan Manuel Romero

Structures and Calculation Lead Engineer