Case Study: Vierhout Engineering achieves faster, more detailed mesh-free structural-frame analysis with Altair SimSolid

Vierhout Improves Structural Steel Machine Frame using Mesh-free Simulation

Vierhout Engineering, supporting Universal Corrugated, was tasked with validating a very large and complex structural steel machine frame (about 20 tons and ~32 meters long) but found traditional FEA impractical due to extensive geometry cleanup, meshing and hardware limits. To address this challenge they turned to Altair and its meshless structural analysis product, Altair SimSolid, to enable upfront, detailed simulation without time‑consuming simplification.

Altair implemented SimSolid so Vierhout could run full 3D solid, mesh‑free analyses—including bolts with preloads, non‑linear contact/friction, and Euro Code checks—producing detailed 3D results for stresses, displacements, modal frequencies and foundation reactions. By eliminating meshing and minimizing manual model prep, Altair’s SimSolid delivered faster turnarounds, cost and time savings, the ability to investigate more variants and load cases, and is now used by Vierhout Engineering for all complex assembly simulations.

Vierhout Engineering

Evert Vierhout

Owner