Michigan Tech Partners with Altair to Prepare Future Engineers in Simulation-driven Design
Michigan Tech incorporates HyperWorks CAE suite throughout its mechanical engineering curriculum
TROY, MICH., January 28, 2016 – Altair and Michigan Technological University have partnered to incorporate Altair HyperWorks
® into Michigan Tech’s mechanical engineering curriculum. Simulation-driven design has enabled a new way of approaching engineering designs, and Michigan Tech is aggressively taking steps to make sure their students graduate from school skilled at using the same simulation technology prevalent at leading companies across a wide range of industries worldwide.
“Simulation is more than a tool,” says Altair’s Chief Operating Officer and Michigan Tech alumnus, Brett Chouinard. “Top performing companies are using simulation to innovate and drive the direction of product design.”
Bill Predebon, Chair of Michigan Tech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, uses modeling and simulation extensively in his own research, and he’s been following Altair’s pioneering efforts closely. He visited Chouinard a few years ago at Altair’s Global Headquarters in Troy, Michigan. “I was very impressed with the optimization capabilities of Altair’s simulation software,” he says. Predebon returned to Michigan Tech determined to make Altair’s simulation software a cornerstone of his mechanical engineering curriculum.
Michigan Tech is one of the first engineering schools in the nation to fully incorporate Altair’s technology into its entire mechanical engineering curriculum. Students are enrolled in courses that are utilizing Altair HyperWorks as the core of their program. Products being used from the HyperWorks suite in current classes include HyperMesh, HyperView, MotionView, AcuSolve, OptiStruct, and Inspire.
“We want to teach skills that the students are going to need on the job,” says Chuck Van Karsen, Associate Professor at Michigan Tech.
Altair’s commitment to Michigan Tech extends beyond simply providing software for class use. Altair’s Erik Larson has worked with Michigan Tech for the past three years providing ongoing support and training to aid in a successful implementation. “It’s exciting to teach a software in the spring and then come back up in the fall and see students using that software to solve a real world problem,” says Larson. “It will translate well to their careers as they become significant contributors to their employers’ success.”
“This is a very special opportunity with Michigan Tech,” Chouinard concludes. “Michigan Tech is a great university model for truly preparing students to work in the engineering field. There is a real need to teach students how to use simulation technology in their future jobs. Nearly all students graduating from Michigan Tech will have a good understanding of simulation-driven design.”
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About Michigan Tech
Michigan Technological University (
www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.
About Altair
Altair is focused on the development and broad application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,600 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA and operates more than 45 offices throughout 24 countries. Today, Altair serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. To learn more, please visit
www.altair.com.