Altair has announced its involvement in the Performance Integrated Vehicle Optimisation Technology (PIVOT) project, which intends to create lighter, more sustainable components for vehicle manufacturing.
The PIVOT project will be using Altair’s artificial intelligence and simulation capabilities.
Led by Sarginsons Industries, the project will bring together Altair, Aston Martin, Brunel University London and Gescrap, a metal recycling company.
It will develop software which combines casting simulation, topology optimisation and AI in order to test components optimised for weight, structural performance and manufacturability.
This software is intended to design cast aluminium structures that are up to 30% lighter than traditional aluminium while maintaining performance requirements.
It will focus on using 100% recycled aluminium to reduce carbon emissions in vehicle components, claiming that these will be reduced by up to 95%.
By using grain refinement techniques developed by Brunel University, the PIVOT project will make it possible to use secondary alloys for cast structural applications including vehicle chassis systems.
The project will be funded in part by a £2.9 million government grant from Innovate UK and APC and is expected to deliver advancements in casting processes over the next few years. The goal is to combine these advancements with a reduction in the environmental footprint of the vehicle manufacturing industry by enabling OEMs and foundries to adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods.
“PIVOT represents a huge step forward for the casting industry,” said Sarginsons Industries managing director Mark Nunan.
“With Altair’s state-of-the-art technology, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, creating components that are not only lighter and stronger but also significantly greener.”
