The following is an excerpt.
SFI CASA’s meetings in Munich in November showed significant progress on implementation of CASA models into commercial codes and no results in the hunt for females.
CASA is a centre for research-based innovation. To enable innovation, results from basic research must be translated into the language industry uses. Examples of such languages are Abaqus, LS-Dyna and Pam-Crash. The meeting in the Industrial Reference Group on 14 November showed that partners BMW, Statoil, DNV GL and Benteler will contact Abaqus to request implementation in the months ahead. Similar approaches are under way for the other commercial codes.
Intelligent material mix
The board seminar on the following day opened with a presentation from BMW’s Dominik Schuster. He spoke about intelligent material mix for future lightweight design and touched on topics like geometrical design, higher strength, tailored properties, lighter hang-on parts and structural material mix.
Schuster was followed by the heads of CASA’s research programmes, who presented their respective status and activities. The centre is on track in terms of scientific progress, publications and student recruitment.
Females wanted
The one area where CASA really struggles is in reaching the goal of 30 percent female PhD students. This caused some discussion in the board meeting. Several members, including Renault’s Ana Fernandez, challenged CASA to intensify efforts. The debate has triggered new initiatives after the meeting with some hope of results in the near future.
