Formation Design Systems Releases Maxsurf 8

Adds Advanced Design, Analysis and Construction Functions

Fremantle, WA, Australia - 31 March 2000; Formation Design Systems today announced that they have released Version 8 of the Maxsurf suite of Naval Architecture and Ship Construction software. Maxsurf Version 8 continues Formation's on-going development program of adding advanced ship design and construction capabilities to the software suite.

The new Version 8 release of Maxsurf features three significant new enhancements to the suite - new plate development technology, additional hull modelling and internet capabilities, and enhanced damaged stability analysis.

New Plate Development Technology The newest release of Workshop, the construction module of the Maxsurf range, features a new method for expanding hull plating which contains compound curvature.

The method allows for precise specification of the strain distribution within the plate so that this may be matched to the forming processes available. The method is designed to work with all types of plates from developable to doubly curved or twisted.

The new method allows the user to choose the direction in which the plate is to be rolled; choosing either the ideal direction in the direction of minimum principal curvature, or specifying an alternative direction. The new technique also lets the operator specify the ratio of strain in the different directions on the plate to match the characteristics of the forming process being used. Colour coded strain maps can be produced to better visualise the required plate deformation. Workshop will work effectively for plates which are to be formed using methods which stretch the plate or shrink the plate.

This new method for plate development and shell expansion is part of Formation Design Systems continuing plan to add advanced construction and part generation capabilities to Workshop. This ensures that not only can naval architects use Maxsurf for hull and superstructure modelling, but that they, and the builders they work with, can create accurate parts for NC cutting and construction.

Advanced Surface Modelling Maxsurf Version 8 incorporates a number of new capabilities which help users manage designs with large numbers of surfaces. Comments Formation Technical Director Andrew Mason, " As NURB surface modelling becomes standard for hull and superstructure design, we are finding that our users are creating more complex designs using larger numbers of surface. These new capabilities allow users to better manage large numbers of surfaces in their designs."

The new functions include a surfaces window which let users sort surfaces by different attributes as well as copy and paste surface attribute data to and from Excel. A number of new geometry functions have also been added including automatic generation of standard shapes and sophisticated scaling, rotation and duplication commands. Another addition is an extended undo capability which allows the user to undo multiple commands on multiple surfaces..

VRML - 3D for the Internet The Version 8 release of Maxsurf for Windows includes a capability for exporting Maxsurf models in VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) format. VRML is a file format developed to allow the transfer of 3D models across the Internet and their display in standard browsers like Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. VRML has found application in a wide variety of areas including data visualisation and 3D product modelling. VRML support in Maxsurf assists naval architects in creating web sites which allow them to share their models with other members of their design and construction teams.

VRML models can either be viewed in a separate window in your browser or they can be embedded in a web page along with other standard HTML data. This means it is quite simple to set up web pages that include a Maxsurf VRML model which can be viewed along with any other require tabular, graphical or text data. VRML has been approved as an ISO standard and so is firmly established as a standardised method of viewing 3D data.

Managing Director, Philip Christensen comments "Maxsurf users already use the Internet extensively to exchange design files. We expect that more and more Maxsurf users will use web sites for project management and promotional purposes and we see 3D models forming an important part of the data which will be communicated via the web"

Enhanced Damaged Stability Lastly, version 8 of Hydromax - Maxsurf's stability analysis module - adds support for more advanced damaged stability analysis. In particular, Hydromax 8 adds the ability to simultaneously define multiple damaged conditions and to run analysis and check compliance with the High Speed Craft code. The code checking function works with mono-hull or catamaran designs and is invaluable for fast ferry designers who need to ensure that their vessels comply with these requirements.

Workshop, Hydromax and the Maxsurf modelling capabilities form a part of the Maxsurf suite of naval architecture and ship construction software. Maxsurf is used by over 1000 naval architects and shipbuilders worldwide to design and build vessels from 3-300 metres in length.

Formation Design Systems develops computer aided design software systems for naval architects, shipbuilders, engineers and designers. Its products are available on Windows 95/98/NT platforms and are used by industry, educational institutions and defence organisations.