PLD Space
Altair PLD Space software support
PLD Space came by the support of Altair through the company’s local Spanish ‘HyperWorks Start-up Program’.
Simulation technology company, Altair has provided support to European space tech start-up, PLD Space, in the form of its HyperWorks software and engineering expertise.
Established in 2011, PLD Space is a rocket development company based in Elche, Spain. Its aim is to engineer a family of reusable micro launchers which will provide suborbital and orbital launch services for small satellites and payloads. It came by the support of Altair through the company’s local Spanish ‘HyperWorks Start-up Program’.
The Spanish ‘HyperWorks Start-up Program’ provides software and engineering support to small and newly-found companies. Generally, Altair seeks out promising companies and allows them to tap into its vast engineering knowledge and range of technologies to improve performances.
Since February, PLD Space has been using Altair software to enhance its structural analysis. HyperWorks, which offers the OptiStruct tool specifically for structural analysis, enables the user to ensure the correct structural behaviour during each stage of a launch, from load path development to initial sizing and strength check. HyperMesh has been the preferred pre-processor for the PLD Space team, while HyperView has been called upon during post-processing tasks. PLD Space also plans to utilise the OptiStruct tool for structural optimisations, with the HyperCrash and RADIOSS tools set to be employed for analysis on impact capabilities.
“I came across HyperWorks when I used HyperMesh in different aerospace projects in the past. I immediately realised how easy it is to work with this software and its versatility,” said Gerardo Cordero Vaca, Rocket Stress Engineer PLD Space. “For us, the main advantages of Altair’s software compared to other tools are its versatility in working with different solvers and the accuracy of the structural analysis. In addition, HyperMesh lets us mesh structural components very quickly and hence helps us shorten the pre-processing time. Altair gives us a competitive edge, by supporting our aerospace project with highly competitive software.”
Stefano Deiana, country manager of Altair Spain, adds: “I’m very proud that we at Altair can support such an innovative project with our software and expertise. Facilitating access to space to small customers, for technological commercialisation and peaceful scientific research advancement, as PLD Space is planning to do, is very well worth our support. It is always fun to work with these young and energetic teams and I’m sure HyperWorks will give PLD Space the cutting edge to get ahead in their development plans quickly.”
