(SDN) — FILIPINO students and professionals in the field of engineering have just received a shot-in-the-arm in terms of acquiring knowledge that bridges design and practical application.
Thus, from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Simulation to the physical world, everyday life might just turn better and safer through products’ development that withstand the most critical tests.
Partnership for the future
They are tests that simulate the unforgiving conditions in space, land, or sea. All for bettering lives, for what’s a product with innovation if not to make lives more pleasantly livable.
It might not be too far-fetched for this to happen, or at least think about it in the Philippines; FEA Simulation is already a standard in the developed countries.
The key is raising the skill sets of Filipino engineers and future-proof them for Industry 4.0.
In the Philippines, it could be one of the doors that opens up opportunities to become globally competitive, especially with the just-launched partnership between industry and academe as represented by United States-based MSC Software and the Philippines’ owned FEATI University.
On Tuesday, May 7, MSC Software and FEATI University signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that binds them to collaborate in spreading in the academe the former’s simulation training courses.
As part of the MOA, the American company, which is part of Hexagon firm, appointed the Philippine university founded in 1946 as its Center of Excellence (CoE) in the country. Thus, FEATI is officially MSC Software’s first CoE in the Philippines.
FEATI University and MSC Software seal their partnership with a handshake. At right is FEATI Vice Chairman and CEO Francis Segovia (right) shaking the hand of MSC Software Managing Director for Indo Pacific Region Sridhara Dharmarajan.
The two parties launched their partnership with presidents and other officials of various universities in attendance.
In the video are Director Dr. Kaustubh Nande of MSC Software and FEATI President Dr. Adolfo Jesus Gopez discussing their organizations’ collaboration.
Francis Segovia, CEO, FEATI University, said about the partnership:
“The aerospace industry relies heavily on some of the leading MSC Software tools to analyze and predict stress and strain, vibration and dynamics, acoustics, and thermal analysis. As a leading educator in aviation, aerospace and other engineering disciplines, we believe in giving our students the best exposure to industry-leading tools and technologies to prepare them for their careers. This tie-up with MSC Software is another step in that direction.”
On to digital transformation
Sridhara Dharmarajan, managing director for Indo Pacific Region of MSC Software Corporation, described the partnership as “bridging the gap between the academy and industry.”
He said this will pave the way for digital transformation.
The two partners have embarked on this journey where FEATI University will train engineering students and professionals in using MSC Software and prepare them for future critical engineering skills.
To achieve this, the CoE’s function, among others, is to enhance the skill sets of students and professionals through industry-oriented training and research projects on simulation.
FEATI University President Dr. Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez dubbed the partnership “the new revolution in engineering technology.”
He explained in his talks with members of the media during the event at Solaire Resort and Casino in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, that the software from U.S.-based company is Finite Element-based design and simulation.
FEATI President Dr. Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez.
With FEA, Gopez pointed out, “you can use the program and input certain parts of your design, and then you can run a simulation to see how it will react to the stresses, or the temperature, or to the other factors you can put in your simulation.”
He added: “It is a very important tool for engineers, he noted, as it increases their capability both from students up to professionals to be able to go beyond the paper and pen type of design and go to realization, simulation and beyond; to go manufacturing, go to efficiency, go to reducing cost.”
Drawings that do not move
FEATI University is offering the FEA Simulation training to students from other universities, though it is not entirely free being an economic setup.
“It will be useful not only for students but also for professional engineers. And, so, with this partnership we can give access to students of different universities…and industry for training,” said Gopez.
“FEATI University from the beginning of the training courses or programs will benefit both at being able to look at the MSC Software and be able to use and connect it to the theory of space analysis, thermal analysis, design, and then, of course, they will be able to do a visual simulation with their computers and see what will happen to their design.”
Before the advent of FEA Simulation, he recalled that a designer just finished a drawing which does not move. “You cannot do simulation with the drawing.”
FEATI and MSC Software officials like facing the future all together now.
“But with MSC Software, you will see how it turns if it is something that rotates, you can see if it bends if it is something that bends, and you can see if it flies if it is an aircraft.”
The FEATI University president hastened to add that the outcome of the simulation depends on the MSC Software module that is inputted.
Historical partners with similar roots
Dr. Kaustubh Nande, director for Marketing for Indo Pacific Region at MSC Software, cited the importance of the collaboration.
“The importance of this event clearly for the local standpoint is sort of (the) merging of two historical institutions with very common roots,” he said referring to the two parties’ similar beginnings in aerospace industry.
MSC Software started with MacNeal-Schwendler in 1965 for aspace program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
FEATI University had its roots in aeronautics when it was established to provide mechanics and engineers for the maintenance and operation of the airline industry founded by Don Salvador and Dona Victoria.
MSC Software is part of Hexagon, a global leader in digital transformation with a proven heritage in quality and manufacturing technology. FEATI University is the Philippines’ pioneer in aviation education and aeronautical engineering.
MSC Software Managing Director Sridhara Dharmarajan on the stage, with FEATI officials at the table listening to the briefing.
The CoE is expected to also offer regular short-term paid training programs for industry professionals with the content and duration tailored on respective industry’s need aside from the regular offerings of paid MSC Proficiency Training Programs with Certification.
All this can be done as the CoE will have infrastructure facilities to run simulation and train students and professionals using the software of the company. FEATI will conduct the formal courses as a part of its curriculum for its students who will use the CoE facility for their research projects.
Filipino scientist says physical tests takes time, costly
To produce trainors, the MSC will hold training programs for the university’s faculty and certify them.
The tools from MSC Software such as PATRAN, NASTRAN, APEX, Adams, Easy 5, and newer suite of solutions are designed to enable affordable and faster virtual prototyping.
What virtual prototyping does is allow engineers to simulate the realistic behavior of the components or assembly under various conditions. The company’s tools also help improve feasibility, reliability and implementation of new products to a large extent. They promote shorter time to the commercialization of products.
Meanwhile, Filipino astrophysicist Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, a guest at the MOA signing, welcomed the partnership between MSC Software and FEATI.
“In the aerospace engineering field, what we usually do really is when we do design we have to validate them with tests, and doing the physical tests takes time and costs a lot.
“But by doing or using simulation, you can shorten actually shortcut or shorten the process or make it less expensive but provides the same kind of results that are reliable and valid to the point the industry can rely on.”
Sese, president of Regulus Spacetech, Inc. and head of the National Space Development Program (NSDP), said that’s the reason for the simulation software: to help the aerospace industry progress by providing solutions that would enable them essentially to do their job much better and much faster at lesser cost.
“Right now, with new developments, especially with the upcoming Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), we look forward to having more people who are trained especially in aerospace engineering.
“So, it helps they would know how the industry works, how it’s being done in other countries, so that they can be competitive as well.”
Balik Scientist engineer Vicente E. DyReyes, who is hosted by FEATI for the FEA Simulation program, emphasized the importance of creating a product that can compete in the world.
Balik Scientist Engineer Vicente E. DyReyes during interview with reporters.
“My mission here is to make the Philippines competitive in the world. Their advantage abroad is they have a lot of tools,” he said, as he pointed out that in terms of knowledge and skills Filipinos are at least at par with the best of them.
“We have the talents; the labor here is cheap.”
DyReyes said the challenge is going from the present to the future. There is now the challenge to all the (Filipino) scientists to build the bridge between the present and the future.” (SDN)
Photographs and video: SDN — Science and Digital News.