LUSAS
Encyclopedia
LUSAS is a UK-based developer and supplier of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) application software products that bear the same name.
(now incorporated into Imperial College London
) began work on the London University Stress Analysis System, "LUSAS". This team was led by Dr. Paul Lyons, who, in 1982, set up an independent company, Finite Element Analysis Ltd., to further develop, and subsequently market the software as a general purpose structural analysis system. In 1997, following the introduction of a range of specialist application software packages, the company, for awareness reasons, then started to trade under the LUSAS name.
For Universities, an Academic version which permits the running of any commercial LUSAS software product can be used for teaching and research use.
, built alongside the Millennium Dome
, (now the O2 Arena
), as part of UK's Millennium Commission
sponsored celebrations for the year 2000; Spinnaker Tower
, the tallest publicly accessible provincial structure in the UK; and Gwangmyeong Velodrome
, the largest domed structure built, so far, in South Korea.
Bridge
s designed with the aid of LUSAS include the Lune Millennium Bridge
, and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
both also built, coincidentally, as part of the UK's year 2000 celebrations, and the Vasco da Gama
cable stayed bridge and associated viaduct structures in Portugal.
General mechanical engineering
uses are extremely varied and include thermal analysis of marine loading arm
s - used to transfer Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) from shore to ship and vice-versa at a temperature of -163 degrees Celsius, nonlinear analysis of nylon polyamide cable tie
s used to bundle cables together, and contact analysis of titanium
and ceramic
hip joint components as used in artificial hip replacement
Composites engineering applications involve the analysis of composite material
layups for potential delamination
, material damage and fatigue modelling of many types of components in the automotive, aviation, and marine industries.
History
LUSAS has its origins back in 1970 when a group of research workers at the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(now incorporated into Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
) began work on the London University Stress Analysis System, "LUSAS". This team was led by Dr. Paul Lyons, who, in 1982, set up an independent company, Finite Element Analysis Ltd., to further develop, and subsequently market the software as a general purpose structural analysis system. In 1997, following the introduction of a range of specialist application software packages, the company, for awareness reasons, then started to trade under the LUSAS name.
Software
LUSAS software consists of a Windows-based Modeller, used for model building and viewing of results, and a Solver for carrying out an analysis. Four commercial application products cater for the following industries:- Civil & Structural - for civil, structural, nuclear, seismic, geotechnical and offshore engineering.
- Bridge - for bridge engineering analysis, design, and assessment.
- Analyst - for automotive, aerospace, defence, manufacturing and general engineering analysis.
- Composite - for engineers designing composite products or components.
For Universities, an Academic version which permits the running of any commercial LUSAS software product can be used for teaching and research use.
Example Applications
Civil and structural engineering uses include Anthony Gormley's Quantum CloudQuantum Cloud
Antony Gormley's Quantum Cloud was commissioned for a site next to the Millennium Dome in London. At 30 metres high, it is Gormley's tallest sculpture to date . It is constructed from a collection of tetrahedral units made from 1.5 m long sections of steel...
, built alongside the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
, (now the O2 Arena
The O2 arena (London)
The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...
), as part of UK's Millennium Commission
Millennium Commission
The Millennium Commission in the United Kingdom was set up to aid communities at the end of the 2nd millennium and the start of the 3rd millennium. It used funding raised through the UK National Lottery....
sponsored celebrations for the year 2000; Spinnaker Tower
Spinnaker Tower
Spinnaker Tower is a –high landmark tower in Portsmouth, England. It is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Portsmouth Harbour, which was supported by a National Lottery grant. Its shape was chosen by Portsmouth residents from a selection of concepts...
, the tallest publicly accessible provincial structure in the UK; and Gwangmyeong Velodrome
Gwangmyeong Velodrome
Gwangmyeong Velodrome is a velodrome in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. It opened in 2006, and has a seating capacity of 30,000 spectators. The venue was designed to resemble a racing cyclist’s helmet; and is the largest domed structure ever built in South Korea....
, the largest domed structure built, so far, in South Korea.
Bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s designed with the aid of LUSAS include the Lune Millennium Bridge
Lune Millennium Bridge
The Lune Millennium Bridge is a cable-stayed footbridge which spans the River Lune in Lancaster, England.It was designed by Whitby Bird and Partners, and built at a cost of £1.8m to commemorate the millennium of 2000. The bridge forms a "Y"-shape in plan to connect one bank both to a viaduct and...
, and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
Gateshead Millennium Bridge
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne in England between Gateshead's Quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the Quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. The award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architects...
both also built, coincidentally, as part of the UK's year 2000 celebrations, and the Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
cable stayed bridge and associated viaduct structures in Portugal.
General mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
uses are extremely varied and include thermal analysis of marine loading arm
Marine loading arm
A marine loading arm, also known as a mechanical loading arm, loading arm, or MLA is a device consisting of articulated steel pipes that connect a tankship such as an oil tanker or chemical tanker to a cargo terminal...
s - used to transfer Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) from shore to ship and vice-versa at a temperature of -163 degrees Celsius, nonlinear analysis of nylon polyamide cable tie
Cable tie
A cable tie, also known as a zip tie or tie-wrap , is a type of fastener, especially for binding several electronic cables or wires together and to organize cables and wires.-Design and use:...
s used to bundle cables together, and contact analysis of titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
and ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
hip joint components as used in artificial hip replacement
Hip replacement
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant. Hip replacement surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi replacement. Such joint replacement orthopaedic surgery generally is conducted to relieve arthritis pain or fix severe...
Composites engineering applications involve the analysis of composite material
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
layups for potential delamination
Delamination
Delamination is a mode of failure for composite materials. Modes of failure are also known as 'failure mechanisms'. In laminated materials, repeated cyclic stresses, impact, and so on can cause layers to separate, forming a mica-like structure of separate layers, with significant loss of mechanical...
, material damage and fatigue modelling of many types of components in the automotive, aviation, and marine industries.