U.K. engineering firm saves time, effort on Wembley Stadium roof foundations, other high-profile projects with SolidWorks software
M G Bennett & Associates designs machine to help test U.K. 's oldest major suspension bridge
CONCORD , Mass. , Aug. 16, 2005 ? British engineering design consultancy M G Bennett & Associates Ltd. is using SolidWorks ® Office Professional software to design key foundations for the new Wembley Stadium roof, which when completed, will be the longest opening roof structure in the world. The firm is also using SolidWorks to develop equipment that will help Scottish transportation authorities test the Forth Road Bridge , the oldest major suspension bridge in the country.
M G Bennett & Associates Ltd. chose SolidWorks 3D mechanical design software for many of its projects because the software was easy to learn and use and delivered the high-quality designs its customers require. SolidWorks' design speed and export functions allow Bennett engineers to quickly create and refine 3D models of bridges, wind turbines, and many other projects.
Founded in 1984 in Rotherham , England , Bennett has earned an international reputation for design creativity with expertise focusing on tunneling machinery, pipelines, vessels, movable bridge structures, aerospace, oil and gas, and nuclear projects. Some of its most notable projects include designing manufacturing tools and handling systems for the skins of the 45-meter wings for the giant Airbus A380, workshop and accommodation buildings for the British Antarctic Survey research facility at Halley, and the world's first rotating boat lift (which transfers boats from the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal in Scotland).
?SolidWorks allows us to save time and eliminate time-consuming work by automating some of the most crucial design tasks such as executing changes between 3D models and 2D drawings and detecting parts that interfere with each other,? said Paul Wade, an engineer at Bennett. ?It has become a priceless tool for helping us tackle some of our most challenging projects.?
Bridging design challenges
The structural testing of the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh , Scotland , was one of those challenges. The bridge weighs 16,000 tons, spans 1,006 meters and carries over 24 million vehicles across the Forth estuary every year. The testing process begins with bridge safety officials removing several feet of tightly wrapped wire that supports the bridge's massive cables to expose the interior for structural analysis. Bennett used SolidWorks to design a machine that will replace the external wire after testing is completed. The machine consists of two ring assemblies that wrap around the 600 millimeter diameter cable. One ring winds the wire around the cable and another compresses the wire to prevent corrosion and ensure the bridge maintains its integrity from the spot where the sample was taken. Bennett also used SolidWorks to design platforms for inspecting and sampling work on the cables 100 meters above the deck's surface.
?SolidWorks' assembly capabilities played a significant role in successfully designing this machine,? Wade said. ?The software allowed us to conduct physical simulations of the ring movements to ensure nothing interfered with the cable application and compaction. It also allowed us to check mass properties so we could minimize weight, yet perform the task at hand. Designing this in 2D would have taken a very long time because we could only look at one view at a time.? Bennett also used SolidWorks Solution Partner Mathsoft's Mathcad ® calculation management software to automate and document many of the complex mathematical formulas involved in designing the machine.
For Bennett, SolidWorks also played a crucial role in developing the massive 40-ton bearing blocks that will support most of the weight of the new Wembley Stadium roof. The brackets are designed to carry a load of 3,000 tons apiece when the 133-meter high arch supporting the entire north roof and 60 percent of the retractable south roof is put in place. Wade and his team used SolidWorks to convert the customer's 2D drawings of the brackets into 3D models that Bennett could easily refine and analyze for load testing.
Bennett also uses SolidWorks PhotoWorks ? photorealistic rendering application and SolidWorks eDrawings ? e-mail-enabled collaboration tool to clearly communicate designs with customers and partners.
?Bennett is a prime example of a small engineering company with a giant footprint,? said Neil McArthur, regional director for the U.K. and Ireland at SolidWorks . ?Its engineering feats, whether broadly visible or not, will continue to be appreciated by millions. That it uses SolidWorks on such high-profile projects is a testament to the software's breadth of functionality.?
SolidWorks reseller Fusion Works U.K. Ltd. provides Bennett Associates with ongoing software training, implementation, and support.
About M G Bennett & Associates Limited
Since its formation more than 20 years ago, M G Bennett and Associates Ltd has developed into a multi-discipline engineering design company involved in major projects in a wide variety of fields on a world-wide basis. By fostering cross-fertilization of ideas and a flexible approach, we ensure innovative, practical solutions for our clients.
About Fusion Works U.K. Ltd.
Fusion supports the engineering and product design sector in the implementation of SolidWorks, the world's number one 3D engineering design solution. With centers in Yorkshire and the North West , Fusion provides a full sales service, quality training and responsive technical support to ensure its customers can drive innovation, maximize productivity and attain a competitive edge worldwide. For more information, visit www.fusion-works.com.
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