New UM Tracked Vehicle module, intended for simulation of tracked vehicle dynamics, is released. Detailed informaton about the module is here. UM Tracked Vehicle module will be available in UM software since UM 6.0.

New UM 5.1 release is available now. The import of data from STEP and IGES files is supported, some minor improvements were made and some bugs were fixed in this release. Please download UM 5.1 here and ask for a free trial 3-month license using um@umlab.ru.

Universal Mechanism v. 5.0.2 including the module UM 3D Contact that is intended for simulation of contact interaction between bodies based on its contact manifolds is published on the web site. The module extends the possibilities of calculation of contact interaction between bodies that are implemented in Universal Mechanism. The realized contact algorithm is based on the simulation of interaction of arbitrary convex polyhedrons. Force model includes viscous-elastic normal force and Coulomb dry friction that supports both sticking and sliding modes.

East China Jiaotong University (Nanchang, China), Korean National Railroad College, University "Dunarea de Jos" (Galati, Romania), Cologne University (Cologne, Germany) now use Universal Mechanism for scientific and educational purposes.

Transport company AmstedRail, one of the leaders in transport engineering in Northern America, that specializes in production of components and equipment for railway vehicles, especially for freight cars, purchased UM 5.0 for its head office as well as for Russian (Transolutions CIS) and Ukrainian branches.

Laboratory of Computational Mechanics of Bryansk State Technical University annonces the new UM 5.0 version that will be finished by 1st of February, 2009. Almost all modules of the program package were appreciably developed. Please read here about new possibilities of UM 5.0. A beta-version of UM 5.0 is already available for testing. Please download UM 5.0 here and ask for a free trial 3-month license using um@umlab.ru.

An overview of accumulated experience of using Universal Mechanism software in railway industry is published in the paper "Simulation of dynamics of railway vehicles in Universal Mechanism software" (8 pages). The list of UM users, applied researches and key features of Universal Mechanism software are discussed.

The series of seminars which were devoted to simulation of railway vehicle dynamics in Universal Mechanism software were held in July 2008 by our partner "Unilly Associates, Inc." company. Special thanks to Mr. Shaoy Ge and Mr. Gavin Chang for all their help and efforts. The overview of the seminar at Sifang Rolling Stock Research Institute Co., Inc. is available here.

New editions of the presentations “Mechanical Engineering with Universal Mechanism” and “Simulation of Railway Vehicle Dynamics in Universal Mechanism Software” are now published in the web site. Number of slides that illustrate new possibilities of UM software and new models of our users are added. New presentations have now comments that will lead you through the presentations.

Moscow State University of Railway Engineering now uses 10 licenses of Universal Mechanism software for scientific researches and student activity.

Developing the interface between Pro/ENGINEER and Universal Mechanism is finished. Download and install ProEtoUM.exe (4.3 Mb) installation package that inludes a library for exporting data from Pro/E to intermediate UCF (UM CAD File) format.

Laboratory of Computational Mechanics of Bryansk State Technical University held the EUROMECH Colloquium 495 “Advances in simulation of multibody system dynamics”, 18-21 February. More than 50 scientists from Europe and Asia, who work in the area of multibody system dynamics, took part in the colloquium.

Moscow State Technical University n.a. N.E. Bauman now uses 40 licenses of program package “Universal Mechanism” in its laboratories for educational and scientific purposes in particular for problems of robotics.

Central research institute “TransElektroPribor” (St.-Petersburg, Russia) purchased program package “Universal Mechanism” for carrying out investigations in the area of railway vehicle dynamics.

Indonesian biggest producer of electric locomotives, passenger coaches and freight wagons "INKA - Indonesian Railway Industry" now uses “Universal Mechanism” software. Dynamical properties of freight wagons are in focus of computer simulation.

Perm State University and Rostov State University of Railway Transport are new university users of Universal Mechanism. The program will be used for educational purposes and for research activity of students, PhD students and research staff of the universities.

JSC “Metrowagonmash”, Moscow region – a big producer of the metro cars and armored trucked vehicles now uses Universal Mechanism for developing new metro car bogie and simulation of trucked vehicle dynamics.

JSC VELNII, Novocherkassk, the Russian leading design institute of electric locomotives, now uses Universal Mechanism software for dynamical analysis of newly designed locomotives. Hybrid electro-mechanical models of electric locomotives that combine interactive accurate mechanical and electrical parts are planned to be developed.

The meeting that was devoted to “Using Universal Mechanism Software for simulation of derailment cases” took place in headquarters of JSC Russian Railways in Moscow under the chairmanship of the vice-president of Russian Railways on 29th of November, 2007. Representatives of several departments of Russian Railways, VNNIZHT, VNIKTI and other institutes and enterprises took part in the meeting. As a results the decision to recommend Universal Mechanism software as a basic tool for simulation of railway vehicle dynamics and derailment cases were approved.

Developing the interface between Unigraphics NX and Universal Mechanism is finished. Library UnigraphicsToUM.dll that provides export of data from Unigraphics NX to intermediate UCF (UM CAD File) format is published on our site.

Materials which are devoted to the new UM module for simulation of granular media dynamics is now published on our web page. Combining powerful methods of UM mathematical core and fast algorithms that calculate contact interaction between particles the module has unique possibilities. It allows simulating processes of loading, crushing, separation, vibratory consolidation and displacement, etc.

After more than a year of trial period the "Vossloh Spain" company joined the list of users of UM software. During the trial period the simulation of dynamics of a locomotive and durability analysis of its bogie frame was fulfilled. As Europe’s leading manufacturer, "Vossloh Spain" company designs and builds locomotives as well as passenger trains.

Laboratory of Computational Mechanics presents Universal Mechanism Lite, which is free for non-commercial use. It is a simplified version of Universal Mechanism software. The program is intended for using by students and teachers for educational purposes as well as design engineers for express analysis of designed mechanisms in their everyday work.

The biggest Russian producer of freight bogies and wagons the State Unitary Enterprise "Production Association "URALVAGONZAVOD" starts using UM software for estimation of dynamical and fatigue properties of freight wagons that are one of the basic products of the enterprise. Three specialists were trained and several dynamical models of railway vehicles were considered during introduction course, 24-28 September 2007. We thank our distributor Delcam-Ural company for organization of this training.

Members of the Laboratory of Computational Mechanics took part in the Sixth International Symposium on Classical and Celestial Mechanics, August 01-06, 2007, Velikie Luki, Russia. The symposium was organized under the aegis of Russian Academy of Sciences.

Electrostal Heavy Engineering Works (Moscow region, Russia) is the new user of the Universal Mechanism software. During introduction the software product 6 specialists were trained and several dynamical models of perspective production of the factory were developed and analyzed. Results of solving the problem of crusher mechanism balancing is already used in its manufacturing.

Materials which is devoted to the new UM module for fatigue analysis of parts of mechanical systems is now published on our web page.

Laboratory of Computational Mechanics of Bryansk State Technical University and European Mechanics Society (EUROMECH) announce the international colloquium "EUROMECH 495. Advances in simulation of multibody system dynamics." February 18-21, 2008. More detailed information please find in the official web site of the colloquium."

All-Russian Railway Design Institute jointly with Laboratory of Computational Mechanics and Institute for Problems in Mechnics RAS starts researches concerning optimization of railway gauge. The aim of researches is determination of the optimal railway gauge from point of view wear rails and wheels and safety factors taking into account various working conditions of railway vehicles. Wear of wheels and rails and its intension, volume wear and accumulation of contact damages are also considered.

State research center of railway transport of Ukraine, Kiev, purchased program package "Universal Mechanism" for carrying out complex research in the field of railway vehicle and train dynamics, safety, rails and wheels wear prediction, etc.

New release of UM 4.0 is now available. New release includes module for railway wheel/rail evolution and user's manual for this module. Known bugs are fixed as well. You can download demo version here.

Design office "Novator" from Ekaterinburg - one of the leading developers of Russian rocket missile weaponry - now uses "Universal Mechanism" for carrying out dynamical research of its production. Three researchers from the "Novator" took part in the training cources in the Laboratory.

Two new universities - South-Russian Technical University, Novocherkassk, and Moscow State Transport University - widen the list of university users of "Universal Mechanism" software. The program will be used for research activity of students and PhD students. One researcher from the Moscow State Transport University took part in the training cources in the Laboratory.

Laboratory of Computational Mechanics announces the new UM module which is aimed for durability analysis - UM Durability. It supports several up-to-date approaches for durability analysis. There is successful comparison between results of numerical simulation and test bench experiment. The UM Durability module will be available since 1st of March 2006.

Russian Railways and All-Russian Research and Design Railway Institute developed a library of UM-models of locomotives. The library includes models of 5 diesel locomotives and 11 electric locomotives and is aimed for carrying out complex researches of its dynamics and especially safety analysis.

New Universal Mechanism v. 4.0 is now available for downloading. New version includes new UM Automotive module which is intended for simulation of road vehicle dynamics, expanded CAD Import and a number of significant changes in UM Base and additional modules.

New features in UM 4.0 is considered in UM 4.0 press release.

Hendrickson Asia Pacific now uses Universal Mechanism for dynamical analysis their suspensions. Hendrickson Asia Pacific are the leading suppliers of high quality air suspensions to the transport industry , having particular emphasis on cost effective engineering, design and test, manufacture and supply of truck and trailer air suspensions in Asia-Pacific region.

25th of February - 3rd of March, 2006 training cources at the Far East State Transport University, Khabarovsk, Russia were conducted. Cources were devoted to simulation of railway vehicle dynamics with Universal Mechanism.

6-10 of February 2006 training cources at the Ural State Transport University, Ekaterinburg, Russia were conducted. Cources were devoted to simulation of railway vehicle dynamics with Universal Mechanism.

2-3 of February 2006 a scientific presentation at the Samara State Transport Academy, Samara, Russia took part. Presentation was devoted to recent advances in simulation of railway vehicle dynamics and its practical implementations.

20th of December 2005 a scientific presentaion concerning road vehicle dynamics was held at National Transport University, Kiev, Ukraine.