Cloud-based simulation of box framed timber beams

Maderas Besteiro is a Spanish SME that specializes in timber solutions for structural applications, such as house-building. It has recently taken an interest in offering a new product line of box framed timber beams made from Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalyptus is ideal for structural purposes because of its high quality and resistance. Using this wood can allow construction companies to build homes faster, with less waste and less energy, in line with European Union housing guidelines.

Designing and testing a new structural product is an extremely costly process. As an SME, Maderas Besteiro faces a challenge to develop new products due to its small number of staff and lack of sufficient financial resources. A cost-effective computer simulation process would help to solve this problem.A virtual engineering workflow was designed and validated. The workflow combines the design, calculation and virtual validation stages of the process, through access to a Cloudbased HPC platform provided by Fortissimo. Using this solution has allowed Madera Besteiro to reduce their development costs and design times. A pay-per-use HPC model significantly reduces the computational costs compared to using in-house resources, and results in a better, more refined end product.