PZFlex
Encyclopedia
PZFlex is a commercial software
package for finite element analysis and virtual prototyping
, developed by Weidlinger Associates Inc, USA.
The PZFlex code uses both Explicit and implicit methods
. It is a time domain solver that specializes in large wave propagation
problems, with emphasis on problems featuring electro-mechanical materials such as piezoelectric ceramics.
The explicit solver is designed to tackle both highly non-linear transient phenomena and quasi-static problems. The package is available for Windows
and Linux
platforms, both 32 and 64-bit systems.
It was developed in the later 1980’s to meet the demands of the medical ultrasound
imaging device industry and has been adopted for use in the automotive, aerospace
, SONAR
, MEMs and Non-destructive testing industries.
It has also become popular with leading ultrasonic research groups in academia due to its flexibility and speed for solving large, complex problems.
PZFlex stands for PiezoElectric Fast, Large and EXplicit.
Commercial software
Commercial software, or less commonly, payware, is computer software that is produced for sale or that serves commercial purposes.Commercial software is most often proprietary software, but free software packages may also be commercial software....
package for finite element analysis and virtual prototyping
Virtual prototyping
Virtual prototyping is a technique in the process of product development. It involves using computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering software to validate a design before committing to making a physical prototype...
, developed by Weidlinger Associates Inc, USA.
The PZFlex code uses both Explicit and implicit methods
Explicit and implicit methods
Explicit and implicit methods are approaches used in numerical analysis for obtaining numerical solutions of time-dependent ordinary and partial differential equations, as is required in computer simulations of physical processes....
. It is a time domain solver that specializes in large wave propagation
Wave propagation
Wave propagation is any of the ways in which waves travel.With respect to the direction of the oscillation relative to the propagation direction, we can distinguish between longitudinal wave and transverse waves....
problems, with emphasis on problems featuring electro-mechanical materials such as piezoelectric ceramics.
The explicit solver is designed to tackle both highly non-linear transient phenomena and quasi-static problems. The package is available for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
platforms, both 32 and 64-bit systems.
It was developed in the later 1980’s to meet the demands of the medical ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not separated from "normal" sound based on differences in physical properties, only the fact that humans cannot hear it. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is...
imaging device industry and has been adopted for use in the automotive, aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
, SONAR
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
, MEMs and Non-destructive testing industries.
It has also become popular with leading ultrasonic research groups in academia due to its flexibility and speed for solving large, complex problems.
PZFlex stands for PiezoElectric Fast, Large and EXplicit.