Coreform LLC, a leader in commercial isogeometric analysis (IGA) software, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop advanced contact algorithms for its next-generation simulation software, Coreform Flex. This project will enhance Coreform’s ability to model complex mechanical interactions in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and defense.
“Contact modeling is one of the most challenging aspects of finite element analysis, especially for high-precision industries where simulation accuracy directly impacts performance and safety,” said Dr. Michael A. Scott, CEO of Coreform. “By leveraging our isogeometric analysis and DOE-funded technologies such as MFEM and the Tribol contact library, we aim to provide more robust and efficient contact simulation methods.”
Traditional finite element analysis (FEA) software suffers from fundamental mathematical mismatches between computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation models. Coreform Flex avoids those mismatches and through direct import and analysis of the 3D CAD representation, significantly reducing the time and effort required to prepare simulation models. This project will focus on improving Coreform’s contact algorithms, making them more robust and scalable for real-world applications.
“We have already demonstrated the feasibility of our approach with a beta implementation that has received positive feedback from industry partners,” said Greg Vernon, Director of Engineering at Coreform. “This grant enables us to take the next step in making IGA-based contact simulation a mainstream technology.”
Coreform has strong support from leading global companies in automotive, nuclear, and defense sectors, where contact simulation is critical for engineering design and validation. By advancing the capabilities of Coreform Flex, this project will help accelerate product development cycles and improve the accuracy of simulation-driven decision-making.
