Bentley Systems, Inc. (Exton, Pa., www.bentley.com) announced today that it has acquired the SACS business from Engineering Dynamics, Inc. SACS is an integrated finite-element, structural-analysis suite of programs that provides for the design, fabrication, installation, operations and maintenance of offshore structures, including oil platforms and wind farms. Virtually all of the world’s energy companies specify SACS software for use by their engineering firms across the lifecycle of fixed offshore platforms, says Bentley.
SACS complements Bentley’s integrated structural analysis and design offerings, including STAAD, RAM, ProSteel, and Bentley Structural Modeler. Bentley CEO Greg Bentley said, “With respect to Bentley’s strategy to realize the potential of information modeling through integrated projects for high-performing intelligent infrastructure, offshore structures provide an important opportunity. With increasing demands for offshore resource exploration, requirements for even better safety are obviously paramount. While capabilities such as those provided by SACS are essential for these engineering challenges, the construction and operations challenges also invite integration with Bentley’s market-leading offerings for pipe stress analysis, construction simulation, and operations information modeling.”
SACS consists of multiple integrated modules that enable engineers to dynamically generate any type of offshore structural system using templates or free-form modeling tools. The model can then be subjected to environmental loads, such as waves or marine growth, and investigated for various “what-if” scenarios, including the effects of fatigue, collapse, ship impact, transportation, and installation. To accommodate the various soil conditions involved in shallow and deepwater exploration, SACS also offers a comprehensive solution for the design of advanced foundation systems. John Fowler, who co-founded Engineering Dynamics in 1973, was formerly the company’s president and is now a Bentley consultant.