In the latest release of its simulation suite, ANSYS has stacked the deck with a wealth of functionality intended to address what it sees as the key challenges around engineering -- that is, how to make do with less, how to deal with ever more complex and multidisciplinary systems, and how to take advantage of increasingly available, low-cost hardware to boost efficiencies when simulating and iterating designs.
One of the key areas of enhancement in ANSYS 14.0 is automation and simplification of typically user-intensive CAE operations, with the intention of helping engineers minimize time spent setting up problems. In this area, ANSYS has done a number of things. In its Workbench platform, which essentially serves as the glue between its different tools, the upgrade supports enhanced customized workflows so it can be adapted to the way a particular engineering group works. There are also additional tools for managing engineering simulation data across teams.
ANSYS 14.0 introduces a number of features that allow the user to control various components of the finite element model within the mechanical environment. All connections such as constraint equations, spiders, or weak springs can now be visualized.
Meshing, which can be a highly complex part of the process, particularly in the area of fluid dynamics, has been simplified in ANSYS 14.0, with new automation capabilities, including the ability to extract fluid volume from CAD assemblies to generate structured Cartesian meshes or unstructured tetrahedral meshes, depending on the application. In that same vein, simulating composite structures can present some difficulties for many users. To address that, ANSYS 14.0, via Workbench, is now tightly integrated with the Composite PrepPost tool so users can define the pile structure for composite materials and have that data be tightly coupled with the rest of their structural simulations.
"With ANSYS 14.0, there is not as much manual interaction with the software," Barry Christenson, ANSYS's director of product management, tells Design News. "Some of the more manual and mundane tasks are now done automatically by the software." Another example: There are now additional automated algorithms and weighting options intended to facilitate the exchange of data from one mesh to another without having to do manual imports.
The simulation of complex, multidisciplinary systems is another area ANSYS is targeting with this release. Consider all the work being done in advancing battery design. In this release, there is a new ANSYS Fluent cosimulation link with ANSYS's Simplorer product that lets engineers analyze battery systems without discounting nonlinear behavior of the fluid system. There is also a two-way electromagnetic coupling with stress analysis -- an integration that Christenson says lends itself to applications in the automotive, aerospace, and power industries.
The third major area of improvement is in the area of smart solver management enhancements, including architecture-aware partitioning, so that ANSYS software can more readily take advantage of high-performance computing power. Support on this level means the simulation suite is better suited for handling very large, complex systems. "This supports the idea that engineering organizations are simulating more complex products," Christenson says. "There's a need for greater computing resource to solve these problems. Organizations can't afford to wait around for a week or two to get results."
Given the state of the economny, it seems everyone these days has to "make due with less." Beth, can you elaborate a little more on how this pertains to ANSYS 14.0?
One of the key areas of enhancement in ANSYS 14.0 is automating many of the steps required to build out a simulation and create a mesh. In that vein, by simplifying the steps involved and by cutting down the time it takes to create a complex simulation, ANSYS is making the case that you're reducing the labor burden associated with simulation efforts. As result, they'd argue, engineers can take less time to perform simulations, thus allowing them to move on to other development tasks. At the same time, you can have the same number of engineers performing more simulations, which which ultimately leads to better product, but without chewing up more of your resources.
Usually in situation like this, the word is that time-saving tools allow engineers to work on other priorities. Even vendors don't want to say this will allow companies to cut the staff. But improved productivity typically adds up to smaller staffs.
No, I don't think any one would make the case that adoption of ANSYS 14.0 could lead to downsizing. I think Rob is right to point out that by making the simulation process easier and more efficient for engineers, they can spend less time on labor-intensive, somewhat manual tasks and focus on real engineering work in the hopes of improving products or perhaps working on new products. By doing so, there is an argument to be made that the enhancements are helping companies optimize their engineering resources as opposed to having to hire new engineers to do the same work. That help clarify?
If I read this correctly, the strength of the new release is templatization of common tasks. I'm guessing that this is almost a necessity as more features are folded into CAE programs. With ANSYS, given its fluid dynamics heritage, I'm assuming there's an added speed gain -- or rather, less fumbling around during the setup portion of your runs -- if you can automate/templatize common stuff. Is there a separate version for use with HPC (supercomputers) and if so are these same features available?
Templatization of common tasks is a good way to put it, Alex. I think you're right about less fumbling around and more importantly, the streamlining and automating of tasks that are not only time-intensive, but oftentimes out of reach for any one other than those specialists that really know their way around these complex CAE packages.
As for your question on a separate version for HPC platforms, I don't think that's the case. I believe that this release has some capabilities which allow it to take advantage of HPC processing horsepower for solving some of the more complex problems. But there isn't a separate release specifically tuned for HPC computers.
Jennifer, Generally this is not the case. I have extensive experience in this area, and as others have said, the reality is that the company has more resources to apply to other areas. This may be an expanded product line, or pursuing a whole new product line. More efficient CAD and CAE tools also allow more iterations and allows the exploration or more scenarios. You might also consider that simulation is not design. We do simulation to verify and refine designs.
Beth, you're a good writer. I hope that this article was written to meet a truly stringent deadline. First, the Gunning Fog Index for the article as a whole is 16.16. The score for the first paragraph alone was 32.77. I did the scoring because I found myself re-reading the article a number of times to absorb the information.
Second, the phrase is "make do," not "make due." The persons who commented didn't catch this because the average engineer wouldn't—it's not their field of interest.
Please understand that I'm not attacking or knocking you, your knowledge, or your usual writing skills. I'm merely presenting some facts and a possible attitude slip for your consideration. I AM a fan of yours.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Labs have observed a reaction in lithium-air batteries that could help improve the design of these cells for electric vehicles and other applications.
Healthcare might seem to be an unlikely target application for the Internet of Things technology, but recent developments show small ways that big-data is going to make an impact on patient care moving into the future.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
2 
