ANSYS Launches new products

Citation

(2002), "ANSYS Launches new products", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774bab.012

ANSYS Launches new products

Keywords: Software, Technology, Simulation, Aircraft

ANSYS, innovator of simulation software and technologies aimed at optimising the product development process, recently announced the launch of ANSYS 6.0, a comprehensive software suite to address varied simulation and analysis needs.

ANSYS 6.0 is said to empower engineers and analysts with a robust design simulation and virtual prototyping solution to support and streamline the product development process. ANSYS 6.0 has enhanced virtual product simulation capabilities designed to minimise costs and improve time to market by allowing all necessary structural, thermal, electromagnetic and fluid-flow design tests to be conducted within a virtual environment. Product teams can reportedly better determine the real-world behaviour of 3-D product designs, including the effects of multiple physics for added accuracy and product reliability.

"Today, incorporating design and virtual prototyping into the product development process is critical," stated David Barry, sales and marketing director of ANSYS in the UK. "ANSYS 6.0 further enables companies to minimise costs and decrease time-to-market by allowing the most complete design tests to be conducted in a robust virtual environment."

The new ANSYS 6.0 suite claims a number of enhancements to provide engineers the necessary tools to design, test and verify products under real-world conditions. Usability is key for the end user, and the ANSYS 6.0 suite offers enhanced functionality. A new Probabilistic Analysis Method Wizard is said to simplify the determining process for the appropriate probabilistic analysis method, and a Shell Section Builder eases the definition of layered composite elements.

Furthermore, a Variable Viewer that integrates time and history variables into one comprehensive interface has been added. This addition is believed to greatly simplify the post-processing of these variables.

ANSYS 6.0 provides an extensive array of nonlinear elements to handle complex assemblies. The nonlinear capability allows analysis of stresses, temperatures, displacements and contact pressure distributions on component and assembly designs.

To enhance solution speed, ANSYS 6.0 added a Symbolic Assembler – an algorithm with faster ordering – and the introduction of a parallel version of the Sparse solver routines across all computer platforms. These enhancements to the solver capabilities is thought to reduce global matrix assembly time for the following analysis types: Static, Transient, Modal, Cyclic Symmetry, Buckling, Harmonic, Spectrum, and Mode Superposition.

Products in the ANSYS 6.0 Software Suite include: ANSYS/Professional, ANSYS/ Structura, ANSYS/Mechanical, ANSYS/ Emag, ANSYS/LS- DYNA, ANSYS/ FLOTRAN, and ANSYS/ MultiphySiCS.

ANSYS, has also announced the introduction of AI*Workbench, a new application development platform. AI*Workbench is the first of ANSYS.' new AI*Solutions advanced technology suite.

AI*Workbench is a new application development platform designed to bring customised simulation solutions and Web collaboration to the product development process. The platform allows the creation of simulation templates and related applications that seamlessly interface with and improve product development efforts.

Gordon Willis, chief executive officer of Vulcanworks, Inc., commented, "Vulcanworks selected ANSYS. as a global technology partner for its AI*Workbench solution and the open architecture environment that it supports. This flexible simulation technology platform fully integrates into our existing development infrastructure, enhancing our speed-to- market." Vulcanworks, Inc. develops and deploys an advanced engineering environment to streamline the product development process for leading manufacturers in the automotive industry.

AI*Workbench provides infrastructure and support services required for application development, integration, and configuration. The platform includes extensive data access framework, graphics with user interface interaction mechanisms, and native CAD data access and bi-directional CAD associativity with a high level of reliability.

Additionally, AI*Workbench contains common graphics, user interface, scripting and data transfer mechanisms, a GUI framework and controls, integration ability for third-party or acquired technologies into the framework, parameter management, and part interface management tools for large3-D assemblies, as well as environment modelling tools for loads/boundary conditions. The platform also supports powerful and robust meshing technologies and supporting tools such as mesh controls and adaptive meshing, post-processing and assessment tools.

"AI*Workbench provides a customisable platform with unparalleled flexibility and open. architecture." stated Dr. Joseph S. Solecki, chief technologist at ANSYS "A parameter change in other simulation environments could involve as many as 10 steps, but with applications built within AI*Workbench, design analysis iterations are implemented in one simple step. As the only platform built specifically for design and analysis within a Web-based environment, the AI*Workbenchbased application program is easy to use and ensures excellent CAD interoperability and parameter management, as well as multiphysics system-level simulation."

A third product recently launched is the AI*EMAXTM, a state-of-the-art high- frequency electromagnetic analysis solution for the electronics industry.

AI*EMAX combines the ANSYS expertise in simulation analysis with the ingenuity of ICEM CFD Engineering technology for pre- and post-processing to provide a robust solution aimed at the electronics engineer involved in the design of RF/microwave passive components and circuits, electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC), antenna design, and object identification.

The product claims an easy-to-use graphical user interface, a powerful internal modeler with automatic meshing tools, powerful ANSYS. solvers, and robust post- processing capabilities enhancing design speed and flexibility. AI*EMAX also claims Direct CAD plug-ins for Catia IV, Pro/ Engineer and SolidWorks that enable users to build and prepare models within their CAD environment to be exported to AI*EMAX for meshing. The solution also produces a batch-input file and database compatible with ANSYS/Multiphysics used to simulate coupled physics phenomena such as RF heating.

"ANSYS. has developed a comprehensive offering for the electronics industry that provides the best meshing, solving, and post- processing tools in one solution, greatly increasing user speed and flexibility," stated David Barry. "The application of computational tools combined with the ANSYS. technology makes this solution a true industry innovation. We are confident that electronics engineers will come to relyon this tool to enhance their design processes."

AI*EMAX reportedly provides full visualisation of the electromagnetic field/ wave in the finite element modelling space. Automated post-processing calculations provide electric and magnetic field intensity, quality factor, scattering matrix parameters, voltage, current, impedance, radar cross section, far and near electromagnetic fields beyond the modelled domain, antenna patterns and Joule losses.

Details available from: ANSYS Europe, Tel: +44 (0)1189 880 229.