OVERVIEW

This was the second release of Project Simulus, which is a free* technology preview that showcases a number of innovative approaches to mechanical simulation.

This technology preview offered powerful geometry modification capabilities through embedding Autodesk Fusion along with a very intuitive simplification environment to prepare various CAD models for different simulation studies. In addition, it expanded the capabilities of our previous release on several fronts, including more simulation capabilities such as Buckling and Fatigue analysis, shell meshing for thin parts, integrated Decision Center for quick viewing and validation of various results, support for Autodesk 360 viewing, automated adaptive meshing, more loading options, mesh preview capability, and a number of other enhancements for viewing of the results.

This version focused on the following simulation capabilities for Inventor, SAT and STEP based models:

• Linear static stress offering a variety of contact types, loading, and constraint options
• Modal frequencies and mass participation factors
• Steady state thermal offering temperature, heat flux, convection, and radiation type loadings
• Thermal-stress coupling
• Buckling
• Fatigue

Other areas of interest included:

• Integrated geometry creation and editing
• Associative model simplification and sharing across different simulations
• Intuitive and flexible simulation creation and management
• Ability to mesh very thin structures through automated mid-surface extraction and shell meshing - mixed models combining solid and shell mesh easily generated
• Robust results viewing and post-processing
• Visual Compare environment to view two result types and/or design variations side by side through synchronized viewing option
• Ability to interactively work within the simulation environment while studies are being computed on the cloud
• Quick visualization of under-constrained parts of the assembly
• Integrated Decision Center to quickly view, compare, and validate important results values from any set of simulation studies
• Automatic quality control to obtain the desired accuracy through adaptive mesh refinements
• Convenience of closing the application while the results are being computed on the cloud and reconnect to them at a later time
• Save/access simulation documents to/from the cloud

Former users of the technology preview should check out the simulation capabilities of Autodesk 360. For existing users, the technology preview will operate until January 1, 2013.