This is our second blog on the new features in Simcenter latest release. We will continue such blogs in future as we do for Femap. New feature release is a continuous process throughout the year. Usually these features are released in patches as Simcenter 2021.x where x =1,2,3 etc. We are not mapping functional feature with the patch number. However, the latest patch number includes all the new features for given release. This blog covers Siimcenter 3D materials, Multiphysics and durability enhancements.

• Moldflow integration

Simulation of parts made of short fiber reinforced polymers require random orientation of fibers from the injection molding process. These fibers add directional stiffness to the structure and cannot be approximated with isotropic material. Simcenter can now import results of injection molding from Moldflow and Moldex3D files for accurate stiffness estimation of such parts.  

• Visualization enhancement for damage

It is now possible to visualize progressive failure of models based on crack initiation and propagation. The homogenous material cracking as well as inclusion matrix debonding are supported.

• Enhanced material models

The structural material models now have temperature as an additional field variable to support variation of elasticity, poisson’s ratio and thermal expansion with temperature. Ceramic matrix composites exhibit temperature dependent properties. These material models are compatible with crack propagation or damage modeling.

• Durability Democratization

Simcenter now offers durability specialist application for an expert who selects methodologies, defines load scenarios and implements new methods. At the same time, for the non-expert, Simcenter offers use of templates and wizards that are developed by experts and can be deployed enterprise wide.

• Thermal Fatigue

With temperature as field variable, it is now possible to define temperature based SN and eN curves for fatigue. From steady state thermal FE analysis, it is possible to import spatially varying temperature data in Simcenter durability. The structural FE analysis is used to create stress cycles which when combined with temperature dependent SN/eN curves provides fatigue life estimates. The common applications are in turbomachinery and exhausts.

Thermo mechanical fatigue is a specific situation in which large thermal cycles lead to structural cycles. Previously, user could study only worst case scenario applied to whole model. Now Simcenter 2021.2  can read  temperature dependent stresses from coupled FE analysis and apply special methods for high cycle based fatigues such as mufflers and seam welds. Low cycle and creep fatigue will follow soon.

• Post processing for duty cycles

In T&M industry, the entire fatigue cycle consists of multiple load blocks. It is often desired to estimate various fatigue parameters per block such as damage, stress amplitudes and factors of safety. Accordingly analyst can predict which loading even causes maximum damage. Such load block based outputs are now available in Simcenter 3D.