Understanding how a product will behave in the real world, requires a multidisciplinary approach. MSC Software is committed to providing you with an enterprise level solution to improve time-to-market, ensure right-to-market, and reduce overall product development cycle time. MSC Software's suite of core products cover the full spectrum of engineering analysis from linear, nonlinear and explicit nonlinear to computational fluid dynamics, fluid system interaction, and more to help you overcome even the most challenging product development hurdles.

Engineering Products

MSC Software offers bundled solutions for solving complex problems, such as static and transient nonlinear analysis, implicit nonlinear analysis with contact for highly nonlinear deformation problems, and explicit nonlinear analysis for problems involving crush, crash, drops, and dynamic motion analysis.

ADAMS

When designing a mechanical system such as an automotive suspension or an aircraft landing gear, you need to understand how various components (pneumatics, hydraulics, electronics, and so on) interact as well as what forces (noise, vibration, and harshness) those components generate during operation. Adams is a motion simulation solution for analyzing the complex behavior of mechanical assemblies. Adams allows you test virtual prototypes and optimize designs for performance, safety, and comfort, without having to build and test numerous physical prototypes.

Starting with basics

Adams is a family of interactive motion simulation software. A core package (Adams/View, Adams/Solver, and Adams/PostProcessor) allows you to import geometry from most major CAD systems or to build a solid model of the mechanical system from scratch. A full library of joints and constraints is available for creating articulated mechanisms. Once the virtual prototype is complete, Adams checks the model and then runs simultaneous equations for kinematic, static, quasi-static, and dynamic simulations. Results are viewable as graph, data plots, reports, or colorful animations that you easily can share with others. You can use the results (loads created from different types of motion) of Adams simulation studies to provide loads for many different FEA programs including Nastran to optimize the structure of a design.

Tailoring Adams to your specific needs and industry

You can start with the Adams basic package and from there choose from a wide range of extension modules, including Adams/Control to analyze control systems, such as hydraulics, electronics, pneumatics, and more; Adams/Flex to examine the impact of flexible parts; Adams/Linear to calculate natural frequencies and mode shapes of large systems. Adams also offers a range of modules tailored specifically the automotive, aerospace, and rail industries. These modules include templates for building simulation design. Several CAD interface modules allow you to explore the motion of CAD designs without having to leave a familiar CAD interface or transfer data into Adams.

Adams Benefits

•Work in a secure virtual environment, without the fear of losing critical data due to instrument failure or of falling behind schedule due to poor weather conditions, common elements that accompany real-world testing.
•Reduce risk by getting better design information at every stage of the development process.
•Analyze design changes much faster and at a lower cost than physical prototype testing requires.
•Improve product quality by exploring numerous design variations in order to optimize full-system performance.
•Vary the kinds of analyses being performed without having to modify physical instrumentation, test fixtures, and test procedures.

Adams Applications

•Understand the operation of flight control systems in order to improve system safety and ensure compliance with FAA requirements.
•Predict the impact of vibration on the driver of an automobile, airplane, or train in order to design for optimal comfort and minimal vibration and harshness during operation.
•Support machinery manufactureres in modifying existing designs to increase operation speed while reducing vibration.

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Dytran

A ship runs aground, a cell phone drops off a table, gasoline sloshes in a gas tank and explodes. These are events that happen very quickly and involve permanent structural damage or the interaction of fluid and structure. You need to design products to hold up, but real world testing may be expensive or impossible. You can’t build a oil tanker and then run it aground to check for oil spills, for example. But you can use Dytran to simulate the behavior of small to extremely large assemblies in disastrous events, such as a drop, an impact, a shake, or a blast, to examine what might cause a product to fail.

Dytran is an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) solution for analyzing complex nonlinear behavior involving permanent deformation of material properties or the interaction of fluids and structures. Dytran enables you to study the structural integrity of designs to ensure that final products stand a better chance of meeting customer safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements.

Combining simulation technologies

Only a multi-discipline solution offers the most accurate results. Dytran combines structural, material flow, and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis in a single package. Dytran uses a combination of Lagrangian and Eularian solver technology to analyze short-duration transient events that require finer time step to ensure a more accurate solution. You can apply Dytran to problems that have a high degree of material nonlinearity (foam, rubber, and large deformations in metal), large geometry nonlinearity (buckling, crippling, and cracking), and extreme boundary nonlinearity (a structure folding over onto itself.)

Adding custom solutions

Depending on your specific needs, you can purchase additional modules to work inside the Dytran interface. An optional LS-DYNA module allows you to simulate complex assemblies (such as an entire airplane hull) in high performance computing environments. An Dytran Underwater Shock Analysis (USA) module allows you to run Dytran with third party USA boundary element code for underwater shock FSI to examine, for example, how a naval vessel responds to shock waves from an underwater explosive. Dytran also supports coupled analysis with third-party occupant safety modeling programs such as the Articulated Total Body code, so you can study the safety occupants when a car crashes into a side rail.

Dytran Benefits

•Obtain detailed insight into the dynamic explicit nonlinear behavior of real-world problems.
•Improve overall design quality by understanding the effects of design changes.
•Optimize the structural integrity and performance of products to meet safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements.

Dytran Applications

•Simulate an automobile or airplane crash to optimize a the structure for occupant safety.
•Optimize designs of baffles and separators in automotive fuel tanks to reduce noise levels caused by fluid motion.
•Determine the collapse characteristics of the main lift frame of a helicopter in vertical crash simulations.
•Understand how a consumer product design (cell phone or remote control) holds up during a drop or fall to the floor.

Application Briefs

Simulation of an compartmented airbag deployment
Simulation of Under Water Explosion Using Dytran

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Easy5

In the aerospace and automotive industries, engineers often assemble products schematically using special iconic blocks that represent systems and subsystems, such as valves, actuators, heat exchangers, and so on. Easy5 is a schematic-based simulation software that allows you to model and simulate dynamic systems containing hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and digital subsystems.

Work with libraries of ready-made parts

So that you can model and simulate a variety of dynamic systems quickly and easily, Easy5 comes with an extensive library of pre-built components sorted by industry. In Easy5, you model systems using functional blocks (summers, dividers, wave generators, and so on) and pre-defined components that represent physical elements (pumps, gears, engines, and so on). You can also link to entire system designs in computer-aided engineer software.

Access powerful analysis tools

Another powerful aspect of Easy5 are its analysis tools, which allow you to do nonlinear simulation, steady-state analysis, control system design, data analysis and plotting. Easy5 generates the source code automatically to support real-time requirements. An open architecture provides links to a broad set of popular computer-aided engineering software and hardware tools.

Easy5 Benefits

•Evaluate designs in advance of traditional CAD-intensive design methods to reduce the risk of not getting it right the first time.
•Design products faster with application libraries of pre-built components targeted to specific industries.
•Improve collaboration by using Easy5 direct link to other popular simulation tools, such as Adams and MATLAB/Simulink and data exchange capabilities with structural analysis tools such Nastran.

Easy5 Applications

•Hydraulic, propulsion, power train, IC engine and hybrid vehicles.
•Control, pneumatic and mechanical.
•Fuel, electron and thermal.
•Flight dynamics, HVAC/ECS, gas dynamics and multiphase fluid.

Easy5 Modules

Easy5 Application Libraries
Easy5 Library Developer Toolkit
Easy5 MATLAB Interface
Easy5 Matrix Algebra Tool

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Marc

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a critical part of the virtual design process. But because most FEA programs are linear, they can only study parts that deform a small amount, certainly not enough to deformation to exceed the linear elastic range of the materials.

But Marc has no such limitations. A nonlinear FEA program, Marc enables you to assess the structural integrity and performance of parts undergoing large permanent deformations as a result of thermal or structural load. The types of deformations the program can study include geometric nonlinearities (metals bending) and material nonlinearities (elastomers and metals that yield under structural or thermal loading). You can also use Marc to simulate deformable, part-to-part or part-to-self contact under varying conditions that include the effects of friction—critical for analyzing nonlinear behavior in tool-and-die set-up, spring coil clash, or a windshield wiper system.

And whether you are designing with glass, rubber, steel, or concrete, Marc offers an extensive library of metallic and non-metallic material models, along with a library of 175 elements for structural, thermal, and fluid analysis.

Combine with pre- and post-processors

You can drive all Marc products through the common GUI offered by Patran or Marc Mentat, two pre- and post processors that work with Marc. Mentat also provides the unique ability to process large problems in parallel using the domain decomposition technique. Loading conditions can originate from physical tests or virtual tests using Adams. MSC Software AFEA is a bundled version of Patran and Marc.

Marc Benefits

•Simulate real-world problems involving contacts and nonlinear material effects.
•Reduce the time and cost required to get your new products to market by using simulation instead of the traditional build-and-break process.
•Increase your confidence in the final product by virtual testing it under all conceivable loading conditions

Marc Applications

•Manufacturing Processes: metal-forming, welding, cutting, bending, extruding, fastening, crimping, tooling, component assembly
•Metallic Structures & Components: cables and wires, plates, panels, frames, sheets, rods, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), biomechanical stents and other implantable surgical devices, mechanical-hydraulic connectors
•Elastomeric Materials & Components: rubber, plastic, gaskets, seals, hoses, belts, shock absorbers, vibration-isolation mounts and bearings, bushings, tires, constant velocity (CV) joint boots, windshield wipers, weatherstripping
•Contacting & Self-Contacting Parts: tire-to-wheel rim, gasket-to-engine block, seal-to-door, gear tooth-to-tooth, CV boot self-contact, struts, axles, connectors, crimps, fasteners, snap-fit mechanisms, child-safety caps, electromechanical connectors
•Load-Carrying Analyses: buckling, creep, cracking, failure and safety analysis
•Coupled Thermal-Structural Interactions: engine block components, disc brakes, radiators, heat sinks, glass forming, nuclear plant pressure vessels and piping, gas turbine components

Application Briefs

When F is not = Ku : An Introductory Guide to Nonlinear Analysis
Nonlinear FEA of Elastomers Technical Paper

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MSC Nastran

MSC Nastran is a powerful general purpose finite element analysis solution for small to complex assemblies. A proven and standard tool in the field of structural analysis for over four decades, Nastran provides a wide range of modeling and analysis capabilities, including linear statics, displacement, strain, stress, vibration, heat transfer and more. What's more, Nastran can handle any material type from plastic and metal to composites and hyperelastic materials.

Add new modules as you grow
Because MSC Nastran is actually a family of tightly integrated analysis modules, you can purchase exactly what you need. You can start with a basic configuration that allows you to perform linear and buckling analysis. Later, you can add additional MSC Nastran modules for heat transfer, dynamics, spot welding, aeroelasticity, and nonlinear analysis. Modules such as MSC Nastran Design Optimization and Topology Optimization and DMAP (a toolkit for creating custom solutions that work with proprietary applications) speed work by enabling you to customize analysis routines.

Work within a completely integrated environment
MSC Nastran is closely linked with the pre-processor prost-processor Patran. A wide range of third-party CAD programs also offer direct interfaces to MSC Nastran, giving you a completely integrated modeling and simulation environment to work within.

MSC Nastran Benefits

•Simulate how a design behaves under real-world conditions without having to build costly physical prototypes.
•Obtain accurate results on design behavior with a multi-disciplinary approach that accounts for several physical interactions at the same time.
•Start off with MSC Nastran Basic and then add additional MSC Nastran modules (nonlinear, thermal, and so on) as your analysis needs grow.
•Increase your confidence in your final product design by virtually testing a design under all conceivable loading conditions.
•Minimize time spent on manual data transfers by using Nastran, a product well-integrated with MSC Software's other simulation tools, as well as many third-party solid modeling programs.

MSC Nastran Applications

You can use MSC Nastran to determine the following:

• Strength, durability and vibration assessment of various structures such as aircrafts, car, trucks, or a train
• Structural dynamic response simulation of loads that vary with time or frequency
• Modal based analyses and NVH solutions of large systems such as in automotive and aerospace vehicle systems
• Simulation of interior acoustics for sound pressure inside a bounded domain
• Static and transient analysis of structures involving material and geometric nonlinear behavior and nonlinear boundary condition
• Advanced heat transfer analysis with contact including conduction, convection and radiation to understand the effect of temperature fluctuations in consumer electronic devices such as television or cell phone.
• Automated thermal followed by structural analysis
• Analysis of structures with rotating components
• Include the effects of aeroelasticity on structures
  
• Combined topology, sizing and shape optimization of structures with manufacturing constraints

MSC Nastran Modules

MSC Nastran Basic Package includes:

• Linear Statics
• Normal Modes
• Buckling
• Connectors
• Dynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Adams integration
• Unlimited Model Size
• Direct Matrix Abstraction Programming (DMAP)

MSC Nastran Advanced Package adds:

• Aeroelasticity I
• Dynamic Design Analysis Method (DDAM)
• Shared Memory Parallel (SMP)

MSC Nastran Basic Package is a prerequisite.

MSC Nastran Nonlinear Complete adds:

• Nonlinear
• Marc Translator
• Implicit Nonlinear
• Implicit Nonlinear Shape Memory metals
• Implicit Nonlinear Hemi Cube View Factors

MSC Nastran Basic Package is a prerequisite.

Complementary MSC Nastran Modules:

• Distributed Memory Parallel (DMP)
• Automated Component Modalule Synthesis (ACMS)
• Acoustics (Interior)
• Aeroelasticity II
• Design Optimization
• Krylov Solver
• Rotor Dynamics
• Superelements
• Topology Optimization
• User Modifiable Nastran
• Implicit Nonlinear Multi-Processor

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Patran

Patran is the leading pre- and post processor for CAE simulation. The program’s advanced modeling and surfacing tools allow you to create a finite element model from scratch. You can also take advantage of Patran's advanced CAD access tools to work directly on your existing CAD model. With direct access, Patran imports model geometry without modifications. No translation takes place, so your CAD geometry remains intact. After geometry is imported, you can use Patran to define loads, boundary conditions, and material properties.

Using Patran with MSC and third-party solvers

Once your finite-element model is complete, you can submit it for structural analysis. Patran offers complete integration with MSC Software analysis solvers, including Nastran and Dytran. What’s more, an open architecture allows you to completely integrate Patran to work with in-house or third-party analysis programs.

Displaying graphical results

As a post-processor, Patran quickly and clearly displays analysis results in structural, thermal, fatigue, fluid, magnetic terms, or in relation to any other application where the resulting values are associated with their respective finite elements or nodes.

Patran is the de-facto standard for linking design, analysis, and results evaluation in a single, seamless environment.

Patran Benefits

•Reduce cost by replacing physical testing with less expensive digital simulation
•Standardize on your modeling environment with access to multiple solver technologies
•Customize your modeling environment to fit your simulation process

Patran Benefits

•Reduce cost by replacing physical testing with less expensive digital simulation
•Standardize on your modeling environment with access to multiple solver technologies
•Customize your modeling environment to fit your simulation process

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Sofy

Sofy is a finite-element (FE) modeler that allows you to capture, create and deploy robust, standardized finite-element processes throughout your organization.

A variety of modules in Sofy allow you to capture standard finite-element processes or to program your own custom processes. The ability to pre- and post-process finite-element models automatically increases overall productivity and eliminates the need to constantly check and recheck the modeling methods.

An intuitive set of tools and technology in Sofy enable you to quickly and effectively generate, manipulate and manage complex finite element models. Sofy supports linear, non-linear, and transient post-processing for finite element analysis.

Sofy Benefits

•Enhance productivity in the CAE process through creating and deploying consistent processes.
•Achieve immediate and high ROI on process automation projects
•Get quick feedback on the effect of design changes with morphing capability
•Set high quality standards for finite element modeling
•Stay ahead of the competition with state-of-the-art finite element simulation

Sofy Applications

•Capture and automate your finite-element modeling processes to eliminate tedious manual steps and increase productivity as well as the consistency of computer-aided engineering.
•Design finite-element processes using blocks of functions in the SOFY VRADE module. Once you design a process, the VRADE automatically publishes it to the SPRINT utility for testing and deployment.
•Check the quality of your finite-element models with the Model Data Quality Manager (MDQM) module, which checks mesh and model quality for connections, mesh topology and other attributes.
•Export a completed finite-element model to Nastran, DYNA, RADIOSS, ABAQUS or PAMCRASH for solving and then post-process using SOFY.
•Position a dummy in a vehicle with it hands on the steering wheel and seatbelts on for crash analysis using the optional SOFY Dummies Positioner module.

Sofy Module

Sofy Acoustics
Sofy Advanced Geometry
Sofy Developer
Sofy Intro
Sofy Intro to Standard Upgrade
Sofy Standard

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