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Key Features of ALGOR V22
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As a major software release, ALGOR V22 provides significant upgrades in all areas:
modeling, simulation and results evaluation and presentation.
New and improved features include:
expanded support for 64-bit systems, now including pre-processing (FEA Editor environment) and post-processing (Results and Report environments);
open channel flow analysis, involving a free surface between a flowing fluid and a gas above it;
a multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory Linux systems;
damage analysis for 2-D plane stress elements;
and tools for automatically calculating and applying
remote loads to a stress model.
V22 also includes:
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Expanded support for 64-bit systems -
Pre-processing (FEA Editor environment) and post-processing (Results and Report environments)
now run as 64-bit applications on a 64-bit operating system.
Thus, physical memory above 2 GB can be utilized, which allows larger models to
be defined and reviewed faster than ever before.
(Previously, only the solvers could access more than 2 GB of RAM.)
A model created on a 64-bit system can also be opened on a 32-bit system
since the file formats are identical.
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Open channel flow -
Unsteady fluid flow analysis can now simulate open channel flow involving a free surface between a flowing fluid and a gas above it.
Typical applications include marine systems, drainage systems and liquid column gauges.
In such flows, the liquid and the gas are clearly separated, not interpenetrating (mixing), and the density ratio between them is quite large.
Flow is generally governed by the force of gravity and inertia.
Due to a low density and negligible viscosity, both the inertia and the viscous force of the gas are negligible,
and the only influence of the gas is the pressure acting on the interface.
Hence, the region of gas need not be analyzed, and the free surface is calculated as a boundary with constant pressure
(for example, zero pressure by totally ignoring the air effect).
As shown here, open channel flow analysis was used to simulate the flow of water inside a u-shaped manometer.
In this type of liquid column gauge, the two ends of the tube are exposed to different pressures
and the resulting difference in fluid height provides a measurement of the applied pressure.
The model display shows color-coded contours of volume of fluid.
In the background, a graph shows fluid nodal velocity versus time, illustrating how the fluid levels oscillated to equilibrium.
To see an analysis replay, click here.
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MUMPS-based distributed memory solver - ALGOR V22 provides a new
multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory
processing (using several computers to solve the analysis) on Linux
clusters.
The MUMPS sparse solver provides faster solution times and is available for the following analysis types:
- Static Stress with Linear Material Models
- Static Stress with Nonlinear Material Models
- Mechanical Event Simulation (MES) with Linear or Nonlinear Material Models
- MES Riks Analysis
- Steady Fluid Flow (3-D)
- Unsteady Fluid Flow (3-D)
In the near future, this solver will also be available on Windows clusters.
As shown here, the "Analysis Parameters" dialog is used to specify the MUMPS sparse solver.
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Damage analysis -
V22 introduces damage analysis for simulating the onset and growth of damage in elastic-brittle orthotropic materials
using 2-D plane stress elements. The damage model is primarily intended
for simulating fiber-reinforced composite materials.
The damage model describes three phases of the material's response:
1) the undamaged material response, which must be linear elastic;
2) the damage initiation; and
3) the progressive damage growth.
The damage in materials is characterized by the degradation of the material stiffness.
Four different failure modes are considered:
- fiber rupture in tension;
- fiber buckling and kinking in compression;
- matrix cracking in transverse tension and shearing; and
- matrix crushing in transverse compression and shearing.
The image shows a tensile test analysis of a composite-material specimen that is constrained appropriately and pulled in the Y direction.
Color-coded contours of damage energy density show that the highest values occurred at the pulled end.
A results graph of stress in the Y direction versus strain shows that the stress increased until it reached a value where damage initiated
and, thereafter, the material's load-bearing ability decreased to zero.
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Remote loads -
A new software wizard can automatically calculate and apply remote loads to a stress model, such as a torque load to simulate twisting.
The remote load can be any item (such as a force, moment, boundary condition, temperature and more) that
can be added to a node. Using the wizard, the user specifies a point in space
(that is, a point not on the model) where the remote load will be
applied.
The wizard then generates line elements that connect the point in space
to selected nodes on the model.
The user defines the properties of the line elements as beam, truss or similar line elements.
The remote load is then transmitted through the line elements to the model.
Since the remote load command generates new geometry and a node at the point in space, the user can add any number of additional objects at the new point.
The image shows an assembly model with a moment load that was specified at a remote location above the model.
The remote load wizard generated line elements (shown in light blue) from the location of the remote load to selected surfaces
in order to apply a clockwise torque load on the model.
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Improved beam modeling -
In Mechanical Event Simulation, when using a "General" section type for beam elements in which the cross-section is "built" by decomposing the cross-section to "strips",
a preview of the cross-section is shown in the "Element Definition" dialog.
As shown here, the preview window allows the user to see the shape as the input is entered.
Additionally, the new "Variable Cross-Section Wizard" can generate a
series of beam elements of linearly varying cross section to simulate a
tapered beam. Each beam element will have a different cross-section
dimension based on interpolating the two user-specified end dimensions;
that is, the wizard creates a "stepped beam" that approximates a tapered
beam. Any user-defined shape (rectangle, wide-flange beam, channel,
pipe and more) whose dimensions can be entered in the normal cross-section
library dialog can be used for the variable cross-section.
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Improved default meshing - V22 provides a new option for generating a finite element mesh based on CAD geometry,
which results in fewer overall elements and an optimized mesh size for each part of an assembly.
This improved meshing technology is specified by the "Use automatic geometry-based mesh size function" option on the "Model Mesh Settings: Options: Model" dialog,
and it is the default for new models.
This single control governs multiple aspects of the surface mesh that previously would have required the user to set up multiple inputs.
In general, it automatically refines the mesh in the areas of curved surfaces.
The previous default meshing method, which generated a uniform mesh size on all parts, is still available.
As shown in the image, using the new meshing method, each part of an
assembly will have an optimized mesh size, which results in fewer
overall elements than the previous meshing method while maintaining accuracy.
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Mesh studies -
A new "Mesh Study Wizard" will automatically mesh a CAD model at different mesh densities,
run a linear static stress analysis and display a graph of the results versus the mesh size.
Performing a mesh study can help the user to determine the optimal mesh density required to get accurate analysis results for a CAD model.
As shown here, when a mesh study completes, a graph of the result versus the mesh size will be created.
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Improved PV/Designer - V22 provides several improvements to
PV/Designer, ALGOR's tool for pressure vessel design, including:
- Support for conical heads and reducers
- Ability to create a zero-length main cylinder, such that the vessel consists of two heads connected together (e.g., a spherical vessel)
- Automatically sets the element type in the FEA Editor based on the type of vessel created (plate/shell or brick)
The image illustrates
how
complex vessels are easy to create with PV/Designer:
A) Nozzle on head - A flange is added to the end of the nozzle.
B) Head on cylinder - A tapered "additional length" is added between the elliptical head and the cylinder.
C) Flange on cylinder
D) Main cylinder with multiple nozzles - The cylinder is tapered. One nozzle is tapered and has a head.
The head has a nozzle. An elliptical orifice exists on one side.
E) Flange on cylinder
F) Head on cylinder - An additional length is added between the conical head and the cylinder.
G) Nozzles on head
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Flow rate results -
For fluid flow analysis, ALGOR V22 calculates the volumetric flow rate
through each face. Use the "Results: Flow Rate" command in the Results environment to view the results.
Positive flow rates are fluid entering the elements.
The image shows a display of color-coded contours of flow rate inside a ball
valve model. In the background, a graph of flow rate versus time tracks
the history.
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