What's New in V2012 (March 2011)

Getting StartedHelpAbout identifies the software as

Autodesk Simulation 2012

Build 2012.00.00.nnnn dd-Mar-2011

(where nnnn and dd are set during the final build of the software)

The Getting StartedHelpAbout dialog box title bar indicates whether the 32-bit or 64-bit version is being used.

Performance enhancements

• Implemented various surface-to-surface contact improvements for both linear stress and MES analyses, including changes to smart bonding.
• You can select from different Solution methods when using multi-point constraints (MPCs). See Multi-Point Constraints for more information.
• You can select Loads and Constraints commands on the Setup tab of the ribbon before selecting geometry. The status bar prompts you to select the appropriate type of geometry (surface, edge, and so on). After you select the geometry, input values for the load or constraint. You can still use the previous method of selecting geometry first, then clicking the command on the ribbon or right-clicking in the graphics window and selecting Add.

CAD Interfacing and Meshing

• Autodesk Inventor Fusion is now included with the Autodesk Simulation installation
• Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Inventor Fusion material names now transfer to Autodesk Simulation.
• You can now transfer any CAD model, regardless of the source, from Autodesk Simulation to Inventor Fusion. You can then edit the model and return the updated model to Autodesk Simulation. For details, see Tools Tab.
• AutoCAD mesh surfaces are now supported. See Import CAD Solid Models without CAD Application for details on importing DWG files.
• You can change the parameters of an Autodesk Inventor model within Autodesk Simulation. Once you obtain a suitable design, you can send changes back to Inventor to update the original model. For more information, see Modify Autodesk Inventor Parameters.
• In previous releases, the color of the mesh lines would automatically change to the appropriate color when choosing SelectionSelectPart, Surfaces, or Edges, or when choosing ViewOptionsLayer Control. Now, you must change the colors by using ViewAppearanceColor By.
• Improved functionality of the Meshing Results dialog box for diagnosing mesh problems.

Linear Stress

• Improved Reaction Forces calculation when using smart bonding.
• New settings available for Centrifugal loads. The rotation axes are no longer restricted to the global directions, and you can specify a different axis for angular rotation and angular acceleration.
• Corrected an issue associated with the time units in centrifugal loading. Previously, the results were incorrect if the model units of time were not seconds.
• Added surface pin constraints to simulate the interface between a cylindrical hole and shaft. See Pin Constraint
• Added two new types of contact: Slide / No Separation and Separation / No Sliding. To apply a contact between parts or surfaces, select the geometry, right-click, and choose Contact.
• You can now account for residual stresses in injection molded parts when you simulate the parts with Moldflow Insight. You can also use the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion in Autodesk Simulation based on the results from Moldflow - both Adviser and Insight.

Mechanical Event Simulation (MES) and Nonlinear Static Stress

• Converted from simulated tetrahedron element (degenerated brick) to true tetrahedron element to provide better performance and improved accuracy. Legacy models set to Tetrahedron element types now show as Brick element types when you open the model. To use the more accurate tetrahedron element, switch the element type.
• Changed the default integration order for brick and tetrahedron elements to 2nd Order (was 3rd Order). In the tree view, right-click Element Definition and select Edit Element Definition to view the Integration Order.
• Tied contacts, used to simulate bonded contact between surfaces that contain unmatched nodes, have been improved. For more information about tied contacts, see Tied Contact under Surface-to-Surface Contacts: Options
• New settings available for Centrifugal loads. You can now include angular accelerations, and specify a different axis for angular rotation and angular acceleration.
• Corrected an issue associated with the time units in centrifugal loading. Previously, the results were incorrect if the model units of time were not seconds.
• Improved surface-to-surface contact.
  • When you set the Contact Element Updating Parameter to Never and the Maximum initial distance is zero, contact elements cannot exceed a length of two times the maximum element size. Previously, element length limitations were not imposed due to zero initial distance.
  • More accurate results when using automatic contact stiffness and kinematic elements and nonlinear materials.
    Note: When you neglect strain in a part, using kinematic elements can result in a faster analysis.
  • Better convergence when using a nonlinear material model. Applies to any of the von Mises, thermoplastic, or thermal creep viscoplastic material models.
• Added surface pin constraints to simulate the interface between a cylindrical hole and shaft. See Pin Constraint
• You can use multiple threads/cores, during more of the analysis, resulting in faster solve times. Previously, you could only use multiple threads/cores during the solving of the matrices. You can set the Number of threads/cores to use on the SetupModel SetupParametersAdvanced SettingsOther tab.
• Tetrahedral elements do not work with the fracture analysis. Use brick elements instead.
• Under Options or ToolsApplication Options, on the Analysis tab, Use large displacement as default for nonlinear analyses is now selected by default.
• You can now account for residual stresses in brick elements when you simulate Moldflow parts.

Other

• Updated the user interface (UI):
  • Added the command ribbon interface and set it as the default operating UI to expedite using and learning the software. You can view and change this UI setting under OptionsGeneral Information tab. Tooltips are available for commands in the ribbon, but tooltip complexity varies. Many command tooltips display two levels of text and an image, while some tooltips only display the command name.
  • Updated icons graphics and terminology in the browser for consistency with other Autodesk products. The following are examples of the updates to the right-click context menu:
    • Added Collapse and Expand All Children
    • Changed Modify to Edit
    • Replaced Show/Hide with Visibility
    • Replaced Activate/Deactivate with Suppress
  • You can pause the cursor over items in the browser and the corresponding object in the graphics window highlights. Conversely, you can pause the cursor over objects in the graphics window and the corresponding browser item highlights.
  • Added the Quick Access Toolbar above the ribbon. The Quick Access Toolbar provides access to many of the commonly used commands, and you can easily add your favorite commands to the Toolbar. You can also position the Toolbar above or below the ribbon.
• Some command names have changed. Examples include:
  • Elastic Boundary Elements is now 1D Spring Support (Linear stress, Setup tab)
  • Rigid Boundary Elements is now 3D Spring Support (Linear stress, Setup tab)
  • Displacement Boundary Elements is now Prescribed Displacement (Linear stress, Setup tab)
  • Boundary Conditions is now General Constraints (Linear stress, Setup tab)
  • Boundary Filter is now Constraint Visibility (Linear stress, Results Options tab)
• Added the Look At tools to the Navigation bar.
• Added Reverse View to ViewOrientation.
• Moved Selection and Highlight controls from ToolsApplication OptionsFEA Editor tab to ToolsApplication OptionsGraphics tab under Highlight and Selection. Also, added a setting to control pre-highlight behavior when you pass the mouse over objects.
• You can now interface with Autodesk Vault using the Vault add-in.
• Added dynamic licensing. If you have access to multiple licenses, the license with the fewest features is used for the analysis type chosen. If a different analysis type that requires the higher license is chosen, the lower license is released and the higher license is consumed.

Learning Solutions

• You can access help documentation, Essential Skills videos, and other learning solutions on our Autodesk Simulation Wiki site. To access the online Wiki from the ribbon, click Getting StartedHelpOnline Wiki Help. Create a user account and contribute your own questions and solutions to our learning community.
• Tutorials and tutorial models are no longer installed to your local machine. To access the tutorials online through the ribbon, click Getting StartedHelpTutorials. You can download the tutorial models from our online Data & Downloads page.