What's New in V2017 (March 2016)

This document highlights new features included in Autodesk® Nastran® In-CAD 2017 and provides information that is useful while using this software. Note that this list is not necessarily comprehensive. There may be other minor changes to the software that are not enumerated here.

User Interface

• The Physical Properties command and browser (model tree) node have been renamed Idealizations to better reflect their broader usage. Element types, physical properties, assigned materials, and concentrated masses are listed in the model tree within the Idealizations branch. Additionally, the following related changes have been implemented:
  • The Properties panel has been removed from the ribbon.
  • The Materials and Idealizations commands have been moved into the Prepare panel of the ribbon.
  • Physical properties and materials of elements are listed under three separate subgroups within the Idealization branch of the browser—Solids, Shells, and Beams.
  • The command to add or remove features (idealizations, contacts, concentrated masses, or connectors) has been moved. You now access this capability by right-clicking the Analysis node and choosing Add/Remove Entities from the context menu.
• When you define an Offset Surface, it automatically is added to the Shells group under Idealizations. The thickness defaults to twice the offset distance, and you can specify a different thickness within the Offset Surface dialog.
• An option has been added to selectively exclude CAD model parts from the Nastran analysis. The new command, Exclude from Analysis, is located within the context menu that appears when you right-click an individual part listed within the Assembly branch of the model tree.
• You can now specify values in numeric input fields using alternative units. For example, if your model is in English units but you know a dimension in millimeters, you could type "3.75 mm" in the input field. Similarly, if your model is in SI units but you know a dimension in English units, you could type "0.75 in" into the input field.
• You can now type basic formulae into numeric input fields within applicable dialogs. For example, if you want to apply a load that is one-fifth of a known magnitude (say 275 N) plus twenty, you could type "275/5+20" in the input field. This input would be evaluated as a 75 N load.
• A menu of Object Visibility options has been added to the Display panel of the ribbon. This feature provides a more convenient means of controlling pre-processing and post-processing object visibility (such as CAD Bodies, Offset Surfaces, Concentrated Masses, Constraints, Loads, Mesh Controls, Probes, Undisplaced Edges, and more). The list of options is context-sensitive. Items not applicable to the current viewing mode (pre- or post-processing) are filtered from the list. Options are grouped so that deactivating a high-level option (specifically, CAD Bodies or All FEA Entities ) deactivates all of the individual related options is a single operation. You can also separately control individual visibility options within a related group of options.
• The Model Tree (browser) and Autodesk Nastran ribbon tab have been updated with new icons.
• The total node and element counts appear in a new location within the browser. Previously Nodes and Elements were listed within the Mesh Model branch. They are now at the top-level of the Analysis branch (not in a sub-branch) and appear immediately following the Units node.
• The ribbon and browser are now sensitive to whether analysis results are currently loaded or currently being displayed. Individual commands, entire ribbon panels, and browser nodes are selectively hidden or shown depending on the current pre- or post-processing context, simplifying and enhancing usability.
• In all dialogs where you can select faces (such as Loads, Constraints, and Mesh Controls), you can now choose to select a chain of tangent faces in a single click. To do so, right-click in the Selected Faces or Selected Entities box and activate the Face Chain option in the context menu. Then, click a face on the model. That face and any faces that are tangent to it are selected. The selection continues to propagate until an edge is reached where the adjacent face is not tangent. You can deselect individual faces within a chain selection without deselecting the tangent faces and without having to deactivate the Face Chain option.
• The Chinese Traditional language is now supported in addition to the previously provided languages.

Meshing

• You can now apply Mesh Controls to selected parts within an assembly in the same manner as you previously applied them to selected vertices, faces, or edges. Previously, you had to define part-based element sizes using the Mesh Table.

Loads

• You can now specify the coordinates of the load location for Remote Forces. Choose the Coordinates option from the Remote Force Location drop-down menu. Global and local coordinate systems are supported.
• You can now specify the coordinates of the rotation origin for Rotational Forces. Choose the Coordinates option from the Origin drop-down menu. Global and local coordinate systems are supported.
• Bearing Loads applied to solid entities are now always directed into the material, except for the axial (thrust) component.
• For Force loads, the Total Load option is now only available when multiple entities are selected.
• Coordinate Systems are now displayed when you access the Load dialog to edit an existing load.

Connectors

• The creation of Rigid Body connectors has been enhanced. The program can now automatically create the independent node at the center of the selected surfaces, edges, or sketches). Activate the Point at Center option under Independent Vertex/Point in the Connection dialog to do so.

Results (Post-Processing)

• Grid Point Force Balance results are now supported in dynamic analyses.
• A mini toolbar has been implemented to make choosing results to plot and specifying plotting options much more convenient. This mini toolbar appears near the upper left corner of the display area whenever you view any result type. The toolbar consists of the following four sections:
  • General Result Data selector: Choose Displacement, Stress, Reaction Force, and more.
  • Specific result Type selector: Examples are TOTAL or ALONG Y-AXIS (for displacement), BEAM VON MISES STRESS, SOLID XY-SHEAR STRESS, and many more.
  • Units selector: Quickly change the contour plot legend to show result values based on an alternative unit system.
  • Plotting options: Accesses the Color Plot Options dialog. From here, you can control rendering and color options, levels, the size and position of the legend, and the font (typeface)and font size.
• The solver no longer outputs zero-rotation and zero-moment results for elements with no rotational degrees of freedom. For many models, this change also reduces the size of the Result Data drop-down menu within the Contour Options tab of the Plot dialog. The rotational and moment options are eliminated from the menu when not applicable.
• Contents of the Type drop-down menu within the Contour Options tab is now filtered based on the physical properties present in the model. For example, only SOLID result types are listed for solid element models, and only SHELL stress results are listed for shell element models. This filtering operation significantly reduces the size and complexity of the menu for many models.
• When displaying certain discrete results (such as COMP MAX PLY FAIL INDEX), the plot settings automatically change to present the results more clearly. The changes are as follows:
  • Discrete colors are displayed on the model and in the legend, not continuous (gradually changing) colors.
  • The number of colors and tick marks in the legend are identical, with the labels and tick marks centered on each color block.
  • Text labels replace numeric labels on the legend where applicable. For example, Failed or Not Failed labels replace numeric (integer) status indicators.
• The color scheme is now inverted for Fatigue Life contour plots. The areas with the longest life are now blue, and the areas with the shortest life are red.
• Settings specific to the Safety Factor Plot have been added to the Default Settings dialog.
• A Probe can be anchored to the model by clicking at the desired location. Each time you click on the model, a persistent probe is added. Click the new Delete Probes command in the Results panel of the Autodesk Nastran ribbon tab to remove the anchored probes.
• You can click and drag the text box of an anchored Probe to reposition it. Deactivate the Probes command to do so, otherwise a new probe is created where you click.
• The associativity between an analysis and its results has been significantly enhanced. Previously, the name of the results files (*.FNO) defaulted to the model filename. You would have to specify a different name for models with multiple analyses defined, to prevent other results from being overwritten. Now, a unique identifier is automatically assigned to each analysis along with the associated FNO filename. Additionally, whether you enable the Load Results Automatically option or manually execute the Load Results command, the filename associated with the current analysis is specified automatically. The following related changes have also been implemented.
  • Results files are placed in subfolders within the folder(s) containing the CAD assembly and part files.
  • If both Inventor Simulation (AIP) and Nastran In-CAD analyses have been performed on the same model, the results of each are placed in AIP and In-CAD subfolders, respectively.
• The performance has been enhanced when switching between different deformation and results contour plots. The transition is now smoother, more efficient, and faster.

Inventor CAD Model and Simulation Support

• Support has been added for Structural Members created in the Inventor Frame Generator. The default idealization for such members is Beam elements, though Solid idealizations are also supported. Structural members having the same cross sectional properties are combined under the same idealization.

  You can switch between the two types of idealizations for Frame Generator members using the Structural Member dialog. Click the Structural Member command in the Prepare panel of the ribbon. Beam and Solid idealizations are listed separately, and you can move frame members from one list to the other to change the type of idealization. You can also delete a beam listed under the CAD model node in the browser to convert a member to a Solid idealization.

• Midsurface and offset surface data specified within the Inventor Stress Analysis environment is now imported into your Nastran In-CAD analysis.

Licensing

• Cloud based licensing support has been added for Autodesk Subscriptions.