This section highlights the new features and enhancements in Autodesk Nastran 2018. Note, this list is not necessarily comprehensive. There may be other changes to the software that are not outlined here.
New Features
- Performance Improvement: Efficient utilization of system memory instead of the system hard drive should result in performance improvements for all analysis types.
- Topology Optimization: The topology optimization support has been expanded to include Linear Steady State Heat Transfer, Normal Modes, and Linear Buckling analyses.
- Objectives and Constraints: The available topology optimization objectives and constraints have been expanded for the new analysis types. This includes both design and manufacturing constraints.
- Database Restart: A new database only restart option has been added. When you set the RESTART directive to DATABASE and run a model specifying the Nastran Model Input File, the model database is automatically saved. When restarted, whether with the DATABASE directive or with the .NDB extension on the Model Input File, it is restarted bypassing the Model Translator module using the existing database. Only the Model Translator module is skipped.
- DMIGADD: The DMIGADD Case Control entry has been modified to use all of the scale factors embedded in the DMIG label.
- Conforming Design: You now have the ability to run different solution types simultaneously to achieve a single, conforming design.