The Wind loads simulation option allows you to simulate a wind flow around your structure, and generate wind loads automatically.
You can simulate and generate wind loads directly in Robot, or you can export your structure to Autodesk Simulation CFD if the program is installed on your machine.
Wind flow simulation and automatic generation of wind loads in Robot
Robot uses the Autodesk Simulation CFD technology to simulate the air flow around your structure.
This wind simulation technology acts as a wind tunnel, and enables you to visualize colored pressure maps on your model in order to understand the effects of the wind even with complicated structures.
The program uses the flow simulation results to trigger the automatic load generation at the best moment. However, you can click the Generate Loads now button to stop the simulation and start the load generation process immediately.
To let the program decide of the best moment to generate the loads, you can set a convergence threshold for the deviation factor. When the simulation results converge and this threshold is reached the loads are generated automatically.
You can now specify whether to apply pressure as an average load for a panel or as a load map with relevant finite element mesh. By not selecting an average load, you can obtain an image of pressure maps on finite elements. This is particularly useful for wind load generation on curved geometry buildings such as silos.
Several wind parameters are available such as the wind direction, wind velocity, and wind pressure. You can also specify the ground level, and the elements that are exposed to the wind.
By default, the wind direction is set in the global coordinate system and in the positive X direction.
Exporting to Autodesk Simulation CFD
If you want to perform an advanced fluid analysis, and Autodesk Simulation CFD is installed on your machine, you can export your model to Autodesk Simulation CFD.
Once exported, the model automatically opens in Autodesk Simulation CFD.