ANSYS Motion 2022 R1

New functions
This chapter will introduce new functions in the 2022 R1 version.

Postprocessor with Python
The python script is available to extract data from Motion’s result. It enables you to extract every single array of data that you can plot in the Chart window except data that require additional calculation with the result such as a “Simple Math” function. The simulation result of a rigid body, node, and element can be designated by its name or ID explicitly.
Manual & Tutorial document supply more detailed information on how to use, which functions are available, and so on.


Improved Functions
This chapter will introduce improvements of existing entities

Motion

Solving performance

a) FDM Jacobian option
The FDM Jacobian option has been useful for many contact system analyses. It stabilizes the system behavior by minimizing contact force variation. The option has been improved again. When the option flag is turned on, flex to rigid, flex to flex contact solution gets much smoother and faster. The best performance improvement happens when the system has a floating flexible body


b)Solver data structure optimization
The solver data structure has been optimized for a system that has lots of rigid bodies and a few flexible bodies such as a ball bearing. (over 30 rigid body balls and one or two flexible bodies) Therefore, the simulation performance can be getting better.
c) Stepsize control
Motion solver has a variable time step size control capability. If the system seems to be stable, the solver automatically increases the time step size. On the other hand, the time step size is automatically decreased when the solution doesn't be converged within a certain number of iterations.
If the algorithm works too sensitive, the solver has to spend additional time to adjust the step size and it got worse than fixing a maximim value as a lower one. In this version, the algorithm to adjust the time step size has been improved and the number of iterations in solving step reduced and eventually solving time also reduced

External Force

In many cases, nodal force calculated from different simulation must be applied on Motion’s FE structure for a better solution or workflow and the source results must be mapped into Motion if the two structure has different mesh configurations.
The External Force entity enables you to do this easily and conveniently with helping of a user-supplied subroutine. Solver initially constructs mapping data with node position from source solution and uses it for a simulation.
EM force, EHD, Durability functions are based on the mapping method internally and the new function will be used for many other cases.


Hyperelastic material solutions

Tetrahedron(solid4), Pyramid (solid5), Pentagonal(solid6) have generated too stiff solutions for a small number of elements compared to solid8 or its high order element. It means that these types of elements basically required a lot more elements to get an accurate solution.
The convergence tendency has been improved for these types of elements and you can get a more accurate solution with fewer elements.


Joint friction

The friction capability has been expanded for translational & Cylindrical type joint. The friction algorithm supports velocity-dependent friction with several related coefficients and supports a stiction characteristic. The fundamental algorithm for the joint is the same as Revolute Joint’s one but geometry information is referring to its own physical model.


RBE3 memory usage

The required memory for the eigenvalue analysis with RBE3 element reduced up to 80%. Because, it was serious that the memory usage was exponentially increased when eigenvalue analysis was carried out for Motor – Housing structure that requires lots of RBE3 connection nodes.


Improvement of subsystem navigator

By displaying name, color, connectivity information, a subsystem navigator has been actively used to build/check a model. In order to maintain the connection data, the navigator must be updated whenever modification happens. At the same time, the “updating information” cause latency issue when the number of entities exceeds about 1000. Just because of this problem, you needed to wait a few minutes sometime until the subsystem navigator updates the changes completely.
After optimizing the updating algorithm, the performance has been improved just like the below figure. The improvement ratio is exponentially increased and it becomes 2700% when the number of entities reaches 1000.


Solving Progress bar

A simulation progress bar shows the designated result file name at the top of the dialog. It will be useful when multiple simulations are running at the same time. On top of that, you can access the simulation result folder with “Open solver file directory” which will be popped up with the mouse right button click.

Spline

The scale factor for each axis value of spline can be parameterized. You can use design variables for scaling the value and it is available for both 2D/3D spline.An easier way to manage a group of splines is available. The multiple splines can be exported to one file and the importing File option enables you to choose one of the splines defined in the file.

Drivetrain

DT Auto Modeler

The DT Auto Modeler function is saving lots of modeling effort by mapping CAD geometry to the corresponding Drivetrain entity. It reads CAD geometry name and matches to a specific available entity. And then convert the geometry into the matching entity automatically. In the new version, multiple solid geometries can be converted to one entity. Especially for Shaft or Housing usually composed of several solid geometries can be imported as one Shaft or one Housing.

Motor Designer

Set report point function is added. Once it is added, the static correction modes calculation for the reporting points is automatically carried out so that it improves the solution accuracy.By turning on the check button for each desired point, you can simply add a point with high accuracy modal approach.

Tooth Stiffness calculation

The tooth stiffness calculation must be recalculated when a gear specification that has highly contributed is changed. The new version updates the value when it detects changes of major specification.

DOE parameters

The starting position of the shaft and its direction can be parametrized by using Design variables and frames. These parameters are shown in D.O.E simulation dialog and it enables you to do design studies with consideration of offset, misalignment of shaft.


Links

A new way of thin film assembly.

Modeling a system considering the deformed shape of a flexible body usually needs pre-simulation to derive the deformation. It also requires additional modeling not included in a system used to derive the deformation and these additional things make it difficult to build a model as well as carry out a simulation. Sometimes the “deformation deriving” simulation takes longer than the main simulation if your system has more than 100 rollers.
The new links assemble algorithm enables you to do that easily and conveniently. Selecting a series of rollers sequentially and filling in geometry specifications for the thin film is all you need to do. The algorithm assumes that the stretching deformation of the thin film is quite small compared to the bending deformation. So it still requires initial stabilization time before applying operating conditions. But definitely much faster than doing that in a general way.
By doing that way, the initial assembly model can be generated and it helps you to reduce the whole working time until you get a final solution.