Reduce Your Dependence on Multiple Solution-specific Tools for Each Type of Analysis

Typically, companies use one tool for motion problems, another tool for fluid dynamics, and yet another for structural dynamics. NX Lifecycle Simulation offers a single advanced simulation environment that provides solutions for all of these sophisticated analyses, leveraging a common modeling environment, and eliminating the need for external data transfers to link analyses together.

Using integrated NX Nastran and Multi-Physics solvers, as well as design-integrated multi-body motion simulation, NX is capable of solving all your analysis requirements in the following domains:

• Structural
• Thermal
• Flow / CFD
• Response Dynamics
• Multi-physics
• Optimization
• Multi-Body Dynamics

Structural

NX structural solutions are powered by NX Nastran. For over 30 years, Nastran has been the analysis solution of choice in almost every major industry including aerospace, defense, automotive, shipbuilding, heavy machinery, medical and consumer products for the following types of analyses:

• Linear Analysis
• Advanced Nonlinear Analysis
• Rotor Dynamic Analysis
• Dynamics

Thermal

NX thermal analysis solutions are fully integrated into the NX environment, and are ideal to simulate thermal and heat transfer for complex products and processes within large assemblies. NX thermal solutions offer high fidelity simulation of radiative, conductive and convective heat transfer, and can also be used with NX Flow solutions for coupled thermo-fluid simulation.

Basic and advanced thermal solutions capabilities include:

• Thermal and heat transfer simulations
• Radiative, conductive and convective heat transfer
• Advanced radiation effects
• Diurnal environmental solar heating
• Electrical (Joule) heating
• Material phase changes
• Thermal ablation
• Charring and duct flow heat transfer
• Vertical industry solutions

Flow / CFD

NX offers complete computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions that are fully integrated into the native NX environment. NX provides sophisticated tools to simulate fluid flow and heat transfer for complex parts and assemblies. The integrated CFD solution allows fast and accurate fluid flow simulations and provides insight into product performance during all design development phases, limiting costly, time consuming prototype testing cycles. Applications range from underhood automotive simulation to HVAC systems, aerospace drag/lift computations, nuclear power component cooling and much more.

NX Flow/CFD solutions include:

• Internal or external fluid flow including compressible flows
• Non-newtonian fluids
• Particle tracking
• Motion and multiple rotating frames of reference
• Vertical industry solutions

Response Dynamics

Predict dynamic responses of structural systems under various loading conditions. NX Response Simulation produces a broad range of XY plot results and color contour results that aid the user in determining the integrity and suitability of product designs subject to dynamic loads. Analysis information can then be used to perform design studies to enhance the new product development process and ensure the quality of designs prior to physical prototyping and production.

Multi-physics

NX’s heat transfer modeling capabilities can be explicitly combined with the NX’s fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions to allow a user to simulate strong and fully-coupled thermo-fluid interactions problems. Resulting temperature results can also be mapped to a separate Nastran finite element model for coupled thermo-elastic analysis.

Optimization

Optimization is used to refine a part’s design to meet specific design and constraint criteria. NX includes a powerful size and shape optimization engine which designers or engineers can harness directly from within the NX environment. Direct use of NX or imported geometry features as design variables through the power of Synchronous Technology allows for easy modification of optimized results to be incorporated into true design changes.

Multi-Body Dynamics

The early use of performance simulation is key to the evaluation of design options. It increases design confidence and reduces risk, thus enabling transformation of the design process. NX provides an advanced yet simple-to-use solution that allows designers and engineers to understand, evaluate and optimize the complex motion behavior of assemblies and products. All geometric models are supported, from simple sketch to complex assemblies, allowing top-down and bottom-up approaches, and it supports models from multiple commercial CAD sources via JT™ or by other direct translation capabilities. Users can rapidly evaluate multiple (and concurrent) design alternatives at all phases during the design process within a consistent NX interface.

Solutions and capabilities include:

• Dynamic, static and kinematics motion simulation
• Joints, springs, dampers, motion drivers, applied forces, contacts and bushings