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Sensors give COSMOSWorks users the ability to save consistent locations
for results extractions. |
A lot of
impressive changes have cropped up in the newest version of COSMOSWorks®
software , the SolidWorks integrated analysis tool. With 60 new enhancements,
COSMOSWorks 2007 proves once again you don’t have to be an expert
to run complex analysis problems.
It isn’t possible to cover all enhancements in this short space,
so this article focuses on the highlights. (Please note that all the
enhancement listed here are included in all three COSMOSWorks bundles:
Designer, Professional, and Advanced Professional.)
Without further delay, here they are, in order of significance (#1 being
the most earth shattering), the top ten enhancements of COSMOSWorks
2007.
1. Optimize assembly meshing
A good mesh is the key to a good analysis. When first announced in COSMOSWorks
2006, Adaptive Analysis worked only on parts. Now it works on assemblies.
The feature uses h-adaptive technology (h being the size of the mesh
element) to increase the number of elements in regions of higher stress
concentrations. “Generally, it requires a lot of time and experience
to come up with the right mesh for a model,” says Mike Marcu,
engineering specialist at Trojan Technologies, a company that makes
UV water treatment solutions. “But now COSMOSWorks finds the right
mesh for you, even on assemblies, and this is a huge advantage.”
2. Turn weldments into beam elements
It can take a lot of time and computer resources to solve weldments
as solid elements. A more efficient way is to use beam elements. Weldment
Analysis, a new feature in COSMOSWorks 2007, automatically converts
long thin structural members into beam elements. The system also automatically
detects the joints that connect individual structural members—one
of the biggest challenges when using beam elements with a solid model.
You can apply loads and support conditions at these joint locations.
3. Monitor critical areas with sensors
It’s important to understand how a model responds to changes in
geometry. COSMOSWorks 2007 enables you to place virtual sensors in predefined
locations throughout your model. “These sensors give you an instant
feedback of the stress or deformation in specific areas so you can see
in what direction you needs to go with a design,” says Marcu.
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The new Bearing Connector aids users in calculating a better response
on parts supported by a bearing. |
4.
Customize analysis plots and folders
In previous releases, COSMOSWorks generated standard plots for each
type of analysis and put them in folders in the FeatureManager tree.
In the 2007 release, you can customize the default folders and the plots
you want. For example, a novice user may only want to create plots for
vonMises stress and critical factors of safely, while an advanced user
might want to create a set of detailed plots for himself and different
sets for a manager or client. “With this feature I can avoid drilling
down to separate folders to access my results,” says Bryan Solace,
senior engineer at Hillman Group.
5. Duplicate bearing behavior
As an extension of the Virtual Connector features introduced in 2004,
a new Bearing Connector allows you to replace a physical bearing with
a virtual one in order to duplicate the behavior of the bearing. Bearings
can be difficult to represent in analysis, because you have to represent
each and every point on the bearing with nodes, bar elements, and beam
elements. Using Bearing Connector, you simply indicate if the bearing
is attached to the face or the shaft, specify stiffness, and COSMOSWorks
does the rest.
6. Split faces automatically
If you’ve ever had to include bolts in your analysis, you know
what work it can be. COSMOSWorks 2005 simplified bolt analysis with
virtual Bolt Connectors. COSMOSWorks 2007 simplifies bolt analysis even
further with Automatic Face Splitting.
A single
flange can include eight or more bolts, and in the past, you had to
create split lines for each bolt. Often these split lines resulted in
invalid mates in SolidWorks. COSMOSWorks 2007 automatically projects
the bolt and nut diameter area onto the faces, freeing from the time
consuming task of creating a split line for every bolt on the face of
a part.
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COSMOSWorks 2007 performs the task of splitting bolt head surfaces
internally to make it easier than ever to create bolt connectors.
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7. Mesh only a piece of the pie
Another time saver in 2007 is a feature called Cyclic Symmetry. It allows
you to take one segment of a circular pattern (think spokes on a bike
wheel or blades on a propeller) and automatically repeats it around
the pattern. Rather than meshing the entire pie, you only need to specify
what faces are the boundary and the software does the rest of the work
for you.
8. Deal with the weight of things
When you include a vendor-supplied part in your assembly model, you
typically don’t need to run an FEA on the part. What matters is
whether the frame you designed will support the engine you bought. A
new Remote Mass feature in COSMOSWorks enables you to treat purchased
parts as mass only. The system considers the effect of the engine weight
on the frame but won’t mesh or produce a stress plot for the engine.
“Remote Mass enables me to include purchased components without
meshing them,” says Solace at the Hillman Group. “This saves
considerable time for my analysis.”
9. Simulate more springs
Spring Connector is a part of Virtual Connectors. Originally, the feature
simulated springs that exerted both tension and compression. Spring
Connector is now enhanced to handle two other types of springs: tension
only and compression only, so you can indicate, for example, that a
certain spring exerts no force during compression. What’s more,
you can now define springs between cylindrical faces or between two
points or vertices.
10. Drag that color chart
Now in COSMOSWorks 2007 when you want to move the color chart out of
your way, you can simply drag it to a new position on the screen. Before
you had to go through several mouse clicks. In addition, dragging the
chart activates the dialog box so you can redefine the legends on the
fly without using the RMB functionality.
Other changes in the program
One other new feature in COSMOSWorks worthy of mention (think of it
as #11 in the top ten) is that you now can capture FEA, motion, and
fluid analysis results in SolidWorks Animator. This enables you to can
create nifty AVI files that show your colorful analysis model as it
rotates, explodes, and collapses. You can send these movie files in
eDrawings as well.
Overall, changes in COSMOS 2007 are significant. The new release continues
along its path of making design validation easier for both the expert
and the not-so-expert user.
Learn
more about these and other enhancements in COSMOSWorks 2007
For ongoing web training on COSMOSWorks and FEA, check
out Vince Adams new COSMOS Companion series on the web.
