ANSYS releases real-time multi-physics simulation platform

Multi-physics software developer, ANSYS, has released its Discovery Live platform, which allows engineers to make changes to a CAD model and have the simulation updated in front of them, instantaneously. The new level of interactivity means that the physical results of a design change can be seen as they are being made, bringing a new level of intuitive engineering capability.

The company insist that the assumption that multi-physical simulation programs are only for specialist engineers or PhDs is outdated, and plan to get simulation in the tool box of every engineer by 2020, up currently from the estimated 1 in 6.

Instead of taking days, months or weeks to set up, run and analyse digital prototypes with traditional engineering simulation solutions, Discovery Live allows engineers to immediately examine the impact of their design changes. Users can pose what-if questions upfront in the design process to rapidly explore thousands of design options and receive immediate feedback – enabling the user to digitally explore the impact of changes with results updating immediately.

For the first-time, engineers can rapidly explore design options and receive instant and accurate simulation results with new cutting-edge technology that can be run on most standard laptops. The only upgrade that might be needed is the graphics card.

“We've rewritten, from the ground up, the classic simulation algorithms to run natively on the GPU architecture, and that’s what gives you the speed,” said Mark Hindsbo, ‎vice president and general manager at ANSYS. “And it's not some insane graphics card, it’s a modern 4GB NVidia graphic card with a number of CUDA cores to run on.”

Discovery Live supports fluids, structural and thermal simulation applications – enabling engineers to experiment with design ideas and see instant feedback. Users can run an analysis first approach as they design – enabling them to iterate with a 3D model and interactively explore the impact of simple and complex changes.

“The tool allows us to use multiple physics and the results are practically instantaneous, so we can get answers to the quick ‘what-if’ studies very quickly – helping us engage more people in simulation with the ultimate goal of moving faster,” said Bob Tickel, director of structural and dynamic analysis at engine developer, Cummins. “We are committed to analysis-led design and I believe that Discovery Live will propel us forward faster in this area.”

The Ansys Discovery Live platform is currently available today for technology preview and is available for download at: www.ansys.com/discovery/