MSC Software Corp., Newport Beach, Calif., announced the new release of Marc 2013.1 which provides engineers with faster nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) with new modeling options and increased ease of use. Performance improvements that take advantage of the modern multi-core processors are implemented. This may be used in conjunction with domain decomposition (DDM) and/or the parallel solution of equations of motion. When combined with DDM, this method provides two levels of parallelism: one at the domain level and one at the assembly level, enabling both designers and analysts to achieve improved productivity.
Tests show 5-8 × faster element loop computation time and 4 × faster total wall time for models with over 500,000 degrees of freedom on multi-core processors. With the rapid growth in the usage of elastomers, it is important to understand their complete nonlinear behavior and damage accumulation.
- Three new models represent the behavior of anisotropic incompressible materials such as rubber belts and biological materials. These models provide higher accuracy in simulations of reinforced elastomers.
- The Marlow model for elastomers was enhanced to be used with the Bergström-Boyce model and with frequency dependent damping. The model may now also use experimental data based upon a pure shear test. These extensions provide additional flexibility in the choice of material models available to users in modeling of elastomers.
- Frequency dependent material models were expanded to support orthotropic behavior which may be encountered in composite materials, providing improved physics based damping for frequency response simulations.
Gaps and overlaps of contact bodies can occur either due to discrepancies in the original CAD file or during the mesh creation process, which can lead to non-realistic interaction between components. Users can now account for any initial gaps or overlaps in a contact analysis to obtain accurate stress results. This is valuable in design, because the dimensions of parts can be modified without the need to update all of the assembly.
Mentat, the user interface of Marc, was improved further for ease of use. Enhancements include:
- New Model Browser that enables the user to visually observe the contents of model. This allows users to quickly validate the contents of the model. It allows users to quickly move to different menus saving modeling time and improving efficiency.
- ACIS geometry engine has been replaced with Parasolid geometry engine allowing for better interoperability with a broader range of CAD systems, and improved integration between Marc’s user interface and other MSC products.
- A new meshing capability enables quality lower and higher order tetrahedral element mesh creation on solids, easily and efficiently.
Other enhancements include Arrhenius shift function for modeling viscoelastic materials such as plastics, a permanent magnet that can be defined in element or preferred material system, crack propagation based on a fatigue model (Paris law), or a user-defined direct model, and trimming capability that simplifies removal of material by representing trimming tools with rigid surfaces.
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