DesignSpace R6.0 New Features

DesignSpace 6 introduces even more analysis capabilities while maintaining the easiest-to-use operability in its class of engineering tools.

Parametric Simulation

Parameters were introduced in CAD systems about 10 years ago and quickly proved that parameterized modeling offered numerous time-saving benefits. Using parameters, many design alterations can be accomplished by simply changing the value of the parameter. The software then automatically updates the model ’s geometry. However, simulation packages traditionally have never offered this same feature to users. Until now... DesignSpace 6 now brings parameters to the up-front simulation process. This innovation gives DesignSpace true bi-directional associatively with many leading CAD packages. Multiple design criteria can be easily entered using the DesignSpace interactive Parameter Manager table. With just one click of your mouse, DesignSpace automatically processes these parameters back through the CAD package, where the model automatically regenerates. Once regenerated, any altered model is seamlessly processed back through DesignSpace, where a new series of solutions is generated. From components to assemblies, and even through to complete systems, DesignSpace allows you to optimize your 3-D CAD environment into a complete virtual product development system.

Fatigue Analysis

Fatigue analysis allows users to evaluate their product’s performance for its expected lifetime under the anticipated loading conditions. The fatigue analysis capability introduced in DesignSpace 6 simulates many common load conditions such as fully-reversed, zero-based, ratio and load history. Results can be displayed in terms of life, damage, factor of safety, and many other common methods. Users also can define stress-life curves for all of the materials in their libraries or very easily create new materials.

Shell analysis

DesignSpace 6 introduces the ability to perform simulation on surface models an efficient way to analyze thin parts such as sheet metal or thin plastic injection-molded parts. After the CAD software generates a surface (or “mid-plane”) model, DesignSpace reads the geometry as it would a solid part and displays the results as a solid representation of the surface model.

Nonlinear contact

The DesignSpace 6 assembly simulation capability has been updated to include contact with separation representing non-linear contact conditions on assemblies like side-load bolted connections, gear teeth, multi-layer materials, and many more. True to the DesignSpace philosophy, the contact assembly process at the element level is completely automated so the desired contact conditions are applied to each mating part without user interaction.