MSC Apex
Unified CAE Environment for Virtual Product Development
MSC Apex is the world’s first computational parts™ based CAE system that will serve as the platform for a broad range of physics and applications that MSC Software will introduce over time. MSC Apex transforms the way engineers perform simulation by reducing critical CAE modeling and process time from days to hours. The platform delivers innovative technology that enables predictive product development in the earlier stages of design where it is critical in saving time and money.
KEY FEATURES
MSC Apex is a built-from-the-ground up fully integrated and generative simulation environment
With a paradigm shift away from traditional pre-solve-post point solutions, users can leverage the same user experience to carry out end-to-end simulation workflows with full associativity between geometric and analysis data, including fully generative behavior to ensure that all aspects of the model are consistent and up-to-date following design changes.
MSC Apex is powered by a CAE specific direct modeling and meshing engine that accelerates the CAD to Mesh process by a factor of up to 50x
CAD geometry is not suitable for analysis and geometry repair/improve and meshing operations are tedious, error prone, and take too long. MSC Apex™ features a complete set of direct modeling tools to make geometry clean-up and idealization steps fast and easy. These features provide dramatic productivity improvements for engineers.
MSC Apex is enabled with integrated solver methods which allow the user to interactively validate parts and sub-subsystem models, yielding up to 10x productivity gains in model preparation
The traditional process for validating a Finite Element (FE) model is iterative and time consuming involving repeatedly submitting jobs and interpreting solver cryptic warning/error messages. The generative behavior of MSC Apex is fully leveraged to incrementally validate the evolving model and remove the many time consuming iterations inherent in the old pre-solve-post paradigm.
MSC Apex™ is the world’s first Computational Parts™ based CAE system, allowing:
- Individual users to incrementally run analysis of complex assemblies, enabling rapid trade studies
- Groups of users to exchange mathematical models in/through the supply chain without compromising Intellectual Property (IP)
MSC Apex is a Parts & Assemblies Model Representation centric solution allowing supply chains to share a unique product structure while independently managing instances of parts, sub-systems, full assemblies, and their corresponding multi-fidelity behavioral representations. This enables each person in the overall product development workflow to finally have the right data.
MSC Apex offers a unique, fun and easy-to-use experience making it possible for non-CAE experts to learn the software in a single day. This new user interface approach allows for a 10x reduction in tools. Built-in video tutorials, workflow instructions and at-mouse guidance make it easy for engineers to quickly learn and become productive at simulation.
CAE specific direct modeling and meshing solution that streamlines CAD clean-up, simplification and meshing workflow
MSC Apex Modeler is a CAE specific direct modeling and meshing solution that streamlines CAD clean-up, simplification and meshing workflow. The solution features sophisticated and interactive tools that are easy to use and easy to learn.
Direct Modeling – Direct modeling allows users to create and edit geometry interactively. Simply select the entities of interest, such as a face, edge or vertex, and push, pull, or drag to implement any modifications. Direct Modeling is complemented with built in meshing technology.
Direct Modeling and Meshing – For models that have already been meshed and require further geometry modification, use any of the Direct Modeling or Geometry Clean-up/Repair tools and the mesh will be immediately regenerated.
Easy to Use, Easy to Learn – MSC Apex was designed to have multi-purpose tools so as to make the application easy to use. It also features numerous learning aids such as tutorials, video based documentation, workflow and at-mouse instructions which promotes single day productivity.
Direct Modeling and Meshing Workflow
Remove numerous & unnecessary features
Specify feature type, such as chamfers, holes and cylinders. Then define feature dimension ranges, and automatically remove targeted features from the model.
Interactively extract midsurfaces
Automatically or manually perform midsurface extraction. Options include: auto offset, constant thickness, distance offset, and tapered midsurface.
Repair surfaces with direct modeling
Select an edge or vertex and interactively drag it to a desired location. Guidelines provide a preview of the action being performed.
Mesh geometry and define mesh criteria
Mesh models based on mesh size, element type, mesh seed and feature.
Continue repairing with direct modeling and meshing
Use direct modeling to further repair geometry that may already be meshed. Slivers or cracks may easily be resolved while the mesh is regenerated automatically.
Automatically create thickness and offset assignments
Use Auto Thickness and Offset to create numerous property definitions for shell elements, and export to .bdf format.
A fully-integrated and generative, structural analysis solution for engineers and analysts.
MSC Apex Structures is an add-on product which expands MSC Apex Modeler functionality with capabilities for linear structural analysis.
MSC Apex structures packages a user interface for scenario definition and results post-processing, as well as integrated solver methods. This solution is unique in that it combines computational parts and assemblies technology with a generative framework, which enables interactive and incremental analysis.
The integration of the user interface with solver methods gives the user a unique ability to interactively and incrementally validate that FEM models are solver ready. At the user’s demand, a series of solver checks can be run against individual parts and assemblies and the model diagnostics are reported in the Analysis Readiness panel. This Incremental Validation is a radical departure from the very time consuming traditional approach where pre/post processor and solver are separate.
In addition, a frequency response analysis type and a specialized results exploration toolset is available to aid engineers improve the vibration behavior of structures. The integrated toolset of MSC Apex enables analysts to experiment with mode contributions and develop design solutions to mitigate and control structural vibrations, all without committing to excessive modeling changes and re-analysis.
Structural Analysis Workflow
Set model and analysis context
Define the analysis type and a subset of parts and assemblies to be the context of evaluation
Validate models prior to analysis
Use the integrated analysis readiness tool to validate the context has valid model representations for the chosen analysis type
Join dissimilar meshes rapidly
Reduce the need to align nodes across mesh parts using mesh independent glue technology
Make generative changes
Track the status and manage the update of downstream updates whose parent has been modified
Generate results
Define a linear static or normal modes scenario and execute the integrated solver methods to generate results interactively
Evaluate different design variants
Modify parts interactively and incrementally generate results to explore a design space
