Solvers

Suite of finite element and multibody dynamics solvers for design and optimization.

Altair OptiStruct

OptiStruct is a state of the art finite element solver for linear and nonlinear structural problems. It employs implicit integration schemes for static and dynamic problems. Besides mechanical loading, heat transfer coupled with structures is also available.

OptiStruct is designed with optimization at the core. The majority of solution sequences are available for optimization. A wide range of design problems can be solved addressing concept design and design fine tuning. In addition, Altair Radioss and Altair MotionSolve have been integrated to address multi-disciplinary optimization involving crash and impact, and multibody systems, respectively. The optimization capabilities of OptiStruct are innovative and market-leading.

Analysis applications of OptiStruct include Automotive powertrain durability and vibrations, vehicle interior acoustics, vibrations of satellites, durability of heavy-duty and off-road vehicles, component stress and vibrations analysis, detailed finite element analysis of airplane structures, random vibrations of ships and buildings, structural behavior of composite wings, buckling behavior, and many other advanced engineering applications.

Optimization applications of OptiStruct include material layout of structures and parts under static loads, sheet metal sizing under static and dynamic loads, improvement of acoustic behavior, design of parts for additive manufacturing, design of composite layups, and more.
  • Structural Analysis
    • Linear Static Analysis
    • Linear Buckling Analysis
    • Small Displacement Nonlinear Analysis
    • Large Displacement Nonlinear Static Analysis
    • Normal Modes Analysis
    • Frequency Response Analysis
    • Complex Eigenvalue Analysis
    • Brake Squeal Analysis
    • Random Response Analysis
    • Response Spectrum Analysis
    • Linear Transient Response Analysis
    • Nonlinear Transient Response Analysis
    • Explicit Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis (Radioss Integration)
  • Thermal Analysis
    • Linear Steady-State Heat Transfer Analysis
    • Linear Transient Heat Transfer Analysis
    • Nonlinear Steady-State Heat Transfer Analysis
    • Contact-based Thermal Analysis
    • One Step Transient Thermal Stress Analysis
  • Acoustic Analysis
    • Coupled Frequency Response Analysis of Fluid-Structure Models
    • Radiated Sound Analysis
  • Fatigue Analysis
    • Stress-Life method
    • Strain-Life method
    • Dang Van Criterion (Factor of Safety)
    • Random Response Fatigue Analysis
  • Rotor Dynamics
  • Fast equation solver
    • Sparse matrix solver
    • Iterative PCG solver
    • Lanczos eigensolver
    • SMP parallelization
    • DMIG input
    • AMLS interface
    • FastFRS method
    • FastFRS interface
  • Advanced element formulations
    • Triangular, quadrilateral, first and second order shells
    • Laminated shells
    • Hexahedron, pyramid, tetrahedron first and second order solids
    • Bar, beam, bushing, and rod elements
    • Spring, mass, and damping scalar elements
    • Mesh independent gap and weld elements
    • Rigid elements
    • Concentrated and non-structural mass
    • Direct matrix input
  • Geometric element quality check
  • Local coordinate systems
  • Multi-point constraints
  • Contact, tie interfaces
  • Prestressed analysis
  • Linear-elastic materials
    • Isotropic
    • Anisotropic
    • Orthotropic
  • Nonlinear materials
    • Elastoplastic
    • Hyperelastic
    • Viscoelastic
  • Material consistency checks
  • Ground check for unintentionally constrained rigid body modes.
OptiStruct Modeling Techniques include:
  • Parts and Instances
  • Subcase Specific Modeling
  • Direct Matrix Input (Superelements)
    • Direct Matrix Input
    • Creating Superelements
    • Component Dynamic Analysis
  • Flexible Body Generation
  • Poroelastic Materials

A typical set of finite elements including shell, solid, bar, scalar, and rigid elements as well as loads and materials are available for modeling complex events.

Multibody dynamics solutions integrated via OptiStruct for rigid and flexible bodies include:
  • Kinematics
  • Dynamics
  • Static
  • Quasi-static
  • Linearization

All typical types of constraints like joints, gears, couplers, user-defined constraints, and high-pair joints can be defined. High pair joints include point-to-curve, point-to-surface, curve-to-curve, curve-to-surface, and surface-to-surface constraints. They can connect rigid bodies, flexible bodies, or rigid and flexible bodies. For this multibody dynamics solution, the power of Altair MotionSolve has been integrated with OptiStruct.

Structural Design and Optimization
Structural design tools include topology, topography, and free-size optimization. Sizing, shape and free shape optimization are available for structural optimization.
In the formulation of design and optimization problems, the following responses can be applied as the objective or as constraints: compliance, frequency, volume, mass, moment of inertia, center of gravity, displacement, velocity, acceleration, buckling factor, stress, strain, composite failure, force, synthetic response, and external (user- defined) functions. Static, inertia relief, nonlinear quasi-static (contact), normal modes, buckling, and frequency response solutions can be included in a multi-disciplinary optimization setup.
Topology, topography, size, and shape optimization can be combined in a general problem formulation.
Reliability-based Design Optimization is available to provide optimum designs in the presence of uncertainty.
Topology Optimization
Topology optimization generates an optimized material distribution for a set of loads and constraints within a given design space. The design space can be defined using shell or solid elements, or both. The classical topology optimization set up solving the minimum compliance problem, as well as the dual formulation with multiple constraints are available. Constraints on von Mises stress and buckling factor are available with limitations. Manufacturing constraints can be imposed using a minimum member size constraint, draw direction constraints, extrusion constraints, symmetry planes, pattern grouping, and pattern repetition. A conceptual design can be imported in a CAD system using an iso-surface generated with OSSmooth, which is part of the OptiStruct package.
Free-size optimization is available for shell design spaces. The shell thickness or composite ply-thickness of each element is the design variable.
Failsafe Topology Optimization is available to account for design feasibility in situations where a section of the structure fails.
Lattice Structure Optimization, a novel solution, to create blended Solid and Lattice structures from concept to detailed final design is available. This technology is developed in particular to assist design innovation for additive layer manufacturing (3D printing).
Topography Optimization
For thin-walled structures, beads or swages are often used as reinforcement features. For a given set of bead dimensions, OptiStruct's topography optimization technology will generate innovative design proposals with the optimal bead pattern and location for reinforcement to meet certain performance requirements. Typical applications include panel stiffening and managing frequencies.
Size and Shape Optimization
General size and shape optimization problems can be solved. Variables can be assigned to perturbation vectors, which control the shape of the model. Variables can also be assigned to properties, which control the thickness, area, moments of inertia, stiffness, and non-structural mass of elements in the model. All of the variables supported by OptiStruct can be assigned using Altair HyperMesh. Shape perturbation vectors can be created using HyperMorph.
The reduction of local stress can be accomplished easily using free shape optimization. Shape perturbations are automatically determined by OptiStruct (based on the stress levels in the design) when using this technique.
The layout of laminated shells can be improved by modifying the ply thickness and ply angle of these materials.
Multibody Dynamics Analysis
Different solution sequences for the analysis of mechanical systems are available; these include Kinematics, Dynamics, Static, and Quasi-static solutions. Flexible bodies can be derived from any finite element model defined in OptiStruct.

For more information, reference the OptiStruct help manual.

Altair Radioss

Radioss is a leading structural analysis solver for highly nonlinear problems under dynamic loadings. It is highly differentiated for Scalability, Quality and Robustness, and consists of features for multi-physics simulation and advanced materials such as composites. Radioss is used across all industries worldwide to improve the crashworthiness, safety, and manufacturability of structural designs. For over 25 years, Radioss has established itself as a leader and an Industry standard for automotive crash and impact analysis.

Finite element solutions via Altair Radioss include:
  • Explicit dynamic analysis
  • Linear and nonlinear implicit static analysis
  • Transient heat transfer and thermo-mechanical coupling
  • Explicit Arbitrary Euler-Lagrangian (ALE) formulation
  • Explicit Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
  • Incremental sheet metal stamping analysis with mesh adaptivity
  • Normal modes analysis
  • Linear and nonlinear buckling analysis

For more information, reference the Radioss help manual.

Altair MotionSolve

MotionSolve is a state-of-the-art multibody dynamics solver that is included in the Altair HyperWorks package. MotionSolve enables you to create realistic, physics-based simulations of sophisticated mechanical systems and includes a wide array of customization capabilities. MotionSolve has been successfully used to model and simulate a broad range of systems including automobile suspensions, aircraft landing gears, biomedical devices, and satellite launch systems. With a variety of integrators, support of for co-simulation, multiphysics and a special focus on flexible body modeling, MotionSolve is setup to cover the range of simulation needs for MBS, some of which include linear and vibration studies, stress and durability evaluation, load extraction from the multibody system, effort estimation for the multibody system, packaging studies and simulating models that encompass more than one kind of physics.
Benefits
  • Robust, fast and accurate solving capability for a full range of MBS applications
  • An encompassing array of standard and advanced modeling elements as well as kinematic, static/quasi-static, transient and linear solution types
  • Ability to directly reuse ADAMS .adm/.acf files, functions and user subroutine source code
  • Support and easy to setup co-simulation with Altair Activate, Altair AcuSolve, MATLAB Simulink and Fluidon DSH Plus
  • No need to compile user subroutines with MotionSolve’s support of Python and MATLAB scripted user subs (and support for C++/FORTRAN user sub syntax)
  • Customizable at several levels including custom elements, functions, messaging, and results

For more information, reference the MotionSolve help manual.

Altair HyperXtrude

HyperXtrude is a suite of finite element solvers for simulating the following manufacturing processes.
  • Metal Extrusion
  • Polymer Extrusion
  • Metal Rolling
  • Billet Forging
  • Friction Stir Welding
  • Resin Transfer Molding
All these solvers are supported by easy to use interfaces under Manufacturing Solutions.
Benefits for Metal Extrusion
  • Direct and indirect extrusion
  • Solid and hollow profile extrusion·
  • Single and multi-hole dies
  • Multi-cycle analysis
  • Bearing profile optimization
  • Nose cone prediction
  • Transverse weld length
  • Microstructure prediction
  • Weld strength prediction
  • Tool deflection analysis
  • Billet skin and product quality
  • Support for commonly used material models
  • Extrusion of super alloys with glass pad lubrication
  • User-defined function of material models and results
  • Coupled extrusion and tool deflection analysis
Benefits for Polymer Extrusion
  • Sheet extrusion
  • Profile extrusion
  • Coextrusion of seals
  • Coextrusion of tires
  • Hollow and solid profiles
  • Calibrator analysis
  • Tube extrusion
  • Runner balancing analysis
In addition, the solver has the following functionalities that enable the accurate analysis of the above mentioned features:
  • Support for commonly used material models
  • Viscoelastic model
  • Ability to include heat transfer and stress work converted to heat
  • Prediction of profile deformation
  • Deformation of material interfaces between layers coextrusion
  • Ability to include inserts in analysis
  • Residence time computation
  • Tool deflection analysis
  • User-defined function of material models and results
Benefits for Metal Rolling
  • Prediction of slab deformation
  • Tool deflection analysis with Radioss
  • Heat transfer and temperature dependence of flow stress
  • Support for commonly used material models
  • User-defined function of material model and results
Benefits for Billet Forging
Billet forging is used to change the shape of cast billet to a desired cross-section and more importantly achieve a desired microstructure. Following features supported by the solver makes it a valuable tool for billet forging simulation.
  • Validate and optimize forging sequence
  • Compute forces on tool components
  • Predict microstructure changes
Benefits for Stir Welding
Friction stir welding is solid state welding process that can join dissimilar metals
  • Compute forces acting on tool
  • Tool deflection analysis
  • Understand mixing and heat transfer in heat affected zone
Benefits for Resin Transfer Molding
Resin transfer molding and its variants are used for manufacturing composites.
  • Resin flow front simulation
  • Fill time prediction
  • Effects of heat transfer in filling and curing
  • Air modeled as compressible material to consider vacuum effects
  • Curing kinetics
  • Gravity effects on filling
  • Local coordinate system for preform material data

For more information, reference the HyperXtrude help manual.

Altair AcuSolve

AcuSolve is a leading general-purpose finite element based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) flow solver with superior robustness, speed, and accuracy. AcuSolve can be used by designers and research engineers with all levels of expertise, either as a standalone product or seamlessly integrated into a powerful design and analysis application. Quality solutions can be obtained quickly without iterating on solution procedures or worrying about mesh quality or topology. The FSI (fluid-structure interaction) capabilities available in AcuSolve enable the user to perform multi-physics analysis of complex scenarios in an efficient manner.

The interfaces in Altair HyperMesh and Altair HyperView ensure a smooth integration of AcuSolve into the Altair HyperWorks framework.

AcuSolve is based on the Galerkin/Least-Squares (GLS) finite element method. GLS is a higher-order accurate, yet stable formulation that uses equal order nodal interpolation for all variables, including pressure. The method is specifically designed to maintain local and global conservation of relevant quantities under all operating conditions and for all meshes. In addition to excellent spatial accuracy, AcuSolve has a second-order time integration option. Since AcuSolve obtains rapid nonlinear convergence within each time step, temporal accuracy is achieved in practice. AcuSolve has a very rich mathematical foundation, translating into superb numerical behavior. AcuSolve can easily solve the largest and most complex mission critical industrial problems.

AcuSolve typically solves a given problem in the first attempt. Fully converged solutions are reliably obtained using AcuSolve’s efficient steady-state solver. Nonlinear convergence remains strong even as solutions approach their final result. Two key components contribute to this robustness: the GLS finite element formulation, and a novel iterative linear equation solver for the fully coupled pressure/velocity equation system. This powerful iterative solver is highly stable and is capable of efficiently handling unstructured meshes with high aspect ratios and badly distorted elements commonly produced by fully automatic mesh generators. This linear solver yields significant stability and convergence advantages over the segregated solution procedures commonly found in many commercial incompressible flow solvers.
Benefits
  • Conservation Equations in 3D
    • Incompressible and weakly compressible Stokes and Navier-Stokes equations
    • Thermal analysis and conjugate heat transfer
    • Multi-layered thermal shell equations
    • Multi-species transport equations
  • Radiation
    • Gray body enclosure radiation support
    • Distributed memory parallel view-factor computation
    • Solar radiation model support
  • Tubulence Models
    • One and two-equation RANS models
    • Smagorinsky and Dynamic sub-grid scale LES models
    • Hybrid RANS/LES (DES & DDES) models
  • Arbitrary Lagrange Eulerian (ALE) Formulation
    • Flexible mesh movement
    • Free surface simulation
    • Guide surface technology
    • Sliding/non-conformal mesh technology
  • Powerful User-defined Function (UDF) Capability
    • Allows definition of material models, source terms, boundary conditions, etc.
    • Client-server interface with external programs
  • Component Technology
    • Fan component
    • Heat exchanger component
  • Multi-physics Capabilities
    • Rigid body dynamics coupling
    • Practical Fluid/Structure Interaction (P-FSI)
    • Direct-Coupling Fluid/Structure Interaction (DC-FSI)
  • Computational Aero Acoustics Support
    • Output interface to Actran/LA
  • Unstructured Mesh Support
    • 4-node tetrahedron, 5-node pyramid, 6-node prism, 8-node brick, and 10-node tetrahedron elements
  • Highly Effective Solver Technology
    • Novel and highly efficient iterative solver for fully coupled pressure/velocity equations systems
    • Fully coupled temperature/flow iterative equation solver
    • Fully parallel on shared and distributed memory machines, transparent to the user

For more information, reference the AcuSolve help manual.

Altair Feko + WinProp

Feko + WinProp is a comprehensive computational electromagnetics (CEM) code used widely in the telecommunications, automobile, space and defense industries. Feko + WinProp offers several frequency and time domain EM solvers. Hybridization of these methods enables the efficient analysis of a broad spectrum of EM problems, including antennas, microstrip circuits, RF components and biomedical systems, the placement of antennas on electrically large structures, the calculation of scattering as well as the investigation of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

Feko + WinProp also offers tools that are tailored to solve more challenging EM interactions, including dedicated solvers for characteristic mode analysis (CMA) and bi-directional cables coupling. Special formulations are also included for efficient simulation of integrated windscreen antennas and antenna arrays.

Combined with the MLFMM, and the true hybridization of the solvers, Feko + WinProp is considered the global market leader for antenna placement analysis.
Benefits
  • Multiple solvers for users to choose the best method for the problem they are trying to solve
  • Industry leading hybridization of different methods when solving complex and electrically large problems
  • Excellent performance and reliable accuracy founded on extensive validation of the solver’s numerical methods.
  • Specialized solutions, such as characteristic mode analysis (CMA), bidirectional cable coupling, windscreen antennas and large finite arrays
  • Model decomposition workflows for classical antenna placement and EMC problems

For more information, reference the Feko + WinProp help manual.

Altair Flux

Flux is the leading software for electromagnetic and thermal simulations. For more than 30 years, Flux simulation software has been used worldwide in the industry and university labs. It has become a reference for the high accuracy it delivers. It is a versatile, efficient and user-friendly tool that will help to generate optimized and high-performance products, in less time and with fewer prototypes. Flux can be used to simulate rotating electromotors, linear actuators and solenoids, transformers, induction heating processes, sensors, cables, and their electric connections. The electromagnetic compatibility of components can also be evaluated.
Benefits
  • Accurate results in a very short time for thousands of design configurations
  • Fully customizable user preferences and automation with embedded scripting tools
  • Parameters for geometric dimensions or physical characteristics enable design exploration
  • Different levels of interaction ranging from reduced model extraction to full co-simulation
  • Coupling and co-simulation with systems analysis tools and 3D simulation software to generate most realistic analysis results

For more information, reference the Flux help manual.

Altair FluxMotor

FluxMotor is a flexible simulation software dedicated to the pre-design of electric rotating machines. It enables designers to create their motor, assembling standard or customized parts, add windings and materials to run a selection of tests and compare results. Based on modern technology, this standalone platform offers fast and accurate computations. When necessary, model export to Flux finite element software enables to perform more advanced studies, and connection to Altair HyperStudy to achieve effective design exploration and optimization early in the concept phase.
Benefits
  • Efficient dedicated environment for e-Motor design, fully customizable
  • Rapidity of design and quick computation of performance mapping
  • Effective projects management with catalogs, offering instant comparison matrix
  • Full model export to Flux 2D/skew/3D to take into account more complex phenomenon (eccentricity, demagnetization, etc.)
  • Coupling to HyperStudy to run early optimization from early design stages (combinations, duty cycle performance, etc.)

For more information, reference the FluxMotor help manual.

Altair nanoFluidX

nanoFluidX is a state-of-the-art particle-based (SPH) fluid dynamics code for simulation of single and multiphase flows in complex geometries with complex motion. It can be used to predict the oiling in powertrain systems with rotating shafts/gears and analyze forces and torques on individual components of the system. The software is created and optimized for use on clusters of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), making it extremely fast. For typical gear-train applications, the code can run an order of magnitude faster than a Finite-Volume code while also including less geometry simplifications.
Benefits
  • Accuracy: Particle-based (SPH) fluid dynamics simulation providing highly accurate results
  • Turn-Around-Time: Superior solver performance and trivial pre-processing lead to rapid turn-around time
  • Multiphase: Air entrapment and windage effects
  • Solution-Focused: Drivetrain applications such as gearboxes, differentials, e-motors and crankcase oiling with or without heat transfer.
  • Multiphysics: Altair AcuSolve coupling provides steady-state thermal fields on solid components
  • Cost: Unique HyperWorks Units licensing system

For more information, reference the nanoFluidX help manual.

Altair ultraFluidX

ultraFluidX is a simulation tool for ultra-fast prediction of the aerodynamic properties of passenger and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as for building, environmental, and motorsport applications. Its cutting-edge technology is optimized for GPUs to deliver unbeatable performance and to allow for overnight simulations even of complex cases on a single server. Conventional simulation approaches need a significant amount of CPU cores to achieve similar turnaround times. ultraFluidX increases throughput, while reducing hardware and energy cost and at the same time delivering the high fidelity of a transient LES simulation.
Benefits
  • High fidelity: Wall-modeled LES (Large Eddy Simulations) approach based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method provides accurate transient results
  • Flexibility: Fully-automated, robust volume mesh generation is integrated in the solver and enables fast design changes
  • Robustness: Minimum pre-processing effort due to low surface mesh requirements
  • Fast and easy case setup: Altair Virtual Wind Tunnel integration facilitates trivial model setup for external aerodynamics simulations
  • High throughput: Efficient multi-GPU implementation enables transient overnight analyses

For more information, reference the ultraFluidX help manual.