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Overcoming the Barriers Imposed by
GeometrySpaceClaim Empowers CAE Analysts
July 2011
A CIMdata Report
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Overcoming the Barriers Imposed by GeometrySpaceClaim Empowers CAE Analysts
July 2011
Produced by
CIMdata, Inc.
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CIMdata, Inc.3909 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Tel: +1 (734) 6689922 Fax: +1 (734) 6681957CIMdata is a Registered Trademark of CIMdata, Inc.
Copyright 2011 by CIMdata, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Removing Geometry Barriers for CAE A CIMdata White Paper Page 1
Overcoming the Barriers Imposed by GeometrySpaceClaim Empowers CAE Analysts
CAE analysts often face the burden of poor quality and over-detailed geometric
models in preparing finite element meshing for analysis. However, end users ofSpaceClaim Engineer testify that the application is making a valued impact to
alleviate these barriers. To surmount those problems, a solution must be able to
import an extensive range of CAD model formats found in the industry and alsosupport an intuitive user interface that is easy to learn for non-CAD experts.
SpaceClaim boasts a positive record in each case in the opinion of their
customers. McCormick Stevenson, an engineering services company, finds that
SpaceClaim serves as a great arbiter of geometry and boasts, anything can beimported. The broad appeal of SpaceClaim Engineer as a tool for CAE analysts
is further touted by Stig Staghj Knudsen, a naval architect and CFD expert from
Ramboll Group A/S in Denmark. For them, SpaceClaim cleans up CAD models in
new ways not previously available saving a lot of product development time in theprocess.
1.IntroductionDuring the product development process, CAE analysis
offers developers an important opportunity to validate and
improve product reliability and quality. However, analysts
are often thwarted in their attempts to respond with timely
simulation results due to the burden of poor quality and
over-detailed geometric models. In order to properly mesh
the models for finite element analysis, a CAE analyst faces
the necessity to first resolve topological inaccuracies suchas gaps and small sliver surfaces in the geometry. The
analyst must then simplify the model by de-featuring the
geometric detail by removing things such as small holes,
slots, and rounds that design has added for final
manufacturing.
It is essential to meshing that a model
be watertight by eliminating any gaps
in its geometry. These holes or flaws
are often formed by mismatched
vertices or edges between solid model
faces created by importing CAD
models generated with loosetolerances or by approximations done
during CAD data translations. The
existence of gaps in the model can
easily disrupt the execution of
building a finite element mesh on the
model. Small sliver surfaces are often
generated when intersecting surfaces
and adding fillets to freeform shape models, and they must
be removed to avoid over complicated meshing. In addition,
CAE analysts based on their individual judgment will
remove geometric details, which were added to support
manufacturing by the designers, so as to further unburden
the meshing algorithm.
The extent of the challenge imposed by these two barriers is
corroborated in previous CPDA/CIMdata research. A study
on CAE Model Clean Up across numerous industry
verticals indicated that seventy-five percent of CAE
analysts interviewed faced the need to correct model errors.
In addition, eighty-eight percent in the study faced the need
to de-feature their models.
These concerns are further compounded by yet another
barrier that many CAE analysts face in dealing with
Figure 1A Detailed Model and Its De-Featured Variant
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Page 2 A CIMdata White Paper Geometry Barriers for CAE
geometric modelsthe broad array of possible geometric
data formats they must process. Many product developers
assert today that product development is a multi-CAD
endeavor. Whether the analyst serves a product
manufacturing company working with diverse supply chain
partners or represents a member of an outsource service
company doing analysis for a range of clients, the CAEanalyst must be ready to accept CAD models in a wide
range of proprietary and industry-standard formats. They
require tools that can uniformly deal with the challenge.
2.A Geometry SimplificationSolution
Recently, many firms are turning to SpaceClaim
Corporation for a solution.1 The company has positioned
their product, SpaceClaim Engineer, as a leader in 3D direct
modeling for rapid concept design and geometry
manipulation. To succeed in this role, a product must beable to import the extensive range of CAD model formats
found in the industry and offer an
intuitive user interface that is easy to
learn for non-CAD experts. SpaceClaim
boasts a positive record in each case, as
testified to by their customers.
McCormick Stevenson Corporation is a
mechanical engineering services firm
for the defense and aerospace industries
headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.2 It
specializes in mechanical packaging
and integration of electronic systems
used in harsh military environments.
The companys President, Noel
McCormick, reflects on the state of the
technology: In my experience, without
adequate simplification to the model,
the finite element iterative process can
go wildly out of control from a man-
hours standpoint. Mr. McCormick
continues, For years CAD vendors
have told a story that developers can use
the same geometry for analysis that they
use for design. In our experience, that
has never been true. He notes that oncean analyst receives a model, it takes time to prepare the data
and perform the actual simulation. The CAD design model,
1 For information on SpaceClaim Corporation and the SpaceClaimEngineer product, see www.spaceclaim.com.2 For information on McCormick Stevenson Corporation and theirservices, see www.mccst.com.
however, continues to progress and the model data sets
evolve quickly out of synch. For that reason alone any
recommended changes to the model from the CAE analyst
are communicated verbally.
McCormick Stevenson chose SpaceClaim Engineer for
their CAE analysts. After admitting to an initial hesitation
because SpaceClaim Engineer is not a traditionalparametric, history-based modeling application, Noel notes
they recognized that once a CAE analyst makes a change to
the model in preparation for analysis, It is no longer design
geometry. So moving it to SpaceClaim is a non-issue.
Further, he indicates that while de-featuring holes is not
critical in their typical models, they will mid-surface parts
wherever they can within an assembly, and then de-feature
unnecessary rounds. His assessment: SpaceClaim, with
their selection tools, makes that very easy. He continues,
We have also created geometry without any hesitation. No
training was necessary. Given that we are a consulting firm,
SpaceClaim offers us potential benefits because it is a great
arbiter of geometry. We can import anything into itonce
it is there, the design potential is obvious.
The broad appeal of SpaceClaim Engineer as a tool forCAE analysts is further touted by Stig Staghj Knudsen, a
naval architect and CFD expert from Ramboll Group A/S,
an engineering, design, and consultancy company
headquartered in Denmark.3 In a similar circumstance to
3 For information on Ramboll Group A/S and their services, seewww.ramboll.com.
Figure 2SpaceClaim Allows Removal of Non-Critical
Features to Facilitate Meshing
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Removing Geometry Barriers for CAE A CIMdata Report Page 3
that experienced by McCormick Stevenson, Mr. Knudsennotes that Ramboll, as a large contractor, gets data from a
number of industries, all of which use different CAD
software. He also reflects on the varied quality of the data
they receive. In just over the past year and a half, they have
selected SpaceClaim as their tool of choice for handling
disparate imported CAD data and preparing those models
for analysis.
Mr. Knudsen offers, We used to redraw things from
scratch. With SpaceClaim we have the ability to clean up
CAD in ways we did not have before and it has saved us a
lot of time. He speaks to one example of a client supplying
a large model and drawings and Rambolls ability to
prepare the model and analyze it within one week using
SpaceClaim, whereas he estimates it would have previously
taken three weeks. He notes, We get a lot of different
geometries and we dont want to waste a lot of time on
geometry. Often on very large CAD models with extensive
manufacturing detail, we use SpaceClaims de-featuring.
They have a lot of good tools to do bothfix errors and de-
feature, especially for industrial products.
Mr. Knudsen highlights a special point that underscores
their use of SpaceClaimthe fact that there is no one
simple solution to prepare a CAD model for simulation. He
notes that, Different tools are needed to prepare the
models. There is no easy answer as to which one to use.The last fix you used may not be the correct one for the
next problem. With SpaceClaim we can always find a
solution.
It rapidly becomes apparent that an overriding requirement
for any tool that attempts to facilitate the preparation of
CAD models for meshing and simulation done by a CAE
analyst is that it not only have the necessary
functional capabilities, but it must also be
intuitive and easy to use. Often, however, those
attributes are difficult to define and articulate.
Yet SpaceClaim has captured much of the
essence of these requirements as validated by
its customers, including Martin Schagerlind,Simulation Engineer at Vicura in Sweden.4
Vicura is an engineering company specializing
in driveline technology that originated in early
2011 from General Motors Powertrain and
Saab Automobile Powertrain AB. He notes
that with his first look at SpaceClaim he was
impressed with its ease of use. Now that he
has chosen SpaceClaim for his work he
confirms that the application is very
efficient.
Mr. Schagerlind notes that overall the power
and flexibility in SpaceClaim allows model
clean up five times faster than functions found in the
meshing tool set they use. Prior to having the CAE analyst
clean up the model, changes had to be requested from the
designer, leading to delays. He also noted that customer
communications have improved by using SpaceClaims
ability to do cross-section renderings.
3.Summary and ConcludingRemarks
The reduction of the product development cycle while
improving product quality and reliability remains a strategic
goal in all manufacturing companies. The CAE analyst
relies on an iterative cycle of model, clean up, mesh, and
analysis to make recommendations for product
improvement. The tools they use directly impact their
productivity. In the CAE analyst world, SpaceClaim is
making a valuable impact as testified to by its users.
SpaceClaim is helping them overcome the barriers imposed
by model geometry.
Research for this paper was supported by SpaceClaim
Corporation.
About CIMdataCIMdata, a leading independent worldwide firm, providesstrategic management consulting to maximize an
enterprises ability to design and deliver innovative
4 For information on Vicura and its products and services, seewww.vicura.se.
Figure 3Once Imported into ANSYS the SpaceClaim Model is Analyzed with
Reduced Computational Time Due to Its Simplification
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Page 4 A CIMdata White Paper Geometry Barriers for CAE
products and services through the application of Product
Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions. Since its founding
more than 25 years ago, CIMdata has delivered world-class
knowledge, expertise, and best-practice methods on PLM
solutions. These solutions incorporate both business
processes and a wide-ranging set of PLM enabling
technologies.CIMdata works with both industrial organizations and
suppliers of technologies and services seeking competitive
advantage in the global economy. CIMdata helps industrial
organizations establish effective PLM strategies, assists in
the identification of requirements and selection of PLM
technologies, helps organizations optimize their operational
structure and processes to implement solutions, and assists
in the deployment of these solutions. For PLM solution
suppliers, CIMdata helps define business and market
strategies, delivers worldwide market information and
analyses, provides education and support for internal sales
and marketing teams, as well as overall support at all stages
of business and product programs to make them optimally
effective in their markets.
In addition to consulting, CIMdata conducts research,
provides PLM-focused subscription services, and produces
several commercial publications. The company also
provides industry education through PLM certificationprograms, seminars, and conferences worldwide. CIMdata
serves clients around the world from offices in North
America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
To learn more about CIMdatas services, visit our website
at www.CIMdata.com or contact CIMdata at: 3909
Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. Tel: +1
734.668.9922. Fax: +1 734.668.1957; or at Oogststraat 20,
6004 CV Weert, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 (0)495.533.666.
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