Find the Best Simulation Solution for Your Business

In this age of technology and development, when choosing a new solution, especially when relating to software, the number of options can be overwhelming. Since you are reading this, we figure you have already decided you need simulation capabilities. Now, how to choose the best option for your application? Let's dig in and compare our options!

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Topics covered in this post:

1. Feature Comparison

2. Is SIMULIA Right For Me?

   1. Abaqus Solver

   2. Cloud Computing

   3. Cloud Data Storage and Data Management

   4. Collaboration Tools

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Feature Comparison

First things first, let’s take a look at an overview of some of the top solutions available and what functionality they bring to the table!

	SimScale	COMSOL Multiphysics	SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium	MSCOne	ANSYS Mechanical Enterprise	SIMULIA (Structural Mechanics Engineer)
Cost	$	$$	$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
Static and Dynamic	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Linear and Nonlinear	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Frequency and Thermal	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Explicit Dynamics	✘	✘	✘	✓	✓	✓
CAD Associativity	✘	✘	✓	✘	✘	✓
Cloud Data Storage	✓	✘	✘	✘	✘	✓
Cloud Computing	✓	✘	✘	✘	✘*	✓
Data Management	✘	✘	✘	✘**	✘**	✓
Collaboration Tools	✓	✘	✘	✘**	✘**	✓

*Cloud computing capabilities directly through ANSYS are available for additional purchase
**Proprietary offers are available through the respective provider for additional purchase

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Is SIMULIA Right For Me?

Regardless of which type of CAD data you work with, SIMULIA offers users a powerful simulation environment that utilizes the robust Abaqus solver. In addition to offering users powerful simulation capabilities, it offers a well-rounded solution by providing cloud computing, cloud based data storage, data management, and collaboration tools that keep your team on the same page and your projects on track.

Abaqus Solver

It’s important to keep in mind that the summary chart shown at the beginning of this blog determines whether or not the functionality exists and has no depiction of the effectiveness. Different solvers are used for each different software. For example, while SIMULIA utilizes the Abaqus solver, MSC utilizes proprietary solvers (such as MSC Nastran which is developed from NASA’s NASTRAN), and SimScale utilizes various open-source solvers (such as OPENFOAM and Code_Aster). Not all solvers are created equally.

So, while these solutions all have various simulation capabilities, depending on the software, one may have problems forming/refining a mesh or completing a solve whereas another option is able to complete the simulation with no problems. The Abaqus solver is a robust, industry-leading technology that ensures you will be able to carry out even the most complex of your simulations with minimal failures and impressive solve times.

A good example of where Abaqus sets itself apart from others is the way in which it handles general contact. With many solvers, you have to define which parts/faces may come into contact with each other using contact pairs. Using general contact, powered by Abaqus, you can let the solver automatically determine any and all faces that may come into contact with each other and account for that without any manual intervention.

Cloud Computing

Many simulation solutions will have standard limits on how many local cores you can use to carry out your simulations. For example, ANSYS Mechanical packages come with a default allowance of 4 local cores and you can purchase HPC (high performance computing) packs to unlock the ability to use more local cores. SIMULIA roles on 3DEXPERIENCE come with an allowance of 4-16 local cores depending on the role you are using. However, while it’s great for the use of accelerating your simulations, the more cores you tie up locally, the less you can continue working on your local machine.

You can overcome this problem with cloud computing. By sending your simulation to be solved with HPC power via cloud services, you free up your local machine to continue working. This also provides a flexible model to accelerate important simulations when the demand is high. With the ability to apply up to 144 cloud computing cores to a simulation (with credits purchased additionally), you can ensure you get your results when you need them!

It is important to note that SIMULIA is still installed locally and will always use local resources for steps prior to the actual solve.

Cloud Data Storage and Data Management

As you begin to work on increasingly complex projects, it quickly becomes apparent how essential a good data management system is. When using SIMULIA with 3DEXPERIENCE, all your data is securely stored on Dassault Systèmes’ servers. As this data management is a cloud-based service, you can access that data from anywhere, so long as you have an internet connection. In addition to the ability to securely store your data, there is also a set of ENOVIA powered tools to handle your data’s lifecycle, revisioning, issue tracking, change management, and more! This protects you from data loss and keeps your project history in a single, secure place.

Collaboration Tools

Last but not least, as the SIMULIA offerings being discussed are associated with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you get all of the collaborative benefits as well! Whether you are collaborating with your team, various teams throughout your company, or external parties, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is configurable to your needs.

You can set up customized dashboards to keep all your communications and data in a single centralized location. Get rid of the long, disconnected email chains and keep all your teams on the same page with 3DEXPERIENCE.

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Summary

There are several powerful simulation solutions available today. With SIMULIA on 3DEXPERIENCE you get more than just industry leading, powerful simulation, powered by Abaqus. You can extend your possibilities and accelerate your time to market with powerful cloud computing. You can reduce data loss, rework, and improve your data management with the use of ENOVIA powered tools. You can keep your team and project stakeholders on the same page with the collaborative tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

Contact us today to discuss how SIMULIA could benefit your company!