NX Nastran:World-class performance, reliabilityand scalability

NX™ Nastran software is core to Siemens PLM Software’s strategy.Developing and delivering engineering technology, recognized and trustedby the most demanding of our customers, is the foundation of ourwhole PLM portfolio. Siemens is embedding NX Nastran simulationtechnology across the portfolio to expand the number of users whocan safely utilize the technology, thus increasing the value ourcustomers get from our solutions.

www.siemens.com/plmSiemens PLM Software

Your business benefits

Faster to market with innovative new products

Lower costs from:• physical prototyping• engineering change orders• in-service warranty

Increased product quality

Why digital simulation?Industry pressure to reducecosts and improve quality isdriving growth in the use ofdigital simulation throughoutthe product lifecycle.

Choosing the right tools iskey to achieving the businessbenefits of digital simulation.Companies need to considertechnology, scalability, integrationand management.

• The right technology ensuresthat digital simulation canaccurately represent thephysical environment.

• Scalable solutions adjustto a broad range of usersskill levels and a growingscope of requirements.

• Integration with othersimulation tools and withproduct developmentapplications is importantto both the efficiencyand effectiveness of theCAE solution.

• Management of data, processes,product knowledge andworkflows is critical to overallenterprise efficiency andcollaboration.

Why Siemens PLM Software?

NXhelps manufacturersdevelop products right the firsttime with a complete rangeof simulation, validation andoptimization tools. At everystage of development, theseintegrated tools checkproducts and processes toensure quality, performanceand manufacturability.

Product quality with fewerprototypes

With NX digital simulation,companies accurately model andanalyze product performancecharacteristics while minimizingphysical prototypes.

NX product simulation applicationsinclude dynamic motion simulation,basic strength analysis, system-levelperformance evaluation andadvanced response,durability, fluidflow and multi-physics engineeringanalysis for robust simulation offunctional performance.

NX also manages CAE processes,workflows and data to delivervital performance feedbackwhere it is needed to improveyour products.

>A competitiveadvantage

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A CAE technology leader

Siemens is a world leader indigital prototyping and simulation(CAE).Our solutions are backedby an experienced staff ofengineering analysis experts anda distinguished 40-year historyof developing leading-edge digitalsimulation technologies.TheSiemens team has a unique visionto take the digital simulationcommunity into the future atthe heart of digital productdevelopment.

Simulation for the enterpriseHigh numerical performanceand robust product simulationcapabilities are key to NXNastran. It has been successfullydeployed across many industriesas an enterprise-wide solverincluding aerospace, automotive,electronics, heavy equipmentand medical. It providescomprehensive productperformance simulation in abroad range of engineeringdisciplines, including stress,displacement, buckling, failure,vibration, shock, heat transfer,acoustics and aeroelasticity.

Simulation, validation andoptimization capabilities area pervasive attribute of theNX product portfolio. Siemensstrategy is to develop simulationtechnology for the mostdemanding engineering analystand then package it to enablea wider community to useand benefit from it.

“NX Nastran is very significant for Siemens. It is visibleproof of the energy and commitment of our developmentteam in delivering customer requested enhancements andcapabilities that will be used around the world.We believeour customer-centric approach provides competitiveadvantages for our customers.”

Chuck GrindstaffExecutiveVice PresidentSiemens PLM Software

> Comprehensiveand

complementary

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Image Courtesy of Daimler AG

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The value of NX Nastran technology

“The virtual development of premium passenger carsconsequently requires premium analysis tools. Afterone year of cooperation with the NX Nastrandevelopment team, I am pleased that our confidencehas been well rewarded. Our full-vehicle NVHknowledge and expertise, combined with theexperience and high standards of Siemens numericalanalysts, have enabled many unique advancedNX Nastran tools and ever more intelligent, completesolutions for our products and conceptions.”

Full-Vehicle Dynamic AnalystDaimler AG

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Digital simulation is credited with driving millions of dollars out ofR&D costs because building a computer model and digitally testingperformance is faster, cheaper and more effective than the physicalprototyping processes it replaced. By rapidly evaluating many moreconcepts, engineers and designers have the information to designbetter products, faster and with less cost.

NX Nastran is exercised, tested and proven every day by some ofthe world’s most demanding CAE analysts.Our customers are at theforefront of the industry. They work with some of the world’s largestand most complex problems.They demand and expect the reliability,robustness and power that NX Nastran delivers.

Linear analysisLinear static analysis assumes that materials are not strained beyondtheir limits and that deformations remain small in relation to overalldimensions.NX Nastran features a complete range of linearfunctionality. It can help you solve problems that are static, like snowlying on a roof or problems where something changes over time,like a car driving down a road. It can also be used to solve for bucklingload capacities and heat transfer behavior. From a practical andcomputational viewpoint, linear analysis is the most effectiveapproach for evaluating many design issues.

Advanced nonlinear analysisWhen deformations become large, linear material assumptions areinvalid or contact is a factor, then nonlinear analysis is the appropriatechoice.Nonlinear analysis enables users to address problems as simpleas a plastic catch and as complex as a car body roof crush and post-buckling analysis used for a ROPS (roll over protective structure)strength simulation. Advanced material capabilities enable users tosimulate the collapse of a rubber mount or the performance of anengine gasket seal. Dynamic capabilities enable users to see whathappens to electronic hardware during a drop test. An integratedexplicit dynamic solution option is used for very high impactsimulations such as drop simulations and metal forming analysis.

Rotor dynamic analysisRotating systems, such as shafts and turbines, are subject to rotationinduced gyroscopic and centrifugal forces that give rise to dynamicbehavoir not present in stationary systems. In particular, dynamicinstability can occur at certain rotation speeds known as critical speeds.Rotor dynamic analysis allows engineers to predict critical speeds fortheir systems and develop designs that operate away from theseunstable speeds.

The advanced nonlinear capabilities in NX Nastran have proventheir value in industry for many years.They are developed to addressthe most complex static and time-dependent problems includingsurface-to-surface contact, large deformation, elastic-plastic,hyperelastic or gasket materials and more.

DynamicsDynamic analysis is important and a known strength of NX Nastran.From transient, to frequency, to random loading, to shock response,NX Nastran covers the full range of dynamic solutions. Further, thisis a capability where raw performance adds significant value, and NXNastran provides an extensive array of options and capabilities thatget the job done.

Siemens PLM Software has extended testing procedures in the Nastranbuild process and validates the interface to partner solutions like AMLS(automated multi-level substructuring), a product used by automotiveOEMs for car body NVH analysis. In other cases, direct links have beendeveloped to simplify working with other analysis products such asADAMS and RecurDyn.This increases efficiency and eliminatesopportunities for user error. Users benefit from simpler-to-usecapabilities that are faster, more accurate and versatile.

Image courtesy of Nissan Rally Raid Team

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Image Courtesy of Daimler AG

Shipbuilding images courtesy ofDamen Shipyards, Netherlands

Images courtesy of Trex Enterprises and ATA Engineering Inc.

“NX Nastran has been widely implemented in theindustry as a standalone enterprise simulation capability,and represents a clear technical focus for the Siemensdevelopment team. By embedding this technology withincustomer process environments, engineers and analysts atall levels find it an effective solution. As a result, we areseeing a significant increase in the use of digitalsimulation technology, which makes very good businesssense for our customers.”

Jim RuskVice PresidentNX Digital SimulationSiemens PLM Software

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Direct matrix abstraction programming (DMAP)In essence a simple programming capability,DMAP provides enormouscustomization flexibility. Standard problems solved with NX Nastrando not require the usage or knowledge of DMAPs. But for theadvanced user, who has special solution needs, DMAPs provide theability to modify or create solutions.Often DMAPs are used inenterprise operations where program managers need to integratesystems-level models. Examples of its many uses include modifyingsolution flow, avoiding problems, integrating new capabilities, outputtingspecific data for review or ongoing analysis. DMAP is unique toNastran and key to its value in many companies.

IntegrationSiemens strategy is to develop NX Nastran for the most advancedand demanding users. The same robust capabilities are then leveragedand repackaged with other NX and Femap® software capabilities to

enable a wider user community to benefit. Solver and graphics teamswork closely together ensuring that enhancements to NX Nastrancapabilities are rapidly supported by corresponding advances inNX and Femap.

In aerospace development, advanced analysis leads design. Complexinteractions within the flight system create severe loads that drivethe design of subsystems and components.Quartus Engineering Inc.was selected by the Paul Allen/Scaled Composites team to help in thedevelopment of the first private manned space capability.They provideflutter analysis and ground vibration test services that enhance thegoal of developing a safe space vehicle at the minimum possible flightoperating cost.Quartus selected NX Nastran for the same reason.

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Development philosophy – a commitment

“Solution performance, a hallmark attribute of Nastran,is a key differentiator for NX Nastran. Solving thelargest numerical challenges is critical to the abilityof engineering analysts to positively impact designdecisions and is a key focus for Siemens developmentand research.”

Dr. Louis KomzsikChief Numerical AnalystNastran DevelopmentSiemens PLM Software

Trimmed car body – 2.3 million degrees of freedom,380,000 node points, 900 mode shapesIBM P650 workstation cluster 64 POWER4 (1.5 GHz) CPUs

Computational power means rapid responseLarge system-level dynamic analyses, often seen in the automotiveand aerospace industries, are a major computational challenge.In NX Nastran, Siemens implemented a hierarchic distributedmemory parallel (HDMP), a robust Lanczos solution that combinesthe frequency and geometry domain DMP Lanczos solution intoa simultaneous execution. Intended to be used on clusters ofworkstations, it delivers dramatically improved scalability – makingNX Nastran the most scalable Nastran solution on the market.

When it comes to rapid turnaround, iterative solvers are clearlysuperior to sparse solvers for many types of problems.The element-based iterative solver in NX Nastran is vastly superior to the globalmatrix approach in previous versions and regularly demonstrates

4x to10x solution time improvements over the sparse alternative.The benefits for large solid element dominated models, like those usedfor engines, are obvious but many other components used in everydayproducts benefit from this approach.

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Solving the largest numerical challenges is critical to the abilityof engineering analysts to positively impact design decisions anda key focus for Siemens development and research.

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Continuous enhancement in all areas of the codeNX Nastran connectivity modeling, element families and modelingprocesses have continual improvements and extensions with eachrelease. For connectivity modeling NX Nastran has added:

• Linear contact

• Glue connections for joiningdissimilar meshes

• Bolt preloading

• Thermal expansion forrigid elements

Some of the element improvements in NX Nastran are:• Enhanced CQUADR/CTRIAR elements to support differential stiffnessfor buckling analysis and coupling of membrane and bending stiffness forlaminate analysis

• Enhancements to PSHELL entry allow users to specify corner thicknessesin relative terms, greatly simplifying the use of shell thickness whenoptimizing products

• New axi-symmetric elements including linear and parabolicquad elements

• Extensions to the CWELD element to make it easier to connectmultiple elements

Process improvements that have been added are:• Easier to use external superelements• Automatic resolution of dependency conflicts• Direct interfaces to MBD solvers for flexible bodies

From PCs and traditional hardware companies tostreet-built clustersPerformance is important to NX Nastran customers.The evolutionof hardware architectures and their impact on accelerating availablecompute performance makes it an area for continuous focusand improvement. DMP versions are available for most platformsincluding both 64-bit and 32-bit systems operating under Linux.

Siemens PLM Software supports Unix, Linux and Windows-basedplatforms including:• Unix – HP, IBM, Sun• Linux – HP Itanium,Opteron, SGI, Intel EM64T• Windows – 32-bit and 64-bit

••••••

•••••

•••••••••

Basic analysis capabilities

Linear static analysis

Normal modes analysis

Buckling analysis

Heat transfer analysis (steady-state and transient)

Basic implicit nonlinear analysis

Spot weld analysis

Advanced analysis capabilities*

Distributed memory parallel capability (DMP)**

Dynamic response analysis module

Advanced nonlinear analysis module

Superelements analysis module

Direct matrix abstraction programming (DMAP)

Design optimization module

Aeroelasticity analysis module

Advanced aeroelastic module

Rotor dynamics

NX Nastran analysis feature and capabilities Basic bundleAdvancedbundle*

Availableseparately

* Basic bundle is a prerequisite for all add-on modules and the Advanced bundle. The Advanced bundle is not available in the desktop versionthat is integrated with Femap, but the individual advanced analysis modules can be purchased as add-ons to Femap and NX Nastran Basic.

** DMP is not available in desktop versions.

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Support and documentation

Siemens is well recognized for the dedication, professionalism andefficiency of their worldwide support team.The GlobalTechnicalAccess Center (GTAC) is the focal point for post sale softwaresupport. It provides both application and operating systems softwaresupport through telephone and electronic access.While telephonesupport provides direct access to experienced support engineers,customers have the option to open any incident report (IR)electronically with full transfer of electronic data into the GTACcall tracking system. In this case, they will be immediately notified oftheir IR reference number used for all followup, which will typicallybe either by e-mail or telephone. An online call status tool allowsdirect access at any time to the support database for the latest statusof reported issues while a secure authorization scheme controlsaccess and serves to guarantee the privacy of all customer data.

GTAC is organized into specialized teams which support specificproduct disciplines.These teams are located in close proximity to theirparallel product development groups, so they can quickly locate thepath that will lead you to improved productivity. Electronic forums forproducts are also available enabling users to ask questions and getresponses from other users, GTAC support staff, developers, technicalsales support and marketing.

DocumentationClear, concise documentation that is informative, easy to use and has alogical place for critical information is key to usability. The NX Nastrandocumentation has been, and is continuing to be, significantly rewrittento make it more effective and help new users get up to speed morequickly. Clear, concise and effective documentation is a core factor inestablishing NX Nastran as the standard for all other Nastrans to bemeasured against.

Quick reference guideThe NX Nastran quick reference guide is available as a printed,two-volume guide that provides comprehensive information on usingNastran executive control, case control and bulk data entries. It is alsosearchable in an electronic format on the NX Nastran online helplibrary CD-ROM.

Online help library CD-ROMThe NX Nastran online help library CD-ROM contains electronic(pdf ) versions of all the manuals available for NX Nastran.An html-based virtual bookshelf allows you to easily accessthe following documentation.

• Installation and operations guide

• Release guide

• Getting started withNX Nastran

• Element library reference

• Quick reference guide

• NX Nastran users guide

• Basic dynamics users guide

•Thermal analysis users guide

• Design sensitivity andoptimization users guide

• Handbook of nonlinear analysis

• Superelements users guide

• Aeroelasticity users guide

• DMAP users guide

• Nastran theoretical manual

• Numerical methods users guide

• Advanced nonlinear theoryand modeling guide

• Parallel processing users guide

• Rotor dynamics users guide

Siemens believes that access to a live support engineer orspecialist is important and therefore measures all aspects ofsupport to ensure world-class quality and responsiveness.

The bottom line is that it’s not about the software...it’s aboutrealizing your business goals.

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Openness and partnerships

Siemens is proud of its reputation for listening to customers andworking with them to set development priorities.Often relativelysimple enhancements can save users enormous amounts of time andeffort. For example, in the case of modal transient solutions, Siemensadded the ability to sort results based on maximum and minimumvalues. In the past, users had to save results at all times and post-process outside of Nastran to determine maximum values.With thisimplementation, the amount of results data that needs to be stored foroutput is vastly reduced, and additional post-processing steps outsideof Nastran are no longer needed.

Siemens looks to a core advisory group made up of leading customersin each industry to help define future NX Nastran product strategy.Implementation of core technology is the domain of a highlyexperienced team comprised both of Siemens and selected softwaredevelopment partners. For many advanced customers, the

long term value of Nastran is not only derived from the robustness,consistency and openness of core capabilities. Many customershave invested in tools developed by third parties that leverageNastran development. Siemens is committed to maintaining the openand productive nature of relationships with a wide varietyof independent developers working to develop customer andindustry specific functionality on top of NX Nastran.

“Today’s advanced NVH analysis applications requireseamless integration of special-purpose proprietarysoftware tools into the analysis process. NX Nastranhas set new standards in access to and exchange ofNastran finite element data.This enables us to extractmaximum benefit from the CAE tools at the heartof the virtual development process.”

Dr Otto GartmeierManager, NVH CAEDaimler AG

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> Consistency,compatibility and

reliability

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Siemens digital simulation solutions

Siemens is a single source for all your engineering desktopdesign simulation solutions as well as enterprise-level, multi-CAD advanced simulation solutions.

Process and data management applications

Teamcenter® software for simulation processmanagement: A CAE-specificTeamcenter module that enablesthe capture, re-use and sharing of CAE data, CAE productstructure and CAE processes across the enterprise

Advanced simulation applications

NX Nastran: Available standalone as an enterprise solution orseamlessly integrated at the core of many NX Simulation products.NX Nastran delivers comprehensive performance simulationcapabilities for a broad range of engineering disciplines and industries.Siemens is dedicated to making NX Nastran the most completeand powerful solution available for functional digital prototypingand simulation.

NXAdvanced Simulation: An open,multi-CAD and CAE solver-neutral environment that enables rapid simulation as an integralpart of the design process. Extensive geometry idealization andabstraction capabilities support rapid model simulation in ageometrically complex,multi-physics environment. Powered by anintegrated NX Nastran desktop solver, users have direct access tocomprehensive model review, structural optimization and resultsvisualization capabilities to enable design decisions to be based oninsight into real-world product performance.

NXAdvanced FEM:The power and functionality of NX AdvancedSimulation for customers who wish to use an alternative solver(does not include NX Nastran).

NX Laminate Composites: An add-on capability to NXAdvanced Simulation that enables the evaluation of products madewith laminate composite materials.

NX Response Simulation: An interactive, visual environment forthe linear evaluation of the structural dynamic response of a systemwhen subjected to complex loading conditions such as randomvibration, transient, harmonic and shock spectra.

Customized Environments forAnsys,Abaqus and Nastran:Add-ons to NX Advanced FEM that tailor the FE modeling andanalysis process in language specific to the FE solver.

NX Flow and NXAdvanced Flow Simulation: A completesuite of CFD simulation capabilities available as add-ons in theNX Advanced Simulation environment.

NXThermal and NXAdvanced Thermal Simulation:A complete suite of thermal simulation capabilities available asadd-ons within the NX Advanced Simulation environment.

NX Electronic Systems Cooling Simulation:An integratedsolution that enables the evaluation of the cooling effects of airflowaround enclosed, densely packed heat-generating electronicssystems used in many industries.

NX Space SystemsThermal Simulation: An integrated solutionthat enables the evaluation of complex heat transfer characteristics ofspace systems during both orbital and inter-planetary missions.

Femap: A multi-CAD,Windows native FEA modeling environmentthat enables engineers and analysts to handle complex analysis taskseasily, accurately and affordably. Femap is based on the industry-standard Parasolid® software modeling kernel.

Design productivity applications

NX Design Simulation: A design-integrated and easy-to-useNX application that enables design engineers to quickly evaluatethe structural performance characteristics of 3D product designconcepts earlier in the development process.

NXMotion Simulation: A design-integrated environmentfor evaluating the kinematic and dynamic performance of newproduct designs.

NX Simulation Process Studio: Robust capabilities that allowin-house CAE experts to rapidly develop best practices wizards forenterprise-wide usage minimizing the need to rely on externalconsultancy services.

> Robust

Throughout its broad product application suite,NX leverages key attributes that help companiesachieve business objectives of waste reduction, qualityimprovement, shorter cycle times and greater productinnovation.These unique attributes directly supportbusiness process initiatives aimed at transformingproduct development:

Managed development environmentNX solutions include fully integrated, synchronizedmanagement of all product data and processknowledge to transform product developmentwith a structured collaborative environment.

Unified product development solutionSeamless integration of NX applications rapidlypropagates changes of product and processinformation, replacing point solutions with a unifieddevelopment system, from concept to manufacturing.

Knowledge-driven automationWith NX, companies can apply product and processknowledge across all elements of product developmentto automate processes and maximize re-use.

Simulation, validation and optimizationComprehensive simulation and validation tools in NXautomatically check performance and manufacturabilityat every step of the development process forclosed-loop, continuous, repeatable validation.

System-based modelingNX structured conceptual models standardizedesign practices and allow rapid creation of variants,transforming development from component-baseddesign to a systems engineering approach.

Images courtesy of ZF Group; Daimler AG; Scaled Composites, LLC; QuartusEngineering Inc. and Damen Shipyards, NL.

The NX advantage

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About Siemens PLM Software

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens IndustryAutomation Division, is a leading global provider of productlifecycle management (PLM) software and services with nearlysix million licensed seats and 56,000 customers worldwide.Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Siemens PLM Software workscollaboratively with companies to deliver open solutions thathelp them turn more ideas into successful products. For moreinformation on Siemens PLM Software products and services,visit www.siemens.com/plm.

Siemens PLM Software© 2009 Siemens Product Lifecycle ManagementSoftware Inc. All rights reserved. Siemens and theSiemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens AG.Teamcenter, NX, Solid Edge, Tecnomatix, Parasolid,Femap, I-deas and Velocity Series are trademarksor registered trademarks of Siemens Product LifecycleManagement Software Inc. or its subsidiaries inthe United States and in other countries. All otherlogos, trademarks, registered trademarks or servicemarks used herein are the property of theirrespective holders.

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