New Simulation Models in Actran 16

Acoustic Engineers will appreciate that Actran acoustic propagation calculations will run faster with GPU acceleration. This update to the Actran’s Discontinuous Galerkin Method (DGM) code allows for larger domains and higher frequency assessments, such as an ultra-sonic parking sensor.

“For tackling higher frequencies and their associated model sizes, Actran features an original and automated mesh adaptivity,” said Benoît Van den Nieuwenhof, CTO at FFT. “The Actran DGM solver leverages the latest HPC environments such as GP-GPUs which dramatically improves the computational efficiency of acoustic radiation analyses for automotive and aerospace industries”.

Another updated simulation capability in Actran 16 is a new Stochastic Noise Generation and Radiation (SNGR) module for aeroacoustics. Traditionally, this calculation is dependent on computationally expensive CFD simulations.  However, the new SNGR module relies on steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS). As RANS is less computationally extensive than CFD, engineers will again be able to perform faster analysis.

“Actran 16 delivers a valuable set of features to the industry,” added Nieuwenhof. “The SNGR feature gives users access to new capabilities like full car exterior aero-acoustics where unsteady CFD computations are not affordable.”

MSC Adds Acoustics into their Multiphysics Offerings

Improvements to the Actran time domain solver allows for improved integration with other MSC software. For instance, this allows for output files from software like MSC Dytran to be accessed. This is important when simulating the sound from fluid-structure interactions like the sloshing fuel in a tank.

Additionally, Actran 16 offers interface improvements with MSC Adams. This will allow multi-body dynamics (MBD) engineers to access the acoustic results and listen to the acoustic audio files.

The interactions between Actran and the rest of MSC’s simulation portfolio is aimed at filling in the multiphysics gap. Though MSC offers many CAE tools (Marc, Adams, Nastran, Patran, etc.) each performs various tasks.

However, with the trends of the industry towards multiphysics, it is imperative that these MSC tools talk to each other efficiency. This trend will likely push MSC to focus more and more on how their tools connect in the future.

Alternatively, you might see more consolidation in the MSC lineup. Will a tool like MSC Apex one day be able to access all of MSC’s tools?

 Other improvements to Actran 16 include:

• Pellicular mode decomposition technique to distinguish acoustics and hydrodynamic contributions from non-planar and non-rectangular surfaces
• Graphical user interface scripting abilities
• Improved adaptive meshing to reduce computational time
• Optimization capabilities (e.g. Topology)