Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 20, 2012. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
With Simulation Multiphysics 2013 and Simulation Mechanical 2013, Autodesk gives designers and engineers the ability to symbolically put created products through their paces. This means testing product behavior through various simulations before production begins, in order to correct errors, improve the design, or make the product more robust.
Autodesk Labs now offers Project Hydra as a free download, which includes advanced analysis methods for users. According to Autodesk Labs, the key features include improvements to parametric design studies, as results can now be exported as a CSV file. In addition, temperature values from Autodesk CFD can be imported into linear, thermal, or MES analysis. Dynamics analysis, meanwhile, receives a speed boost through Subspace AMG, which is intended for use especially with larger dynamics.
Hydra can be downloaded from the Autodesk Labs homepage with valid login information, and the team is also calling for feedback to make improvements. Detailed information about all features can also be found on the homepage.
Quick run-through of the newly added functions:
