ANSYS AIM: Simulation for Every Engineer

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

In the movie “Bananas,” a revolutionary El Presidente baffles the peasants by proclaiming that now “the official language ... will be Swedish.” Many engineers experience a like sensation when running physics simulations. After all, what do you know about running FEA (finite element analysis) or CFD (computational fluid dynamics) solvers or making the two tango like a pro? Executing single physics or multiphysics simulations doesn't have to be Greek to you or for experts only. Today's Check it Out link offers a no-brainer way to hands-on test that proposition yourself.

The link lands on a page focused on ANSYS AIM 17. The philosophy underpinning AIM is to democratize engineering simulation by making powerhouse solver expertise accessible to every member of your engineering team, not just the specialized skills crowd. Its potential to improve your engineering design and analysis workflows seems enormous.

AIM provides designers and engineers – analysts too – with an integrated environment for single physics, multiple physics types and multiphysics analyses. Its task-based workflows let you leverage predefined templates to execute jobs involving electromagnetics, fluids, structures, thermal properties and so on quickly. Pro analysts can customize those templates or script new ones to ensure adherence to your company best practices. AIM automates the drudge stuff, handles the high-level work and guides you through it all.

With v17, AIM has evolved into an across-the-board CAD-to-CAE solution for 3D engineering simulation. That means v17 extends its single window environment to all simulation steps like geometry creation, preparation, meshing for all physics types, problem setup, solving, results processing and optimization.

On the right-hand side of the webpage, you'll find a bunch of resources explaining all this. There's lots to read and watch. Take in the two videos for quick intros and demos of AIM. The on-demand webinar, “ANSYS AIM: Simulation for Every Engineer,” provides the in-depth “what's in it for you” overview and demonstrations where you can really see it in action.

The best, however, is the “Try It Now” link on the page. For two hours, you can test drive the full version of ANSYS AIM online to simulate one of four models. No registration, BTW. Initial trials don't get easier than that.

AIM was an interesting product with tons of potential to change how outfits do engineering design and analyses when first released; ANSYS AIM 17 sounds much more interesting. Hit today's Check it Out link then give it your own test drive.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Check out ANSYS AIM 17 here.