WhatsNew V8R2 English

8/10/2019 WhatsNew V8R2 English

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Introduction

This document introduces both the new functions and the improved functions of

V8R2. All modifications fall into one of the following categories:

1. Professional : Functions related to RecurDyn/Professional

2. MFBD(FFlex/RFlex) : Functions related to RecurDyn/FFlex and

RecurDyn/FFlex

3. Toolkits: Functions related to RecurDyn/MTT2D, RecurDyn/MTT3D,

RecurDyn/Gear, other toolkits.

Each subsection contains the following information:

1. New or Improved

2. Location of the function in the user interface and the location of the

function in the manual

3.

Definition of the function (Description)

4. Advantage of the function (Benefits)


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1. Professional

1.1 Optimizations to the UI

Function Information

Product RecurDyn/Professional

New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

-View Control Toolbar > Name On/Off icon-Home tab > Model Setting group > Gravity icon-Analysis tab > Animation Control group > Force Display

Setting icon

-

Analysis tab > Animation Control group > Reload lastanimation file-View Control Toolbar > View Preset icon

Location in Manual

-User Interface > RecurDyn Graphic User Interface >View Control Toolbar > Name On/Off

-Home > Model Setting > Gravity-Analysis > Animation Control > Reload the last

animation file-User Interface > RecurDyn Graphic User Interface >

View Control Toolbar > View Control > View Presetdialog box

Description and Benefits

Description: Various improvements to the RecurDyn GUI were added:

Tooltip

The GUI now displays a textbox, called a tooltip, that contain the names of

entities, such as selected bodies or geometric features, and markers. Tooltips

can be displayed for all entities always, only for selected entities, or they can

be disabled. These options are controlled in the Name On/Off dialogue box, as

shown below.


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Gravity

Gravity can now be defined either by specifying the individual (X,Y,Z)

components of the gravity vector or by specifying a magnitude and unitdirection vector.

Force Display Settings in Animation Control

The Force Display Settings shown during animation can now be modified while

an animation is playing. A Force Display Settings dialog box is accessible fromthe Animation Control group of the Analysis tab of the main GUI ribbon


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control. The scale, width, and color of the vectors for Force and Torque can be

modified in this dialog box while an animation is playing, and the force and

torque vectors displayed in the GUI will reflect the change immediately.

Reload Latest Animation Data

The most recent Animation Data file (.rad file) for the current model can be

automatically reloaded.

View Preset

The view point and the zoom scale can be easily stored and reused. (shortcut

to store the view settings: Ctrl+Shift+G)


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1.2 Solid Contact



New / Improved Improved

Location in User

Interface

Professional tab > Contact group > Solid to Solid Contact

icon

Location in Manual Professional > Contact > General Contact > Solid


Description: The Solid to Solid Contact algorithm has been improved.

The new algorithm will automatically be used for all models.

Benefits: The new Solid to Solid Contact algorithm improves calculation

speed and accuracy, and it reduces the noise in the contact force.

1.3 Campbell Diagrams


Product RecurDyn/Plot

New / Improved New

Location in User

InterfacePlot > Tool tab > Analysis group > Campbell Diagram icon

Location in Manual Plot > Tool > Analysis > Campbell Diagrams


Description: The ability to display Campbell diagrams has been added to

RecurDyn. This allows the effect of RPM of a rotating body on the

vibration to be analyzed.


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After the input data and the FFT parameters, RecurDyn performs signal

processing and then renders the Campbell diagram using the results.

Benefits: Campbell diagrams enable the resonant frequencies of rotating

bodies to be identified easily. This allows RecurDyn to be used to identify

the range of rotational speeds for bodies that should be avoided or

managed carefully.


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1.4 Solver Error Messages for termination from small

time steps




Location in User

InterfaceHome tab > Windows group > Outputicon

Location in Manual -


Description: The error message that is displayed when the solver

terminates because the time step has become too small has been

improved. The new error message gives more information about the

entity (for example, the joint or body) that appears to have caused the

problem.

For example

In case of the above example model, the analysis terminated from a small

time step because the reaction force became too large. In this case, the error

message that is shown looks like:


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Benefits: It is much easier to identify the source of the problem that

caused the termination using this error message.

1.5 Geo Contact



New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface- Professional tab > Contact group > Geo Contact icon- Flexible tab > FFlex group > Contact icon > Geo icon

Location in Manual Professional > Contact > General Contact > Geo Contact


Description: A new contact model, called Geo Contact, has been added.

Geo Contact is designed to improve the accuracy and ease of use of

contact.


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Geo Contact is applicable to both rigid and flexible bodies (rigid-rigid, rigid-

flexible, flexible flexible)

When defining contact for a rigid body, even if the body is composed of many

surfaces, all surfaces of the rigid body can be selected at once rather than

having to select each surface one at a time.

Force Display for Geo Contact displays the forces of all contact points.

Geo contact uses the same default parameters for contact with both rigid

bodies or flexible bodies.

Benefits: With the previous contact formulations, different contact

parameters were required for a rigid-rigid contact and a rigid-flexible

contact. Using Geo Contact, the contact is defined identically for rigid-

rigid, rigid-flexible, or flexible-flexible body contact. As a result, it is

significantly easier to transition between an MBD and an MFBD analysis

that uses contact.


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1.6 Laser Sensor Expression Function



New / Improved New

Location in User

InterfaceSubEntitytab > Expression group > Expression icon

Location in ManualSubentity > Expression > Available Functions > How to use

Sensor Functions


Description: An Expression function has been added to allow Laser

Sensor data to be accessible in expressions. The data available through

this function is the location, velocity, and acceleration at the sensed point.

Name SENSORDETECTEDPOINT()

SyntaxSENSORDETECTEDPOINT(LaserSensorEntity, OuputFlag,

{RM})

Reference

OutputFlag No. 1~12 : DM, DX, DY, DZ, VM, VX, VY, VZ, ACCM,

ACCX, ACCY, ACCZ

RM : Reference Marker

If values are not provided for the OutputFlag, the default values are used.

The default value for OutputFlag is 1, which is DM, and the default RM is

the Sensor Marker of the Laser Sensor.


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Benefits: The location, velocity, and acceleration can be accessed in an

expression for Laser Sensor, which are not available in the plot data

without the use of this new expression function.

2. MFBD

2.1 Plastic Material


Product RecurDyn/FFlex

New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

Flex Edit Mode > FFlex Edit tab>FFlex Edit group >

Material icon > Material dialog

Location in ManualFlexible > FFlex > Edit Functions for FFlexBody > Material

> Plastic


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Description: A plastic material has been added to RecurDyn. The plastic

material is a J2 plasticity model (also known as a von Mises plasticity

model). It is strain-rate independent. Plastic materials can be used withSolid8 and Shell4 elements in FFlex bodies.

2 kinds of strain hardening can be used in plastic materials: Isotropic and

Isotropic+Kinematic Hardening.

The Isotropic Hardening can be defined using Bil-inear hardening, Multi-

linear Hardening, or Non-linear hardening. Multi-linear Hardening allows

for experimental data to be used to define the hardening curve. Kinematic

Hardening only supports Bi-linear hardening.


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The plastic results can be viewed in the contour plot window. When a

model contains an FFlex body that uses a plastic material, the contour

output options for strain will include Total Strain, Elastic Strain, and

Plastic Strain.

Benefits: This will significantly increase the range of problems that can

be solved by RecurDyn.

2.2 Hyperelastic Material



New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

Flex Edit Mode > FFlex Edit tab > FFlex Edit group >

Material icon > Material dialog

Location in ManualFlexible > FFlex > Edit Functions for FFlexBody > Material

> Hyperelastic


Description: The range of elements that can be used with hyperelastic

materials has been increased. Now, hyperelastic materials can be used

with element types Solid4, Solid5, and Solid6. Note, however, that the

hyperelastic material is designed for use with hexa-dominant meshes.

The hexahedral element is the Solid8 element. Therefore, the mesh must

be mostly composed of Solid8 elements. Solid4, 5, and 6 elements should

only be used as filler elements in difficult-to-mesh regions. If the

percentage of Solid4, 5, and 6 elements is too large, then the simulationis not guaranteed to be able to run. There is no set rule about the

percentages. Trial and error might be required when generating the mesh

in any particular model to find the minimum required ratio.

Benefits: This allows hyperelastic materials to be used with arbitrarily

shaped bodies meshed with the Mesher.


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2.3 FFlex Static Solver




Location in User

InterfaceAnalysis tab > Simulation Type group > Static icon

Location in Manual Analysis > Static


Description: The stability of the N-R Static Solver for FFlex has been

improved. Note, though, that problems in which there is contact with anFFlex body are not yet supported.

Benefits: Parameter tuning is no longer required to achieve reasonable

results for FFlex bodies. The calculation speed has also been improved.


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Benefits: Remeshing will allow for the mesh to be able to provide betteraccuracy for lower cost. Now, higher accuracy can be achieved in specificregions without having to increase the element density everywhere in themesh.

2.5 Advanced Mesh


Product RecurDyn/Mesher

New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

Mesh Edit Mode > Mesher tab > Mesher group > Advanced

icon

Location in ManualFlexible > Mesher > Meshing Functions in Mesh Mode >

Advanced Mesh


Description: Advanced Mesh can produce a better quality mesh forcertain, specific geometric shapes. The specific shapes that can bemeshed more efficiently with Advanced Mesh are 4-Sided, Circle, Cylinder,and 4-Sided More.

Examples of the specific types that can be efficiently meshed with AdvancedMesh


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Auto Mesh vs. Advanced Mesh

Benefits: Parametric meshing can sometimes improve the quality of themesh that can be created with the Mesher, especially in regions withcomplex CAD geometry.

2.6 Re-generation of FFlex Contour Data



New / Improved New

Location in User

InterfaceFlexible tab > FFlex group > Output Regenerator icon

Location in Manual Flexible > FFlex > Output File Regenerator


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Description: The data required for the flexible body contour display can

be altered and re-generated without having to re-run the simulation.

This allows for Contour displays of the output for shell top or bottom without

having to re-run the simulation. It also allows for the reference frame for the

stresses and strains to be changed.

Benefits: A significant amount of time can be saved by becausesimulations do not need to be re-run to get the results for both the top

and the bottom of shell elements. Being able to specify the reference

frame used for computing the stresses and strains displayed in the

Contour will also increase the usefulness of the post-processing of

RecurDyn.


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2.7 Shell Element Top/Bottom Output in the Plot

Window




Location in User

InterfaceFlexible tab > FFlex group > Output Regenerator icon

Location in Manual Flexible > FFlex > Output File Regenerator


Description: The plot data for nodes connected to shells now contains

stress and strain data for both the Top and the Bottom.


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Benefits: It is significantly more convenient to have the stress and strain

data for both the top and the bottom of the shells available in the plot

window for Post-Processing.

2.8 Automatic Creation of FFlex Output Nodes forMarkers




Location in User

Interface

Home tab > Model Setting group > Flexibility icon >

Flexibility dialog > FFlex tab > Automatic Output forMarker option

Location in ManualHome > Model Setting > Flexibility > FFlex tab >

Automatic Outputs for Markers


Description: RecurDyn now has the ability to automatically generate

Output nodes for nodes that have Markers attached to them. For Markersattached to FFlex bodies that are not attached to specific nodes, an

output is created for the nearest node to the Marker.


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Benefits: There are certain functions in RecurDyn, such as scopes, that

require output to be generated for nodes. Previously, it was required to

manually create the outputs for those nodes. Now, outputs are

automatically generated for those nodes, which can be very convenient

when modeling.

2.9 FDR Element Selection and Deletion




Location in UserInterface

FFlex Edit Mode > Database window >ElementComponents

Location in ManualFlexible > FFlex > Edit Functions for FFlexBody > Element

Modification > FDR Element


Description: The process of selecting and deleting FDR elements from

FFlex bodies has been improved. Now, FDR elements can be selected andby selecting the FDR element in the database window when in Flex Edit

Mode. Then they can be deleted by either pressing the Delete key or

right-clicking and selecting Delete from the pop-up menu. Furthermore,

the Properties dialog box for FDR elements contains a list of FDR

elements, and any FDR element can be deleted by selecting it in that list

and then clicking the Delete button at the bottom of the dialog box.


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Benefits: Previously, it could be difficult to select FDR elements in the

GUI window, which was required to delete them. Now, the deletion ofFDR elements is significantly easier.

2.10 Mesher Assist Modeling




Location in User

Interface

Mesh Edit Mode > Mesher tab > Mesher group > Assist

icon

Location in ManualFlexible > Mesher > Meshing Functions in Mesh Mode >

Assist Modeling



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Description: The functionality of the Meshers Assist Modeling has been

improved. Now, Assist Modeling allows for the use of multiple surfaces or

edges in the creation of each FDR elements when meshing.

Benefits: The creation of FDR elements during meshing is significantly

simpler. As a result, the application of joints or forces to bodies that are

meshed with the Mesher is much simpler now. The Mesher can create

more sophisticated FDR elements, which should reduce the amount of

time required to convert a rigid body into a FFlex body ready for use in a

analysis in which it will be constrained to other bodies through FDRelements.

2.11 Output Node Support for RFlex bodies


Product RecurDyn/RFlex


Location in User

Interface

RFlex Edit Mode > RFlex Edit tab > RFlex Edit group >

Output icon

RFlex Body Properties dialog > Output Scope tab

Location in Manual Flexible > RFlex > Edit Functions for RFlex body > Output



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Description: Now, output nodes can be defined on RFlex bodies.

Previously, output nodes could only be defined on FFlex bodies. This

allows the nodal output values to be used in the Plot window, Scopes,

Requests, and Expressions. Output nodes can be defined using the

Output icon in the RFlex Edit group in the RFlex Edit tab and the listof output nodes can be seen in the Output Scope tab of the RFlex body

properties dialog box.

The Output icon in RFlex Edit group

How to define a Scope for an output node in the RFlex Body Properties dialog

box

Benefits: The nodal output values can now be used in many ways, such

as in Expressions, Requests, Scopes, the Plot window.


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2.12 RFlex Calculation Speed


Product RecurDyn/RFlex


Location in User

Interface

-

Location in Manual -


Description: The calculation speed for models that have RFlex bodies

has been significantly improved through the use of an improved

formulation for calculating the Jacobian for RFlex bodies. For example,

simulations can be faster by 10x or more for models that have 100 modes.

The performance gains increase as the number of modes used increases.


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3.1 Flexible Roller for RecurDyn/MTT2D


Product RecurDyn/MTT2D

New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

Toolkit tab > Subsystem Toolkit group > MTT2D icon >

MTT2Dtab > Flexible Roller group

Location in ManualToolkit > MTT2D > Definition of Functions > Flexible Roller

Groups


Description: A new Flexible Roller (FE Roller) has been added to MTT2D.The Flexible Roller is similar to the previous rigid rollers. Fixed, Movable,and Roller Pairs can be Flexible Rollers. Flexible Rollers can also be usedin combination with rigid rollers.

New FE Roller Entities

o Fixed Flexible Roller

o Movable Flexible Roller

o Pair Flexible Roller

Each Flexible Roller is composed of a set of Shell4 elements and an FDR

element:


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Benefits: The analysis of paper feeding systems that contain flexible

rollers can be modeled. Therefore, a more correct and detailed design

analysis can be performed. Flexible rollers are useful in a number of

cases:

The translational velocity of the paper can be affected by the radius of the

roller at the point of contact.

The velocity that results from the change in the radius of the roller due to

deformation can cause paper curl.

The change in friction caused by the deformation of the roller and the change

in the size of the contact area can be captured.

The direction at which the head of the paper leaves the roller can be affected

by the deformation of the roller.

3.2 Tension Sensor for MTT2D/3D


Product RecurDyn/MTT2D, MTT3D

New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

Toolkit tab > Subsystem Toolkit group > MTT2D icon >

MTT2Dtab > Sensor group > Tension Sensor icon

Location in ManualToolkit > MTT3D > Definition of Functions > Sensors >

Tension Sensor


Description: A Tension Sensor to measure the tension in a sheet hasbeen added in MTT2D/3D. The images below show an example of the


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Tension Sensor measuring the tension in a sheet as the tension rises

when the slack is removed from the sheet between the roller pairs.

Benefits: This sensor will be able to help identify when there is a

difference in the velocity of rollers and can help identify the curl

phenomenon of paper the when performing a dynamic analysis.


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3.3 RecurDyn/eTemplate


Product RecurDyn/eTemplate

New / Improved New

Location in User

InterfaceCustomize tab > eTemplategroup > Run icon

Location in Manual eTemplate


Description: RecurDyn/eTemplate is a customization tool that allows

RecurDyn to be controlled by specially-formatted Microsoft Excel

spreadsheets. This allows Excel spreadsheets to be used to store the data

to completely define models. All data required to define a model can be

placed in the Excel spreadsheet. Using the power in Excel to manipulate

data, eTemplate enables users to create very sophisticated and powerful

tools to customize RecurDyn to improve their workflow and their data

management.

The process for using eTemplate is:

Create an Excel spreadsheet, formatted in the proper way, that

contains the data that defines a model.

Import the model into RecurDyn using RecurDyn/eTemplate.

The model is now ready to be modified by the user or directly used to

run an analysis.


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Benefits: eTemplate allows for a large number of potential benefits. It

can enable the user to improve workflow and data management because

RecurDyn model data can now be managed directly through Excel

spreadsheets. This can simplify the process of using RecurDyn in their

existing design processes. Furthermore, it can be used as a powerful

RecurDyn customization that allows expert users to create customized

tools for their organization or company. For example, an expert RecurDyn

user can create a specialized eTemplate model that allows non-expert

users to perform meaningful simulations using RecurDyn.

3.4 RFlex Durability


Product RecurDyn/Durability

New / Improved New

Location in User

InterfaceDurability tab

Location in Manual Durability


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Description: RecurDyn/Durability has been extended to include RFlex.

Previously, in V8R1, RecurDyn/Durability only supported FFlex.

In order to use Durability analysis with an RFlex body, a Patch Set or an

Element Set must be defined for the RFlex body in Body Edit Mode.

Benefits: Now, Durability can support both FFlex and RFlex in a single

environment.

3.5 CoLink


Product RecurDyn/CoLink


Location in User

InterfaceCoLinktab > Run CoLinkicon

Location in Manual CoLink


Description: Many aspects of CoLink were improved. The manual, the UI

icons as well as the general UI usability, and the stability of CoLink were

all improved.


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Specific list of improvements:

New improved icons

Automatic connection between blocks

o Ctrl-clicking two blocks causes a connection between them to be made

automatically

Aligning, sizing, and positioning of blocks

o Adding the function to move the line at a time by holding a corner of line

o Adding to define the location/ the size/ the arrangement between blocks


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Others

o Improved selection of entities when they are tightly clustered using the

select list dialog

o

The Shift+Tab keyboard short-cut has been added to allow for switchingbetween the model and subsystem tabs.

Benefits: The modifications to CoLink improve the overall experience of

using CoLink considerably.

3.6 RecurDyn/Particles


Product RecurDyn/Particles

New / Improved New

Location in User

InterfaceParticles tab

Location in Manual Particles


Description: Particle dynamics have been added to RecurDyn. Particledynamics is highly optimized to use the GPU for simulating very largenumbers of particles. These particles can interact with MFBD systems.The particles are modeled using DEM (Discrete element method).


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Benefits: The key benefit of RecurDyn/Particles is the ability to capture

the influence of particles on the system behavior, as well as the influence

of the system behavior on the particles.

3.7 TrackLM CAD Link


Product RecurDyn/TrackLM

New / Improved New

Location in User

Interface

Toolkit tab > Subsystem Toolkit group > TrackLM icon >

TrackLM tab > Link group > CAD Link icon

Location in ManualToolkit > Track_LM > User- defined CAD Entities > CAD

Link


Description: The geometry for the links, the sprockets, and the

single/double/center rollers in a TrackLM track assembly can be imported

from CAD. Then after defining the Grouser Profiles and Contact Surfaces,

simulations can be performed.


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Benefits: In RecurDyn V8R1 and prior versions, RecurDyn only supported

pre-defined geometry for track links. Now, users can use their own

geometry, which will improve the accuracy of the results.

3.8 Flexible Links in RecurDyn/TrackLM


Product RecurDyn/TrackLM


Location in User

Interface

Toolkit tab > Subsystem Toolkit group > TrackLM icon >

TrackLM tab > Link group > Convertor icon

Location in Manual Toolkit > Track_LM > Geometric Entities > Link Convertor


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Description: TrackLM now supports the modeling of links as flexible

bodies. A rigid link can be converted into a flexible link using the

Convert icon in the Link group of the Track(LM) tab. The simulationcan then be performed.

Benefits: The stress and strain in a link can now be predicted, and

Durability analyses can be performed as well. This allows for MBD

analyses, MFBD analyses, as well as Durability analyses of track links to

be performed in a single environment.


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Description:The air resistance force applied to a sheet in MTT2D/3D cannow be plotted.

Benefits: The air resistance force of each element or each segment can

be plotted independently.

3.11 Expressions for MTT2D Guide Velocity




Location in User

Interface

MTT2D > Guide Properties dialog > To Sheet botton >

Contact Parameter dialog > Guide Velocity

Location in Manual Toolkit > MTT2D > Definition of Functions > Guide Groups


Description: Guide velocities for MTT2D guides can now be defined

using expressions. Previously, MTT2D guide velocities could only be a

constant value.


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Benefits: This capability allows for guides to model conveyor belts.

3.12 Plotting of Principle Stresses and Strains for Sheets

in MTT3D and Beam Belts/Shell Belts in Belt


Product RecurDyn/MTT3D, RecurDyn/Belt


Location in User

InterfacePlot > Database window > Sheet entity, Belt entity

Location in Manual

Toolkit > MTT3D > What are special functionalities for

MTT3D? > Special Parametric Value (SPV) > Specialized

Outputs


Description: The principle stresses and principal strains for the sheet in

MTT3D and the beam belt and shell belt in the Belt Toolkit can be plotted

in Plot. Specifically, S1, S2, S3, SINT, E1, E2, E3, and EINT can be


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plotted. For sheets in MTT3D and shell belts in the Belt Toolkit, these

results can be plotted for both the top and the bottom of the shells.

Benefits: Not only in the Contour display, but now also in the plot, theprinciple stresses and strains can be displayed. Plot can be better for

comparing the results from multiple simulations.

3.13 MTT3D Distance Sensor




Location in UserInterface

MTT3D tab > Sensor group > Distance Sensor icon >

Distance Sensor Properties dialog > Calculate Distance

using Projected Sheet option


Distance Sensor > Distance Sensor dialog box


Description: The Distance Sensor in MTT3D can now be used to sensethe distance to the edge of a 2-dimensional projection of a sheet. If the

Calculate Distance Using Projected Sheet option is selected, then the

Distance Sensor will first project the shape of the sheet onto a 2D surface

and then calculate the distance to the closest edge of the 2D projection of

the sheet. If Calculate Distance Using Projected Sheet is not selected,

then it will calculate the distance to the face of the sheet.


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Benefits: Using the Calculate Distance Using Projected Sheet option,

paper skew can be detected.

3.14 Target Sheet for Sensors in MTT2D/3D


Product RecurDyn/MTT2D, MTT3D


Location in User

Interface

MTT2D, 3D tab > Sensor group > Sensor entity > Sensor

entity Properties dialog > Sensed Entity


Speed Sensor > Speed Sensor dialog box



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Description: All sensors in MTT2D/3D have been improved so that the

target entity can be defined. All other entities will be ignored by the

sensor.

Benefits: This is beneficial in cases where several sheets are being

simulated but it is desired to limit the targets of a particular sensor.

Documents

WhatsNew V8R2 English