MSC Elements 2025.1

MSC Elements 2025.1

MSC Elements 2025.1 is a modern, cloud-native simulation platform from Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, designed to make physics-based simulation more accessible and integrated into the product development lifecycle. It provides a unified environment for performing structural (FEA), thermal, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations directly on CAD geometry, with a strong emphasis on ease of use, automation, and collaboration. Unlike traditional high-end, specialist tools like MSC Nastran, Elements targets a broader audience of engineers, enabling “simulation-driven design” by providing fast, reliable results within a web-browser interface or a light desktop client connected to cloud computing resources.

It represents Hexagon’s strategic move towards democratizing simulation and leveraging cloud scalability.

Primary Users: Design Engineers, Simulation Engineers, and Product Developers who need integrated, easy-to-use simulation tools for structural, thermal, and fluid flow analysis early in the design process.

Key Features & Capabilities

Elements focuses on streamlined workflows for core engineering simulation types.

Integrated Simulation Modules:

1. Structural Simulation (FEA):

   • Linear Static Stress: Analyze displacements, stresses, and safety factors under mechanical loads.

   • Normal Modes: Calculate natural frequencies and mode shapes.

   • Simplified Nonlinearities: Basic support for large deflections and contact.

2. Thermal Simulation:

   • Steady-State & Transient Heat Transfer: Model conduction, convection, and radiation to predict temperatures and heat flows.

3. Fluid Flow Simulation (CFD):

   • Internal & External Flow: Analyze laminar and turbulent flows for pressure drop, velocity, and thermal management applications.

   • Electronics Cooling: Specialized workflows for simulating heat sinks and fan-cooled enclosures.

Platform & Workflow Features:

1. Cloud-Native Architecture:

   • Access Anywhere: Run simulations from any standard web browser. No high-end local hardware required for solving.

   • Scalable Cloud HPC: Solvers run on Hexagon’s cloud infrastructure, automatically scaling for larger models.

   • Centralized Data & Collaboration: All projects, models, and results are stored and versioned in the cloud, easily shareable with team members.

2. CAD Integration & Geometry Handling:

   • Direct CAD Connections: Live links with SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, and PTC Creo. Changes in CAD automatically update the simulation model.

   • Geometry Simplification & Defeaturing: Automated tools to clean up CAD for analysis while preserving geometry intent.

3. Automation & Usability:

   • Template-Driven Workflows: Save simulation setups as reusable templates to enforce best practices.

   • Automated Meshing: Robust automatic tetrahedral meshing with physics-based refinement.

   • App-Like Experience: Intuitive, guided user interface designed to reduce the learning curve for non-specialists.

4. Results Visualization & Reporting:

   • Interactive Web-Based 3D Viewer: Visualize contour plots, deformations, and streamlines directly in the browser.

   • Automated Reporting: Generate and share standardized simulation reports with stakeholders.

🖥️ System Requirements

Since the solvers run in the cloud, local system requirements are minimal for the web interface and connector.

Client/User System Requirements:

• A modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) for primary access.

• For the Desktop Connector: Windows 10/11 (64-bit), 8 GB RAM, a graphics card with basic 3D support, and an internet connection.

• No high-end workstation or compute license servers are needed locally.

Cloud/Server Side: Entirely managed by Hexagon on their cloud infrastructure.