14 Inspire Motion v2020 June05 2020

© Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire for Structural Analysis and Optimization, v2020
INSPIRE FOR STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION - V2020

CH14 - INSPIRE MOTION
1
Chapter 14 - Inspire Motion
• Inspire Motion Overview • Gravity
• Geometry Handling • Velocity ICs
• Ground Parts and Rigid Groups • Using Inspire Structures Features with Motion
• Joints • Suppress/Unsuppress Entities
• Couplers • Analyze Motion
• Motors • Force Explorer
• Actuators • Using Motion Loads for Other Analyses
• Using Table Data as Input • Exercise 14: Introduction to Inspire Motion
• Springs/Dampers • Questions & Answers
• Contacts
2
Inspire Motion Overview

What is Inspire Motion?
• Part of Altair’s Inspire product line.
• Integrated with Inspire Geometry, Structures and Topology Optimization. Allows for integrated workflow
between geometry modification, linear-Static structural FEA and topology shape optimization environments.
• Automatically assigns motion-generated forces as boundary condition inputs for structural FEA or topology
optimization.
• Runs on MotionSolve solver engine.
• Compatible with MotionView/MotionSolve.
• Can be coupled with Activate for control system simulation and modeling.
• Accessed using the Motion menu option to enable the Motion tools ribbon.
3

Workflow
Ribbon bar icons are arranged with the intent that the User will work (primarily) from left to right when building the model
• Practice the Crawl / Walk / Run approach when building your simulation models
• Simplify the model, gradually add features and simulate periodically as you progress.
4

Toolbelt
1. To access the Motion toolbelt:
• + and drag to select a tool.
2. To access the full Motion toolbelt:
• Hold down + + > on a tool to select it.
2
1
5
Geometry Handling
Common CAD and neutral file format support
• Geometry is not linked or associative with original CAD model v2020
• CAD sub assembly structure maintained
• CAD material properties do not map to Inspire v2020
Geometry creation options
• Import from CAD file
• Create inside Inspire
Geometry change options
• Modify the CAD model, re-import and re-attach joints
• Modify inside Inspire

6
Ground Parts and Rigid Groups

• Ground and Moving parts are indicated in the Model Browser by different icons: Moving
• Parts are considered moving by default (6 DOF).
• Ground parts are fixed to the background, preventing motion (No DOF).
Ground
• Most models will need at least one ground part.
Note: Users can not measure reaction force on grounded parts. If measuring reaction force is necessary for your model,
attach the part to the background using one or more Joints Supports and measure the forces acting on the joints.
• Rigid Groups are used to simplify the model connection and analysis by considering
the mass and inertia properties of several parts as a single structure
• When defining Joints, features between components

in a rigid group will not be detected.
• When using the guide bar to navigate the Rigid Groups,

the currently active group will be highlighted as red.
7
Joints
Joints connect parts or rigid groups to other parts or rigid groups through specific features or locations
to limit the relative motion between them.
• There are two ways to define Joints:
• Automatically (using feature detection by filtering)
• Manually (available only while using Aligned Holes or Single Holes filter / hold down for face selection).
• The type of joint created depends on the type of features detected.
• Joint types can be changed after created.
• By default, Joints are treated as flexible (bushings). This is to help alleviate possible redundant constraints.
• Joints can be changed from flexible to rigid from the Property Editor or from the Advanced simulation settings
dialog.
8
Joints
Joint Auto-Search
• 5 connection types available: Pin, Grounded Pin, Sliding Pin, Grounded Sliding Pin, Ball and Socket
• Clicking the Joints button starts the auto-search
• To create joints automatically, click the Connect All

button on the guidebar.
• The Joints Auto-Search will not search for joints

between parts within the same rigid group
• Setting Rigid Groups prior to using the Joints tool within the model reduces the joint search time
Changing
joint types
9
Joints
Guide Bar & Options Menu
The Joints guide bar and options menus provide extra flexibility and search criteria:
Advanced
options
Hole size Create joints one- Clear all Auto assign

by-one by detected joint type or
stepping through pairs user-override
Distance between faces the detected pairs
Hints:
• For models with many parts, only “show” a few at a time to speed the filter detection when defining joints.
• If features are not being detected automatically, try changing the search criteria or using manual selection
• Use Rigid Groups when possible to reduce unwanted features from being detected
• Use Inspire Geometry to add features (holes) where a joint connection may be needed
• Joints can be set to Locked, Active, or Free for debugging and investigative purposes
10 • The features work intelligently depending on whether you are creating or editing a joint
Joints
Autofind
Automatic Find can be turned off in the Preferences:
Note: For more information about joints

and degrees of freedom (DOF), see the
Joint Types and States page in the Inspire Help.
11
Couplers
Use the Couplers tool to couple the rotational or translational movements of connected parts. You can create two-way
or three-way couplers.
• Motion ribbon > Connections group > Couplers
• A coupler allows you to specify a mathematical ratio which affects the movement of parts. It's useful for conceptual
prototyping and general motion modeling.
• However, if you're interested in capturing detailed loading (like force distribution on gear teeth) or lash effects, these
are better handled by motion contacts.
• Valid Joint Types and Connections that Can Be Coupled

• Can Be Coupled: • Can’t Be Coupled
• Pin • Hinge • Ball and socket
• Grounded pin • Cylindrical • Planar

• Translational • Unknown
• Sliding pin
12 • Grounded sliding pin

Motors
Motors allow models to be driven with time-dependent rotational motion or loading.
• Creating motors in Inspire requires two clicks: placing a shaft and placing a base (or mount)
• The motor shaft can be defined using a hole, surface, or pin
• When defining a motor using a pin, the motor replaces the pin.
In this case, the motor shaft is oriented to the pin axis.
• The base can be defined using a hole or surface
• When selecting the same feature as the first click, the motor will
mount to (and react against) Ground.
• The motor appears and the microdialog for the motor becomes active.
• Motor graphic is scaled according to area of the first selected feature. Graphic can be manually scaled by changing the
shaft radius in the Property Editor.
13
Motors
Options for defining a Motor:
• Select a Hole
Pre-defined
• Select a Surface Solver expression
curve options
option for
• Select Pin advanced input
functions
Table data
Motor types: (spreadsheet)
• Angular displacement
• Speed (default)
• Acceleration
Use to output plant
• Torque block to Activate
14
Motors
• With the option User Controller , Angle and Speed motors can (optionally) use
PID controller input parameters. Using this option also allows input signals to be used
in an Activate plant model.
15
Motors
Motors can provide one of the following driving functions:
• Step (default)
• Step-Dwell-Step
• Single Wave
• Oscillating
• Swept Sine
• Impulse
• Ramp
• Solver Expression
• Table
• The Angle, Speed, Acceleration, or Torque is specified through the microdialog.

• The +/- button can be used to toggle the direction of rotation of the shaft OR clicking on the rotation arrow
on the motor while the microdialog is active.
16
Actuators
Actuators allow models to be driven with time-dependent translational motion or loading.
• The Actuators guide bar offers two methods for creating actuators:
• Connected Parts actuator creation offers convenience
• Features-based actuator creation offers flexibility.
• Create Feature-based Actuators:
• Creating Features-based actuators in Inspire requires two clicks: placing a shaft and placing a base (or mount)
1. The actuator shaft can be defined using a hole, surface or pin. When defining an actuator using a pin, the
actuator replaces the pin. In this case, the actuator shaft is oriented to the pin axis
2. The base can be defined using a hole or surface. When selecting the same feature as the first click, the
actuator will mount to (and react against) Ground.
• Create Actuators using Connected Parts search:
• Creating actuators in Inspire using the Connected Parts

option requires a single click: click anywhere on a detected red pair to create an actuator.
17
Actuators
Actuator types:
• Displacement
Pre-defined
Solver expression
curve options
• Velocity option for
advanced input
• Acceleration functions
• Force Table data

(spreadsheet)
• Displacement and Velocity actuators can
(optionally) use PID controller input
parameters. Using this option also allows input
signals to be used in an Activate plant model. Use to output
plant block to
• For actuators that have a Controller Activate
(Displacement, Velocity) and for Force
actuators Rotate with Part, in the Property
Editor, enables to rotate (or not rotate) with
shaft part.
18
Actuators
Actuators can provide one of the following driving functions:
• Step
• Step-Dwell-Step (default)
• Single Wave
• Oscillating
• Swept Sine
• Impulse
• Ramp
• Solver Expression
• Table
• The Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration, or Force is specified through the micro dialog.
• The +/- button can be used to toggle the direction of translation OR clicking on the direction
arrow on the actuator while the micro dialog is active.
19
Using Table Data as Input

Actuators and Motors
Both motors and actuators can be driven by pre-determined profiles.
• If the built-in profiles (Step, Oscillating, etc.) do not provide what you have in mind,
you can use the Table profile to define your own profile(s).
• If you have tabular data in two columns (e.g. test data) you can use the Table profile to drive your motor or actuator.
• The Profile Editor lets you adjust the Table profile graphically or by editing from the table view.
20
Springs/Dampers
Springs and Dampers in Inspire apply spring-damper forces between two parts:
• Coil springs provide translational force and damping
• Torsion springs provide rotational force and damping
• Spring units shown are Display units
• Spring units will be converted to Model units for analysis.
Spring/Dampers can be created in the following combinations:
• Spring Damper
• Spring only
• Damper only
To define a Spring:
• Select either the Coil spring or the Torsion spring icon
• Select a location
• Select a second location
• The Spring is created and the options microdialog appears
21
Springs/Dampers
Quick Coil Spring-to-Ground Connection
• For coil springs, you can quickly create a connection

to ground by clicking a feature on a part twice. This
also works when clicking on pin joints and bolt
fasteners while creating coil springs.
• This is an easy way to make a spring connection

without having to first create some solid part to
represent the ground part location.
• The feature you click on (twice) can be on a part

(surface, hole, etc.), or on a pin or bolt.
22
23
Springs/Dampers Preload indicator vectors

(tension/ compression)
Springs and Dampers - Options
Linear damper graphic
• Defining a Coil Spring/Damper:
• Select a part Linear spring graphic
• Select a pin
• Select fastener
• Springs can be preloaded to provide a specified force
at their created position. If a pre-load is specified, red
arrow vectors appear stemming from the ends of the
spring:
Rotational
• In compression, the arrows point outward
spring/damper
• In tension, the arrows point inward. graphic
• Defining a torsional (rotational) Spring/Damper:
Preload indicator
• Select hole vectors (tension/
compression)
• Select location on a surface
• Select a pin.
24
Contacts
Use the Contacts tool to create Motion Contacts between parts or sets of parts.
• Typical use cases include latches, cams, and other parts that have persistent or intermittent contact
behavior including friction effects.
• Sets are used to simplify creation of contacts, as shown in the following examples.
Note: Contacts are not created between parts in the same set but are established between parts in the different sets.
25
Contacts
Contacts can be created by selecting parts one by one or using the options By Material or By Rigid Group.
1. Select parts to place in the first set. Use the key to add or remove parts to a set.
The part counters on the guide bar are updated as you add and remove parts from the sets.
2. Click Parts2 on the guide bar and select parts to place in the second set.
3. Click Create on the guide bar.
Note: If the motion contact sets contain parts that are detected as sphere, ellipsoid, box, cylinder and frustum
geometric primitives, the solution for those shapes will be analytical rather than mesh-based. Using geometric
primitives like this can give you improved efficiency of solution.
26
Gravity
The Gravity icon on the ribbon allows the gravitational direction to be changed
• By default, gravity is on for Inspire motion models
• The direction of gravity can be changed using a Rotate tool on the microdialog
• Clicking X, Y or Z will set gravity to that axis. Clicking again will flip the vector direction
• The components of the gravity vector can be set in the Gravity microdialog
Gravity direction
• Gravity can be enabled or disabled using the Run Motion Analysis options indicator
Rotation tool
Component
of the gravity
vector
27
Velocity ICs
Translational ICs
• Motion ribbon > Forces group > >

• You can specify the Velocity Initial Conditions for parts in
a motion model. Select a part to create an
Initial Conditions set.
• On the microdialog you can enter the magnitude and
set the component of the Initial Translational Velocity vector.
• Manage the Initial Conditions set with
the EDIT MODE and the Property Editor.
28
Velocity ICs
Rotational ICs
• Motion ribbon > Forces group > >
• Select a part to create an Initial Conditions set.
• On the microdialog you can enter the magnitude and

set the component of the Initial Angular Velocity vector.
• Manage the Initial Conditions set with

the EDIT MODE and the Property Editor.
29
30
Using Inspire Structures Features with Motion

The following Structure Features can be used in an Inspire Motion simulation:
• Fasteners
• Joints
• Connectors
• Apply Force
• Apply Torque
• Apply Concentrated mass
Each of these tools can be found in the Structure ribbon of Inspire.
Pressure, available through the Loads tool, is NOT supported in Motion simulation. 
31
Suppress/Unsuppress Entities
Suppress and Unsuppress joints, fasteners and motion entities in a model.
You can Suppress and Unsuppress motion entities to better understand

their effects on system behavior.
When an entity is suppressed, it is removed from the model along with its
dependents but is not deleted.
A suppressed entity appears in the Model Browser in a disabled state and is

not considered in the motion analysis
• To suppress an entity, on it and select Suppress from the context menu
• To unsupress an entity, on the entity in the Model Browser or Table and

select Unsuppress
32
Analyze Motion
Analyzing a model in Inspire is as simple as clicking the Quick Run section of the Analyze Motion icon
(also accessible by pressing F9).
For a more detailed or specific analysis, the satellite icon can be used to enter the Run Motion Analysis dialog.
1. End Time: Choose from pre-defined run times and sampling rates
2. Output Rate: Controls the resolution of the animation, the number
of data points making up plots, and the number of output steps
available for exporting motion loads to a structural analysis or
topology optimization
3. Animate: Allow to animate while solving each time step (slower)
or animate after the math solution is completed (faster)
4. Analysis Type: Solve Statics, Transient or Static + transient analysis
5. Gravity: Toggle gravity On/Off
6. Contacts: To select contact options for motion analysis.
7. Advanced: Access advanced simulation settings.
• The Generate Animation File option creates a run.h3d file that
can be used to play back the animation in HyperWorks
33
Analyze Motion
Plotting Results
• Can only plot when there are simulation results stored in memory. Look for:
• Playback slider at bottom of screen
• Blue check mark next to Analyze Motion icon
• When simulation results are available, there are three ways
to plot results:
• Mouse click on a part or feature in the Graphics Area
• Click on a feature name in the Model Browser
• Plot Manager by clicking
• on a plot to open an interactive plot in a resizable,
dockable window.
• Click blank space in the Graphics Area to dismiss the current plot.
To move a plot, drag the border of the plot using the move handle.
on a displayed plot to access other plot types. Plots can be exported to CSV formats.
34
Analyze Motion
Tracers
Tracers allow path history tracing of points within a Motion Analysis.
The traced path is dependent upon completed motion analysis results.
After a path is drawn, it can be used for geometry creation and modification.
Tracers tab:
35
Analyze Motion
Animating Results
When analysis is complete, the animation widget will appear at the bottom of the graphics area.
Three options for viewing animation results:
1. Select Quick Run button on Analyze Motion icon. Clicking the button will start an analysis if results are not
present OR will playback results from a stored animation. Click to Open Run Folder.
2. Select Play button on animation playback tool
3. Click, hold down and drag the slider on animation playback tool.
Model can be saved in a simulated position and used as starting point for subsequent simulations.
Click to Click, hold and drag Make Current

animate to animate results Frame the New
results Design Position
Additional Display
animation the Plot
settings Manager
Click to move to Click to move to Enter exact time to

36 First/Previous Step Next/Last Step move animation to
Analyze Motion
Animating Results
When a button on the animation widget has focus, it is surrounded by a dashed line or highlighted in red:
• Press to activate/deactivate the currently focused button
• allows users to move the focus to the next button on the widget & + moves to previous widget
Once you click on the animation slider bar, use the left and right arrow keys of the
keyboard to move through the available results frame-by-frame.
Animation Settings provide finer control over animation
• Playback: Select whether to play the animation on a continuous Loop, Once or Bounce
(between forwards and backwards). Select the check box to Reverse Playback.
• Display: Set the units for the slider to either Time or Frame.
• Increment By: Increase the value in the counter to skip frames during playback. The
reset button restores the default value of 1.
• Speed: Drag the slider to change the speed of the animation. To maximize playback
speed even further, use the Increment By option to skip frames.
37
Analyze Motion
Animating and Plotting Results
Use the Plot Manager to browse and plot motion results data, create cross plots (data vs. data),
define pages in different layouts and save the plots you've defined as a template for reuse.
38
39
Force Explorer
• Use Force Explorer to visualize force and torque vectors in a Motion Analysis - this is useful for understanding
how loads are developing in your mechanisms, as well as presentations and debugging.
• The Force Explorer tool is accessed by clicking the Run group label on the Motion ribbon or by clicking F10.
• The show options let you control the visibility of each entity available
in your motion results:
• Show Forces: Show or hide all forces in the motion run
• Show Torques: Show or hide all torques in the motion run
• Show Text: Show or hide the numerical values of the forces and torques
• Show Always on Top: Always draw the force or torque vectors on top of geometry
• Show Implicit Joints: Show or hide all forces and torque vectors associated with
40 implicit joints. Structural forces and torques are also shown if present in the model
Using Motion Loads for Other Analyses

Motion loads can be used as boundary condition inputs to an Inspire Structures Analysis
or Topology Optimization.
Inspire Motion automatically assigns the load value and direction at each connection point.
Both the Time range and Loads from all time samples option view allow viewing stress contour plots while animating
the motion.
• For Analyze Part and Optimize Part operations
• Use # peak loads per connection from either all time samples or
from specified “Time range”
• Use # evenly spaced samples for seeing how stresses develop
as the part is moved
• Use loads from either all time samples or from specified “Time range”
(use this option if you plan to view stress contour plots while animating the motion)
• Specify a specific range of time to obtain load samples.
• Use summed contact forces: Summed at Contact Region representation
of the contact forces instead of the individual contact forces themselves.
41
Exercise 14 - Introduction to Inspire Motion
File Name and Location

..\STUDENT-EXERCISE\Ch14\Exercise_14_Basic_Joints_&_Plots.stmod
Exercise Goals
1. Create the Contacts and set Gravity
2. Perform a Quick Run
3. See Joints reactions and displacement
42
Step 1: Create the Contacts

a) File > Open > ..\STUDENT-EXERCISE\Ch14\Exercise_14_Basic_Joints_&_Plots.stmod
b) Structure ribbon > Joints tool > start the auto-search

c) Click Connect All to connect the found feature pairs with Pin Joints
d) Change the feature selector from All to Single Holes
e) Click Connect All to create Grounded Pins at the Single Holes.
43
Step 2: Perform a Quick Run

a) Motion ribbon > Gravity tool > reset the gravity direction to Y
b) Click the Quick Run portion of the Analyze Motion icon.
c) When the run is complete, click on any part to review a plot of the Part CM – Displacements.
d) Use the Animation toolbar to play back results.
44
Step 3: See joints reactions and displacement

a) Use the Tracers tool to show the displacement of specific points in the model in the graphics area.
b) Click on the drop-down next to the Run ribbon label to access the Force Explorer post-processing tools (or press F10)
c) Activate the Show Joint Forces button and animate the model to show the realtime forces on the parts.
Tip: Always check the direction and scale of the Gravity vector prior
to running a motion model since gravity may have an effect on
the analysis and results.
45
Exercise (Optional): Motion Contacts and Force Explorer
File Name and Location

..\STUDENT-EXERCISE\Ch14\Optional_GenevaWheel.stmod
Exercise Goals
1. View Mechanism Behavior
2. Create the contacts
3. Include the friction
Exercise Hint
• Review video:
Note: for more details see the tutorial: Motion Contacts and Force Explorer in the Help.
46
47
Exercise (Optional): Motion Contacts and Force Explorer
Step 1: View Mechanism Behavior

a) File > Open > ..\STUDENT-EXERCISE\Ch14\Optional_GenevaWheel.stmod
b) Run Motion Analysis to View Mechanism Behavior.
Step 2: Create the contacts

a) Create a Motion Contact between three parts.
b) Run a Motion Analysis with the Motion Contact Defined
c) Review Motion Analysis Results using the Force Explorer
Step 3: Include the friction

a) Edit the Motion Contact to Include Friction
b) Individualize the Motion Contact
c) Run a Motion Analysis and Animate the results
d) Plot Motion Contact results
e)
48 Save the model with Motion Results
More After...
Do you want to learn more on

motion simulations?
There is a specific training on

Inspire Motion
49
Questions & Answers
50

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© Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.

Inspire for Structural Analysis and Optimization, v2020

INSPIRE FOR STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION - V2020

Chapter 14 - Inspire Motion

• Inspire Motion Overview • Gravity

• Geometry Handling • Velocity ICs

• Joints • Suppress/Unsuppress Entities

• Couplers • Analyze Motion

• Motors • Force Explorer

• Actuators • Using Motion Loads for Other Analyses

• Using Table Data as Input • Exercise 14: Introduction to Inspire Motion

• Springs/Dampers • Questions & Answers

Inspire Motion Overview

• Part of Altair’s Inspire product line.

• Runs on MotionSolve solver engine.

• Compatible with MotionView/MotionSolve.

Inspire Motion Overview

Inspire Motion Overview

1. To access the Motion toolbelt:

• + and drag to select a tool.

2. To access the full Motion toolbelt:

• Hold down + + > on a tool to select it.

• Geometry is not linked or associative with original CAD model v2020

• CAD sub assembly structure maintained

• CAD material properties do not map to Inspire v2020

Geometry creation options

• Import from CAD file

• Create inside Inspire

Geometry change options

• Modify the CAD model, re-import and re-attach joints

• Modify inside Inspire

Ground Parts and Rigid Groups

• Parts are considered moving by default (6 DOF).

• When defining Joints, features between components

• When using the guide bar to navigate the Rigid Groups,

• There are two ways to define Joints:

• Automatically (using feature detection by filtering)

• The type of joint created depends on the type of features detected.

• Joint types can be changed after created.

• Clicking the Joints button starts the auto-search

• To create joints automatically, click the Connect All

• The Joints Auto-Search will not search for joints

Hole size Create joints one- Clear all Auto assign

Automatic Find can be turned off in the Preferences:

Note: For more information about joints

• Motion ribbon > Connections group > Couplers

• Valid Joint Types and Connections that Can Be Coupled

• Grounded pin • Cylindrical • Planar

12 • Grounded sliding pin

• The motor shaft can be defined using a hole, surface, or pin

• The base can be defined using a hole or surface

• The Angle, Speed, Acceleration, or Torque is specified through the microdialog.

• Connected Parts actuator creation offers convenience

• Features-based actuator creation offers flexibility.

• Create Feature-based Actuators:

• Create Actuators using Connected Parts search:

• Creating actuators in Inspire using the Connected Parts

• Force Table data

Using Table Data as Input