Simcenter Inspire combines simulation-driven design, structural optimization, geometric modeling, and manufacturability assessment in a single product development environment. Version 2026.1 expands implicit modeling capabilities, improves structural and motion analysis, accelerates design exploration, and provides a more seamless experience across the Structure, Motion, Fluids, and Manufacturing environments.
Highlights include controlling implicit geometry using CAD tools and expressions; incorporating casting porosity into optimization; Physics AI predictions; interactive flow simulation; and managing geometry configurations across profiles.
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Version 2026.1 introduces Extrude, Revolve, and Sweep operations for implicit objects. Unlike traditional CAD operations, which can fail at self-intersections or coincident faces, implicit modeling offers a more robust representation of geometry. Control fields can influence extrusion length or vary the cross-section along a sweep path.
Application value: Create complex, controlled geometric variations without relying entirely on explicit geometry operations.
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Previously, implicit mathematical functions primarily required the Python API. The new release brings these functions into the graphical interface and provides contextual guidance for creating commonly used mathematical fields.
Application value: Engineers can configure formula-driven geometric effects more quickly, even without advanced Python programming skills.
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The tool supports two-dimensional implicit geometry, enabling the creation of complex cross-sections for subsequent Extrude and Revolve operations. Designers can combine multiple 2D implicit objects using supported operations.
Application value: Expand the range of geometry that can be created from implicit functions and basic 2D geometry.
Designers can define the size and position of the bounding box used to evaluate implicit geometry instead of being restricted to the default domain.
Application value: Prevent unintended clipping of geometry and focus detailed evaluation on the required regions.
The tool automatically generates the corresponding Python code to recreate a configured implicit object. This bridges interactive modeling and the development of API-based automation workflows.
Application value: Reduce manual coding effort, facilitate reuse, and help users learn Python API calls.
Simcenter Inspire adds the ability to save and import Parasolid Convergent Mesh data and to exchange implicit geometry and STL data with NX through the corresponding connection. Objects can be reloaded in mesh form.
Application value: Improve data efficiency and continuity of geometry workflows between Inspire and Designcenter NX.
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Porosity Constraint helps steer porosity away from highly stressed regions toward less critical areas. This approach directly considers potential casting manufacturing issues during structural optimization.
Application value: Support the design of cast components with improved load-carrying capability and durability while considering material efficiency.
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After a normal modes analysis, Analysis Explorer can display modal participation factors, providing quantitative information in addition to mode shapes.
Application value: Better assess the contribution of individual vibration modes when selecting design alternatives or evaluating vibration behavior.
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The new Rivets tool enables users to create rivets at specified points or cylindrical holes in assembly models.
Application value: Represent riveted connections more appropriately in structural models with mechanical joints.
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OS Fastener Realization introduces additional nut-and-bolt representations with more appropriate connection stiffness options, addressing the limitations of overly stiff finite element bolt models.
Application value: Improve how closely modeled bolted connections reflect real mechanical behavior.
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Seam weld creation methods have been expanded to accommodate a wider range of modeling scenarios.
Application value: Reduce dependence on intermediate operations when preparing welded connections.
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Suppress and Delete options are now easier to access, and new capabilities support finding and connecting groups based on gap or penetration criteria.
Application value: Identify and correct disconnected component groups more quickly..png)
In Motion Analyst, engineers can inspect the alignment between entity attachment points and flexible-body interface nodes, as well as define customized modal damping.
Application value: Improve the reliability of deformable-body representation and load transfer in motion models.
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Motion Analyst supports additional graphical geometry formats, direct assignment to bodies, and orientation using user-defined reference systems.
Application value: Increase flexibility when motion models require different types of geometric representations.
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Contact modeling supports file-based geometry and primitive shapes, together with an integrated expression builder for defining contact parameters.
Application value: Configure mechanical interactions more flexibly across different geometry types.
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The Symmetry feature supports creating and editing PolyNURBs using symmetry rules, reducing the need to work separately on both sides of the geometry.
Application value: Improve consistency and accelerate editing of symmetric components.
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The Design Explorer Run Matrix can now be reviewed and edited before execution. Previously, the set of runs was predetermined and difficult to modify.
Application value: Gain greater control over the experimental design cases to be executed during design exploration.
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When design variables are changed or responses are added, users can choose to create a new exploration or overwrite an existing one.
Application value: Manage exploration scenarios more effectively while avoiding unintended loss of previous design results.
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Physics AI Prediction displays predictions directly in Inspire for new geometry using a trained AI model. Training data can come from OptiStruct and Simsolid runs; the presentation also references Cast, Mold, Extrusion, and Forming results.
Application value: Screen new design alternatives with simulation predictions in the design environment, helping shorten evaluation cycles.
In Simcenter Inspire Fluids, users can modify geometry and immediately observe the effects on flow fields and performance. This approach brings geometric modeling and CFD assessment closer together.
Application value: Enable faster design iteration and identify flow trends while refining configurations.
Motion Analyst introduces a virtual experimentation environment based on analysis sequences and successive modification commands applied to the original model.
Application value: Investigate multiple motion scenarios without creating a separate model for each experiment.
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Hard points can be created from X, Y, Z coordinate tables or imported from ASCII files, with coordinates expressed in a user-defined reference system.
Application value: Reduce geometric point setup effort and simplify mechanism parameterization.
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Structure, Motion, Fluids, and Manufacturing profiles are brought together in a unified interface experience. Engineers can move between profiles rather than switching among disconnected workflows.
Application value: Maintain workflow continuity across design, simulation, and manufacturing tasks.
Construction history now includes Base Configuration and Profile Configuration, distinguishing geometry changes that apply across all profiles from those specific to the active environment.
Application value: Minimize unintended cross-profile effects and improve management of multidisciplinary model configurations.
Motion curve entities can be driven by Inspire sketches such as lines, slots, and splines, supporting Point-to-Curve, Curve-to-Curve, and Polybeam constraints.
Application value: Strengthen parametric connections between sketch geometry and motion mechanisms.
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Analyze Part results based on motion-analysis loads are stored in the Inspire file, allowing users to retrieve and compare different runs.
Application value: Quickly review component stresses and displacements under dynamic loads without rebuilding result data.
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Joints are color-coded according to how they were created (Designer or Analyst) and whether they are rigid or compliant. Motion Analyst also includes a color legend.
Application value: Identify and inspect joint types in a model more quickly.
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Topology Explorer supports more entity types and provides a way to step through their connections.
Application value: Verify connectivity and detect mechanism irregularities more easily.
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Rigid group creation and manipulation have been aligned between Motion Designer and Motion Analyst where appropriate.
Application value: Reduce duplicate operations and improve consistency in mechanism modeling workflows.
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A new micro dialog provides quick access to key Field object properties during creation or editing.
Application value: Reduce the time needed to define field properties in a model.
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The animation toolbar now includes an icon for accessing flexible-body stress and deformation results.
Application value: Simplify assessment of structural responses associated with motion.
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Motion Analyst uses MMKS as the default unit system for expressions, helping align expression units with display settings and other Inspire environments.
Application value: Reduce confusion caused by inconsistent unit systems when defining expressions.
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This release focuses on five areas of improvement: creating and controlling implicit geometry; modeling structures and connections with greater mechanical fidelity; exploring designs using Design Explorer and Physics AI; shortening analysis iterations with interactive CFD; and integrating profiles, configurations, and Motion tools into a connected workflow.
Simcenter Inspire 2026.1 expands the use of simulation in early design decisions, particularly for complex geometry, optimization, motion, and multidisciplinary engineering applications.
