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About Ansys Discovery

Ansys Discovery is the first simulation-driven design tool to combine instant physics simulation, proven Ansys high-fidelity simulation

Learn more about Ansys Discovery

Pros:

Ansys discovery is a great tool for easy and quick simulation.

Cons:

This is of course related to the accuracy of such calculations. It should be kept in mind that this ANSYS Discovery which is mostly targeted for problems not requiring very high accuracy.

Ansys Discovery ratings

Average score

Ease of Use
3.9
Customer Service
4.5
Features
3.6
Value for Money
3.9

Likelihood to recommend

6.9/10

Ansys Discovery has an overall rating of 3.9 out 5 stars based on 16 user reviews on Capterra.

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Filter reviews (16)

Yusuf
Yusuf
Cfd Process Manager in Türkiye
Verified LinkedIn User
Automotive, 5,001–10,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Effective for pre design

3.0 2 years ago

Pros:

İts effective for simple predesign and userfriendly

Cons:

You can not complex simulation. It can be improve

Augusto
Mechanical Engineer in Peru
Mining & Metals, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Ansys Discovery : A diferent persperctive of real simulation

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: When I first got in touch with the student version of this software I knew that i was dealing with a software that can meet th expectations of how simulaion need to be done

Pros:

I like the powerful and capabilities that are built into the software.

Cons:

I think the price is one of the cons when you come to chose a simulation software

Ewen
Product Development Engineer in US
Automotive, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

It's a good start, but there are a lot of opportunities for improvement.

1.0 3 years ago

Comments: It's a good start. The very quick solution turn around using GPUs is definitely a benefit. But the limitations and clunkiness of the program makes it such that I can hardly use it ever (because my models requires a capability that Ansys Discovery Live currently does not or cannot offer).

Pros:

With the proper and appropriate hardware, you can obtain a solution significantly faster than conventional solution methods by leveraging the power of GPUs, even older ones. For simple problems (i.e. single parts and/or basic external vehicle aerodynamics), it is very easy to set up.

Cons:

I'll give what I think are opportunities for improvements based on domain. Static structural - does not handle multiple parts/complex assemblies very well. Does not/cannot model non-linear contacts. Does not/cannot simulate non-linear materials. Defining and applying custom materials is sometimes quite cumbersome. Fluids - Cannot extract important engineering values from the fluid simulation, e.g. coefficient of drag/coefficient of lift from the external aerodynamics example. Cannot select other turbulence models. (Last I inquired, you can ONLY use the LES turbulence model, which is invalid for certain types/classes of analyses.) Cannot model air as an ideal gas (compressible flow solver). Cannot define point heat sources. Direct modelling/manipulation - if you have a part with defined dimensions (part from print), it is quite cumbersome to reproduce the part using the direct manipulation method. Direct manipulation method is great when you are trying to experiment with new designs and you are trying to figure out which design will work best, but if you are trying to test/verify an existing design and you don't have the original/source CAD part, which requires you to re-model it in Ansys Discovery Live/SpaceClaim, it's ridiculously complicated to create, for example, a dimension that is symmetrical/mirrored. Topology optimisation - Sometimes the result from the topology optimisation does not pass the FEA analysis.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Computer Software, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Ansys Discovery Review

5.0 last year

Pros:

Discovery offers us a fast, live, accurate early simulation. Discovery has a complete end-to-end workflow from modeling to refined simulation.

Cons:

It requires high-end hardware requirements in order to get a smooth experience

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Ansys Discovery

4.0 2 years ago

Pros:

Ansys Discovery is a powerful Tool which is capable of creating 3D Models simulations and Analysis of different structures and designs

Cons:

The thing that i don't like is that there are many CAD/CAE and simulation software in the market that provide better features at a low price

Sean
owner, engineer in US
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Complete waste of money

3.0 3 years ago

Comments: Every time I tried to use Discovery, I spent several days trying to get it to work, usually only succeeding when I could copy an existing demo and then replacing the geometry instead of starting from scratch because of all the UI bugs and order of operations is critical for functionality but the UI does not help you understand which order is functional. Every project took several days to get to the 90% completion phase, and then I would need one aspect - rotation, movement, mixing, a video with rotating propeller, etc. and support would notify me that I would need to start over from scratch in fluent / CFX and my days of setup were a complete waste.

Pros:

Its a complete standalone software. It doesn't need anything else to function.

Cons:

It's a complete standalone software. I can't use it on existing simulations, or transfer simulations from discovery directly to fluent / mechanical. If I do I have to redesign everything, remodel everything, reset the boundary conditions and everything

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Higher Education Software, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Good for Quick Simulations

4.0 2 years ago

Comments: I enjoy using ANSYS Discovery for simple and quick simulations. I don't expect it to match the higher precision and accuracy of other ANSYS tools, but it is okay since the user should know what they are doing. I definitely recommend it.

Pros:

Ansys discovery is a great tool for easy and quick simulation. It offers a streamlined workflow for the user to quickly setup a problem's geometry and mesh, then setup the properties and boundary conditions. In addition, optimization is very efficient as changing the problem's variable is very simple and not time consuming.

Cons:

Although the mentioned advantages look very attractive, there is a downside for quick and simple simulations. This is of course related to the accuracy of such calculations. It should be kept in mind that this ANSYS Discovery which is mostly targeted for problems not requiring very high accuracy. Other than that, the software sometimes crashes unexpectedly or won't start at all if graphic card requirementw are not met (which are actually very high)

Godwin
Godwin
Additive Manufacturing Engineer in Nigeria
Verified LinkedIn User
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Simulation and Experimentation in Real Time

5.0 3 years ago

Comments: Ansys Discovery is relatively easy to use and it gives real time simulation at its best as you don't get to wait long period of time just to get results, they are delivered instantly in the explore mode. With this, you can easily experiment with different materials and conditions without having to wait for results as long as the solving is turned on. As materials are being changed, results are updated automatically.
Multiple studies can be carried out in the same project including mechanical, thermal and fluid flow. I get to easily import geometry directly as native CAD files of Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks without have to convert them.

Pros:

The user interface is very interactive with an heads up display (HUD) that tells you what information is required to complete whatever study(ies) to be carried out and as soon as enough information is supplied, results can be gotten instantly.

Cons:

Due to its real time nature, performance relies heavily on system GPU so you might need to follow the minimum system requirements. I noticed a restriction on exporting files to only discovery file format.

Michael
Head of Engineering in Switzerland
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Instant Simulation with direct modeller

4.0 3 years ago

Comments: It is a very useful tool at design finidng phase of a product

Pros:

I like the combination of a 3d direct modeller with the super easy simulation feedback. Design iterations are made instantly

Cons:

I would like to be able to have orthotropic and anisotropic material models

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Civil Engineering, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Complete 3D software

4.0 2 years ago

Pros:

Ansys has lot of features needed for 3D modelling with difference analyis types and material types

Cons:

Too many features can be difficult to navigate

bruce
Mechanical engineer in Australia
Mining & Metals, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Simple and accurate

5.0 3 years ago

Comments: Working on a structural frame, the model appears to be meshed as a single part but the deflection simulated was actually measured on the completed structure. the simulation was completed in 1 hr!

Pros:

Discovery is pretty basic to use and fast, the results are comparable to ANSYS but are limited. This is a very good step in the design concept stage.

Cons:

We use Ansys for calculating stresses in an assembly, we have a significant expense in the licenses of Ansys however Discovery is so simple to use and is very effective on the simple models, I feel it could be cheaper. Many cad packages have inbuilt FEA which is also effective , With all the subscription charges our office incurs, we would be better off outsourcing the design work to our Indian offices.

Luca
R&D Hydraulic manager in Italy
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

a satisfied customer

4.0 3 years ago

Pros:

the fact that rapidly you can change and evaluate shape, and then deeply analize with the premium release

Cons:

the connection with the premium solver, not always an easy transition

Chris
ENGINEER in US
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

Interesting idea, but FEA is 'HARD' for a reason...

2.0 3 years ago

Comments: Use it for educational purposes only. Change the interface to be more compliant with other Engineering software and the Guidelines and styles as defined my Microsoft for Windows 10,11, etc... products.

Pros:

The 'instant' or 'live' results has some educational possibilities, but is limited by other issues.

Cons:

The interface is completely unlike and OS or Engineering software suite in use. When using with SW or CREO, for example into Discovery for analysis, users are completely dumbfounded. Discovery is extremely limited without a 'full' ANSYS workbench license. If I have the Workbench license, the Workbench UI is cleaner and easier to use. Symmetry planes, contact types, convergence reports (in my case) 'on the fly analysis' were completely missing.

José
Mechanical engineering in Portugal
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Ansys Discovery Review

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

The ability to perform CFD analysis is amazing and it is very similar to the Ansys Fluent. in my opinion, no other software, except the Ansys Fluent, can compete with Ansys Discovery because of all the features it has.

Cons:

Its use could be more intuitive, only people with some know-how are able to use it.

Manmohan
Sr. Manager Solutions Architect in India
Computer Hardware, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Amazingly Interactive tool

4.0 3 years ago

Comments: Na

Pros:

Ease to use. Few clicks to make an sample test case.

Cons:

Installaing on a remote server without GPU is slightly painful.

Xiangjie
Engineer in US
Transportation/Trucking/Railroad, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

good software

5.0 3 years ago

Pros:

easy to use, versatile, a lot of control

Cons:

a little slow, too many information, too many options