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User Guide

Version 7.0

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FEMAP Version 7.0 User Guide Copyright 1986-1999 by Enterprise Software Products Inc. Proprietary Data. Unauthorized use, distribution, or duplication is prohibited. All Rights Reserved. Portions of this software and related documentation are derived from GHS3D software under license from INRIA, other portions are copyrighted by and are the property of Electronic Data Systems Corporation and Spatial Technology Inc. The FEMAP User Guide may not be copied, reproduced, disclosed, transferred, or reduced to any form, including electronic medium or machine-readable form, or transmitted or publicly performed by any means, electronic or otherwise, unless Enterprise Software Products, Inc. (ESP) consents in writing in advance.

Use of the software has been provided under a Software License Agreement.

Information described in this document is furnished for information only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by ESP. ESP assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document.

FEMAP is a registered trademark of Enterprise Software Products, Inc. Dual Engine Geometry Modeling and FEMAP Professional are trademarks of Enterprise Software Products, Inc.

Enterprise Software Products, Inc. P.O. Box 1172, Exton, PA 19341 Phone: FAX: E-mail: Web: (610) 458-3660 (610) 458-3665 info@femap.com http://www.femap.com

This manual and software product are both copyrighted and all rights are reserved by Enterprise Software Products Inc.. The distribution and sale of this product are intended for the use of the original purchaser only and for use only on the computer system specified. The software product may be used only under the provisions of the license agreement included with the FEMAP package. Unless otherwise stated, you may only use this software on a single computer, by one person, at one time.

Trademark Information Throughout this manual, and the software, you will see references to other applications and trademarks which are the property of various companies.
m NASTRAN and Cosmic NASTRAN are registered trademarks of NASA. m IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. m MSC/, MSC/NASTRAN, MSC/pal, MSC/pal 2, and PATRAN are registered trademarks of The m m m m m m m m m m m
MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation. CDA/Sprint is a trademark of The CDA Group. UAI/NASTRAN is a product of Universal Analytics, Inc. CSA/NASTRAN is a product of Computerized Structural Research and Analysis Corp. ME/NASTRAN is a product of Macro Engineering, Inc. ABAQUS is a registered trademark of Hibbitt, Karlsson, and Sorenson, Inc. CAEFEM is a trademark of Concurrent Analysis Corp. SDRC, SDRC I-DEAS and I-DEAS are registered trademarks of Structural Dynamics Research Corporation. SSS/NASTRAN is a trademark of Schaeffer Software Systems, Inc. ANSYS is a registered trademark of ANSYS, Inc. STAAD and STARDYNE are products and trademarks of Research Engineers, Inc. COSMOS and COSMOS/M are registered trademarks of Structural Research and Analysis Corporation. WECAN is a registered trademark of Westinghouse, Inc., marketed by AEGIS Software Corp. ALGOR is a registered trademark of Algor Interactive Systems, Inc. CFDesign is a trademark of Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc. Pro/ENGINEER is a registered trademark of Parametric Technology Corporation GENESIS is a registered trademark of Vanderplaats, Miura and Associates, Inc. MTAB*Stress is a trademark of Structural Analysis, Inc. AutoCAD and DXF are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. Solid Edge is a trademark of Intergraph Corporation. MicroStation is a registered trademark of Bentley Systems, Inc. SolidWorks is a trademark of SolidWorks Corporation.

m m m m m m m m m m m MARC is a trademark of MARC Analysis Research Corporation. m m m m

LS-DYNA is a trademark of Livermore Software Technology Corporation.

ACIS is a registered trademark of Spatial Technology, Inc. Parasolid and Unigraphics are registered trademarks of Electronic Data Systems Corporation. Windows, Windows NT and Windows 95 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Portions of the software contained on your FEMAP CD are copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.

m Other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. m Portions of this software are copyrighted by Spatial Technology, Inc., Electronic Data Systems,
Inc., INRIA, Cypress Software Inc., and Microsoft.

Manual Conventions
This manual uses different fonts to highlight specific features, to identify data that Windows will display, or input that you must type.

Enter, Alt

Shows one or more keys that you should press. In some cases, you will see combinations like Alt+Shift+Backspace. The plus signs show that you should press all keys simultaneously. Shows text that you should type. This is very similar to the keystrokes described above, but is typically used for strings of letters and/or numbers. The keystrokes typically refer to the more specialized, non-alphanumeric keys. Shows text that you will see displayed by FEMAP in a dialog box control, or in the menu. Used for headings or titles of sections of the manual. Larger characters of the same style (or italics) are also used depending upon the nature of the section being introduced. Used for all other normal manual text.

a:setup

OK, Cancel

heading

text

Throughout this manual, you will see references to Windows. Windows refers to Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 95 or Windows 98. You will need one of these operating environment to run FEMAP for the PC. This manual assumes that you are familiar with the general use of the operating environment. If you are not, you can refer to the Windows Users Guide for additional assistance. Similarly, throughout the manual all references to FEMAP, refer to the latest version of our software.

1Table of Contents
1 Introduction 2 Product Configurations 3 Getting Started
3.1 Hardware Requirements . . . . . . 3.2 Installation - Stand Alone . . . . . . 3.2.1 Security Device . . . . . . 3.2.2 Setup Program Execution. . . . . 3.2.3 Upgrading Your Security Device . . . 3.3 Network Installation - PC . . . . . . 3.3.1 Obtaining a License File . . . . . 3.3.2 License Server . . . . . . . 3.3.3 Clients . . . . . . . . 3.3.4 Monitoring Network Usage . . . . 3.4 Starting FEMAP . . . . . . . . 3.4.1 Errors Starting FEMAP . . . . . 3.4.2 Improving Performance (RAM Management). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3-3 3-3 3-4 3-5 3-6 3-6 3-7 3-9 3-10 3-10 3-14 3-15 4-1 4-1 4-1 4-6 4-6 4-6 4-10 4-16 4-17 4-19 4-20 4-22 4-22 4-32 4-42 4-47 4-50 4-52 4-53 4-53 4-54 4-54 4-56 4-57 4-57 4-57

4 User Interface
4.1 Overview . . . . . . . . 4.1.1 The FEMAP/Windows Team . . . 4.1.2 The FEMAP Windows . . . . 4.2 Accessing FEMAP Commands . . . . 4.2.1 FEMAP Main Menu. . . . . 4.2.2 FEMAP View Toolbar . . . . 4.2.3 FEMAP Command Toolbars . . . 4.2.4 FEMAP Toolbox . . . . . 4.2.5 Quick Access Menu (Right Mouse Button) 4.2.6 Shortcut Keys . . . . . . 4.2.7 Status Bar . . . . . . . 4.3 FEMAP Dialog Boxes. . . . . . 4.3.1 Entity Selection . . . . . 4.3.2 Coordinate Definition . . . . 4.3.3 Vector Definition . . . . . 4.3.4 Plane Definition . . . . . 4.3.5 Color Palette . . . . . . 4.3.6 Library Selection . . . . . 4.4 The Workplane and Other Tools . . . . 4.4.1 The Workplane. . . . . . 4.4.2 The Cursor Position Tool . . . . 4.4.3 Snap To . . . . . . . 4.4.4 Selecting Coordinates . . . . 4.4.5 Selecting Entities by their Titles . . 4.4.6 Numerical Input - Real Number Formats. 4.4.7 Numerical Input - The FEMAP Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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4.4.8 Equation Editor - Ctrl+E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 . 5-1 . 5-1 . 5-2 . 5-3 . 5-3 . 5-4 . 5-4 . 5-5 . 5-5 . 5-6 . 5-6 . 5-7 . 5-8 . 5-8 5-10 5-14 5-14 5-15 5-17 5-17 5-17 5-17 5-18 5-18 5-19 5-19 5-20 5-20 5-20 5-22 5-23 5-24 5-25 5-29 5-30 5-32 5-32 5-39 5-41 5-42 . . . . . . . . 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-6

5 The FEA Process

5.1 Geometry . . . . . . . . . 5.1.1 Methods and Snap To . . . . . 5.1.2 The Workplane (2-D and 3-D Geometry) . 5.1.3 Basics - Points, Lines and Curves . . . 5.1.4 Splines . . . . . . . . 5.1.5 Curves from Surfaces . . . . . 5.1.6 Modifying the Basics . . . . . 5.1.7 Surfaces, Boundary Surfaces,Volumes, Solids 5.1.8 Surfaces . . . . . . . . 5.1.9 Boundary Surfaces . . . . . . 5.1.10 Volumes . . . . . . . 5.1.11 Solids . . . . . . . . 5.2 Elements and Meshing . . . . . . 5.2.1 Element Types . . . . . . 5.2.2 Element Creation . . . . . . 5.3 Hexahedral Modeling and Meshing . . . . 5.3.1 Geometry Preparation . . . . . 5.3.2 Mesh Sizing . . . . . . . 5.3.3 Hex Meshing . . . . . . . 5.3.4 HexMesh From Elements . . . . 5.4 Midsurface Modeling and Meshing . . . . 5.4.1 Creating Midsurfaces . . . . . 5.4.2 Preparing for Meshing . . . . . 5.4.3 Meshing . . . . . . . . 5.5 Materials and Properties . . . . . . 5.5.1 Materials . . . . . . . 5.5.2 Properties . . . . . . . 5.6 Loads and Constraints . . . . . . 5.6.1 Loads . . . . . . . . 5.6.2 Constraints . . . . . . . 5.7 Functions . . . . . . . . . 5.8 Groups, Layers and Viewing Your Model . . 5.8.1 Working with View Select and View Options 5.8.2 Groups and Layers Overview . . . 5.8.3 Printing . . . . . . . . 5.9 Postprocessing . . . . . . . . 5.9.1 Deformed and Contour Plots . . . . 5.9.2 FreeBody Plots . . . . . . 5.9.3 XY Style . . . . . . . 5.9.4 Reporting Results . . . . . .

6 Element Reference
6.1 Line Elements . . . 6.1.1 Rod Element . . 6.1.2 Tube Element. . 6.1.3 Curved Tube Element 6.1.4 Bar Element . . 6.1.5 Beam Element . 6.1.6 Link Element . . 6.1.7 Curved Beam Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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6.1.8 Spring Element . . 6.1.9 DOF Spring Element . 6.1.10 Gap Element . . 6.1.11 Plot Only Element . 6.2 Plane Elements . . . 6.2.1 Shear Panel Element . 6.2.2 Membrane Element . 6.2.3 Bending Element . 6.2.4 Plate Element . . 6.2.5 Laminate Element . 6.2.6 Plane Strain Element . 6.2.7 Planar Plot Only Element 6.3 Volume Elements . . . 6.3.1 Axisymmetric Element 6.3.2 Solid Element . . 6.4 Other Elements . . . 6.4.1 Mass Element . . 6.4.2 Mass Matrix Element. 6.4.3 Rigid Element . . 6.4.4 Stiffness Matrix Element 6.4.5 Contact Element. . 6.4.6 Slide Line Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 6-7 6-8 6-8 6-9 6-9 6-10 6-10 6-11 6-12 6-13 6-14 6-14 6-15 6-17 6-18 6-18 6-19 6-19 6-21 6-21 6-21 7-1 7-24 7-25 7-27 7-31 7-33 7-33 7-34 7-35 7-36 7-38 7-38 7-41 7-42 7-42 7-57 7-63 7-82 7-84 7-86 7-87 7-89 7-93 7-100 7-101 7-103 7-104 7-105

7 Translator Reference
7.1 The Translation Table . . . . 7.1.1 ABAQUS Translation Notes . 7.1.2 ALGOR Translation Notes . 7.1.3 ANSYS Translation Notes. . 7.1.4 COSMOS Translation Notes . 7.1.5 I-DEAS Translation Notes. . 7.1.6 LS-DYNA3D Translation Notes 7.1.7 mTAB*STRESS Translation Notes 7.1.8 MARC Translation Notes . . 7.1.9 NASTRAN Translation Notes . 7.1.10 PATRAN Translation Notes . 7.1.11 STARDYNE Translation Notes 7.1.12 weCan Translation Notes. . 7.2 Analysis Program Interfaces . . . 7.2.1 ABAQUS Interfaces . . . 7.2.2 ANSYS Interfaces . . . 7.2.3 MSC/NASTRAN Interfaces . 7.2.4 CSA/NASTRAN Interfaces . 7.2.5 UAI/NASTRAN Interfaces . 7.2.6 Cosmic and ME/NASTRAN . 7.2.7 SSS/NASTRAN Interfaces . 7.2.8 LS-DYNA3D Interfaces . . 7.2.9 MARC Interfaces . . . 7.2.10 SINDA/G Interfaces . . 7.2.11 FEMAP Neutral Files . . 7.2.12 I-DEAS Interfaces . . . 7.2.13 PATRAN Interfaces. . . 7.2.14 Comma-Separated Tables .

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7.2.15 ALGOR Interfaces . . . . 7.2.16 CAEFEM Interfaces . . . . 7.2.17 CDA/SPRINT Interfaces . . . 7.2.18 CFDesign Interfaces . . . . 7.2.19 COSMOS Interfaces . . . . 7.2.20 GENESIS Interfaces . . . . 7.2.21 MSC/PAL (CDA/SPRINT 1) Interfaces 7.2.22 mTAB*STRESS Interfaces . . . 7.2.23 STAAD/ISDS Interfaces . . . 7.2.24 STARDYNE Interfaces . . . 7.2.25 Performing a STARDYNE Analysis . 7.2.26 weCan Interfaces . . . . . 7.2.27 Exporting a weCan Model . . . 7.2.28 Performing a weCan Analysis . . 7.2.29 Reading weCan Analysis Results . 7.3 Geometry Interfaces . . . . . . 7.3.1 ACIS Interfaces (*.SAT Format) . . 7.3.2 Parasolid Interfaces (*.X_T Format) . 7.3.3 STEP Interface (*.STP files) . . . 7.3.4 IGES File Format . . . . . 7.3.5 Stereolithography Interface . . . 7.3.6 DXF Interfaces . . . . . 7.3.7 VRML Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-109 7-113 7-114 7-115 7-115 7-120 7-121 7-127 7-132 7-135 7-138 7-140 7-141 7-144 7-145 7-146 7-146 7-147 7-147 7-148 7-153 7-153 7-159 . 8-1 . 8-2 . 8-3 . 8-3 . 8-3 . 8-3 . 8-4 . 8-6 8-13 8-13 8-14

8 Customization
8.1 FEMAP Shortcut Keys . . . . . 8.2 Scripting Language . . . . . . 8.2.1 The Mechanism . . . . . 8.2.2 Creating and Executing BASIC Scripts. 8.3 Program Files . . . . . . . 8.3.1 Program File Format . . . . 8.3.2 Program File Keystrokes . . . 8.3.3 Program File Commands . . . 8.4 Toolbox Reference . . . . . . 8.4.1 Building a Toolbox . . . . 8.4.2 The Toolbox Definition File . . .

A Using the Keyboard B Using the Mouse C Function Reference D Converting Old Models

1Introduction
FEMAP is a finite element modeling and postprocessing system that allows you to perform engineering analyses both quickly and confidently. FEMAP provides the capability to develop sophisticated analyses of stress, temperature, and dynamic performance directly on the desktop. With easy access to CAD and office automation tool, productivity is dramatically improved compared to traditional approaches. FEMAP automatically provides the integration that is necessary to link all aspects of your analysis. FEMAP can be used to create geometry, or you can import CAD geometry. FEMAP then provides powerful tools for meshing geometry, as well as applying loads and boundary conditions. You may then use FEMAP to export an input file to over 20 finite element codes. FEMAP can then read the results from the solver program. Once results are obtained in FEMAP, a wide variety of tools are available for visualizing and reporting on your results.

Geometry
FEMAP can directly import geometry from your CAD or design system. In fact, FEMAP can directly import a solid model from any ACIS-based or Parasolids-based modeling package. If your modeling package does not use either of these packages, simply use the FEMAP IGES or STEP reader. These files can be read and then stitched together to form a solid. This typically requires using one command. If you do not have CAD geometry, you can create geometry directly in FEMAP using powerful wireframe and solid modeling tools. FEMAP has internal solid modeling with not one but two popular geometry engines (Parasolid and ACIS). You can build solid models in either engine, and then export a model. This is very convenient if you need to export geometry to CAD packages that are either ACIS or Parasolid based.

Finite Element Modeling

Regardless of the origin of your geometry, you can use FEMAP to create a complete finite element model. Meshes can be created by many methods ranging from manual creation, to mapped meshing between keypoints, to fully automatic meshing of curves, surfaces and solids. FEMAP can even work with your existing analysis models. You can import and manipulate these models using the interfaces to any of the supported analysis programs. Appropriate materials and section properties can be created or assigned from FEMAP libraries. Many types of constraint and loading conditions can be applied to represent the design environment. You can apply loads/constraints directly on finite element entities (Nodes and Elements), or you can apply them to geometry. FEMAP will automatically convert geometric conditions to Nodal/Elemental values upon translation to your solver program. You may even convert these loads before translation to convince yourself that the loading conditions are appropriate for your model.



Introduction

Checking Your Model

At every step of the modeling process, you receive graphical verification of your progress. You need not worry about making a mistake because FEMAP contains a multi-level undo and redo capability. An On-Line Help system also provides the capability to review information on FEMAP commands without ever opening a manual. FEMAP also provides extensive tools for checking your model before you analyze it to give you the confidence that you have properly modeled your part. It constantly examines input to prevent errors in the model, and provides immediate visual feedback. FEMAP also provides a comprehensive set of tools to evaluate your finite element model and identify errors that are often not obvious. For example, FEMAP can check for coincident geometry, find improper connections, estimate mass and inertia, evaluate your constraint conditions, and sum your loading conditions. Each of these methods can be used to identify and eliminate potential errors, saving you considerable time and money.

Analyzing Your Model

When your model is complete, FEMAP provides interface to over 20 popular programs to perform finite element analysis. You can even import a model from one analysis program and automatically convert it to the format for a different analysis program.

Postprocessing
After your analysis, FEMAP provides both powerful visualization Tools that enable you to quickly interpret results, and numerical tools to search, report, and perform further calculations using these results. Deformation Plots, Contour Plots, Animations, and X-Y Plots are just some of the postprocessing tools available to the FEMAP user. FEMAP supports OpenGL, which provides even more capability for postprocessing, including dynamic visualization of contours through solid parts. You can dynamically rotate solid contoured models with one push of your Mouse button. Section Cuts and IsoSurfaces can be viewed dynamically by simply moving your cursor.

Documenting Results
Documentation is also a very important factor with any analysis. FEMAP obviously provides direct, high quality printing and plotting of both graphics and text. Frequently, however, graphics or text must be incorporated into a larger report or presentation. FEMAP can export both graphics and text to non-engineering programs with a simple Windows Cut command. You can easily export pictures to such popular programs as MS Word, MS PowerPoint and Adobe Framemaker. You can export to spreadsheets, databases, word processors, desktop publishing software, paint and illustration programs. These links enable you to create and publish a complete report or presentation, all electronically, right on your desktop. With support for AVI files, you can even include an animation directly in your PowerPoint Presentation or Word Document. Creating illustrations for reports and presentations has never been this easy. FEMAP also supports VRML and JPEG format so anyone can easily view results with standard viewers.

Introduction



FEMAP Documentation
In addition to the On-Line Help in FEMAP, FEMAP also comes with a complete set of documentation. Four manuals are provided with FEMAP: (1) Release Notes (2) Examples, (3) Users Guide, and (4) Command Reference. Release Notes... ... contains a brief overview of new features in the latest release of FEMAP. This document is especially useful to users who are upgrading from a previous version of the software. Examples... ... contains several examples of building a finite element model from start to finish. This manual provides the new user a quick tour of just some of the capabilities of FEMAP, while familiarizing them with the program. Most users find after just one or two example problems they can be quickly creating realistic models in FEMAP. Users Guide... ... includes general information about FEMAP. Included in this manual are descriptions of FEMAPs Graphical User Interface, including the command toolbars, common dialog boxes in FEMAP, and a general overview of the finite element process. This manual also contains information on shortcut keys, as well as the use of function keys in FEMAP. This manual provides an excellent overview if you are not certain how to do something in FEMAP as well as information on getting started with FEMAP. Command Reference... ... contains explanations of every menu command in FEMAP. If you are unclear about a certain command in FEMAP, you can use this manual to find its description. In general, the commands are separated into chapters which correspond to the Main FEMAP menu. The few exceptions to this are the List, Modify, and Delete Menu commands, which are explained under the Chapter which contains the type of entities (i.e. if you are Deleting Geometry, look under the Geometry chapter for Delete). In addition, the Tools and List menus are combined under the Checking Your Model chapter, and the View and Group menus are combined under the Viewing Your Model chapter. There is also a special Postprocessing chapter describing commands specifically used for postprocessing, and there is a brief description of using some of the View commands to check your Model under the Checking Your Model chapter.

1 7 5 2 ' 8 & 7 , 2 1



Introduction

2Product Configurations

To best address the needs of our customers, FEMAP v6 is available in two configurations, FEMAP Basic and FEMAP Professional. The following sections detail what is included in these two options. Each description also includes additional information designed to help FEMAP customers determine which product configuration is best for their particular needs. FEMAP Basic FEMAP Basic contains all the powerful FEA features of FEMAP mentioned in Chapter 1 including automatic and manual meshing, automatic generation of beam cross section properties, support for a wide variety of material data, loading conditions, and analysis programs, and advanced postprocessing features. The major limitation to FEMAP Basic is in geometry modeling. FEMAP Basic cannot perform any surface intersections or Boolean solid operations, thus, it is designed to be used for parts that do not have complex 3-D geometry. You can create complex beam and shell models with FEMAP Basic, but the limited geometry capability will limit its use for many 3-D models. FEMAP Professional Bundle FEMAP Professional includes all the capabilities of FEMAP Basic along with advanced solid and surface modeling in two geometry engines, ACIS and Parasolid. The ACIS solid modeling engine in FEMAP Professional provides the ability to import, edit, and create ACIS solid models. ACIS is the solid modeling engine developed by Spatial Technology, Inc., and is used by several popular CAD systems including AutoCAD R14. If you frequently receive solid CAD data from ACIS-based CAD and solid-modeling systems, the ACIS solid modeling engine in FEMAP Professional can make the creation of effective FEA models from this data significantly easier. ACIS geometry is bi-directional. If you use the ACIS Modeling capabilities in FEMAP Professional and create solid models to first validate their structural integrity, these models can be imported into any of these CAD systems for further manipulation, drawing creation, or incorporation into large assemblies of parts. FEMAP Professional also contains the Parasolid solid modeling engine. Parasolid is a solid modeling engine developed by Electronic Data Systems, and is the underlying modeling engine in many CAD and solid modeling engines such as SolidWorks, Unigraphics, and Solid Edge. Parasolid models created or edited in FEMAP can also be exported to any Parasolid based CAD system for further manipulation. The Parasolid modeling engine has the added



Product Configurations

feature that it can import NURB and trimmed surfaces from IGES and both import and export geometry in STEP format. FEMAP Professional is the ideal solution for the analysts who receive CAD data from an outside source as well as create their own. The ability to import Parasolid, ACIS, IGES, and STEP files covers a wide variety of CAD systems. To idealize thin structures created as solids, FEMAP even provides excellent automatic and semi-automatic mid-planing capability. Therefore, you can import a thin solid from a CAD system, create a mid-plane surface representation of the part, and then mesh these surfaces with plates. In addition, the powerful geometry tools contained in FEMAP enable the user to create their own complex 3-D models from scratch.

3Getting Started
Welcome to FEMAP! This section will help you to setup your computer so that you can immediately begin to explore the many capabilities of FEMAP. Before you start however, take a few minutes to do the following: 1. Read the FEMAP License Agreement which was included with your CD. It limits how you may use this software on your computer. Typically, you may only use FEMAP on one computer, for use by one individual at a time. 2. Fill out and fax the License Registration sheet which was included with your CD. Returning this document will insure that you will receive telephone support if you need it, and that you will be notified of future enhancements and corrections to FEMAP. 3. If you used a previous version of FEMAP, refer to Appendix D for information pertaining to conversion of old databases to this version of the software. This section contains information specific to getting started on a PC, which includes Windows NT (INTEL and DEC Alpha), Windows 95, and Windows 98. Information related to FEMAP installation and operation on UNIX platforms can be found in the FEMAP Unix Guide. Supported UNIX platforms include HP/ux, IBM RS6000/aix, SUN/Solaris, and SGI/IRIX.

3.1 Hardware Requirements

There are no special hardware requirements for FEMAP beyond those imposed by Windows. The table below shows the minimum requirements along with our recommendations, so you can experience maximum productivity with FEMAP. The table also lists other supported hardware that you may want to consider depending upon your analysis requirements and/or budget. Minimum and Recommended Hardware Minimum Computer, CPU Memory, RAM Math Coprocessor Intel 80386 based See Hints Below Not Required Recommended Other

Intel Pentium based Intel Pentium based, obviously the faster the better. Highly Recommended SVGA

Video Adapter and VGA Monitor

OpenGL accelerator board



Getting Started

Minimum and Recommended Hardware Minimum Hard Disk 45 Mbytes Recommended 60-100 Mbytes Other 300+ Mbytes depending upon how many models you are planning, their size, and mostly the amount of output for postprocessing. Roller wheel supported for some commands. Color Laser or Inkjet Printer or Pen Plotter

Highly Recommended Printer/Plotter Not Required, but a High Quality Dot Matrix or Laser parallel port is Printer required for the security device. Network or Comm Not Required

Mouse

Not Required

Software

Windows 95, 98 or NT.

High-speed modem or network interface if you are running analysis on another computer. Windows-based word proLatest version of cessing, graphics, spreadWindows for best sheet... can import text and possible performance and reliability graphics from FEMAP for presentations and documentation.

Hint:
There are many types of hardware that will allow you to use FEMAP. Proper choice of hardware however, can often make the difference between frustration and productivity. Here are a few suggestions: Memory, RAM: You will need at least 32 Mbytes of RAM to run FEMAP. Furthermore, if you are going to use the solid modeling engines, 128 Mbytes of memory is highly reccommended (64 minimum). Obviously, the more amount of RAM the better. Adding RAM can be one of the most cost effective means of increasing performance. Memory, (Hard Disk): Required hard disk space is very difficult to estimate, but in general you will never have enough. Analysis results will be the main driver of any disk space requirement. Models are typically relatively small. A model with 1000 nodes and 1000 elements would typically be less than 1 Mbyte in size. Output from an analysis of that model however could be 5 Mbytes, 10 Mbytes or even larger, depending on the output you request. To estimate total disk space,

Installation - Stand Alone



you need to first estimate how many models you will have on-line simultaneously, the approximate size of those models, and the type of output you will request. Graphics Boards: Standard graphics boards work very well with Windows and FEMAP. Specialized boards which contain support for OpenGL will provide increased graphical performance when dynamically rotating large, complex models.They also usually provide higher resolution and more colors which makes graphics easier to see and more realistic.

3.2 Installation - Stand Alone

This section describes the procedure that you should follow to install the stand alone version (Security Device) of FEMAP on your PC.

3.2.1 Security Device

First locate the security device. It should look like the following. Follow these steps to install the device: 1. Turn off your computer. You should always turn off your computer when installing any peripheral device or cable.
Computer

FEMAP

2. Attach the security device to any standard, IBM-compatible (CenPrinter tronics) parallel printer port (or into another security device, if present). Make certain you tighten the screws. This ensures proper electrical connection, and allows proper installation of the printer cable in the next step. 3. Attach your printer cable, if any, into the other end of the security device. 4. Turn on your computer and proceed with the installation of the FEMAP software.

Note:
The security device (hardware key) may be destroyed if you connect any devices other than a printer in-line with the security device. If you need to use the parallel port to connect an external device such as a external hard drive, you must remove the hardware key from the series during the operation. If you are experiencing any problems with your security device, or are having trouble installing it on your system, please give us a call. If you have a printer connected to the system, please make certain it is on when trying to access the device. Certain printers will deaden the parallel port when they are attached to it and are off. If this is not the problem, you may want to go into the BIOS of your machine and set the Parallel Port Mode to Normal, Standard, AT, or Compatible. Certain advanced Modes (Bidirectional, EPP, ECP) may interfere with security device operation.

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Getting Started

3.2.2 Setup Program Execution

Windows NT 1. Log into your computer as Administrator. 2. Insert the FEMAP CD into the drive. The setup should automatically begin within a few seconds. Windows 95/98 1. Log on to your computer as any user. 2. Insert the FEMAP CD into the drive. The setup should automatically begin within a few seconds.

Note:
If the setup program does not start automatically use the Windows Explorer to view the CDROMs contents. You can manually start the setup by double clicking on the file Setup.bat Once setup is running you will see a license Agreement. Assuming that you agree with the license agreement, press Yes to continue and select the directory where you would like to have the FEMAP program files installed. You will now be asked which type of installation you wish to proceed with. If you have purchased a single stand alone license of FEMAP you will choose FEMAP Full System. 3. If you have received an Evaluation License of FEMAP you will also choose FEMAP Full System. 4. If you have requested a Free Demonstration License of FEMAP Install FEMAP 300-Node Demo System 5. If you have purchased the Network version of FEMAP please refer to the following sections with regard to network installations.

Upgrading Your Security Device



You will now be prompted for which components of FEMAP to install. Choose Program Files , Examples, Help for the typical installation. Once you have finished the installation you will be able to start FEMAP right away. If you do not need to upgrade a old security key you can skip to section 3.4 Starting FEMAP.

3.2.3 Upgrading Your Security Device

To upgrade a license to a new version of FEMAP or to upgrade the current version to include the optional modules you will need to follow the process below.

3.2.3.1 Contacting Enterprise Software for Security Codes.

Contact Enterprise Software and supply us with the serial number of the software you are upgrading from. This number can be viewed in FEMAP by selecting Help About-Security. The Serial number is located at the top of the Security Access dialog box and looks like the number below: 500-3H-NT-4617-FF0F. E-mail for security codes E-mail is the preferred method of communicating upgrade codes due to the difficulty in dealing with long strings of characters. Send an e-mail to support@femap.com and in the body of the message include: m *Your name

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Getting Started

m *Company information m *Telephone number m *FEMAP Serial Number (as it is In the Security Access Dialog Screen to the right). We will reply to the e-mail and you will receive a message that contains two case insensitive alpha numeric codes similar to the ones below: Access Code 1: e1ad4b3bb6e2027701 Access Code 2: 8a5d4254 To enter the codes in FEMAP select Help - About - Security. You may either copy the code from the e-mail using your right mouse button and paste it in the appropriate box or you can carefully retype the code.

3.3 Network Installation - PC

The Network Client version of FEMAP utilizes the FLEXlm License Manager software from Globetrotter Software Inc. This licensing approach requires some software to be installed on a server machine and other software to be installed on one or more clients. The clients then request and obtain licenses from the server. In a simple situation, both the client and server could be the same computer, but more likely they are different systems connected by a network. Our current implementation of FLEXlm requires that all computers (servers and clients) that wish to use this system must be running the TCP/IP protocol, and that protocol must be properly configured. On Windows NT, Windows 95, and Windows 98, you can determine if TCP/IP is available by selecting the Network option in the Control Panel, and then choosing the Protocol tab. You should see TCP/IP Protocol listed. If you click on Properties, you can configure the protocol on your computer. As an minimum, you must have a unique "IP Address" for each machine on your network. The following documentation provides a summary of the steps required to install both the server and client software for FEMAP. For more specific information, or information on integration with other products using FLEXlm, consult the FLEXlm documentation. We provide both a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) manual and an "End Users Guide" in HTML format. You will find these documents on the CD-ROM in directories named \network\flexdoc\flexfaq and \network\flexdoc\flexuser. To view these documents you need an HTML compatible World Wide Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator or Mosaic. In either directory, it is best to open the file TOC.htm.

3.3.1 Obtaining a License File

Before you can run FEMAP you will need to obtain and install a license file. To obtain this file from ESP, you need to provide the hostid of the machine that will be your license server. The easiest way to obtain the hostid is to use the tools that are provided on the CD.

License Server



For a Windows NT, Windows 95 or Windows 98 installation, switch to the \network\platform directory (where platform is either "intel" or "alpha" depending on what type of machine you are using for your server) and run lmtools.exe. Then press the Hostid button. You will see a list like the following: Hostd IDs-----------------------------------------------------------------HOSTNAME=xxxx USER=xxxx DISPLAY=xxxx INTERNET=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 00a03474db65 DISK_SERIAL_NUM=xxxx You should provide us with the Hostname, the IP address and the Ethernet address, as shown in the listing. Simply e-mail this information to support@femap.com. Also include your name, company name, and telephone number. If you are running Windows NT, you can also obtain the Ethernet address by running the "Windows NT Diagnostics" program, choosing the Network tab, and pressing Transports. The Ethernet address is shown under "Address". The IP address can be obtained by running the Network applet in Control Panel, choosing Protocols, and TCP/IP Protocol, then pressing Properties. <-- IP address <-- Ethernet address

3.3.2 License Server

This section provides instructions on installing the network license manager and configuring your server.

3.3.2.1 Installing the FLEXlm License Manager

To begin the server installation, simply insert the CD and allow it to AutoRun, or choose setup from the CD. When asked for the type of installation that you want to perform, choose "FLEXLM Network License Manager" and follow the instructions

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3.3.2.2 The License File

If you have not already obtained a license file from ESP, you must obtain one before proceeding. Refer to the information above regarding the information that you need to provide to obtain a license file. If you received the license file via e-mail, simply copy it to the file license.dat in the directory where you installed the license manager software in the previous step. If you received the license information in any other format, you will have to use a text editor to create the license.dat file. Make sure that you enter the data exactly as it was transmitted.



Getting Started

3.3.2.3 Configuring FLEXlm

During the installation of the FLEXlm software, an applet was added to the Control Panel of your server. You should now go run this program. Run the Control Panel and choose the "FLEXlm License Manager" applet. Then press the Setup tab. You should see the following dialog box, without any of the entries filled in:

You must specify the location of the FLEXlm license manager daemon (lmgrd.exe) and the FEMAP license file. Both of these files can be found in the directory that you chose during the setup phase. Press Browse to choose the files from a list, or simply type the name of the file in the indicated lines. FLEXlm will not work properly if these files are not properly specified. You do not have to specify a "Debug Log File" unless you want to keep a log of licensing activity. Refer to the FLEXlm documentation for more specific information about this entry. For Windows NT Servers: If you are using Windows NT on your server machine, you should ALWAYS check "Use NT Services" and "Start Server at Power-Up", then press Apply. Our testing of the current release of FLEXlm indicates that it works much better under these conditions. If you do not, FLEXlm may be unable to start the FEMAP license daemon, and even worse may consume a large amount of CPU time on your server. For Windows 95/98 Servers: If you are using Windows 95 or 98 on your server machine, services are not available. You can check "Start Server at Power-Up", but you will still have to leave the Windows 95/98 machine logged in to some account to keep the server running. For this reason, we always recommend using Windows NT as your server if at all possible.

Starting FLEXlm



3.3.2.4 Starting FLEXlm

After configuring FLEXlm, you are ready to start the license manager daemons. You can either simply reboot your system (if you chose the "Start Server at Power Up" option in the previous step), or you can start them manually for this first time (in which case you do not need to reboot). To start the server manually, just switch to the Control tab shown above, and press Start. You should see a message "Server Started".

3.3.3 Clients
This section provides instruction on installing the FEMAP Network client version.

3.3.3.1 Installing the FEMAP Client Software

To begin the client installation, simply insert the CD and it will AutoRun, or run setup.bat from the CD. When asked for the type of installation that you want to perform, choose "Network Client Version" and follow the instructions. There are several ways that you can choose to install FEMAP as a network client. You might want to install it locally on every users machine, or you might want to install it on the same or a different server as the license manager software, and then have each user load it from there. Either scenario will work effectively, however in either case each user will need access to the license file using one of the mechanisms described below.

3.3.3.2 Accessing the License File

When you start a client FEMAP it will attempt to check out a license from the server. To do this it must know the path to the license file. There are several ways that you can accomplish this. Place License.dat in the same directory as the FEMAP executable. If you place a copy of license.dat in the same directory as the FEMAP executable, FEMAP will automatically be able to find it. You do not need to do any further setup. If you installed the FEMAP client software on your server, you may want to consider using the Control Panel FLEXlm License Manager application to change the location of the license.dat file used by the license server to this same location (Refer to Server Installation above). In this way you will only need a single copy of license.dat to avoid confusion in the future. Specify the location in FEMAP If license.dat is not in the FEMAP directory, you can specify the location in the Help About command. Simply start the FEMAP client (startup may be a bit slow this first time, and you will get a message that FEMAP can not find the license file). In addition, you may see a FLEXlm dialog box pop up asking you to specify the location of the license file (you may also specify it that way, in which case the location is added to the system registry), but simply cancel those options. Then choose Help About and press the Security button. There you will find a spot to specify the location of the file. You can either use a fully qualified UNCstyle name like: \\server\c\femap50\license.dat

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Getting Started

or preferably, you can just specify the name of the server, like @server In this case, you do not even need the name of the file, FLEXlm will get it from the server. Refer to the FLEXlm documentation for more information regarding ways to specify the location of the file. Specify an environment variable If neither of the previous approaches fits your needs, you can also specify the location of the file as an environment variable. On Windows NT, you can define environment variables using the Control Panel, System applet and choosing the Environment tab. Define a variable named ESP_LICENSE_FILE with the value equal to the location of the file (as described above). On Windows 95/98 you need to add the definition into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file with a line that looks like: set ESP_LICENSE_FILE=\\server\c\femap50\license.dat or any other appropriate location for the file, and then you will have to reboot your computer. Once the location of the license file has been established, FEMAP should start quickly and be able to check out licenses, as long as the license server is running. If you experience problems, or see other error messages when starting FEMAP, refer to the troubleshooting documentation that accompanies FLEXlm.

3.3.4 Monitoring Network Usage

In a multi-user environment, sometimes you will not be able to get a license simply because all available licenses are in use. You can find out who is using licenses, which computers they are using and when they started their license simply by going to Help About, and pressing the Security button. At the bottom of the dialog box you will find information that will give you this information. If you fail to get a license because none are available, you will not be able to work in FEMAP. You do not however, have to leave FEMAP. You can simply stay there and periodically try a command. Whenever a license becomes available it will be assigned to you and your command will succeed. If there are still no licenses available, you will simply get a message that says try again later.

3.4 Starting FEMAP

There are several command line options to launch FEMAP. The simplest method to launch FEMAP is to create a shortcut for FEMAP on your desktop and Double-click the icon when you want to launch FEMAP. This will use the command line contained under the shortcut to launch FEMAP. You can modify this command line by right-clicking on the FEMAP icon, selecting properties, and changing the command line option on the shortcut.

Starting FEMAP



The command line will contain the executable (and its path). After the femap.exe, there are several options which may be used to determine the mode in which FEMAP will operate. A list of these command line options are provided below.
c:\femap451\femap.exe [-X] [-R] [-NEU] [-NSPL] [-D dxf_file] [-N neu_file] [-P program_file] [-SY top] [-ML lines] [-L port] [-SAT sat_file] [-XMT x_t file] [-SCA scale_factor] [-trans] [model_file or ?]

where all of the arguments in [ ] are optional command line parameters. They are: The remaining parameters can be specified in any order (note that program_file must always follow -p). -X -R Exits Windows after closing FEMAP Read Only Mode. With this option set, the Save, Save As and Timed Save commands are disabled. You will not be able to save changes to any model you access. All other commands remain active. Any changes you make will be made in the temporary scratch file, and will be lost when you exit FEMAP. Automatically writes a Neutral File with the same name ( just .NEU extension) as your .MOD file every time you save a model. In addition, when you open a model, if a Neutral file exists with a newer date than the model, it will be read. Starts FEMAP without the splash screen. This option automatically reads the specified DXF file when you start FEMAP. Make sure you leave at least one space between the two arguments. This option automatically reads the specified FEMAP Neutral file when you start FEMAP.

-NEU

-NSPL -D dxf_file

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-N neu_file



Getting Started

-p program_file

This option runs the specified program file when you start FEMAP. You can also specify a startup program file that will run every time you start FEMAP using the File Preferences command. If you specify this option, the default startup program will not run. The file you specify will run instead. FEMAP automatically appends .PRG if you do not specify a filename extension. Make certain you leave at least one space between the -p and the filename. FEMAP will only recognize the option if you leave a space.

-SY top

Positions the top of the FEMAP main window at the specified top location on the screen. Instead of starting with the main window enlarged to full screen, FEMAP will start in a reduced window. The top location is specified in pixels. There is no checking to insure that the top location is actually on the screen, so specify the number carefully. Make certain you leave at least one space between the sy and the location. FEMAP will only recognize the option if you leave a space.

-ML lines

Overrides the default number of lines that are visible in the message window when FEMAP is started. This parameter is ignored if you have saved a permanent preference for a nondefault number of lines. Make certain you leave at least one space between the ml and the number of lines. FEMAP will only recognize the option if you leave a space.

Starting FEMAP



-L port

Specifies the parallel port where the FEMAP security device has been installed. This is not typically needed unless FEMAP has difficulty accessing the device. If you want to attach the security device to parallel port 1 (LPT1:), use -L 1, for parallel port 2 (LPT2:) use -L 2. If your system is non-standard, or uses some other parallel port convention, you can specify the actual parallel port address. For example, if your parallel port was at address 03BCH (hexadecimal), you would convert the address to a decimal value, in this case 956, and specify -L 956. If you need to specify the -L option, you can change the default command line associated with the FEMAP icon on the Desktop by selecting Properties. First, right click on the FEMAP icon. Then choose the File Properties command (or press Alt+Enter). Move down to the command line option, and just add the appropriate -L options. From then on FEMAP will look for the security device on the specified port.

-SAT sat_file

Automatically creates a new FEMAP file and calls the File Import Geometry command to read the ACIS Solid Model file *.SAT file [sat_file]. When you use FEMAP with this command option, you will see the Solid Model Read options dialog box which will contain the title of the solid model file contained in the SAT file. Automatically creates a new FEMAP file and calls the File Import Geometry command to read the Parasolid Solid Model file *.X_T file [xmt_file]. When you use FEMAP with this command option, you will see the Solid Model Read options dialog box which will contain the title of the solid model file contained in the X_T file. This option is used in conjunction with the -XMT and SAT to specify a scale factor for the solid model. If this option is used, FEMAP will automatically import and scale the solid model. The Solid Model Read options dialog box will not be shown. With this option on, FEMAP will run in translation mode only. You will only be able to import and export FEA models. You will not be able to change anything in the model. In general, you will not want to use this option because it will severely limit what operations you can perform.

-XMT xmt_file

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-SCA scale_value

-trans



Getting Started

model_file

Normally FEMAP will start with a new, unnamed model. If model_file is the filename of an existing model however, FEMAP will start using that model. If the file does not exist, you will see an error message, and FEMAP will start a new model with that name. If you add a question mark to the command line instead of specifying a model name, FEMAP will automatically display the standard file access dialog box and ask you for the name of the model that you want to use. If you want to begin a new model, just press New Model or the Escape key. When you want to work on an existing model, just choose it from the dialog box, or type its name. You should never specify both the ? and model_file options.

3.4.1 Errors Starting FEMAP

If you receive a error indicating that the security device cannot be found, please go back to section 3.2.1 and confirm all steps have been followed and then try to run FEMAP again. If you are attempting to start a network client and see the Choose Server or File dialog box from FLEXlm, FLEXlm cannot find a valid license file. Simply Cancel from this dialog box and go to Help About Security to define the location of the license file, as instructed above in Section 3.3.3.2 Accessing the License File.

Improving Performance (RAM Management)



If you receive an Unable to allocate Scroll Buffer File error or have any other difficulty starting FEMAP where abnormal termination occurs, you either do not have enough disk space, or your Windows TEMP is not set to a valid, accessible directory. You may either change your Windows TEMP directory environment variable, or specify a path for the FEMAP scratch files (which default to the Windows TEMP directory set by the environment variable) to a valid directory. This and all other FEMAP Preferences are stored in a file called femap.ini that is typically located in the FEMAP executable directory. You will have to create this file or modify it to include the appropriate lines as shown below: DiskModelScr=c:\femap70 DiskUndo=c:\femap70 DiskListBuff=c:\femap70 where c:\femap70 can be any valid path. The DiskModelScr, DiskUndo, and DiskListBuff parameters are case sensitive, and must be defined exactly as above. Once you make these changes and FEMAP starts, you can use the File Preferences Database command to modify this path.

3.4.2 Improving Performance (RAM Management)

To improve FEMAP performance on Windows 95 and Windows NT personal workstations, you should modify the default settings that FEMAP uses to manage RAM. This procedure is explained in more detail in the Command Reference Manual under File Preferences, Startup Preferences (File Manipulation Chapter). To access the internal FEMAP memory management system, follow the procedure below: 1. Choose the File Preferences command and hit the Database button. 2. Change Cache Pages and Blocks/Page in the dialog box. 3. Max Cached Label should be set to a number that is higher than any entity you will create in your model file. This sets aside a small portion of memory that stores all of the IDs in FEMAP. 4. Select OK and say Yes to the Permanent question. (Remember to say Yes or your selection will not be saved). The total amount of memory that FEMAP can allocate is the product of the Cache Pages, Blocks/Page, and 4096 bytes/Block (i.e. the values shown, 12000 x 2 x 4096 will allow FEMAP to access just under 100 Mbytes of RAM) and use entity IDs up to 6,000,000.

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Note:
You should never allow FEMAP to allocate more than the physical memory of the machine. The internal memory management (swapping) in FEMAP will allow the program to run much faster than Windows memory swapping. Therefore, you should set the Cache Pages



Getting Started

and Blocks/Page at a level which is comfortably below the physical memory of the machine. Also, to optimize performance, you should always increase Cache Pages (max 15000) to its limit before increasing Blocks/Page.

3.4.2.1 Setting Guidelines

Starting with FEMAP version 7.0 FEMAP handles memory differently and requires different settings from earlier versions.

FEMAP Version 7.0 The following figures are provided as a starting point to improve performance. Actual perOperating System Installed RAM (Mb) Windows 95/98, NT 64 128 256 512 1000 Cache Pages 10500 12000 14000 15000 15000 Blocks/Page 1 2 4 8 15

formance will vary depending upon other concurrent applications and model specifics. Once again, it is best to increase Cache pages to 15000 before increasing Blocks/Page

Note:
For best performance you should have enough physical Ram to load the entire model file into memory. i.e. if you expect your model files to be a maximum of 100 Mb then you would want FEMAP to allocate at least 100 Mb of memory. If you had 128 Mb of physical RAM this would leave 28 Mb for windows and other programs that may be running at the same time as FEMAP.

FEMAP Version 5 & 6 Memory is handled differently starting with FEMAP version 7.0. For earlier versions of FEMAP use the table below.
Operating System Installed RAM (Mb) Cache Pages - Max Windows 95/98 32 64 96 128 32 64 96 128 480 1024 1024 1024 390 1024 1024 1024 Blocks/Page 20 24 38 52 20 22 36 50

Windows NT

User Interface

This section describes the FEMAP User Interface. It is divided into four major sections. The first section describes the overall graphical interface, as well as its relationship to FEMAP. The second section involves accessing commands in FEMAP. There are seven major methods of accessing commands: (1) Standard Menu, (2) View Toolbar, (3) Command Toolbars, (4) Toolbox, (5) Quick Access Menu (right mouse button), (6) Shortcut Keys, and (7) Status Bar. The third section describes common dialog boxes in FEMAP, while the fourth section provides information on the FEMAP Workplane and other tools.

4.1 Overview
This section provides an overview of the graphical user interface for FEMAP. Explanations of FEMAPs connections with Windows, as well as a general overview of the Windows which comprise the graphical user interface are provided. This section is divided into a brief description of the overall FEMAP Interface, the FEMAP Main Window, the FEMAP Messages and List Window, and the FEMAP Graphics Window.

4.1.1 The FEMAP/Windows Team

FEMAP is a true Windows program. Therefore, if you have any experience running a Windows program, you will understand the FEMAP format. Careful implementation of Windows standards makes learning to use multiple Windows applications much easier since there are many similarities in the user interface. The other distinct advantage of being a true Windows program is you can easily export information directly from FEMAP to other Windows programs. This is extremely useful when generating reports with graphical information such as color contours. You can simply use a File Picture Copy to generate a Metafile copy on the clipboard, and use an Edit Paste Special in such programs as Microsoft Word to paste the picture into a Word document. You can then even scale this picture in Word since it is contained in Metafile format. Similarly, you can copy information from the FEMAP Messages and Lists Windows to such programs as EXCEL for further manipulation of data.

4.1.2 The FEMAP Windows

The two most basic visible parts of any Windows application are its window and the dialog boxes that it uses for input. Dialog boxes are typically only displayed when input is required, and then disappear. Conversely, windows usually remain visible to present text or graphical information until you decide to close or destroy them. FEMAP uses three distinct windows: (1) Main Window, (2) Graphics Window, and (3) Messages and Lists Window. The figure below notes the location of the three windows, as well as other features inside of these windows. A description of each of these windows is provided.

FEMAP Main Window

Main Menu Title Bar

View Toolbar Shortcut/Accelerator Key Active Menu Item Command Toolbar

Submenu

Graphics Window

User Interface

Disabled Menu Item



Messages and Lists Window Menu Help

Status Bar

The FEMAP Main Window



4.1.2.1 The FEMAP Main Window

The FEMAP Main window is the parent or application window for FEMAP. When you begin FEMAP, this window will occupy your entire screen. It can be resized and moved using the standard Windows methods, but it cannot be closed or destroyed (unless you exit FEMAP). The Main window defines the FEMAP Desktop, the portion of the screen that will be used by starting FEMAP. Although you can manually move FEMAP's other windows outside of the boundaries of the Main window, their default sizing and position will always be inside this window. Similarly, if you minimize this window turning it into an icon, all other FEMAP windows (graphics and messages and lists) will disappear. They will automatically reappear when the icon is restored to its original form or maximized to full screen. The most important function of the FEMAP Main Window is to provide the user with easy access to the many powerful tools in FEMAP. It provides access through several methods, including the FEMAP Main Menu, Toolbars (Command and View), and the Folders or Trays on the Status Bar at the bottom right portion of the Main Window. Each of these areas will be discussed in more detail in the Accessing command section later in this chapter. In addition to command access, the Main Window also serves to identify the current model, as well as provide status and help information. The FEMAP Title Bar at the top of the window will show the name of the current model. It will also serve as Menu Help if you do not have an active Status Bar. The Status bar at the bottom of the FEMAP Main Window has several functions. When performing commands that require more than a few seconds, such as importing a large amount of analysis results, the status bar will demonstrate the percentage completed. This provides feedback that FEMAP is still importing the file, and is still active. When not performing commands, the Status Bar will serve as the Menu Help location and contain trays which allow you to access FEMAP command to activate a specific Property, Load Set, Constraint Set, Group, and Output Set. You may also use the last command in this sequence. To use Menu Help, simply move your cursor to a Menu or Toolbar command. A brief description of the command will be provided in the Status Bar location (or Title Bar location if the Status Bar is not active). If you maintain the cursor above one of the Toolbar commands, you will also see the command name appear next to the cursor. This is in addition to the description in the Status Bar or Title Bar locations. The user also has control over whether the toolbars and status bar are displayed. With regard to the Toolbars, you can also control their location. By accessing the File Preferences, Menu and Toolbars command, you can decide whether to show the Toolbars and Status Bar. You may also define the location of the View and Command Toolbars. As with all startup preferences (see File Manipulation Chapter in the FEMAP Command Reference Manual), you must save them with Permanent and they will only be activated the next time you enter FEMAP.

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4.1.2.2 FEMAP Messages and Lists Window

The second type of window used by FEMAP is the Messages and Lists window. This is used to display all text information (error and warning messages, listings and reports) which are generated during your FEMAP session. This window is created automatically when FEMAP is started and is originally positioned at the bottom of the Main window as a three line scroll bar. Since the window must be available for display of error messages, you can never close or destroy it, but you can minimize it to an icon. To turn the scroll area into a complete window simply double click in the area. The full messages and lists window will pop up. As with any window, you can use the sizing commands accessed by clicking on the Left Top Corner of the window, as well as use the vertical and horizontal arrows to scroll the window. One nice added feature of this window is that you may toggle between Maximize and Original Position simply by pressing Control-U or by double-clicking inside the Messages and Lists window. This enables you to view a large amount of data simply at the push of a button, and then restore it to its original size. You may also use the right mouse button to Dock/Undock the Messages and Lists Window. Simply hit the right mouse button while in the Messages and Lists Window, and select Dock/Undock. This will resize the Messages and Lists Window to full screen. It will also allow you to resize the Window manually. Simply select Dock/ Undock again if you want to dock the Messages and Lists Window back to the FEMAP Main Window. You may also use the right mouse button to change the number of lines of the Messages and Lists Window (also available under File Preferences, Messages and Lists) as well as Show Icons of any minimized Graphics Windows contained behind the Messages and Lists Window. Information which is displayed in the Messages and Lists window cannot be edited or changed in any way. You can however transfer information from this window to a file (using the File Messages Save command), or to other Windows applications via the Windows clipboard (using the File Messages Copy command). You can even select the amount of information you want to transfer by clicking in the Window and highlighting those lines you would like to transfer.

The FEMAP Graphics Windows



You may also use the File Preferences Messages and Lists command to modify the information contained in the Messages and Lists Window. You can change color of the text and background, as well as the number of lines. You even have control over font and size of text. You may also decide to have FEMAP create a Title Bar for the Messages and Lists Window. If you are showing the Status Bar, the Title Bar will not be shown unless you maximize the Messages and Lists Window.

4.1.2.3 The FEMAP Graphics Windows

The last type of window used by FEMAP is the Graphics window. Just like the Main window and the Messages and Lists window, one Graphics window is automatically created when you start FEMAP. By default, it will cover the area of the Main window which is not occupied by the Messages and Lists scroll area (minus a small border). Unlike the other windows, you can create multiple graphics windows (View New command) if you want to see multiple views of your model. Conversely, you can close/destroy all of the graphics windows if you simply want to work with text information. If you minimize a Graphics Window to an icon, the icon shows the current orientation of the view by drawing just the View axes (and of course the Window Title). The FEMAP View menu commands control all aspects of Graphics windows. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the FEMAP Views and the Graphics windows. Every Graphics window has its own unique FEMAP View, which is stored with your model. When a Graphics window is originally created using the View New command, a FEMAP View is created in the model database. When that window is closed, the View remains in your database (unless you use the Delete View command). To reopen the window you simply use the View Activate command and select the desired View. The window will reappear in its former size and position, using the same options as when it was last displayed. Just like the Messages and Lists window, the contents of Graphics windows can be exported to a file, or to other Windows applications. For Graphics Windows however, you must use the File Picture Save and File Picture Copy commands.

Sizing the Graphics Windows

Also like the Messages and Lists window, there are several ways to size the graphics windows including grabbing the border, pressing maximize, the View Tile and View Cascade commands, and by pressing Ctrl-Shift-U. This shortcut key will alternately grow the active window to the size of the main window and return it to its original size and position.

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4.2 Accessing FEMAP Commands

As mentioned in the FEMAP Main Window description, there are several ways of accessing FEMAP commands. Most of these are contained on the Main Window, such as the Main Menu, Toolbars, and Status Bar. There are several other methods as well, including using the Right Mouse Button as well as keyboard input. There are seven basic methods of accessing FEMAP commands. 1. Main Menu 2. View Toolbar 3. Command Toolbars 4. Toolbox 5. Quick Access Menu (right-mouse button) 6. Shortcut Keys 7. Status Bar

4.2.1 FEMAP Main Menu

At the top of the Main window, under the title bar, is the FEMAP menu. This menu provides access to all of the available commands. You can execute these commands through any of the standard Windows methods - picking with the cursor/mouse, pressing Alt and one of the underlined letters or the direction keys, or by using one of the shortcut/accelerator keys shown to the right side of the menu. Often, some commands on the menu are displayed in gray. These commands are temporarily disabled. For example, the List Nodes command is disabled if you do not have any nodes in your model to list. Disabled commands will automatically enable themselves when the data they need is available in your model. All of the commands shown on the menu bar (at the top of the main window) cause another menu to drop-down to display additional commands. You will notice that some of the commands on this drop-down menu have a small arrow on the right side of the menu. Selecting one of these commands will display a third menu level. The FEMAP Main Menu never goes below this third level, and many commands are at the second level. This minimizes the time and effort involved in selecting commands. Each command is documented in the FEMAP Command Reference. This manual will concentrate more on the general use of FEMAP.

4.2.2 FEMAP View Toolbar

Typically located directly below the menu in the FEMAP Main Window, you will see a row of buttons known as the View Toolbar. In contrast to the Toolbox displayed by the Tools Toolbox command, these buttons are not user programmable, but rather give you instant graphical access to some of the most commonly used graphical features in the program. The actual position of the View Toolbar can be changed by the user under File Preferences, Menus and Toolbars command. This options is a startup preference so it must be saved as Permanent and will only be invoked when entering FEMAP.

FEMAP View Toolbar



In general toolbar commands can be accessed at any time - even while you are in the middle of another command. Of special note on the toolbar is the Dynamic Rotate, Pan and Zoom button. This command allows you to dynamically orient your model in the active view with just a few mouse clicks. These commands are very powerful for positioning your model while in other commands and are most useful for graphical selection of your entities. Since they can be accessed while in other commands, you can actually change orientations in the middle of the selection process to obtain a better angle for picking the appropriate entities. Utilizing the Dynamic Rotate and other Toolbar commands can significantly reduce the time required to graphically select entities

Dynamic Rotate, Pan and Zoom

Rotate-Direction Rotate

Zoom Prev Zoom

View Layers

Snap To Screen, Grid, Point, Node

Pick All Inside

Pan Left, Right, Up and Down Mag Up/Down Center

View Options Quick Options View Select

Print Copy to Clipboard

Most of the Toolbar commands (other than Copy and Print) are available at any time during FEMAP, even in the middle of another command. The only exception is that no View Toolbar commands are available if you are in any other View or Toolbar command. A brief description of each of these commands is provided below

Toolbar Dynamic
This button is identical to choosing the View Align By Dynamic command and provides 3D Dynamic Rotation, Pan and Zoom. This command can also be accessed when in Render mode by simply holding and dragging the left mouse button in the graphics window.

Toolbar Pan
Moves your model to the Left, Right, Up or Down in the active graphics window. These provide the same capability as pressing the buttons in the left side of the View Pan dialog box. The amount that your model moves every time you click one of these buttons can be controlled by holding down the following keys as you press the buttons: Hold Down
Nothing Shift Ctrl Alt

Pan By
10% of Window 25% 50% 100%

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Toolbar Rotate
The first button (+/-) in this group chooses whether the other buttons will rotate around the positive or negative axis. This button will simply change state each time you press it. In addition, the diagrams on the other buttons will change to reflect the direction of the rotation. The X, Y and Z rotation buttons actually perform the rotations. The following table shows other options that you can apply if you combine these buttons with holding down a key: Hold Down Rotate Around
Nothing Shift Ctrl Alt Model Axes Screen Axes Model Axes Screen Axes

Rotate By
Angle specified in File Preferences Angle specified in File Preferences 90 degrees 90 degrees

The default angle for rotations is 10 degrees. If you want to change it, use File Preferences and change the Delta angle.

Toolbar Magnify
These buttons change the magnification, either up (+) or down (-) from the current setting. You can control the change in magnification by holding down a key as you press the button: Hold Down
Nothing Shift Ctrl Alt

Magnify by
110% 150% 200% Autoscale, also changes centering

Toolbar Zoom
This is an alternate zoom method that requires just a few mouse clicks. When you choose this button, FEMAP will display the following dialog box:

Although you could type numbers into this dialog box, the intended purpose of this command is simply to point into the graphics window and click the left mouse button at opposite corners of the area that you want to zoom into. After you click the first corner, you will see a box around the zoom area, as you move your mouse. When you click the second corner, the dialog box will automatically close and the view will redraw in the zoomed area.

FEMAP View Toolbar



Toolbar Previous Zoom

This simply selects the View Previous Zoom command.

Toolbar Center
This simply selects the View Center command.

Toolbar View Select

Chooses the View Select command.

Toolbar Quick Options

Chooses the View Quick Options command.

Toolbar View Options

This command provides immediate access to many of the View Options selections. You can change from Wireframe, to Hidden View, to Solid Model. You can also change turn On/Off Render Mode, Fill, Shading, Shrink Elements, offsets, and Orientation. If you choose options, the View Options dialog box will appear to enable you to change any of the View Options.

Toolbar Layers
Chooses the View Layers command.

Toolbar View Snap Modes

These buttons provide a graphical way to change the current snap mode. From left to right, they choose Snap to Screen, Grid, Point or Node. The button that represents the current snap mode is always shown as if it were pressed down.

Toolbar Pick All Inside

This button changes the graphical selection method. When the button appears as one box completely enclosed in another, all entities must be in the selection area (i.e. all Nodes of a given Element must be in the area) for the entity to be chosen. Conversely, if the boxes only overlap in one corner (as above), only a single entity (i.e. one Node of the Element) must be in the selection area for the entity to be chosen (please see Graphical Selection section in this chapter).

Toolbar Copy
Selects the File Picture Copy command and transfers a copy of the current graphics window to the clipboard so it can be pasted into other applications.

Toolbar Print
Selects the File Print command so that you can print the current graphics window, the screen or the messages.

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4.2.3 FEMAP Command Toolbars

Typically located at the right of the graphics window is the FEMAP Command Toolbar. This toolbar differs from the view Toolbar in that you can access multiple toolbars from it. Some buttons activate commands while others switch the toolbar to a different toolbar with more commands. There is a main toolbar and seven underlying toolbars. The Curve Toolbar even has several toolbars beneath it. The underlying Toolbars provide easy access to all necessary commands for a particular part of the FEA process. The underlying toolbars are divided into the following areas, a curve toolbar, a surface toolbar, a solids toolbar, a meshing toolbar, a load toolbar, a constraint toolbar and a postprocessing toolbar. The Curve toolbar has five underlying toolbars of its own. They are the (1) line, (2) arc/circle, (3) spline, (4) curve from surface and (5) modify curve toolbars. Similar to other window programs, tooltips are available to tell you what the toolbar buttons do. Simply place the cursor over the button and wait a moment for the tooltip to appear. A one line description of the command will also appear in the status bar at the bottom of the FEMAP graphics window to help you determine the functionality of the command. The toolbars are shown below with the command they access. For a more description of the individual commands, please see the FEMAP Command Reference Manual.

Main Toolbar
The FEMAP Main Toolbar (shown below) allows you to save, import or export information. It also provides access to the underlying toolbars as well.
Import Analysis Model Import Analysis Results Surface Toolbar

Save Model

Constraint Toolbar

Postprocessing Toolbar

Geometry Import

Export Analysis Model

Curve Toolbar

Solids Toolbar

Meshing Toolbar

Load Toolbar

Each of the buttons which provide access to commands involve the import or export of information. For more information on each of these command, please see the Command Reference manual in the File Manipulation chapter.

FEMAP Command Toolbars



Curve Toolbar
The Curve Toolbar consists of four separate sections. The first two sections each consist of only one button. The first button simply returns you to the Main Toolbar, while the second button will allow you to change the Workplane (accesses the Tools Workplane command).
Line Toolbar Modify Edit Curve Toolbar

Return to Main Menu

Spline Toolbar

Workplane

Arc/Circle Toolbar

Curve from Surface Toolbar

The third section consists of the toolbar submenu under curves. These options work slightly different than other submenus. All commands which access other Toolbars, as well the Main Menu and Workplane commands will remain on the Toolbar even when you access the different submenus. The commands on the toolbars below these submenus are the only ones which change. Therefore, when you select the Line Toolbar, all commands below the Modify Edit Toolbar button will change to Line commands contained on the Line Toolbar. A brief description of each of these Curve Submenu Toolbars is provided below. Once again, these commands are also available on the Main Menu under the Geometry Menu (for Line, Arc/Circle, Spline, and Curve from Surface menus), or the Modify Menu (for the Modify Edit Toolbar).

Line Toolbar
These commands provide easy access to line creation commands. These commands can also be accessed through the Geometry Curve-Line Menu on the FEMAP Main Menu. The toolbar is partitioned into two major sections. The first four commands create lines in 3D space, while the remaining commands create lines in the Workplane. For more information concerning each of these commands, please see the Geometry chapter of the FEMAP Command Reference Manual. 3-D Space Workplane
Continuous Offset Midline Point-Tangent Angle-to-Curve Vertical Horizontal

Coordinates

Vector

Tangent Rectangle

2 Points Parallel At Angle

Perpendicular

Note:
The Coordinates method should be used to create lines between two points in 3-D space. Simply change the Snap method to Points and select the Points. The 2 Points option will automatically project all selections onto the Workplane.

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Arc/Circle Toolbar
These commands provide easy access to arc and circle creation commands. These commands can also be accessed through the Geometry Curve-Arc and Geometry Curve-Circle Menus on the FEMAP Main Menu. The toolbar is partitioned into two major sections, arcs and circles. These commands create arcs and circles in the Workplane, with the exception of the 3 Points command, which works in 3D space. For more information concerning each of these commands, please see the Geometry chapter of the FEMAP Command Reference Manual. Circles
Tangent Radius Center 3 Points StartCenterAngle

Arcs
Start-End-Angle

Diameter

Point-Tangent

StartEndCenter

StartEndRadius

Spline Toolbar
These commands provide easy access to spline creation commands. These commands can also be accessed through the Geometry Curve-Spline Menu on the FEMAP Main Menu. The toolbar is partitioned into two major sections. The first section contains 5 commands which create splines in 3-D space. The second section contains 2 commands which create splines in the Workplane. For more information concerning each of these commands, please see the Geometry chapter of the FEMAP Command Reference Manual. 3-D Space
3D Control Points Tangents Offset Thru Points

Workplane

Thru 3D Points

Blend

Control Points

Curve From Surface Toolbar

These commands provide easy access to spline creation commands. These commands can also be accessed through the Geometry Curve-From Surface Menu on the FEMAP Main Menu. The first command toggles the Update Surfaces Option. If this icon shows a continuous surface, surfaces will not be updated. If it shows two separate surfaces, any Curve from Surface operations will also update the surfaces. You toggle between these options by simply

FEMAP Command Toolbars



clicking on this icon. The remaining icons create curves from surfaces. For more information concerning each of these commands, please see the Geometry chapter of the FEMAP Command Reference Manual.
Project

Update Surface

UV Curve

Intersect Project Along

Slice

Edit Curve Toolbar

This toolbar provides quick access to commands contained on the Modify menu. You can Trim, Break, Extend, Join, Fillet, or Chamfer curves. You may also Delete curves from this Toolbar. For more information on these commands, please see the Modifying and Deleting Geometry sections of the Geometry chapter in the FEMAP command Reference manual.

Trim

Extend

Fillet

Delete

Break

Join

Chamfer

Surface Toolbar
These commands provide easy access to surface creation commands. These commands can also be accessed through the Geometry Surface Menu on the FEMAP Main Menu. For more information concerning each of these commands, please see the Geometry chapter of the FEMAP Command Reference Manual.

Return to Main

Corners

Loft

Extrude

Cylinder

WorkPlane

Edge Curves

Ruled Revolve

Sphere

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Solid Toolbar
The Solid Toolbar is slightly different than the other toolbars. In addition to containing the commands under the Geometry Solids Menu, it also contains commands for creating boundaries, sketching curves, and immediate access to the FEA toolbars (Mesh, Load, and Constraint). You may also use this toolbar to change the active solid, and move the Workplane onto a particular Face of a solid. For more information on these commands, please see the FEMAP Command Reference Manual.

Return to Main

WorkPlane on Face

Create Boundary

Fillet Extrude Revolve Add

Subtract Stitch Mesh Toolbar Load Toolbar

WorkPlane

Activate Solid

Sketch Primitives

Chamfer

Slice

Shell

Constraint Toolbar

Mesh Toolbar
The Mesh Toolbar provides a simple method to mesh your model. The toolbar is separated into four major sections. The first section allows you to define mesh sizes on geometry. These commands can be found under the Mesh Mesh Control menu as well. The second set contain meshing commands for geometry (Mesh Geometry commands). The third set contain meshing command which do not require geometry, while the last segment contains access to the Constraint and Load Toolbars. For more information on each of these commands, please see the FEMAP Command Reference Manual under Meshing.
Return to Main Surface Mesh Size

Mesh Curve

Mesh Solid

Mesh Region

Rotate Element

Extrude Element

Constraint Load Toolbar Toolbar

Curve Mesh Size

Solid Mesh Size

Mesh Surface

Mesh Between

Copy Element

Reflect Element

Revolve Element

Constraint Toolbar
The Constraint Toolbar provides a simple method to constrain your model. You can apply both Nodal and Geometric (Point, Curve, and Surface) constraints. In addition, you can quickly produce nodal constraints which constrain translation (Pinned - Degrees of Freedom 1, 2, 3 constrained), constrain rotation (No Rotation - Degrees of Freedom 4, 5, 6 constrained), or constrain both (Fixed - all Degrees of Freedom constrained). You may also use

FEMAP Command Toolbars



the Expand command to convert from geometric to Nodal constraints. For more information on constraints and their associated commands, please see the Modeling Chapter in the FEMAP Command Reference manual.

Return to Main

Pinned Fixed

Point Constraint

Surface Constraint

Nodal Constraint

No Rotation

Expand

Curve Constraint

Load Toolbar
The Load Toolbar provides a simple method to load your model. You can apply both FEA (Nodal and Elemental) or Geometric (Point, Curve, and Surface) loads. You may also use the Expand command to convert from geometric to FEA loads. For more information on loads and their associated commands, please see the Modeling Chapter in the FEMAP Command Reference manual

Return to Main

Elemental Load

Point Load

Surface Load

Nodal Load

Expand Curve Load

PostProcessing Toolbar
The Postprocessing Toolbar enables you to quickly modify the postprocessing options for your current view. It is segmented into four major sections. The first section contains deformation options. You can change from No Deformation, to a Deformed Plot, to an Animation. The second area allows you to change from No Contour to a Contour Plot or a Criteria

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Plot. The third section allows you to move between Output Sets and Output Vectors, as well as select completely new vectors (Post Data).
Return to Main Post Data Next Output Set Next Output Vector Quick Postprocssing

Deform

No Contour

No Deformation

Animate

Contour

Criteria

Previous Output Set

Previous Output Vector

The final button, Quick Postprocessing, provides a menu which makes it possible to quickly change some of the common postprocessing settings. These options simply access common View Options Postprocessing settings. The menu is separated into five sections based upon the type of plot they affect. The first section controls the scale of the deformation plot as well as whether the Undeformed model is visible. The second section controls animation type and number of frames. The third section allows you to toggle animating and filled contours on/off as well as providing quick access to the Contour Options dialog box typically accessed under View Select, Deformed and Contour Data. Freebody displays, which are also typically accessed under View Select, Deformed and Contour Data can also be accessed through this menu. By selecting More Options, you may also access the View Options command with the Postprocessing category already selected. For more information on these commands, please see the Postprocessing section of this manual, as well as the Command Reference Manual.

4.2.4 FEMAP Toolbox

The FEMAP Toolbox provides another method of accessing FEMAP commands quickly. The command Tools Toolbox alternately displays and removes the toolbox dialog box. The toolbox gives you quick, graphical access to the commands that you use most. Just by clicking on one of the picture buttons in the toolbox, you will execute a command or macro (just like a program file but stored in the toolbox file). Icons can be confusing, so FEMAP automatically displays a one line description of each button in the status bar. Simply point at the

Quick Access Menu (Right Mouse Button)



button with your cursor. This feature can be disabled using File Preferences Menus and Toolbars.

Arrow indicates that a button is used to access a second level menu

Press Here to go back to previous menu

Most toolbox buttons execute commands, however, some will switch to a toolbox submenu. In the standard toolbox, these buttons have a small black arrow, just like the menu items that display a submenu. When you switch to a toolbox submenu, an extra button labeled <<Menu, will appear at the bottom of the toolbox. Press this button when you want to go back to the previous menu. FEMAP comes with a standard toolbox that implements many common commands. You can create additional toolboxes or even change the standard toolbox. Refer to the Customization Chapter in the this manual for more information. If you have multiple toolboxes, the File Preferences Libraries command is used to select the toolbox that is displayed. Simply changing the preferences will not select a new toolbox if it is already on your screen. FEMAP only refers to the preferences when you open a toolbox. Therefore, if the toolbox is already open (on the screen), you must close it and reopen it whenever you change your preferences.

4.2.5 Quick Access Menu (Right Mouse Button)

The right mouse button provides another option to access certain FEMAP commands that are used often. Just like the Toolbar, these commands can be accessed while in other commands, or as their own command. Simply point the cursor inside (not in the title bar or border) any graphics window, or inside the FEMAP Main window, and press the right mouse button. A small menu will appear on your screen at the cursor location. You can choose any of the shortcut commands from this menu with either the keyboard or the left mouse button. This shortcut menu cannot be accessed if you are pointing in the Messages and Lists Window.

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Note:
Not all commands below will be visible on the Quick Access menu at any time. If command is not currently available, it is not placed on the Menu. For instance, Post Data will not appear if you are in another command, and OK and Cancel will only be visible when in a command. The commands that are on the shortcut menu are described in the following table. Command OK Cancel Previous Workplane... Snap to Screen Snap to Grid Snap to Point Snap to Node Pick Normal Pick Query Description only available while you are in a command dialog box. It simply presses the dialog box OK button. only available while you are in a command dialog box. It simply presses the dialog box Cancel button. only available when not in another command. It accesses the last menu command. same as the Tools Workplane command. It lets you redefine the location and orientation of the workplane snap to the nearest screen location

snap to the nearest grid location snap to the nearest point snap to the nearest node selects normal picking where closest entity is selected selects all entities that are behind the cursor as you go through the depth of the model and places them in a list located lower right corner. Pick Front allows the selection of only the front most entity Pick all Inside controls how entities are selected with a box pick. If checked, the entity must be completely inside the box. If unchecked, only a part of the entity must be inside the box. Select This menu of options allows you to control which coordinates will be selected when you use the graphics cursor to pick a location. This is the same as capability provided with the Cursor Position dialog box. Equations... calls the Equation Editor. This is only available when you are working in a dialog box, and in an edit or drop-down list control. Position... displays (or removes) the Cursor Position dialog box.

Shortcut Keys



Command

Description

Model Data... allows you to choose the loads, constraints and group which will be displayed in the active view. This is the same as the Model Data pushbutton which is available in the View Select command. It will not be visible when in another command Post Data... allows you to choose the output set and vectors which are used for postprocessing. This is the same as the Deformed and Contour Data push-button which is available in the View Select command. It is not available when no output exists or when you are already in another command. XY Data... allows you to choose the output sets and vectors which are used for XY plots. This is the same as the XY Data push-button which is available in the View Select command. It is not available when no output exists or when you are already in another command. These commands are most useful in two circumstances. The first circumstance is to modify the Snap To (more fully explained in the next section) when coordinate input is required. If a Node or Point exists at the appropriate coordinate location, you can change the Snap To to Node or Point, select the Node or Point, and FEMAP will automatically use the position value as the input coordinates. You could actually use the right mouse button to access the Workplane command, and then use the right mouse button to change the mode of the Snap To when defining the coordinates of the plane. You could even use three different methods to define the three different coordinate locations. The other major advantage to the right mouse button is that it enables you to quickly access commands for viewing your model that are several menu commands deep. For instance, the Model Data command allows you to change from viewing the entire model to just viewing a group. To access this command through the menu, you need to hit View Select, and then hit Model Data, choose the Group, and then exit the way you came in. If you are continuously changing the groups to view, this could become tedious. Instead, you can simply hit Model Data, change the Group, and hit OK. Other shortcuts include Post Data (Deformed and Contoured Data under View Select) and XY Data (also under View Select).

4.2.6 Shortcut Keys

FEMAP has both certain keys defined as commands for quick implementation as well as providing you the capability to define your own shortcut keys. Commands which can be accessed through standard shortcut keys have the shortcut key listed next to their name. Some of the most commonly used shortcut keys include F5 for View Select, F6 for View Options, and Ctrl+Q for View Quick Options. These shortcut keys enable you to access these commands without going through the menu substructure. In addition to the standard shortcut keys, FEMAP also allows you to define your own shortcut keys. Any letter of the alphabet may be defined as a command. It is also case sensitive so you may define up to 52 commands for the 26 capital and 26 small letters of the alphabet. You can define these keys through File Preferences, Shortcut Keys. You can define keys just for the current session by simply modifying these keys, or you can save them to be Perma-

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nent for future sessions by saying Yes to the Permanent question when exiting File Preferences after you have defined your shortcut keys. Therefore, you may customize your FEMAP to access your most commonly used commands through any letter keys. All of the standard shortcut keys are listed in Appendix A of this manual, but a few of the more useful but less obvious are listed below. These keys work within a text or drop down list box in a FEMAP dialog box.n list boxes in FEMAP. They do not apply to other Windows applications except for those noted as Windows commands. Key(s) Ctrl+A Ctrl+C Ctrl+D Ctrl+E Function Measure an Angle Copy (Windows Command) Measure a Distance Display FEMAP Equation Editor for interactive definition of variables and equations. List Functions Snap Cursor Selections to Snap Grid. Display a list of the existing entities of the desired type. Snap cursor selections to nearest Node. Snap cursor selections to nearest Point. Snap cursor selections to screen (snap off). Redefine Snap Grid. Paste (Windows Command) Redefine Workplane. Cut (Windows Command) Use Standard Coordinate Selection Dialog Box to define location

Ctrl+F Ctrl+G Ctrl+L Ctrl+N Ctrl+P Ctrl+S Ctrl+T Ctrl+V Ctrl+W Ctrl+X Ctrl+Z

One of the most commonly used options is to use these keys to perform measurements when you want to input coordinates. Since these keys are available when you are in another dialog box, you can perform the measurement and obtain the result as the input to the dialog box value. There is no need to perform your measurements, write the information down, and then go into the command to define the position.

4.2.7 Status Bar

The Status bar is contained at the bottom of the FEMAP Main Window. By default the left side of the status bar keeps a running tally of the number of nodes and elements in your model. This will be overwritten by a command description if Menu Help is active, but it will return when you are not accessing or pointing at a command.

Status Bar



In addition to the Menu Help and node and element counts that appear on the left side of the bar, the right side provides one button access to: m Current Property m Current Load Set m Current Constraint Set m Current Group (also to View the Active Group or not) m Current Output Set The current property, load set, constraint set, group, and output set can be changed, or a new one created, by either left clicking or right clicking the mouse. Left clicking will bring up the standard Create or Activate dialog box for the four set based items, or a simple selection box to change the current property.

Right clicking will bring up a drop-down menu that will contain a list of the current entities or sets in the model that you can choose to activate, or you can hit Set to access the Create or Activate dialog box. The Group option shown here as the added feature to toggle displaying of the Active Group. Thus, not only can you use this feature to rapidly switch between groups, you can also toggle between displaying the active group or the entire model as a short cut to using the View Select Model Data (or right mouse button Model Data commands).

Dynamic Query
The final item on the Status Bar provides access to the Dynamic Query capability. Initially it is set to Off. By right or left clicking in the Dynamic Query box (the Off tray), the Dynamic Query menu appears. By selecting any of the items on the menu, you activate Dynamic Query for that entity type. For example, if you set the Dynamic Query to node, when you move the mouse around the graphics window, you will notice that the closest node to the mouse highlights. If you stop for a second, additional information about that node will be displayed in a pop-up window. If you select Nodes or Points, the coordinates are

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displayed in the Active Coordinate System (reference contained in () of Coord), which can be changed using Tools Parameters.

If you are graphically post-processing during Dynamic Query, the information that is being used to create the graphic is also displayed in the pop-up windows. While a pop-up window is displaying Dynamic Query information, if you click the left mouse button, the information will be echoed to the Messages and Lists window. Using this capability, you can quickly walk around the model, and recover important information at specific nodes and elements, and by transferring the information to the Messages and Lists window, you can easily create a report of that critical information. If you right click in the Dynamic Query Information box, FEMAP will create a Text entity identical to the Query dialog box that will then be saved with the model. This provides a convenient method to quickly annotate a key area of your model with displacement and stress information. You can also use Modify Edit to edit this Text just like any other FEMAP Text entity.

Hint:
Be careful when using this feature. The actual Text cannot be displayed until you redraw the view so do not right click more than once, otherwise the result may be a large number of Text entities on top of one another. The best method is to right click, move the cursor and then double left click in the graphics window to redraw the view. You should then see the text. Other possible reasons for the text not appearing include having Text display off (use Ctrl - View Quick Options to check) or you are viewing a Group and the text is not in the group.

4.3 FEMAP Dialog Boxes

Many FEMAP commands require additional input to control its actions. Some commands require you to select geometry or other entities. Others require you to specify coordinates or choose from a list of available options. In all of these cases, one or more dialog boxes is displayed to request and accept that input.

4.3.1 Entity Selection

In FEMAP, just as in other Windows applications, when a dialog box is displayed you are presented with one or more options, or requests for text/numeric input. To select an option, or specify some input, you first move to that field/control using either the keyboard (TAB, Direction or Alt+underlined_letter keys) or more directly by selecting it with the cursor. If

Entity Selection



the current control is a button or list box, you can select an option using either the keyboard or the cursor. If the current control is a text box or drop-down list box many applications give you no choice but to go back to your keyboard and type your input. With FEMAP, you can still do that, but in most cases (IDs and coordinates) you can also enter the text/numeric input graphically using the cursor. FEMAP has several standard dialog boxes, but the most common box is the Entity Selection dialog box shown below. Many FEMAP commands require you to select one or more entities which will be used for the command. For all commands which support the selection of multiple entities, FEMAP uses a common entity selection dialog box. With this dialog box you can select any combination, and any number of entities from your model. As entities are selected or removed, they are noted in the list of selected entities which is located near the center of the dialog box.
Enter Entity IDs here

Select Picking Method

Choose entire groups here. List of selected entities + Add, - Remove, x Exclude

Use More when you want to choose multiple entities.

Use Method to select using an alternate approach.

Use OK when you are done.

Since this box appears whenever you need to select entities for the command you have chosen, it is very important that you become familiar with this dialog box. You will see some form of it over and over again. A brief explanation of each feature is provided below.

Important
Details regarding the entity selection box are provided below, however the most important things to remember are: Picking Methods: The Pick button allows you to access seven different types of picking including Normal, Query, Front, Box, Circle, Polygon, and Freehand picking. By default, the entity selection box allows you to select entities in the graphics windows one by one. To select all entities inside a box, select Box (or alternatively hold down the Shift key, and then press and hold down the left mouse button). You can now drag the cursor on screen to select all entities within a rectangle. Alternatively, using Circle (or the Ctrl key instead of the Shift key) will circle pick. The Query pick allows you to bring up a list of entities that have a similar XY screen location thus allowing you to better understand what is being selected. Front selects only the entities that are in the front of the model.

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The Polygon and Freehand options are just what they suggest. The polygon option allows you to pick point for a polygon pick, while freehand allows you to literally draw on the screen. Use Alternative Methods to Speed Picking: Individually picking each entity, or even multiple picking options are not always the most efficient method to select FEMAP entities. Familiarize yourself with the various methods that are available via the Methods button in the entity selection dialog box. For example, when selecting elements, there are methods that make it very easy to select; all elements referencing a node, all element referencing a certain material, all elements of a certain type, all elements on a surface, etc.

Add, Remove, Exclude:

These options control whether the next entity will be added to, or subtracted from, the list of selected entities. The default is always to Add entities to the list. The Add and Remove options are order dependent. If you Remove an entity, and then later Add it again, the entity will be included in the list since the Add occurred last. The Exclude option is the same as Remove, except that it is not order dependent. If you Exclude an entity, and then later Add it, it will not be included in the list no matter how many times you attempt to Add it. Any of the options can be chosen any number of times, even for the same entity. For example, you can Add the same entity 10 times if you want, although it will be treated just as if you had Added the entity 1 time. When entities are shown in the selection list, the first character indicates whether that entry adds, removes or excludes the entity. All added entities will be preceded by a +. Remove selections are indicated by a - and Exclude selections by an x.

ID, to, by:

These three text boxes are the primary input controls. In many cases, you will simply want to select a single entity. In this case, just enter the entity's ID into the ID text box. If you want to select a range of entities, enter the minimum (into ID) and maximum ID (into To), and the increment (most often 1).

Group:
If you have defined one or more groups in your model (using the Group Menu) you can use them to quickly identify the list of entities to be selected. Use the drop-down list to view all of the available groups. If you choose More, all entities from the group will be loaded into the list of selected entities.

Pick:
The Pick button provides access to various methods of graphical selection. The Normal option simply allows you to select one entity at a time from the screen. The other options provide for multiple entity selection and are explained more fully below. It is important to note that the Box and Circle picking options can be accessed in Normal mode by holding down the Shift and Ctrl keys, respectively, clicking and holding the left mouse button, and dragging the cursor across the graphics screen.

Entity Selection



Query
This option selects all entities that are behind the cursor as you go through the depth of the model and places the IDs in a list located in the lower right corner of the screen. When an entity ID is selected in the list, the associated entity will be highlighted in the graphics window allowing you to distinguish between coincident or nearly coincident entities. You can scroll the list in three ways, using the up down arrow keys, the roller on the mouse, or clicking the right mouse button to move to the next ID in the list. When the entity you wish to select is highlighted you can select the left mouse button or press OK in the Query list box.

Front
This option allows only for the selection of the front most entity in the graphics window.

Box Picking
If you select this option, simply click on the left mouse button at one end of the box, drag the cursor to the other end of the box, and release the mouse button. This will select all entities inside the box. FEMAP provides a graphical preview of the box when you drag the cursor. If you do not want to select any entities in the box, simply hit Cancel.

Circle Picking
This option works much like Box Picking except the original click of the left mouse button defines the center of the circle (instead of the corner of the box), and the location at which you release the button is a point on the circle.

Polygon Picking
This option is an extension of the Box Picking, except instead of holding the left mouse button down, you click on specific locations. FEMAP will create a polygon from click to click for the entity selection. You can hit Done after your last location, or Double Click the last point, or close the polygon by repicking the first location (the dotted line changes to solid when you are over the first location).

Freehand Picking
This option provides the most flexible input. Simply drag the cursor by holding the left mouse button down. When you have completed the area you want to select, simply release the button. FEMAP will then automatically select those entities in your freehand sketch.

Note:
The picking method always returns to Normal after you have performed a picking procedure. If you need to create another polygon or freehand sketch for picking, simply select this option again under Pick.

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Select All:

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Choosing this button selects all entities of the desired type. The selection mode is independent of the Add, Remove, Exclude options. The entities are always added. You will see a single entry in the list of selected entities which looks like: + minID,maxID,1 where minID and maxID are the minimum and maximum entity IDs respectively. Do not worry if you have gaps in your numbering, FEMAP will only choose existing entities between (and including) minID and maxID.

Previous:
Whenever you complete a selection and press OK, FEMAP remembers the list of selected entities. The next time that you need to select entities of the same type, you can choose this button to reuse your previous selections. The selection mode is independent of the Add, Remove, Exclude options. The entities are always placed into the selection list in whatever mode they were before. A separate list is saved for each type of entity, but the appropriate list is overwritten every time the Entity Selection dialog box is displayed and you choose OK.

Reset:
If you have already made some selections, this will erase all of them and start over. The entity selection list will be blanked.

Delete:
This is a more selective version of Reset which allows you to edit the list of selected entities. First, select the entry in the list that you want to eliminate, either by using the TAB key to move to the list, then using Up or Down to make the selection, or more simply by clicking on the entry with the mouse. Then choose Delete - the selected entry will be removed from the list, and those entities will no longer be selected (or deselected if the entry you deleted was a remove/exclude entry).

Method:
The Method button will enable you to change the way entities are selected. When the dialog box first appears, you will always be selecting entities by their ID. If you press the Method button, you will see a popup menu that contains additional ways to select entities. For example, if you are choosing Elements, you will be able to choose Elements by selecting them by their ID, Material, Property, the Type of Element, or even based upon the Nodes used. You may even select one method, choose the desired entities, switch methods, and add additional entities. FEMAP will automatically choose the ID of the elements which are referenced by these other entities and place them in the selection box under the ID method. All operations such as Add, Remove, and Exclude are still applicable even when mixing

Entity Selection



theMethods selection. A list of the available methods for the applicable entities are provided below. Entity Rule / Command What You Define CSys IDs CSys IDs Csys IDs CSys IDs CSys Types (0,1,2) Point IDs Node IDs Point IDs Point ID Point ID Property ID CSys IDs Curve IDs Curve IDs Curve ID Curve ID Property ID Point IDs Surface IDs Solid ID Surface IDs Surface ID Surface ID Property ID Curve IDs Volume IDs Solid ID Volume IDs Volume ID Surface ID Property ID Surface IDs What is Selected IDs you select. All Csys with the same color as the selected Csys. All Csys on the same layer as the selected Csys. Any CSys defined relative to IDs you select. Any Csys of selected type. All Csys located at a Point All Csys located at a Node IDs you select. All Points with same color as a selected Point All Points on same layer as a selected Point All Points with selected Prop as a Mesh Attribute Any Points defined relative to IDs you select. Any Point used to define a selected Curve. IDs you select. All Curves with same color as a selected Curve All Curves on same layer as a selected Curve All Curves with selected Prop as a Mesh Attribute Any Curve which references a selected Point. Any Curve used to define a selected Surface. Any Curve used to define a selected Solid IDs you select. All Surfaces with same color as a selected Surface. All Surfaces on same layer as a selected Surface All Surfaces with selected Prop as a Mesh Attribute Any Surface which references a selected Curve. Any Surface used to define a selected Volume. Any Surface used to define a selected Solid IDs you select. All Volumes with same color as a selected Volume. All Volumes on same layer as a selected Volume All Volumes with selected Prop as a Mesh Attribute Any Volume which references a selected Surface.

Coordinate ID System Color Layer Definition CSys Type on Point on Node ID Color Layer Property Definition CSys on Curve ID Color Layer Property using Point on Surface on Solid ID Color Layer Property using Curve on Volume on Solid ID Color Layer Property using Surface

Point

Curve

Surface

Volume

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Rule / Command ID ID - Free Edge ID - Free Face ID - Constrained ID - Loaded Color Layer Definition CSys Output CSys on Element on Point on Curve on Surface in Solid/Volume ID ID - Free Edge ID - Free Face ID - Loaded Color Layer Property Material Type Shape using Node on Point on Curve on Surface in Solid/Volume

What You Define Node IDs Node IDs Node IDs Node IDs Node IDs Node IDs Node IDs CSys IDs CSys IDs Element IDs Point ID Curve ID Surface ID Solid/Volume ID Element IDs Element IDs Element IDs Element IDs Element IDs Element IDs Property IDs Material IDs

What is Selected IDs you select. IDs you select but only those on Free Edges IDs you select but only those on Free Faces IDs you select but only those that are constrained IDs you select but only those that have loads All Nodes with same color as a selected Node All Nodes with same layer as a selected Node Any Node defined relative to IDs you select. Any Node with Output CSys equal to IDs you select. Any Node used to define a selected Element. Any Node which references a selected Point Any Node which references a selected Curve Any Node which references a selected Surface Any Node which references a selected Solid/Volume IDs you select. IDs you select but only those with Free Edges IDs you select but only those with Free Faces IDs you select but only those that have loads All Elements with same color as a selected Element All Elements with same layer as a selected Element Any Element which references a Property you select. Any Element which references a Material (via a Property) you select. Any Element of a selected type.

Element

Element / Property Types Element Shape Any Element with same Shape as the selected Element. Node IDs Any Element which references a selected Node. Point ID Any Element which references a selected Point Curve ID Any Element which references a selected Curve Surface ID Any Element which references a selected Surface Solid/Volume Any Element which references a selected Solid/VolID ume

Entity Selection



Entity Material

Rule / Command ID Color Layer on Property on Element Type ID Color Layer on Element Material Type

What You Define Material IDs Material IDs Material IDs Property IDs

What is Selected

Property

IDs you select. All Materials with same color as a selected Material All Materials with same layer as a selected Material Any Material which is referenced by a selected Property. Element IDs Any Material which is referenced (via a Property) by a selected Element. Material Types Any Material of a selected type. Property IDs IDs you select. Property IDs All Properties with same color as a selected Property Property IDs All Properties with same layer as a selected Property Element IDs Any Property which is referenced by a selected Element. Material IDs Any Property which references a selected Material. Element / Any Property of a selected type. Property Types

The Method button appears not only in the Entity Selection dialog box, but also in most standard dialog boxes, such as defining a coordinate location, a vector, or a plane. There are currently eighteen (18) methods available to define a coordinate location, thirteen (13) methods to define a vector, and eleven (11) methods to define a plane. If you need to define a point, vector, or plane, and you think there is an easier method than simply inputting the coordinates of the locations, there probably is. Check the Methods button to see what options are available to you. It can save you tremendous amounts of effort by using different methods.

Hint:
The methods ID-Constrained and ID-Loaded dialog boxes set up rules that allow you to only select entities related to a specific load or constraint. First select the filter you wish to use then use the graphical selection methods such as Box Pick to select a large area of the model. FEMAP will then apply the filter to all of the entities in the box and only select those entities that passthe filter.

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More, OK:
These options select the entities specified by ID,to,by or the entities in the selected Group. The entities will be included in the selection list based on the setting of Add, Remove, Exclude. The only difference between More and OK is that OK finishes your selection while More lets you select additional entities or simply review the list.

4.3.1.1 Graphical Selection

One of the most powerful features of the entity selection dialog box is its ability to select entities graphically. Before you can select entities graphically, you must make sure that the keyboard focus is set to the ID field, just as if you were going to type an ID. This is always the case when the dialog box is first displayed. You can check however by looking for the blinking vertical bar cursor. If it is in the ID field you are ready to go, otherwise click with your mouse in the ID field before selecting.

Selecting Single Entities

Whenever you want to select entities one at a time (even if you want to pick several of them) do the following: 1. Move the cursor through the screen. FEMAP will highlight different entities as you move the mouse over the screen. 2. Click the left mouse button when the entity you want is highlighted. This action places the entity ID directly into the selection list. 3. If you made a mistake by picking the wrong entity, you can either use the Delete button to remove it, or change to Remove/Exclude mode and pick it again. 4. Repeat the previous step until all entities have been selected (or use any of the other selection methods), then press OK to complete the selection. You will notice that once an entity has been chosen, it is no longer dynamically highlighted, so you may more easily choose from the remaining entities on the screen. or, alternatively, 1. Move the cursor to point at the entity and double click the left mouse button. This places the entity directly into the selection list and presses OK. No further input is required, but you will not be able to correct any mistakes. 2. You can use this technique in combination with the previous single click method by just double clicking the last entity that you want to select. Remember, by changing the Add, Remove, Exclude setting, you can either select or deselect entities. When you are selecting single entities, the entity that is selected is based on where you point in the graphics window, and what you have previously selected. Any entity that is already in the selection list will be skipped as FEMAP looks for the entity closest to your selection. This means that you can pick three times at the same location to choose the three entities which are closest to that location. FEMAP will not pick the same entity three times.

Graphical Selection



Selecting Multiple Entities

One of the most powerful graphical selection capabilities of FEMAP is the use of the Pick method described in the Entity Selection dialog box explanation above. You have access to Box, Circle, Polygon, and Freehand picking. Each of these methods were explained above and will not be reiterated here. The Box and Circle picking are unique, however, in that they can be accessed while in Normal mode. By pressing the Shift or Ctrl keys, you can select all entities which lie inside a desired area. The Shift key enables you to define a box, while the Ctrl key will allow you to define a circular area. To perform graphical selection, simply follow the steps below: 1. Press and hold down the Shift key if you want to select inside a rectangular area, or the Ctrl key if you want a circular area. 2. Point at one corner of the rectangular region (or the center of the circular region). 3. Press and hold the left mouse button. 4. Move the cursor. As you move, you will see a box/circle which represents the area that you are selecting. When the box/circle surrounds the area that you want, release the left mouse button. This will select all entities inside the area and add them to the selection list. You do not have to press More. 5. Make additional selections, or click the OK button when you have selected all of the desired entities. 6. To abort a selection of this type, just release the Shift or Ctrl key prior to releasing the left mouse button. No selection will be made. The Freehand picking method works almost identically to the circle and box picking except it actually traces the history of your movement (as opposed to just using the two end points). Polygon picking is just slightly different in that it is not based upon dragging the cursor, but rather you must select each individual location of the polygon. The following tips will help you get started with graphical and multiple entity selection. 1. If you need to select many entities in a complex region, you can combine the area selection techniques with the Add, Remove, Exclude options. By choosing add, you can combine multiple overlapping square, circular, polygon, and freehand regions. By choosing remove or exclude, you can subtract additional selections, effectively cutting holes in your selection region. 2. Since entity selection is used by so many commands, you may find yourself wanting to select the same entities over and over again for multiple commands. If you just want the same selection for a few commands, the Previous button will recall your selections. If you need to come back to this selection sometime later, it is best to use the Group options to define those entities as a group. Every time you need them, you can simply use the Group drop-down list to retrieve the selection no matter how complicated it might have been. Remember to give the group a title so you can remember which one to pick! 3. If you are working with a complex model, cursor selection can take a while both for you and for the computer to determine which entity is closest to your pick. If you define a part of your model as a group, and then only display that group (use the Model Data option of

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View Select), the process can be much simpler. 4. The cursor snap mode is used for all cursor selections including selection of entities. If you are snapping to a Grid, Node or Point, you must remember that the entity to be selected will be the one closest to the Grid, Node or Point that was snapped-to, not necessarily the one closest to the location you picked. The same principle applies to area picking. The corners of the area are changed by the snapping action.

4.3.2 Coordinate Definition

One of the most common actions in FEMAP is to define the coordinates of a desired location. In the most basic form this simply involves specifying the three-dimensional (X, Y, Z) coordinates of the location in the Global Rectangular Coordinate system. In addition, coordinates can be specified in Global Cylindrical, Global Spherical or relative to any other coordinate system you create. The following figure shows the conventions for entering coordinates in any type of FEMAP coordinate system. The conventions shown in this figure are used throughout FEMAP. Whether you are actually specifying a coordinate, defining a vector, defining a plane or entering some other coordinate related data, these conventions are your key to interpreting the input which is required. Figure 1: Coordinate Definition Conventions
Rectangular ( X, Y, Z ) Z Cylindrical ( R, , Z ) Z p Zp X Yp Xp Y p Zp X Rp p Y X Y p 0.0 180.0 degrees Rp Z Spherical ( R, , )

p p

Coordinate Definition



Note:
Throughout FEMAP all angular dimensions must be specified in degrees. In many cases, you cannot easily determine coordinates. For these times, FEMAP provides numerous alternative coordinate definition methods which allow you to specify the coordinates in terms of quantities or entities that you do know. With any of the methods, you can use any of the global or user defined coordinate systems to further simplify your input. All of the coordinate definition methods provide a Method button which allows you to switch to another coordinate definition method. Switching methods involves selecting an option from the popup menu. When you start a model, some of the methods will be unavailable. For example, you cannot use On Node, if you do not have any nodes. All of the methods will automatically become available as soon as the required entities are created. FEMAP is a full three-dimensional modeling program. All coordinates are always specified with 3 coordinates, relative to one of the Global or User-defined coordinate systems. The FEMAP Workplane is only used for graphical selections and to orient geometry created by certain geometry creation commands. The Locate method is the default when you start FEMAP and the Locate coordinate definition dialog will be displayed by every command that requires coordinates. If you switch to a different method, that method will become the default for all commands until you switch again.

Features for All Methods

Located near the bottom and right of all of the coordinate definition dialog boxes are several common controls.

ID:
Indicates the ID of a Point or Node to be created. If you are not creating a Point or Node, this field will be disabled. The ID will automatically increment after each creation, or you can enter the ID of any Point or Node which does not already exist.

CSys:
Specifies the definition coordinate system in which you will enter the X,Y,Z location (or other method). The drop-down list will contain all of the available coordinate systems for your choice, or you can select a coordinate system from any graphics window using the cursor. Changing the definition coordinate system will automatically transform any coordinates

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that you have already entered into the new system. The X,Y,Z titles will also change, based on the type of the active definition coordinate system. For cylindrical systems, XYZ will become RTZ (R, Theta, Z). For spherical systems, XYZ will become RTP (R, Theta, Phi).

Parameters:
This is another option that is only available when you are creating Points or Nodes. It allows you to specify additional parameters for those entities. Refer to the Geometry Point and Model Node commands in the FEMAP Command Reference Manual for more information regarding the parameters.

Preview:
Draws a dot in the graphics windows at the location currently being defined. You can use this option to see where the coordinate will be prior to choosing OK to accept the value. Choosing Preview after you select coordinates with the cursor does not provide any new information. Cursor selection automatically shows the location being picked. If you type input, or modify a cursor selection however, Preview will show you the location.

Coordinate Locate Method

This method allows you to directly specify a location. As always, coordinates are relative to the definition coordinate system. When using this method, you are simply specifying the coordinates directly, as shown in the previous coordinate definition conventions picture. Remember however, that the various cursor snapping modes can be use to adjust the coordinates that you choose graphically.

Coordinate Locate In Workplane Method

This method is very similar to the Locate Method, except only two coordinates are required, X and Y in the Workplane.

Coordinate Definition



Coordinate Between Method

The Between method allows you to interpolate between two other locations. In addition to the two endpoints, the coordinates are determined from a percent of the distance from the first location to the second location. Just as the endpoint locations are specified in the definition coordinate system, the interpolation is also done in that coordinate system. If the definition coordinate system is non-rectangular, the resulting point may not lie along a straight line between the endpoints. For example, in a cylindrical system (R, Theta, Z), a location 50% of the way between the endpoints (1,0,0) and (1,90,0) is (1,45,0). The interpolation was carried out along the cylindrical arc.
Z Point 1 X% P (100-X)% Point 2

Hint:
Use this method to locate coordinates based on the positions of 2 existing Nodes or Points. Set your cursor snap mode to Node or Point and select the endpoints with the cursor. Complete your selection by typing the desired percentage from the first endpoint.

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Coordinate Offset Method

Offset coordinates are a variation of the Locate Y method. You must specify (1,90,0) P a Base location (just like offset = (0,90,0) Locate), but in addition, Base dX you can specify an Offset dZ Zbase from that location. The (1,0,0) Y Ybase Xbase X offsets are delta coordiX dY nates which are added to the Base location, they are not a vector. In rectangular coordinates this distinction does not make any difference. In cylindrical or spherical coordinates however it can change the resulting location. For example in cylindrical coordinates (R, Theta, Z), if the base is (1,0,0) and the offset is (0,90,0), then the resulting location is (1,90,0), which is not in the Theta tangent vector direction from (1,0,0).
Z In Cylindrical Coordinates

Use this method if you want to specify coordinates which are offset from a Node or Point. Set the base location by picking the desired Node or Point (with the cursor snap mode set to Node or Point). Then just type the desired offset

Coordinate At Distance Method

This method is similar to the offset method. You still specify a Base. Instead of an absolute offset however, these coordinates are defined by a Vector direction and a Distance. This approach

Z P length Base dZ X dY dX Zbase Ybase Xbase Y

In Cylindrical Coordinates Y (1,1,0)

not this

offset = (0,90,0) length = 1 (1,0,0) X

Coordinate Definition



is useful when you want to offset a specific distance along some direction. This method does not use delta coordinates. It always offsets along the vector.

Coordinate On Point Method

This method defines coordinates which are identical to the location of the selected Point and requires input of the Point ID only. On Point is disabled unless you have at least one existing Point. If you set the cursor to snap to the nearest point, you can specify the same coordinates as On Point using the Locate method. Be careful if you are using this method to create new Points or Nodes. They will be coincident with the Point you select, and difficult to see.

Coordinate On Node Method

This is identical to the On Point method except that the coordinates are chosen at the location of a selected Node.

Coordinate Onto Curve Method

The Coordinate Onto Curve method projects a location onto a curve. The direction of the projection is always perpendicular to the curve. For example if you are projecting onto an arc or circle, the specified coordinates are first projected onto the plane of the curve and then toward (or away from) the center of the curve, to a location on the perimeter.

P Curve

Base

Note:
Remember, all curves are considered infinite. If you choose a Base location past the end of a line segment, it will be projected onto the extended line, not to the endpoint of the segment.

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Coordinate Along Curve Method

Z Curve P X% (100-X)%

The Along Curve method allows you to select coordinates along a curve. You must identify the Curve and a percentage Along the length of the curve. The location is calculated using the percentage of the curve length from the end of the curve which is closest to the End Near location. This is a quick method to define a location at any position along a curve.

Coodinate Length Along Method

The Length Along method allows you to select coordinates at a distance from one end of A curve. You must select the curve and the distance along the curve. The location is determined by moving along the curve the Length Along value from the end of the curve closest to the End Near Location

( .25 )

Hint:
If you select the curve with the mouse, the End Near location will be automatically updated to the point where you made your selection. By selecting the curve near the end that you want to measure from, you can automatically specify End Near with no further input.

Coordinate Definition



Coordinate Mesh Location Method

The Mesh Location method selects coordinates based on the mesh size which you have defined for a Curve Mesh Locations or its points. If no mesh size is defined for the selected curve, the mesh size will be determined from the mesh size defined for the curve points or the default mesh size. In addition to the Curve, you must specify a location Near to the mesh location that you want to select. FEMAP first selects the curve, and then finds the closest mesh location to the coordinates that you specified. Near is automatically defined as the location you pick if you select the curve graphically. You do not have to specify any additional input.

Coordinate Center Method

This method is a quick way to select the center of an arc or circle. Simply identify the arc or circle you want to use. You cannot choose any other type of curve for this method. Refer to the Midpoint method for other curve types. As an alternative for arcs and circles you can use the On Point method, since the center of the arc or circle is always defined by a point.

Coordinate Midpoint Method

The Coordinate Midpoint Method is a simple way to select coordinates in the middle of a curve. These coordinates always lie along the curve. For example, they lie on the perimeter of an arc, at an equal arc length from the beginning and end of the arc. For a line, the point is simply half way between the endpoints. The only input required for this method is to select the curve that you want to use.
P

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Coordinate Intersect Method

The Coordinate Intersect method defines coordinates at the intersecNot this intersection tion of two curves. You must select since it is farther from Near the Near location the curves that you want to intersect. In addition, you must specify a location near the intersection. In fact, this location is not required if you are intersecting lines since there is only one possible intersection location. For other curves however, where multiple intersection locations can exist, the intersection which is closest to the coordinates that you specify is computed.
P

This method considers all curves as infinite. That is, lines are extended in both directions to infinity and arcs are extended into circles. The intersection location does not have to fall between the endpoints of the original curves.

Hint:
The Nearest To location is automatically updated if you select the second curve graphically. By selecting the curve near the point of intersection, you will not have to specify any further input.

Coordinate Definition



Coordinate Onto Surface Method

The Coordinate Onto Surface method is similar to Onto Curve. It projects the base location onto a surface. In this case the projection is toward the point on the surface which is closest to the original. Typically this direction is perpendicular to the surface, but for some spline surfaces it might not be.

Base

Surface

Coordinate In Surface Method

The Coordinate In Surface allows you to define a location based upon a parametric location on a surface. The only input required for this command is the surface ID and the u,v location. The values for u,v must be between 0 and 1.

Coordinate Intersect Curve/Surface

The Coordinate Intersect Curve/Surface option allows you to define a location based upon the intersection of a a solid model surface (Parasolid or ACIS) and a curve. This option cannot be used if you do not have ACIS or Parasolid surfaces in your model and will be grayed. Neither boundary surfaces or FEMAP standard surfaces can be used with this command. Simply select the Surface and Curve, and a location near the intersection (in case of multiple intersection points) and FEMAP will compute the location of intersection

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4.3.3 Vector Definition

Just as there are many methods to enter coordinates, there are many methods for defining a vector in FEMAP. Some vectors in FEMAP are just used for determining a direction. They do not require a length. The axis around which you rotate a group of nodes is an example of this type of vector. Other vectors not only require a direction, but also a length. The vector which you translate nodes along in the Move By command is an example of this vector type. For either vector type, all methods are available. Some methods, like Locate, implicitly define their length based on the normal vector input. Other methods, like Axis, require you to define an explicit length whenever the vector requires a length. All coordinates and vector components required for various vector definition methods must be input in the active Definition Coordinate System. A drop-down list (CSys) is available in each of the dialog boxes to choose the coordinate system. In addition, when you change coordinate systems (or methods), current entries are transformed to an equivalent vector in the new system. Therefore, you can enter part of the data using one coordinate system or method, and then switch to a new coordinate system or method to complete the definition. Just like coordinates, you can use the cursor to define the vector. For methods that let you define the vector tip, in addition to the graphics cursor, you will see a vector coming from the base location and attached to the cursor. For more complex methods, Bisect and Normal, additional construction lines are visible. To see the vector prior to accepting the input, simply pick the Preview button. This will draw the vector in all graphics windows.

Vector Locate Method

Tip Base Zbase X Ybase Xbase Y

This method defines a vector which goes from a base coordinate to a tip coordinate. The vector length, if required, is the distance between the two coordinates. As always, all input is in the active definition coordinate system. Use this method when you know two existing points that the vector should go between.

Vector Locate/Length Method

This method is very similar to Vector Locate, as described above. You still specify two points, but you also specify a length. This specified length is used instead of the distance between the two points.

Vector Definition



Vector Components Method

This method creates a vector by specifying a base location and the components of a vector. The vector length is determined by the magnitude of the components that you specify. Use this method when you want to specify a vector or direction with specific offsets from a base location.
X

Base dZ dX Zbase Ybase dY Xbase Y

Note:
When using a non-rectangular coordinate system, vector components are measured along principal directions at the base location. For example, if in global cylindrical coordinates, you specify a base of (1,45,0), and vector components of (0,90,0), this implies a vector of 90 inches (length units) in the positive theta direction at (1,45,0), or 135 degrees from the global X axis. It does not imply a change in theta of 90 degrees.

Vector Direction Method

This method is identical to the Vector Component method if you are defining a direction vector (one with no length). If length is required, this method allows you to specify it explicitly. It is not determined from the delta coordinates.Use this method when you want to specify a vector in a certain direction of a specific length.
X

length Base dZ dX Zbase Ybase dY Xbase Y

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Vector Points Method

This method is identical to Vector Locate, except that the vector lies between two existing points. You can mimic this method using Locate by setting the cursor to snap to Points and selecting the same two Points. To use this method, simply select the two points (you must have at least two points in your model to use this method).

Vector Nodes Method

Again, this method is identical to Vector Locate, except that the vector lies between two existing Nodes. You can mimic this method using Locate by setting the cursor to snap to Nodes and selecting the same two Nodes. To use this method, you must have at least two Nodes in your model.

Vector Bisect Method

This method will define a vector which bisects two other vectors. The two construction vectors are defined by a common base location and the location of their respective tips. The bisecting vecTip 1 tor always lies in the plane formed by the three points, which must not be colinear. You must Base explicitly define the length of the bisecting vector if it is required. It is not determined from the lengths of the construction vectors.
Tip 2

Vector Normal Method

This method is similar to Vector Bisect and requires the exact same input. Instead of bisecting the construction vectors however, this is oriented normal to the plane formed by the construction vectors. It Tip 1 is still located at the base location. The positive vector direction is determined by the right-hand rule Base Perpendicular Angles from the first construction vector toward the second. Again when it is required, you must explicitly define the length. It is not determined from the construction vectors.
Tip 2

Vector Definition



Vector Axis Method

This method is unlike all preceding methods in that the only coordinates you specify are for the base point. The direction of the vector defined by this method is based on one of the positive or negative axis directions of the active definition coordinate system. When required, the length must be specified explicitly. If you have already defined coordinate systems in the desired direction(s), this is one of the easiest and quickest methods to define a vector. If the active coordinate system is non-rectangular the axis locations refer to the coordinate directions at the base point. For example, in a cylindrical coordinate system (R, Theta, Z) the Y axis refers to the Theta direction at the selected base point.

Vector Global Axis Method

This method is much like Vector Axis, except that the vector is always in one of the axis directions of the Global Rectangular coordinate system. The definition coordinate system is only used for convenience in entering the base point. It has no effect on the vector direction. For this reason, it does not matter whether it is rectangular, cylindrical or spherical. Again with this method, you must explicitly define the length whenever it is required.

Vector Tangent To or Along a Curve Method

This method allows you to create a vector which is tangent to a curve. If you choose a line, the vector will be along the length of the line. In addition to the curve, you must choose a location. This location is projected onto the curve, and serves as the base for the vector. The vector direction is determined automatically from the tangent to the curve at the projected location. Normally, tangent vector always goes from the start (first end) of the curve toward the end of the curve. If you check Reverse Direction the tangent Curve will go in the opposite direction. If you are unsure Near of how the curve was created, press Preview. Then, if the vector is pointing in the wrong direction, reverse the current direction by clicking Reverse Direction. If you use this method to specify

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a vector that requires a length, you must explicitly define the length since no length is implied by the tangent direction.

Vector Normal To Surface

This method defines a vector which is normal to a surface at a particular location. The input for this method is simply the Surface, the Point, and Length (if required). You may also choose to reverse the direction of the vector so it points in the negative normal direction.

Vector Normal To View Method

This method defines a vector which is normal to the active graphics window. If there are no graphics windows, it defines a vector parallel to global Z. The direction of the vector is either into the view or out of the view (screen), depending upon the option chosen. When required, the length must be explicitly specified. This method is often very useful in combination with the various View Align and View Rotate commands to specify vectors in skewed directions. You can first align the view correctly, see that everything is correct, and then easily choose the vector with a minimum amount of input without worrying about the direction.

Plane Definition



4.3.4 Plane Definition

FEMAP also provides multiple methods to define planes. All definition methods create a plane which passes through an origin location and which is oriented by a vector normal to the plane. In most cases, like specifying a plane to reflect about, coordinate directions in the plane are not required. When they are required however, (for example, when you define the Workplane), in-plane coordinate directions are automatically determined based on your existing input. When you use the cursor to define a plane you will see several additions to the graphics cursor. As you specify the first vector used to define the plane, you will see a vector attached to the cursor. Then as you specify the final vector/direction, the plane will be dynamically shown on the screen. Just as in vector definitions, the more complex methods, Bisect and Normal, will also draw additional construction lines. If you want to see the final plane prior to accepting your input, whether you used the keyboard or mouse, pick the Preview button. This will draw the plane in all graphics windows.

Note:
Unlike vector definition, it is often necessary to press Preview to see an accurate orientation of the plane - even if you use the cursor to define the plane. This is especially true if you are using cursor snapping. Small movements of definition locations due to snapping can make large changes in plane orientation.

Plane Locate Method

The plane locate method is the default plane definition method. It involves Tip 2 specifying three, non-colinear locations which define the plane, a base or origin and two other locations. The plane normal is determined from the cross-prodTip 1 uct of the vector from the plane origin to Plane X Base the first location and the vector to the second location. The vector from the origin to the first location also defines the in-plane X direction. All input is in the definition coordinate system.

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Plane Components Method

dZ X dX dY Y Base

Defining a plane by components requires specifying an origin and the components of a vector which is normal to the plane. The local X direction in the plane is automatically determined by calculating the cross product of the global Y axis and the plane normal. If the plane normal lies along the global Y axis, then the local X direction is set to lie along the global X axis.

Plane Normal Method

Z Tip

Y Base

The plane normal method is similar to the Plane Components method. In this case however, you must specify the base/origin and a point at the tip of the normal vector (as opposed to the components of the normal vector). The inplane X direction is determined in the same manner as for the Plane Components method.

Plane Points Method

Plane Points is just like the Plane Locate command except that the locations are specified using existing Points.

Plane Nodes Method

Plane Nodes is just like the Plane Locate command except that the locations are specified using existing Nodes.

Plane Definition



Plane Bisect Method

The Plane Bisect method is similar to the Vector Bisect method of specifying a vector. It requires specifying a base and two other vector tip locations. The resulting plane bisects those two vectors. It is normal to the plane formed by the two vectors and oriented such that it lies midway between the vectors, through the plane base/origin. The normal to the plane is in the plane formed by the construction vectors, and points toward the first vector. The in-plane X direction is defined in the plane of the construction vectors.

Tip 2

Tip 1 Base

Plane Csys Plane Method

This method simply chooses one of the principal planes (XY, YZ, or ZX) of the definition coordinate system. The normal can face in either the positive or negative direction. The inplane X direction is determined by the first letter in the plane definition. That is, the X direction for an XY plane is along the X axis, the X direction for a YZ Plane is along the Y axis and for a ZX plane, along the Z axis. If you choose a plane in a non-rectangular coordinate system, the plane normal is defined by the direction of the coordinate tangent at the base/origin location. For example, in a cylindrical coordinate system, with the origin set to (1,45,0), a ZX plane is rotated 45 degrees from where it would be if the coordinate system were rectangular. This method is very convenient if you already have a coordinate system defined that is properly aligned to the directions you need to select.

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Plane Global Plane Method

The Global Plane method is identical to the CSys Plane method, except that it always chooses a plane aligned with the principal directions of the Global Coordinate System instead of the selected definition coordinate system. Since the Global system is rectangular,



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the special cases for nonrectangular coordinate systems do not apply to this method. This is the easiest method to align a plane with the Global axes.

Plane Align to Curve Method

This method allows you to quickly move the workplane, or set any other plane to the plane of an arc or circle. Other types of curves cannot be used. The workplane origin will be moved to the center of the arc or circle that you choose. The workplane normal will be along the normal to the curve and the workplane X direction will be toward the first point on the curve boundary. The only input required for this method is the curve ID.

Plane Surface Normal Method

This method allows you to quickly align the workplane, or set any other plane to a specific surface. The only input required for this method is the Surface ID and the Point of the origin (At Point). You may also specify an Axis Point to align the X-Axis of the plane. Other options include an Offset Value, Reverse Direction of the Plane Normal, and force the First Quadrant of the plane to contain the surface (this may flip the plane normal as well).

Plane Align to View Method

This method is just like the Vector definition method Normal to View. The resulting plane will pass through the specified base/origin and will be parallel to the plane of the screen. The normal direction can be specified as either into or out of the view. The in-plane X direction is aligned with the View X (horizontal) direction.

4.3.5 Color Palette

Throughout FEMAP you will see many dialog boxes with one or more text boxes which allow you to choose a color. If you know the color ID, you can just enter it into the text box. To the right of these text boxes, however, is a command button titled Palette. Choosing the Palette button will display the standard FEMAP Color Palette from which you can select the color graphically. After selecting the color, choose OK, and the text box will automatically be filled with the ID of the color you selected.

Color Palette



The color palette consists of 125 colors which, by default, span the entire color spectrum, plus an additional 25 Grayscale colors. Some graphics adapters (like the standard VGA) can not display this many colors simultaneously. For those adapters, the additional colors will be displayed as dithered patterns for any filled areas.

Note:
When FEMAP draws lines it cannot use dithered patterns, and will choose the closest available solid color to the color you have chosen. On graphics adapters that can display 256 or more colors, all colors will typically be solid colors and there will not be any difference between the line and filled colors. The filled area and line colors are shown at the bottom of the dialog box. For Filled areas, you can also choose one of the available hatched patterns instead of the solid fill. Hatched patterns use the line color, not the dithered fill color. In addition, the second row of patterns are transparent colors. You will be able to see through areas that are filled with one of these patterns. Eight different transparency levels are provided by the eight patterns. These range from completely transparent to nearly opaque. The partially transparent colors will combine with colors from any other geometry and will overpaint to produce a tint. These transparent colors however use the solid line colors. You will therefore get the best results if your graphics adapter can display 256 or more colors. For Lines, you can select a style which is either patterned (long and short dashes) or thick. If you choose one of the patterned linestyles, it may look solid if you are drawing very short line segments. This can often happen with arcs, circles and splines if you set the Curve Accuracy (in View Options) very small. Since FEMAP approximates these curves with straight lines, setting a very small accuracy results in many very short line segments. To see patterning on these curves you will have to increase the Curve Accuracy value, resulting in fewer line segments and less precise curve representations. If you are using your mouse, you can make your palette selections (color, pattern and line style) simply by pointing at your choice with the cursor and clicking the left mouse button. You will see a square (probably black) surround the color, pattern or style that you just picked. This indicates that it is now the selected entry.

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You can also use the keyboard to select from the palette. You should press the direction/ arrow keys to move from color to color. As you press the direction keys, you will see a small square moving inside the color boxes. When the square is visible in the color, pattern or line style that you want, press Space. This has the same effect as pressing the left mouse button. The color that was indicated by the small box will be selected. Just like when you use the mouse, a larger square will appear surrounding your selection. Using the keyboard to select from the palette works just as well as using the mouse. The only drawback is the extra time and keystrokes which are required to move the selection to the color you want.

Editing Current Colors

You can change FEMAP palette colors by selecting the color you want to change and then adjusting the Red, Green and Blue values for that color. Choosing Reset will set the selected color back to its defaults. These color changes only apply to the current FEMAP model, and are not saved across models or even for the next time you work on the same model.

Working with Palette Libraries

Palette libraries overcome the limitations which were just described. By pressing the Save command button you can write the current palette, including any modifications you have made, to a file. In a future FEMAP session, or even a different model, you can press Load to restore your saved palette from the file. When you press either Save or Load, the standard file handling dialog box is displayed so you can choose a library file. The default file extension is *.PAL for all palette libraries, but you can specify any filename or filename extension. Unlike some other FEMAP libraries, only one palette can be stored per library file. You must therefore choose a new filename for each palette that you want to save.

4.3.6 Library Selection

When you are selecting Materials, Properties, Views or other entities from a library you will see the Select From Library dialog box. You can choose an entry from the library simply by choosing it from the list. In many cases however, the library may be large and you will want to search for a specific entry rather than looking through the entire list. In this case, enter any text that is found in the title you want and press Search. The list will be reduced to just those entries that contain the text you specified. You can now enter additional text, and press Search again, to further reduce the list. Press All to return to the full list and start again. The default library of each type is normally specified in the File Preferences Libraries command. You can always choose a different library there, but you can also pick a new library while you are working simply by pressing the Library button. You

The Workplane and Other Tools



will then see the standard File selection dialog box where you can choose the library file that you want to use.

4.4 The Workplane and Other Tools

This section describes the Workplane, as well as other tools for both graphical selection and numeric input.

4.4.1 The Workplane

Graphical Selection on most models requires selecting entities from a 3-Dimensional model from a 2-Dimensional screen. FEMAP uses definition of a Workplane to locate a 2-Dimensional pick in 3-Dimensional space. When you make cursor selections or define two-dimensional geometry, the Workplane is used to define the ultimate location in three-dimensional space. There are four methods of accessing the Tools Workplane command to define the location and orientation of the Workplane: 1. Tools Workplane command 2. Ctrl+W shortcut key 3. Right Mouse Button - Workplane 4. Command Toolbars The last three shortcut methods allow you to redefine the Workplane in the middle of another command. Using this technique, you can use the cursor to select one point projected onto one Workplane, then realign the Workplane for additional selections. The Workplane is a two dimensional plane which you can locate and align anywhere in three-dimensional space. By default, the origin of the Workplane is at the global origin and the plane is aligned with the Global XY plane. When you make a graphical selection, the screen location which you selected is projected along a vector normal to the screen onto the Workplane. The resulting three dimensional coordinates are located at the intersection of the projection vector and the Workplane. As stated above, the Workplane can be aligned to any orientation. It is not restricted to be normal to the current view (although it can be easily set to that orientation). If you are using a Workplane that is not normal to the current view, be careful when you make selections. As long as the Workplane is not rotated too far from the screen normal you will have no problems accurately defining coordinates by picking. If the plane is rotated so that it is nearly edge-on to the view however, the projection of your screen location will be nearly parallel to the plane. The resulting intersection can have very large coordinates. In any case, picking with this alignment will be relatively imprecise. If your Workplane is exactly edge-on to the view, there would not be any intersection with the projection vector. In this case, FEMAP automatically projects onto a plane which is normal to the view, but which goes through the real Workplane origin. This feature allows you to have multiple windows which are all displaying orthogonal views and still use all of them for selecting coordinates.

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4.4.2 The Cursor Position Tool

FEMAP only fills in the dialog box coordinates after you make a selection. Until that time you can only tell the precise location of the cursor by its relationship to other entities drawn in your graphics window. The Tools Cursor Position command can provide more information on the cursor position, and provide additional graphical selection capability. Activating this command will display the Cursor dialog box. With this dialog box active, as your cursor travels through any of the graphics windows, the displayed coordinates will be dynamically updated. You can make your graphical selections whenever you see the coordinates that you want. In addition to displaying the coordinates, you will see three check boxes (X, Y and Z) which are all initially on. If you turn any of these boxes off (by clicking on them), you will notice that the corresponding coordinate disappears. In addition, when you make a graphical selection, only the coordinates which are enabled (on) will be selected and entered into the dialog box. Furthermore, after you make a selection with some coordinates disabled (off), the coordinates which were disabled are automatically enabled, and the coordinates which were enabled are automatically disabled.
1 2 100

Pick Node 2 with YZ enabled

Final coordinates will be here YZ of 2, X of 3

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This process is somewhat complex and is best explained with an example and a picture.

Suppose you want to select coordinates which match the Y and then pick Node 3 automatically picks Z coordinates of Node Y just the X coordinate 2 and the X coordi10 9 8 7 Z X nates of Node 3. With the Cursor Position displayed, turn off the X-coordinate and make sure that you are snapping to a Node location. Then simply select Node 2 (this fills in the Y and Z coordinates of Node 2) and finally select Node 3 (this will fill in the X-coordinate of Node 3, since FEMAP automatically reversed the enabled/disabled coordinates after the first pick). If you need to do more complex selections involving all three coordinates you must enable/disable them manually, but it still only involves 1 or 2 clicks.

4.4.3 Snap To
The Snap To method of picking is a very powerful tool to locate your graphical selections at an exact position in the model. You may access this command, and/or change the Snap To method in five ways: 1. Tools Workplane Snap Options 2. Ctrl+T (when in another dialog box) 3. Right Mouse Button - Snap To

Snap To



4. View Toolbar 5. Individual Snap To Shortcut Keys The first two methods allow you to change the snap mode, and to redefine the spacing and orientation of the snap grid. The last three methods allow you to simply change the snap mode. The shortcut keys (including Ctrl+T), the right mouse button, and the toolbar can be accessed while in other commands. There are four modes available for the Snap To, each with its own shortcut key for a quick change to the mode when you are inputting coordinates in a dialog box. 1. Snap To Screen (Snap Off) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl+S 2. Snap To Node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ctrl+N 3. Snap To Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl+P 4. Snap To Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ctrl+G If you simply want to change the snap mode, one of the preceding will enable you to change the snap mode immediately. They do not display any dialogs for further input. A message will be written to the Messages and Lists window, and the graphics cursor will change shape to identify the active snap mode. By changing the Snap To mode, you can change the precision of your selection, specifically by snapping to previously defined Points or Nodes with exact locations. This will enable you to obtain the preciseness you need for your operation, while still providing the ease and speed of graphical selection. This is extremely valuable when defining planes or vectors for such things as rotating and reflecting elements, where precise coordinate are required, and when nodes or points are already defined in appropriate locations. A brief description of each Snap To method is provided below.

Snap to Screen (Snap Off):

This is the default mode. In this mode, no snapping is done. The location selected is based purely on the spot you pick in the graphics window and, if you are picking coordinates, the position of the Workplane.

Snap to Grid:
This mode uses an XY grid in the Workplane. All cursor selections will be snapped to the closest grid point/line. Since you can control both the X and Y spacing of the grid points/ lines, and the rotation of the grid in the Workplane, you can use this method to round all cursor selections to the precision of the grid spacing. For example, if you specify a 1 inch spacing, all coordinate selections will be in increments of 1 inch from the origin of the Workplane. Be careful if you are using this mode to select entities. Your pick is first snapped to the grid location, and then the closest entity is chosen. For display purposes, you can change the grid to either dots or lines, or even make it invisible (not displayed). The style you choose has no effect on how the snapping is done.

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Snap to Node:
This mode will adjust the location you select to the coordinates of the closest node. This mode is very useful if you need to reference your selections to other existing Nodes. Be careful though if you are using this to create Nodes. The one you create will be coincident. The same warning applies to picking IDs in this mode. Your selection will first be snapped to the node location, and then the closest entity will be chosen. You must have at least one Node in your model, and it must currently be visible in the window where you make your selection to use this method.

Snap to Point:
This mode is identical to Snap to Node, except that the location is adjusted to the location of the closest Point. You must have at least one Point in your model, and it must currently be visible in the window where you make your selection to use this method.

When to Snap
By default, FEMAP will only use the snap mode that you choose when you are defining a coordinate. If you would like it to snap every time you pick in the graphics window, use the Tools Workplane Snap Options command and turn off the Coord Only option.

4.4.4 Selecting Coordinates

Coordinates are defined throughout FEMAP for many purposes. In most cases you input coordinates through one of the standard coordinate, vector or plane dialog boxes described previously, but a few other dialog boxes do accept coordinate data. In any of these cases, you may supply the coordinates either by typing with the keyboard, or graphically selecting a location from any active graphics window. To select coordinates graphically, follow the following steps: 1. Select any of the three (X, Y, Z) coordinate fields/controls. 2. Move the cursor to the desired location in the graphics window 3. Press the left mouse button. FEMAP will automatically fill in the coordinates which correspond to that location. Refer to the discussion of snap modes in the previous section for additional information regarding snapping the selected coordinates. Normally when you select graphically, FEMAP will fill in the dialog box with the numerical coordinates of the location that you select. If you are snapping to a point or node however, FEMAP will insert equation functions. For example, if you snap to node 4, you would see XND(4), YND(4) and ZND(4). Similarly if you snap to a point, the XPT(), YPT(), and ZPT() functions are used. FEMAP uses these functions instead of the coordinate values to increase precision. When FEMAP loads the dialog box with a numerical value, those coordinates are only as precise as the number of digits in the dialog box. Typically, this is around six or seven significant digits. These functions reference the full, double-precision coordinates which are stored in the FEMAP database. Since the six or seven significant digits is usually more accurate than you desire, you may want to disable this feature, so you can actually see the coordinate values. Just go to the

Selecting Entities by their Titles



Tools Snap To command, and turn off the Full Precision feature. FEMAP will then always use the coordinate values, no matter how you snap. Turning Full Precision on will cause FEMAP to use the function references again.

4.4.5 Selecting Entities by their Titles

Many times, FEMAP will display a list of entities in a combo box. There are many ways that you can select entities from these lists: 1. You can type an entity ID. 2. You can select the entity graphically as described above. 3. You can click the down-arrow (or the Alt+Down key) to view the list and select an entity. 4. You could select the entity by typing its title. 5. You can bring up a list of entities using Ctrl - L. This will only work if the entity you are selecting can have titles. You have two choices to enter the title. You can either prefix (or enclose) the title with a single quote (') or a double quote ("). If you use a double quote, the title that you enter must exactly match the title of the entity. If you use a single quote, FEMAP will search all of the available titles and try to find the string that you enter. Any title that contains that string will be matched. Both methods are insensitive to case(i.e. Steel matches STEEL or steel). You can never select untitled entities using this method. You will receive an error message if the title that you type does not match any of the entities in the list, or if it matches more than one. FEMAP will only make the selection if the title that you type uniquely identifies an entity. This restriction eliminates potential errors that could occur if FEMAP selected a different entity that happened to have a matching title.

4.4.6 Numerical Input - Real Number Formats

When you enter a real (floating point) number into a dialog box, FEMAP expects it to be in the International Number Format that you have chosen for Windows. Using the Windows Control Panel, if you pick the International Option, you can set the Number (not Currency, Time or Date) Format that you want to use. FEMAP only uses the 1000 Separator (Thousands separator) and Decimal Separator settings. If you choose a 1000s Separator, that character is simply ignored. You do not even have to enter it, but if you do, it will be skipped. The Decimal Separator, on the other hand, is used to defined the location of the decimal portion of the number. All numbers must be entered with the proper decimal separator, not necessarily .. The Leading Zero and Decimal Digits options are not used.

4.4.7 Numerical Input - The FEMAP Calculator

Any time you need to specify numeric input, whether it is a coordinate value or an ID, instead of simply typing the value, you can enter an equation. FEMAP will evaluate the equation and use the result as your value. Equations can consist of numeric values, variables, arithmetic operators (+,-,*,/), parentheses, and many other functions (SQRT(), SIN(), COS() and many more). Appendix C describes the available functions.

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User Interface

When you want to enter an equation, you can simply type the equation, or you can use the Equation Editor. You can access the Equation Editor by pushing Ctrl+E when you are in another command, and the Equation Editor will appear. It presents all existing variables, arithmetic operators and functions, and lets you preview the result prior to inserting the equation into the dialog control. When using Variables in an equation, you must predefine or create them using the Tools Variables command before they can be used. When you want to use a variable in an equation simply precede the variable name by either an exclamation point (!) or an at-sign (@). The exclamation point (!) simply denotes the following character(s) as a variable, while the @variable_name operation allows an equation to reference the current value of another equation.

Table 1: Using Variables

Variable Definition !variable_name @variable_name Result Uses the value of the variable when it was created or last updated. Evaluates the equation which was used to define the variable, and uses the result of that equation.

Recursive Equations
The @variable_name operation allows an equation to reference the current value of another equation. When you use this capability, FEMAP must reevaluate all of the referenced equations. If you create multiple levels of equations, all using the @ operator, you can create a rudimentary subroutine capability, where you refer to the subroutine (an equation), simply by its variable name. We refer to this capability as a recursive equation because FEMAP must recursively reevaluate the resulting equation until it eliminates all of the @ operators. FEMAP allows you to create equations with up to 5 levels of nested @ operators. There is no limit on the number of @ operators in a single equation, just on the number of levels. For example, you can define the following equations: !x = 5*sin(45) !a = 2.5*@x and !b = @x+@a This is equivalent to typing (5*sin(45))+2.5*(5*sin(45)).

Note:
Be careful not to create a situation where two variables reference each other using the @ operator. Evaluation of either variable would cause an infinite loop and will therefore fail when it reaches the limit of 5 nested operations. If you reach the nesting limit, either by this

Equation Editor - Ctrl+E



type of error or any other, FEMAP will display a series of error messages which represent a traceback of all of the evaluations that were taking place. You will have to repeatedly press OK to display these messages and continue.

Advanced Editing and Shortcut Keys

Windows provides extensive capabilities to enter and edit the text and numeric input which is required by FEMAP. You can use the various editing capabilities (direction keys, insert/ delete,...) to create the input that you desire. You can also use other options such as copy (Ctrl+Ins) and paste (Shift+Ins) to duplicate the input from one dialog control into another control, or even to insert data from a different application. For controls that accept typed input (text boxes and drop-down lists) FEMAP supplements these basic Windows capabilities with the ability to display additional dialog boxes for advanced editing or entity selection, and the ability to execute certain commands. These additional capabilities are accessed through keyboard shortcut keys or the Quick Access menu described above.

4.4.8 Equation Editor - Ctrl+E

Whenever you need to enter numeric input, you can always enter an equation in place of the actual numeric result. The Equation Editor dialog helps you create equations. First, it contains a much wider edit control so you can simultaneously see much more of the equation text. More importantly however, it presents all existing variables, arithmetic operators and functions, and lets you preview the result prior to inserting the equation into the dialog control.

Variables:
This shows a list of all of the variables which are defined in the current model. When a variable is created, both the defining equation and the result of that equation are stored. Choosing Insert Variable will modify the current equation using the selected variable and variable option. If Stored is selected, !variable_name will be inserted. When the equation is evaluated, this will use the stored numeric value of the variable. If Current is selected, @variable_name will be inserted. In this case, the stored defining equation will be reevaluated when the new equation is evaluated, and the new value will be used. If Equation is selected, the entire defining equation will be inserted. This will let you view and modify the equation. If the variable to be inserted was defined using a simple numeric value, then all of these options will have the same result.

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Ops:
This section simply allows you to see and insert a list of the available arithmetic operators. Using this option, parentheses are always inserted in pairs and balanced.


Functions:

User Interface

In addition to numbers, FEMAP equations can contain arithmetic, trigonometric and model query functions, all of which can be inserted using this list. Some of the model query functions require an argument which is an entity type number. They are all shown with a -> in the function list. For those functions, the argument is automatically inserted based on the entity type selected from the second list. A more detailed description of each function can be found in Appendix C.

Calculate:
This button will automatically evaluate the equation that you are defining and display the result.

Save Variable:
If you want to save this equation (and its result) as a variable, simply enter the name of a new variable in this text control. Then if you choose OK, the variable will be created. If you are using your mouse with the equation editor, you do not have to press the various Insert buttons. Instead, you can simply double-click with the left mouse button in any of the lists. The entry that you are pointing at will be inserted into the equation.

The FEA Process

This chapter gives a general overview of the steps used to create a Finite Element Analysis model. There are descriptions of some commands and processes for creating Geometry, Elements, Materials and Properties, Loads and Constraints, and other viewing and model manipulation commands used in FEMAP. This chapter is just an overview of the process. For indepth information on all FEMAP commands, please refer to the FEMAP Command Reference Manual. You may also refer to the FEMAP Examples Manual for sample step by step instruction in building, using and manipulating models.

5.1 Geometry
Geometry for FEA is different than most other modeling applications. The only reason for creating geometry in FEMAP is so you can more easily generate an accurate mesh. Keep this in mind when creating models that may be used for FEA. An example of how FEA geometry may differ from the actual part can be as simple as a corner on a part. Good engineering practice dictates that a corner be filleted, to relieve stress concentrations and to match the radius of the cutting tool being used to manufacture the part. However, a small fillet in FEA can significantly complicate the problem. Accuracy in FEA depends on element size and aspect ratio, and an efficient transition between elements of different sizes. It takes a very small mesh and many more elements in the area of the fillet to properly analyze it. It is much easier and much faster to leave the corner as a corner and use the stress concentration that appears there as an upper bound. If an area is so critical that the fillet or whatever other feature you are modeling must remain, take care to create a good mesh.

5.1.1 Methods and Snap To

As previously discussed in Chapter 4 of this manual (User Interface), many FEMAP dialog boxes contain a Method button. The Method button allows you to access a drop down menu that can be used to change the way you specify coordinate locations, as well as other information. It allows you to choose the way you want to define a location, vector, or plane. There are many more options depending on which command you are using and what geometry you have created. For information concerning each type of method, please review Chapter 4, User Interface, Common Dialog Boxes. Always check the Method menu first when you think there should be easier ways to define locations, vectors or planes because most likely there are. Snap To was also discussed briefly in the previous chapter, but it is important to note here as well since changing your Snap To method can save you significant time and effort, especially in creating geometry. The Snap To sets the cursor mode. It can be set to snap to the screen (snap off), to nodes, to points or to the grid. It can be changed at any time with the shortcut (right mouse) menu or the View Toolbar icons. It is especially valuable to change the Snap



The FEA Process

To when defining vectors or planes. You could actually define a plane by defining three locations by snapping to a point in space (screen), a node, and a point. Remember to change your Snap To mode when you have nodes and points already defined that are in appropriate positions to define vectors and planes. It will save you considerable time by replacing the keyboard coordinate input.

5.1.2 The Workplane (2-D and 3-D Geometry)

The Workplane allows you to create two dimensional geometry in a three dimensional world. The Workplane is a user defined plane in FEMAP on which the results of certain commands will be placed. The Workplane was also discussed in the User Interface chapter with respect to picking coordinates, but it becomes even more important when generating geometry. When creating geometry, you have the option to work in 2-D or 3-D space. The geometry creation commands for the basic entities such as line, arc, circle, and spline are separated into two major sections, 2-D and 3-D. Each submenu for these creation commands are divided into a top section, which is 2-D, and a bottom section which is 3-D. When you use a command that is above the separator line in these Create geometry commands, the entity will always be created in the Workplane. Any coordinates you define, if not already in the Workplane, will be projected onto the Workplane. If your line is not drawn where you expected it to be, most likely it has been projected onto the Workplane. All commands below the separator line perform operations in 3-D so your coordinate inputs will be used without modification. Geometry creation for a large 3-D model can seem like a difficult task, especially when you are new at modeling. However, most parts can be created by visualizing them as a series of 2-D sections. Furthermore, many individuals have difficulty picturing objects in 3-D when viewing inherently 2-D monitors. For this reason, it is important that you become familiar with moving your Workplane so you may work in a series of 2-D steps and simplify the model creation process. You may also want to align the Workplane to your current view to coordinate the viewing/ creation process. This is simply done by using Tools Workplane, choose Select Plane, click on the Method button (once again we see the importance of the Method button) and change the Method to Align to View, and then provide the appropriate data. You may also align the view to the workplane with View Align By Workplane You may also define a new Workplane based upon its relative position to the current Workplane. The Move Plane section of the Tools Workplane command enables you to define the new Workplane by an offset translation and/or a rotation from the current Workplane. You may move the Workplane in its Z direction and rotate it around its Z axis. This is a quick way to change the location and azimuth of the Workplane without having to define three new points. Another method for defining a workplane is using an existing surface. You first pick a surface, the normal of which is used to define the normal of the plane. Then define a point to use as the origin. The normal of the surface and the origin point completely define the plane. You may also define the X and Y directions on the workplane. You pick a point that will be

Basics - Points, Lines and Curves



projected onto the plane to define the X direction and the Y direction will be the cross product of this X direction and the normal from the origin.

5.1.3 Basics - Points, Lines and Curves

FEMAP gives you many options for creating points, lines and curves. These options are contained under the Geometry command. Points, lines, and curves are generally the starting blocks for any model, and therefore it is important to have a good understanding of the different creation methods. The simplest method to create a point is to define its coordinates. However, by pressing the Method button, you can access fifteen (15) different methods of defining that coordinate location. Some of these methods will not be available if the required entities do not exist (i.e. you cannot use the Onto Surface method if you have no surfaces in your model). Simply select the most appropriate Method for your circumstance and input your values. There are also a large number of ways to create a line. The four most basic are horizontal, vertical, points and coordinates. Points and coordinates differ in that Point commands create a line between existing points and the Coordinates command will create a line between any two specified locations. FEMAP will automatically generate points at the end of all lines during the creation process. When creating a line with either the Geometry Curve-Line Points or the Geometry Curve-Line Coordinates command, you will create a line in 3-D space. When using a command such as Geometry Curve-Line Coordinates, remember that you may still use the Method button to access other ways to input the coordinates, exactly as you would if you were creating a Point. Horizontal and vertical lines are created to a length specified under the parameters of the line at a location on the Workplane (horizontal is along the x-axis of the Workplane and vertical is along the y-axis of the Workplane). Remember, commands above the line are created on the Workplane, and those below it are created in 3-D space. Other commands under Geometry Curve-Line enable you to create lines by inputting their relationship to other curves or points in your model. Arcs and circles can also be created in the Workplane or in 3-D space using a variety of commands. All arcs are typically created by specifying three entities such as center - start - end, start - end - radius, three points etc. Arcs in the Workplane are drawn as positive in the counter clockwise direction (input of a negative angle when using an angle as one of the inputs will cause FEMAP to draw a clockwise arc). 3-D arcs have no convention. Their direction will be specified in other ways. All of the methods can be used to create equivalent arcs. The various commands simply ease the input process. Once again, when specifying coordinates, you can change the Method of specification to further simplify the input. Circles are created in much the same way as arcs except, of course, they are complete circles. Again, they can be created in the Workplane or in 3-D space. Most methods are self explanatory. Please refer to the FEMAP Command Reference for further descriptions.

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5.1.4 Splines
Splines are complex curves of at least four (4) points. In FEMAP splines of four (4) points as well as those created with the ellipse, parabola, hyperbola, equation, tangents and blend options will be stored as cubic Bezier curves. All other splines will be stored as B-Splines.



The FEA Process

The actual curve of the spline will pass through the first and last control points but not through the others. The other points influence the curvature of the spline. The farther a control point is from the previous control point the more the spline is pulled in that direction. Splines can also be created on the Workplane or in 3-D space. A number of methods are available, the simplest being Geometry Curve-Spline Points where you select 4 to 110 points on the spline and the control points are automatically calculated.

Note:
The Cancel button on the dialog box is utilized to both cancel the creation of the spline as well as create it. If less than four points have been chosen, the Cancel button will enable you to terminate the process without creating a spline. Once four points have been defined, however the Cancel button is used to terminate input of more points and a spline is created. If you make an input error after four points have been defined, you cannot cancel the procedure without creating a spline. Simply use the Tools Undo command to remove the spline if it is inaccurate. This is true for all procedures under Geometry Curve-Spline that enable you to create B-Splines.

5.1.5 Curves from Surfaces

The curves from surfaces are only available when either the ACIS or Parasolid solid modeling engine is active. There are five different methods to obtain curves from existing surface data and two modes available. If update surfaces is checked, new curves will break the surfaces with which they interact, essentially imprinting onto the surfaces. If update surfaces is Off, they are simply curves. The ACIS solid modeling engine requires that update surfaces are on. The five types of curves from surfaces are listed below: 1. Intersection - create curves at the intersection of two surfaces. 2. Project - Project a curve onto a surface using the point on the surface closest to the point on the curve. This type is not available in the ACIS modeling engine. 3. Project Along Vector - project a curve onto a surface using a specified vector. 4. Parametric Curve - Create a curve from a constant U or V parametric value of a surface. 5. Slice - Create a curve at the intersection of the surface and a specified cutting plane.

5.1.6 Modifying the Basics

If you are creating geometry directly in FEMAP, use the Geometry menu commands to generate the original geometry, but the Modify commands allow you to both change original geometry, as well as create new geometry between existing entities (such as fillets). The Modify menu has three separate sections. We will focus on the top section, the commands for modifying lines and curves in this section. The following six (6) commands are available to quickly modify geometry: 1. Trim - cuts curves at the locations where they intersect other curves.

Surfaces, Boundary Surfaces,Volumes, Solids



2. Extend - moves the midpoints of one or more curves to a specified location. 3. Break - splits one or more curves into two pieces at a location you specify. 4. Join - extends or shortens two selected curves to their intersection 5. Fillet - connects two curves with an arc of a specified radius. 6. Chamfer - trims two intersecting curves at a specified distance from their endpoints and connects the trimmed area with a new line. These commands can be used to quickly change a model from a set of intersecting and overlapping lines to an accurate representation of your part. In fact, once you are familiar with these commands, you can start your model with lines in the proper directions, and simply Trim, Fillet, etc. until your model is complete. For example, it can be much faster to draw the outline of the part with straight lines and then fillet where required than producing each individual arc with the Geometry Curve-Arc command. The second section of the Modify menu command allows you to move objects, including geometry. You can Project, Move To a point, Move By a vector, Rotate To a point, Rotate By an angle, Align or Scale. These commands can operate on coordinate systems, points, curves, surfaces, volumes, solids, nodes, and elements. Moving one entity will automatically move all associated entities. For example, moving a curve will also move all points connected to that curve but not those coincident to it. You may also move an entire mesh by moving the coordinate system that define the nodes. You may make copies of existing entities utilizing commands under the Geometry menu. You can make copies of points, curves, surfaces, volumes, and solids. You can copy along a vector, in a radial direction, by rotating around a vector, reflecting across a plane and scaling from a location. The procedures for executing the above commands are straightforward and the exercises in the Examples Manual will show you the usefulness of many of these commands.

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Note:
The Modify Trim, Extend, etc. commands are not available for solid geometry curves. These curves must be manipulated with Geometry Solid and Curve from Surface commands.

5.1.7 Surfaces, Boundary Surfaces,Volumes, Solids

For all models the ultimate goal of the preprocessing portion of FEA is meshing. For most models you will use surfaces, volumes, solids and boundary surfaces to create the mesh. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of how they work. Most often you will create these entities from already existing geometry (surfaces and boundary surfaces from lines and curves, volumes from surfaces, solids from surfaces and boundary surfaces). Surfaces (including Boundary Surfaces) are used to create 2-D elements and volumes and solids are used for 3-D elements.

5.1.8 Surfaces
There are five general methods to create a surface:



The FEA Process

1. Select 3 or 4 corners and a planar surface (tri or quad) will be created between them. 2. Use existing curves to create a surface from bounding curves. Edge Curves - three or four bounding curves coincidentally ended. Loft - four control curves aligned in the same parametric direction. Ruled - create a ruled surface between two curves. 3. Move a curve along a path. Extrude - straight line path Revolve - uses an angle around a center vector. 4. Analytical (Predefined Shape) - planar, cylindrical, conical, tubular or spherical surfaces. 5. Using existing solid geometry. Explode - create individual surfaces for all faces of a solid. The solid is lost. Midsurfaces - create midsurfaces between surfaces of thin-walled solids. Four sided surfaces are considered optimum for meshing purposes because you can easily generate a nicely mapped mesh of planar elements. During the meshing of surfaces or solids (which mesh the surfaces first) FEMAP will determine which surfaces can be map meshed and will do so accordingly. You can also use the Mesh Mesh Control Approach On Surface command to dictate a mapped mesh on a surface.

5.1.9 Boundary Surfaces

You may use the Geometry Boundary Surface command to create a boundary. A series of lines and curves with coincident endpoints are selected. Holes can be added by picking existing curves inside the boundary curves that form closed holes. You may also create a Boundary automatically by using the Sketch command. The Sketch command will allow you to use the Geometry creation commands to draw lines, arcs, etc. When you hit Finish Sketch, FEMAP will automatically take these curves and produce a Boundary. This is a very convenient method to quickly define a boundary. Boundaries are created from any number of continuous curves. These curves must be either joined at the ends or have coincident points and be fully enclosed. They cannot just intersect. Boundaries can contain holes, as long as the area of the hole is completely contained within the boundary and they do not overlap. FEMAP will automatically determine which curves if any represent holes in the boundary. Because of the arbitrary geometric nature of boundaries, many models may require you to be more careful in the mesh generation process to obtain a good mesh. Additional information with regard to the Boundary Mesher will be supplied in the Meshing Section.

5.1.10 Volumes
There are three basic methods to create volumes. They are: 1. Multiple existing entities as components

Solids



Corners - locate four to eight corners. Surface - four to six bounding coincident edged surfaces. Between - two surfaces of the same shape. 2. Move a surface along a path: Extrude - straight line. Revolve - angle around a central vector. 3. Analytical (Predefined Shapes) - cylinder, cone, tube, or sphere. Once again, the only reason to create a volume is to create a mesh. If you can create a volume that accurately represents your part, you can readily create a good mesh. However, volumes have two important restrictions: 1. No more than six surfaces or eight corner points can be used to define a volume. 2. A volume must be continuous. No voids are allowed. These restrictions limit the usefulness of volume meshing. For this reason, this manual will concentrate on other methods to obtaining 3-D meshing including the Mesh Extrude, Mesh Revolve, and the Solid Meshing commands. These commands are further explained in the Meshing Section. They all have the characteristic capability to create a Solid Element mesh from a 2-D mesh. Since it is impossible to obtain a good 3-D mesh by starting with a bad 2-D mesh, it is even more important that you understand how to generate good 2-D meshes. The mesh generation topic will go more fully into this aspect of FEA.

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5.1.11 Solids
The Solid commands are available in FEMAP Professional. They allow you to create solid models in either the ACIS Solid Engine or the Parasolid Solid Engine. You may also import solid models created in other CAD programs using these engines and then modify or mesh them using FEMAP. There are additional options that allows you to import IGES trimmed surface data that can be stitched into a FEMAP solid, or import STEP AP203 solid data. In FEMAP there are two basic ways to create solids: 1. Using Primitives - Create blocks, cylinders, cones, and spheres. 2. Using Surfaces/Boundaries - Extrude/Revolve to create a new solid or Add/Remove material from an existing solid. Stitch to create a solid from surfaces that completely enclose a volume. There are also a number of ways to modify existing solids. 1. Fillet - Fillet an edge/edges of a solid with a specified radius. 2. Chamfer - Chamfer an edge/edges of an existing solid to a specified length. 3. Add - Join two solids to form a single solid. 4. Remove - Subtract one solid from another. 5. Common - Create a solid from the intersecting volumes of two solids.



The FEA Process

6. Embed - Create two solids, one from solid from the intersecting volumes of two solids 7. Slice - Cut a solid with a specified plane. 8. Slice Match - Cut a solid with a plane but leave matching surfaces on both solids. 9. Slice Along Face - Cut a solid along an existing face. 10. Embed Face - Extrude a face into a new solid and embed it into the existing one. 11. Shell - Convert a solid to a thin walled shell by offsetting faces (Not Available in ACIS Modeler). Three utility commands exist for solid modeling. 1. Stitch - Sew surfaces into a FEMAP solid. Particularly useful for IGES files. 2. Explode - Explode a solid into individual surfaces created from each face. The originalsolid data will be lost. 3. Cleanup - Remove extra curves/points that are not required to define the solid.

5.2 Elements and Meshing

As mentioned above, the entire reason for creating geometry is to produce a good finite element mesh. This section will describe the different element types contained in FEMAP, as well as meshing procedures to obtain these elements.

5.2.1 Element Types

There are four basic element groups in FEMAP. They are line, plane, volume and others. A list of all the elements currently supported by FEMAP, including a brief description, is provided below.

5.2.1.1 Line Elements

Rod - Uniaxial element with tension, compression and torsional stiffness. No bending or shear. Typically used to model trusses. Tube - Rod element with tubular cross section. Some analysis programs will support bending and shear. Often used to model pipes. Curved Tube - Tube element with an arc for the neutral axis. Bar - Uniaxial element with tension, compression, torsion and bending. Used to model general beam/frame structures. Similar to beam. Beam - Uniaxial element with tension, compression, torsion and bending. It can be tapered and have different properties at each end. Used to model beam/frame structures. Curved Beam - Beam element with an arc for the neutral axis. Link - Rigid link with six stiffnesses at each end. Used to represent members that are very stiff compared to their connections. Spring - Stiffness and damper element. Can be torsional or axial. Used to represent purely torsional or axial structural members.

Plane Elements



DOF Spring - Spring element used to connect any one degree of freedom from one node to any one degree of freedom of another node with a specified stiffness. Gap - Nonlinear element with different tension, compression and shear stiffness. Used to represent surfaces or points which can separate, close or slide relative to each other. Plot Only - Nonstructural. Used to represent structural features that are not being analyzed but aid in the visualization of the model. Also used to define ABAQUS rigid elements for contact.

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5.2.1.2 Plane Elements

Shear Panel - Resists only shear forces. Used to model structures which contain very thin elastic sheets, typically supported by stiffeners. Membrane - Resists only in plane normal forces. Used to represent very thin elastic sheets. Bending - Resists only bending forces. Used to model plates that will only resist bending. Plate - Resists membrane, shear and bending forces. Used to model structures comprised of thin plate shells. Laminate - similar to plate except that it is composed of up to 90 layers (180 if symmetrical). Each layer can represent a different material. Used to represent laminated composite shells. Plane Strain - Biaxial plane element. Create a 2-D model of a solid which does not vary through its depth. Used to model very thick solids which have a constant cross section. Planar Plot Only - Nonstructural. Used to represent structural features that are not being analyzed but aid in the visualization of the model. Also used to define ABAQUS rigid elements for contact.

5.2.1.3 Volume Elements

Axisymmetric - Two dimensional element used to represent volumes of revolution. Solid - Three dimensional solid element used to represent any three dimensional structure.

5.2.1.4 Other Elements

Mass - Three dimensional mass and/or inertia element located at a node. Used to represent parts of a structure which contain mass but do not add stiffness. Mass Matrix - Generalized mass element. Mass and inertia properties are defined as a 6x6 mass matrix. Rigid - Rigid connection between a master and unlimited number of slave nodes. Used to model connections which are very stiff compared to the rest of the model. Stiffness Matrix - General stiffness element defined by a 6x6 stiffness matrix. Models custom stiffness connections not adequately represented by other stiffness elements. Contact - Element formed from two contact segments of geoemtry or nodal entities simulating contact (including friction properties) between bodies of a finite element mesh. Bodies can be rigid or deformable.



The FEA Process

Slide Line - Contact element which allows input of frictional and stiffness contact information between nodes and surfaces. Modeling of finite sliding surface interaction between two deformable bodies.

5.2.1.5 Analysis Output

Please check the element reference and the translator reference to determine which elements are supported and how they are translated for your analysis program before you create them.

5.2.1.6 Mesh Sizing

Before you create elements, you should first determine the mesh size using the MESH MESH CONTROL command. You can set a default mesh size or default number of elements, which is used for all geometry where a specific size or number of elements is not defined. You can also define a specific mesh size or number of elements along a line or on a surface. Mesh sizes can also be biased so that a finer mesh can be obtained at either end or in the middle. Mesh sizes can be set interactively. You can also define hard points on curves or surfaces to ensure a node is placed at that location. You can even define a particular mapped meshing approach on a surface. Always define mesh sizes carefully to ensure good element aspect ratios, high resolution in areas of large stress gradients and proper matching of nodes where curves, surfaces, boundaries or volumes/solids meet. The last point is especially important because if nodes are not coincident, your model will have free edges or faces at these points and will not solid mesh or solve properly. Remember to always merge coincident nodes before attempting to solid mesh or analyze your model.

5.2.1.7 Mesh Attributes

If you are meshing geometry with different element types or properties you may find it helpful to set meshing attributes. These commands allow you to specify various meshing parameters directly on geometry in FEMAP. This can save you time by allowing you to select multiple entities to mesh at the same time while still meshing with different parameters. Parameters that can be set include: properties, offsets, releases, orientations.

5.2.2 Element Creation

In FEMAP there are six methods to create elements: 1. Create an element one at a time - Model Element command. Useful for simple geometry, line elements, and to fix areas of distorted elements. 2. Create multiple elements on geometry (curves, surfaces, solids and volumes). Mesh Geometry - line elements on curves, plane (or axisymmetric) elements on surfaces, and solid elements in volumes and solids. 3. Copy existing elements Mesh Copy - make copies of existing elements along a vector. Mesh Radial Copy - similar to copy except in a radial direction.

Element Creation



Mesh Scale - create a scaled copy of the element around a given location. Mesh Rotate - rotate the duplicate copies around a vector (axis of rotation). Mesh Reflect - reflect (or flip) elements through a plane. 4. Convert 2-D model (curves or elements) into a 3-D model of planar or solid elements. Mesh Extrude - often used to generate 3-D solids from a 2-D mesh. Curve - creates 2-D elements by moving existing curves along a vector or curve. Element - creates 2-D from 1-D and 3-D from 2-D elements by moving along a vector, a curve, or element normals. Mesh Revolve - similar to Mesh Extrude except revolves around a vector. Often used to solid mesh volumes of revolution. 5. Non-Geometry Meshing Commands Mesh Between - produces meshes (1-D, 2-D or 3-D) between corners. Mesh Region - creates a ruled region of nodes and/or elements between patterns of nodes. Mesh Transition - produces an automatic mesh between existing nodes. Useful to fix regions between surface meshes that are improperly connected. Mesh Remesh/Smooth - used to modify an existing mesh. Useful for fixing or cleaning-up a distorted area of a mesh Mesh Connection - zip or unzip elements at the nodes. Connect with line elements, rigid elements, or constraint equations. 6. Solid Meshing - automatic meshing with 3-D tetrahedral elements. Most useful when a 3-D solid mesh of a fairly complex geometry is required. Mesh a solid created in FEMAP with the ACIS or Parasolid modeling engine. Automatically mesh any enclosed volume of planar elements. Import and mesh geometry from any ACIS or Parasolid-based CAD package. Import, stitch and mesh IGES trimmed surface data. Import STEP solid body entities and mesh automatically. The solid mesher also incorporates the capability to import a triangular surface mesh from a Stereolithography file. The triangular surface representation found in most STL files is not of sufficient quality (element shape and aspect ratio) to be fed directly into the automatic mesher. The Mesh Remesh Menu contains commands which can help you transform the poor triangular surface mesh into a better one. 7. Solid Meshing - semi-automatic meshing with 3-D hexahedral elements. Useful for creating partial or full solid hexahedral meshes.

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The FEA Process

Subdividing of solid into hex meshable regions is required. Mesh sizes on all solids to be hex meshed must be set at the same time using the Mesh Mesh Control Size On Solid command with the hex meshing option chosen. Matching surfaces are linked and mesh sizes set so the hex mesh can propagate between solids.

5.2.2.1 Surface Meshing Guidelines

The mesh generation tools above provide a wide array of methods to generate your mesh. Examine your part before you begin the meshing process to determine which method is most applicable to your part. The guidelines below provide a few handy tips for the mesh generation process for surface element meshing. m Most meshes involve creating geometry first. Define these accurately from the beginning, keeping in mind you are using it for meshing purposes only (i.e remove small features if they are not critical to the analysis). m Use the Geometry Surface command to create four(4)-sided surfaces whenever possible, specifically for critical stress areas. Subdivide your part into regions if required. Four(4)sided surfaces enable an all quad mapped mesh with little or no distortion. m Use the Geometry Boundary Surface command to define boundaries that cannot be generated as surfaces. Remember the boundary mesher will work best with areas that have similar length and width dimensions (globular as opposed to long and thin). m Define your default mesh size before you start meshing by using Mesh Mesh Control Default Size. m Use the Mesh Mesh Control Size on Curve/Surface command to individually define mesh sizes for curves and surfaces that are used in more than one mesh region. Do this before you start meshing to prevent misalignment between meshes in your model. m Once mesh sizes are established, use Mesh Geometry Surface/Solid commands to mesh your model. When performing a free/boundary mesh, take note of allowable distortion for quad elements. You may want to change the default to allow more or less distortion. m Use the Mesh Control - Approach on Surface to link surfaces or specify mapped meshes on surfaces that would otherwise be free meshed. m You can use the Mesh Revolve/Extrude command to generate 2-D elements from 1-D elements or curves whenever possible. This can be useful for cylindrical shapes. m Utilize symmetry whenever possible to reduce meshing effort. Model size is significantly reduced (and therefore run time) if the loading/constraints are also symmetrical. If loads/constraints are not symmetrical, you can use the Mesh Reflect Element command to reflect the mesh through a plane. m Remember, you may also want to use Mesh Copy and Mesh Rotate to produce replica elements instead of performing more surface or boundary meshing. m Use the Tools Check Coincident Nodes command to merge coincident nodes and connect the meshes.

Solid Meshing Guidelines



m Use the View Select command and change the View to Free Edge to verify that you do not have any unwanted free edges in the model. The above guidelines provide a good basis for surface element meshing. It is critical, even when solid meshing is the ultimate goal, that you establish a good surface mesh.

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5.2.2.2 Solid Meshing Guidelines

m Often times you can avoid using volumes or solids by simply extruding or revolving truly planar elements into solid elements. If your part has a consistent third dimension, use Mesh Extrude or Mesh Revolve to create solid elements. m Use the Mesh Edge Members command if planar elements are required on faces of solid elements. Once planar elements are created, you can extrude them into solid elements. m For simple solid parts, use volume meshing, Mesh Between, or Mesh Region to create a solid mesh. These procedures cannot be used, however, if there are voids in the volume. m If you have solid models with holes or other complicated intricacies, use the Solid Tetrahedral Mesher. The solid tetrahedral mesher creates a surface mesh first, so all items applicable to surface meshing apply. If you have purchased FEMAP Professional you may import in ACIS, Parasolid, IGES, STEP, or STL files or use the FEMAP solid modeling commands to define geometry to create 3-D meshes. m If you do frequent hexahedral meshing, become familiar with the types of solid shapes that can be hexahedral meshed, and focus on slicing your solid models into shapes of those types. When slicing your solid, take care to avoid creating sliver surfaces or solids. m There are a wide array of solid and surface modification tools. Take the time to learn what each one does. Used in combination they can be very powerful and accomplish many different tasks useful for solid meshing preparation. m Use the explode command to create surfaces that you can cleanup, and then stitch back into a solid for meshing. If you follow the above guidelines for both surface and solid meshing, creating high quality element meshes can be a simple task. Simply select where to create the elements, what type to create, and with what property and FEMAP will do the rest. Typically, you must define the property before creating the elements, although if no property is specified, FEMAP will prompt you to create one.

5.2.2.3 Element Shape Quality

Once you have created a mesh, always check all elements for distortion with the Tools Check Distortion command. You can set maximum distortion criteria and make a group of any distorted elements. Fix all distorted elements if possible before adding any loads or constraints. This is especially important if the distorted elements are in a key region of the model.



The FEA Process

5.3 Hexahedral Modeling and Meshing

The following section gives an explanation of the steps necessary to perform Solid Hexahedral meshing. Refer to the FEMAP Commands manual for a more complete description of the commands.

5.3.1 Geometry Preparation

Preparing the geometry is the most critical part of the hex meshing process. Complex solids cannot be automatically hex meshed, but if divided properly into simpler solids, a full or partial hex mesh can easily be generated.

5.3.1.1 Identifying Hex-Meshable Solids

The first step in solid hex meshing is to be able to identify hex-meshable solids or regions within solids. These would include, but are not necessarily limited to, six sided solids, extruded solids and revolved solids. Some examples are shown below.

Examples of Solids that can be automatically Hex Meshed

You must follow a fairly strict procedure for most solids to crete a hex mesh. 1. Subdivide your model into hex-meshable solids.

Subdividing the Solid



2. Set the Mesh Sizes using Mesh Mesh Control Size on Solid, with the hex meshing option. 3. Verify that all solids are hex-meshable, and are properly linked to adjacent solids. If not, return to step 1, and continue dividing your solids. 4. Hex mesh using the Mesh Geometry Hex Mesh Solids command. Each of these steps is extremely important if you are going to succeed in creating a complete, correct hex mesh.

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5.3.1.2 Subdividing the Solid

Once you are familiar with the types of solids that are hex-meshable you must divide your solid into these regions. FEMAP offers a number of commands for this process. They include the following commands all contained on the Geometry Solid menu (refer to the commands manual for descriptions and use): Add, Remove, Common, Embed, Slice, Slice Match, Slice Along Face, Embed Face. The Slicing and Embed commands are particularly useful when attempting to create hexmeshable regions. If you need to clean up particular surfaces on solids you can use Geometry Solid Explode. You can then modify these surfaces or create new surfaces with the surface modeling commands. The Geometry Solid Stitch forms the surfaces back into a solid.

5.3.2 Mesh Sizing

Consistent mesh sizing throughout the model is necessary for hex meshing. It is not possible to transition from a large number of elements to a small number of elements with hexahedral elements. Sizes of elements can change but the number must be consistent. This consistent sizing must propagate through the model, across the multiple solids that you have created. For this reason, local mesh sizing operations have little use in hex meshing. Global sizing and mapped surface approaches and surface linking are much more important. The Mesh Mesh Control Size on Solid command (with the Hex Meshing option selected) is the primary mechanism to setup the necessary mesh sizing for successful hex meshing. Since many surfaces on your solids must be mapped meshed, curves on opposite sides of those surfaces must have the same number of element divisions. Once you have properly subdivided your part, the Size on Solid command handles all sizing automatically. Simply specify a nominal size. If further mesh grading is required, or you want to modify the sizes that Size on Solid has created, you must use great care. If you manually change the mesh size along a curve, you must also manually change the mesh sizes (to the same settings) on all other curves in your solids that must match the first curve to maintain mapped meshable surfaces.



The FEA Process

5.3.2.1 Ensuring Surface Linking

If you have subdivided your solid surface linking is required to guarantee a continuous mesh. This is done when you specify the Hex Meshing size with Mesh Mesh Control Size on Solid If you select Hex Meshing in the Size For area, Adjacent Surface Matching is checked and grayed. FEMAP automatically looks at all surfaces in all selected solids and finds any coincident ones. It is important to remember that FEMAP will only look at the solids you select. If this command is run multiple times on different regions of the subdivided solid, the meshes will not match. To hex mesh the whole part you must select all subdivisions at the same time. If adjust colors is checked you can visualize which surfaces have been linked, and what solids are hex-meshable. Remove previous slaving will delete any surface approaches.

5.3.2.2 Specifying Sizes and Surface Approaches

FEMAP has the ability to use several different meshing approaches on surfaces via the Mesh Mesh Control Approach on Surface command. These approaches can be used to map mesh surfaces that would otherwise free mesh, and to match surface meshes. These methods are very useful in getting a solid to hex mesh or simply to get a better hex mesh. Please see the FEMAP Commands manual for information on the different approaches that are available.

Free Mesh

Four Corner Mapped Approach

Hex Meshing



Specifying individual mesh sizes on curves or surfaces in hex meshing is not recommended. The nature of hex meshing dictates that changes in the number of elements in one area must propagate throughout the model. FEMAP will not automatically update other sizes based on a change. You must do this manually. Be very careful, however, since because you can easily get a discontinuous hex mesh, or no hex mesh at all.

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5.3.3 Hex Meshing

If you have properly subdivided your solid, and set mesh sizes and surface linking correctly the actual hex meshing is easy. Simple Mesh Geometry Hex Mesh Solids and select the solids. The nodes on the linked surfaces can be automatically merged.

5.3.4 HexMesh From Elements

There are times when the hex meshing fails due to bad geometry or adjacent solids with different edge lengths. The command HexMesh From Elements provides a way to mesh geometry that has become corrupt thus causing the normal hex meshing technique to fail. This command allows you to individually map mesh the surfaces that make up the solid and then generate solid hexes from the surface mesh.

5.4 Midsurface Modeling and Meshing

Midsurfacing is a tool designed for use in certain instances. It is not a general purpose design tool. The Solids used must be thin in relation to overall size, sheet metal parts or plastic injection molding parts are good examples. Although, it is only useful for these type of thin-walled parts, it is an extremely valuable modeling tool for these parts. You can produce a much smaller and much more accurate model by meshing midsurfaces formed from a thin-walled part, than solid meshing the thin-wall. Differences in model sizes can literally be an order of magnitude in some cases, thereby significantly reducing run time. You even get the added benefit of a more accurate solution in most cases. The tools for creating Midsurfaces are contained on the Geometry Midsurface menu. Their operation is discussed more fully in the FEMAP Commands manual, but a general overview is provided below.

5.4.1 Creating Midsurfaces

The ease of midsurface creation depends greatly on the geometry of your model. Thin flat parts will be nearly completely automatic. Parts with widely varying curvature,small features and/or fillets etc. will take longer and require manual work. Become familiar with FEMAPs midsurfacing capabilities and attempt to prepare your model ahead of time for easy midsurface generation.

5.4.1.1 Automatic
m Fully Automatic - the Geometry Midsurface Automatic command simply runs the three steps of the midsurface sequence. Be careful when running this command because the delete process may delete surfaces that you need, and they may be hard to recreate.



The FEA Process

m Three Step Automatic - Generate midsurfaces, Intersect them and then Cleanup unnecessary midsurfaces. The Cleanup command when run manually does not actually delete the surfaces. It places them on a separate layer so you can review them to be sure you want to delete all of them. This approach is often better for very complex solids. With either of these automatic approaches chances are good you will still need to do some manual cleanup unless the part is a simple thin-walled solid.

5.4.1.2 Manual
Manual midsurface creation and cleanup will involve all facets of Geometry modeling in FEMAP. You need to be familiar with all curve, surface, and solid modification tools. A good general approach for midsurfacing a model is provided below. 1. Perform the Three Step Automatic Process above. 2. Compare midsurface geometry with the solid geometry 3. Manually trim pieces which are not needed to represent the solid. 4. Manually create midsurfaces it the automatic procedure did not produce them. This may require modifying the solid and/or its surfaces. 5. Run Geometry Solid Cleanup on the midsurfaces to remove internal slices.(This option will require you to then reintersect all surfaces so nodes match when you mesh). 6. Carefully check your midsurface geometry.

5.4.2 Preparing for Meshing

5.4.2.1 Mesh Attributes
Automatically assigning mesh attributes will create properties of the correct thickness for any midsurface that was generated from a section of constant thickness in your model. The same material will be used for all of these properties, so if you are using different materials edit the properties or assign mesh attributes manually. If you have surfaces that vary in thickness you will have to mesh the surface and then use Modify-Update Elements-Adjust Plate. Refer to the commands manual for more information.

5.4.2.2 Mesh Sizing

Mesh sizing is carried out in the same manner as for any plate mesh. Use approaches on surfaces to get mapped meshes. Specify sizes along curves, custom sizes, and use hard points if necessary. Remember to check that mesh sizes match along coincident curves and surfaces.

5.4.3 Meshing
If you have set up your mesh sizes properly and assigned mesh attributes to all of the surfaces, meshing is simple. Select all the surfaces and FEMAP will use their associated attributes. If you have not assigned mesh attributes you will have to mesh surfaces with different properties separately. Once meshing is complete, merge coincident nodes and check your model for free edges. If you have done a good job with the geometry creation there

Materials and Properties



should be no internal free edges, otherwise you will have to fix them. Use the manual meshing commands or go back to the geometry and perform further manipulations.

5.5 Materials and Properties

The following section provide an overview of material and property information required for input in FEMAP. These sections do not provide a comprehensive description of all options of properties and materials. For more information, please see the FEMAP Command Reference Manual under the Modeling Chapter.

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5.5.1 Materials
FEMAP supports four regular material types and a general tabular data type: 1. Isotropic Constant properties in all directions. All properties entered as a single value. 2. Orthotropic (Both 2-D and 3-D) Material properties are direction dependent Parameters defined in two (2) planar directions or three (3) principal directions. 3. Anisotropic (Both 2-D and 3-D) Similar to Orthotropic except more general. Specify parameters as a general 3x3 (2-D) or 6x6 (3-D) elasticity matrix. 4. Hyperelastic Materials subject to large deformations, such as rubber. Input distortional and volumetric deformation or stress/strain data. Limited solver support - many solvers do not support this material type - please check your solver before using this material type. 5. General Solver specific types - LS-Dyna, MARC, Abaqus. Refer to solver documentation for uses and variables User defined types - Accessible only in the FEMAP Neutral file or through the API. Isotropic, orthotropic, and anisotropic materials can also have nonlinear material properties associated with them. You set the type of nonlinearity (Linear Elastic, Elastic/Plastic, or Plastic) and input material data such as yield stress and stress-strain curves. FEMAP also has a library of material types. Although by no means complete, the material library shipped with FEMAP does contain common materials with their respective properties derived from the U.S. Governments MIL-HDBK-5. This library is designed to demonstrate that a material library can be maintained. Many companies prefer to enter their own material properties and structural allowables than accept ones provided from any outside



The FEA Process

source. Any time you create a new material in FEMAP, and wish to save that material to the library, simply press the Save button in the Material creation dialog box.

Note:
Through the File Preferences Libraries command in FEMAP, you can load a different material library than the one that is shipped with FEMAP. This makes it possible for a company with multiple FEMAP users to post a material library on the network that all users can access to obtain the approved material properties and allowables. This is also true of all other libraries in FEMAP including the property library.

5.5.2 Properties
Properties are used to define additional analysis information for elements. Most property data is geometric (thickness, area, etc.) but some types will also include inertia, stiffness or mass, as well as other data depending on the type of element/property. There is a direct relationship between the element type and the property type. All elements, except for certain specialized elements like Plot Only or Rigid, must reference a property. Therefore, whenever you want to use a particular element type, you should first create the corresponding property. Similarly, most properties require a reference to a material, so you should create your materials first, and then create properties. Like materials, a property library exists. You can save any properties you create for future use. Check the FEMAP Reference Manual for complete information on the data for all property types. Always check the translation reference in this manual to be certain the property will translate correctly into your analysis program.

5.6 Loads and Constraints

It is very important to accurately simulate the real world loads and constraints that are applied to your model. FEMAP provides an extensive array of load types, constraints and methods that make this possible.

5.6.1 Loads
FEMAP provides a wide variety of load types and a wide variety of methods for placing these loads on your FEA model. Loads and Constraints are Set based, making it possible to categorize them into different cases for different analyses. FEMAP provides four main load categories, with several types of loads under each category, to choose from: 1. Body or Global Loads a) Acceleration - Translational (i.e. gravity) and Rotational b) Velocity - Rotational c) Thermal - Default Temperature. 2. Nodal Loads a) Force/Moment

Loads



b) Displacement c) Velocity d) Temperature e) Heat Generation (Heat Energy/Unit Volume) f) Heat Flux (Heat Energy/Unit Area) 3. Elemental Loads a) Distributed (Load/Length Across a Line Element) b) Pressure c) Temperature d) Heat Generation (Heat Energy/Unit Volume) e) Heat Flux (Heat Energy/Unit Area) f) Convection g) Radiation 4. Geometry Based Loads a) Points b) Lines c) Surfaces All four load categories can be used for static, nonlinear or dynamic analyses. Body loads are applied to the entire body, therefore only one block of body load information can be specified for each load set. The body loads are most often used to simulate gravity, or to define default temperatures for thermal analyses. Nodal loads can be applied by both the Model Load Nodal command, and the Model Load Nodal on Face. With Model Load Nodal, you directly select the Nodes for load application. With Model Load Nodal on Face, you select a particular face of Elements, and Nodes on that face will be automatically selected by FEMAP. The Model Load Nodal on Face command also enables you to select the Adjacent Faces method for load application. This method will be discussed further below. Elemental loads can be distributed, pressure, temperature, heat generation, heat flux, convection or radiation. The distributed loads allows you to define a load/length value for line elements, while pressure defines a load/area for faces of planar elements or volumetric elements. Heat flux, convection, and radiation loads are also applied directly to a face, while temperature and heat generation loads are applied just to the element itself. Geometry based loads can be either nodal or elemental. You apply the loads to geometry (points, curves, surfaces) and use the geometry to orient the loads. Any nodes or elements that are associated with the geometry will have the loads applied to them appropriately upon export for analysis. You may check how your geometry based loads actually apply to existing nodes and elements using the Model Load Expand command.

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The FEA Process

Nodal, elemental and geometry based loads can be time, temperature, or frequency dependent. You must first create the function with Model - Function, and choose the appropriate types (vs. Time, vs. Temperature, or vs. Frequency). You simply need to define the magnitude variation as a function of one of these types, and then reference this function when applying the loads. There will be more on functions, nonlinear and transient analyses later in this manual. When creating nodal loads on faces or elemental loads, you must supply the face of the element(s). There are four methods available to you in FEMAP: 1. Face ID 2. Near a Surface 3. Near a Plane 4. Adjacent Faces - the most powerful method for solid or planar elements. The Adjacent Faces method is the most often used method. Here you choose just one face, easily done graphically, and then specify a tolerance angle. FEMAP will search all the selected elements for faces that are connected to the face you chose and that are within the specified tolerance from being coplanar with an already selected face. This can be used to easily find all faces on an outer surface of a solid, regardless of the surface shape, or other similar operations. Geometry based loads can be oriented in a number of ways depending upon the load and geometry type. Some typical methods are normal to surface, components, along curve, etc. The different methods will be available in the Create Load dialog box depending on what is chosen. These methods are also available for orienting Nodal Loads. There are also other methods of load creation including Model Loads From Output. This is especially valuable when results such as forces and temperatures are returned to the model. You may convert them to the appropriate load type for further analysis. Nonlinear forces can also be defined which creates forces based upon results from values at other nodes. The other major command under Model Load are Heat Transfer Analysis, Dynamic Analysis, and Nonlinear Analysis. These commands control options for heat transfer (steady state and transient), dynamic (transient, frequency response, and random response) and nonlinear (static and transient) analysis types, respectively. When performing any of these analyses, you must first define the appropriate conditions for your load set with these commands. It is also important to note which options are supported by your solver, since FEMAP does not support all these options for the different analysis types. These load type are more fully explained in the Command Reference.

5.6.2 Constraints
Like loads, constraints must be created in sets. You can create nodal constraints, geometry based constraints or constraint equations. You can use either the Model Constraint Nodal command or the Model Constraint Nodal on Face command to apply constraints to prevent nodes from moving in any of six degrees of freedom (DOF), X, Y, & Z translation, and rotations about the X, Y, & Z axes. The only difference between the two commands is that for Model Constraint Nodal, you select the nodes directly, and for Model Constraint Nodal on

Functions



Face, you select the elements and their faces and FEMAP automatically determines the nodes. With either of the nodal constraint commands, you may also constrain the DOF in any coordinate system. This enables you to more easily simulate real world conditions, as well as take advantage of symmetry in your model. It would be an extremely difficult modeling task if you had to build all models such that they are constrained only in a global coordinate system. Geometry based constraints allow you to select points, curves or surfaces to constrain before or after nodes are on them. Geometry based constraints have three options, fixed, pinned or no rotations. This command does not allow you as much flexibility as the Nodal Constraint command but is more efficient for large or complex areas with simple boundary conditions. Constraint Equations, unlike constraints, do not fix the DOF to a zero value, but they relate the motion or displacement of different degrees of freedom. You can specify as few as 2 degrees of freedom or up to a total of 70. Both load sets and constraint sets may be duplicated (Model Load/Constraint Copy) or combined with other sets (Model Load/Constraint Combine).

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5.7 Functions
Functions allow you to create general X vs. Y tables of information. They are usually used for time or frequency dependent loads or to attach nonlinear information to material properties. Functions are very specialized in their application in FEMAP. If you are planning on doing any nonlinear or transient analyses, you should review this section. If instead you are planning to concentrate on static, modal, or buckling analyses, you may want to skip this section. There are thirteen types of functions available. They are listed below with the type of analysis or application for which they are most often used. 1. Dimensionless 2. vs. Time - time dependent loads for transient analysis 3. vs. Temperature - temperature dependent material properties 4. vs. Frequency - frequency dependent loads for frequency response analysis. 5. vs. Stress - stress dependent curves for nonlinear material properties 6. Function vs. Temperature - multiple stress/strain curves as a function of strain rate for nonlinear material properties 7. Viscous Damping vs. Frequency - damping for transient/frequency response analysis 8. Critical Damping vs. Frequency - damping for transient/frequency response analysis 9. Amplification vs. Frequency - damping for transient/frequency response analysis 10. vs. Strain Rate - yield stress as function of strain rate for nonlinear material properties 11. Function vs. Strain Rate - multiple stress/strain curves as a function of strain rate for nonlinear material properties



The FEA Process

12. vs. Curve Length - define load magnitude as a function of curve length. 13. vs. Parametric Length - define load magnitude as a function of parametric length. 14. Stress vs. Strain - stress/strain curve for nonlinear material properties 15. Stress vs. Plastic Strain - stress/strain curve for nonlinear material properties for export to those analysis codes that require input in plastic strain. 16. Function vs. Value - multiple curves associated with a given quantity 17. Function vs. Critical Damping - tables obtained for/from Response Spectrum analysis It is important to identify the proper type for the function you are defining, otherwise it will not be properly used when you attempt to analyze your model. There are three ways to create data for a function in FEMAP. You can choose single value to enter the X and Y values one at a time. You can use a linear ramp where you pick a starting X and Y value, an ending X and Y value and a delta X. The data points will then be interpreted linearly from the start to end for each delta X. The last is an equation. For an equation, you simply enter the starting and ending values of X and the delta X. Then enter Y as a function of X using the !x variable, e.g. sin(!x). These type of equations can be created easily with the Equation Editor. Press Control-E in a text box to activate the Equation Editor. Refer to the User Interface Chapter of this manual for more information on the Equation Editor. You can also use the Get and Put commands to transfer data from and to other Windows programs such as MS Excel. In addition to loading conditions, functions can also be used to define material properties. You must create the functions first. Then, in the material creation dialog box, press the Functions >> button and place the functions in the correct property. Again, Functions are highly specialized for properly pre-processing for nonlinear or transient analyses.

5.8 Groups, Layers and Viewing Your Model

In addition to the numerous Pre- and Post-Processing options provided by FEMAP to make the generation and interpretation of FEA easier, FEMAP also provides a wide array of viewing options that play a key role in increasing your FEA productivity. The options and methods for controlling how your model is displayed on screen can be divided into two broad categories:

View Select and View Options:

View Select controls the top level display options. With View - Select you can control whether your model is displayed in hidden line or plain wireframe mode, turn on and off stress contours, animations and deformed plots, etc. View - Options provides the detailed control over how entities are displayed, i.e. what color elements are drawn with, whether or not labels for nodes are displayed, whether or not perspective is turned on, etc. View Options also provides extensive control over the display of post-processing options that is more fully described later in this chapter.

Working with View Select and View Options



Groups and Layers:

By using groups and layers, you can segment your model into smaller, more manageable, discrete pieces. These pieces can then be used to minimize the amount of information presented in the graphics windows or in printed reports by specifying which group will be seen or which group will be used to create a report. Groups and layers also make it easier to manipulate, update, and apply loads to your model.

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5.8.1 Working with View Select and View Options

5.8.1.1 View Select
View Select provides top level control of how your model is displayed.

We will concentrate on the Model Style and Model Data options in this section. The XY Style, Deformed Style, and Contour Style options will be discussed in the next section on Post-Processing.



The FEA Process

FEMAP provides numerous styles in which you can display your model. Each style provides certain benefits. Choice of the best style depends upon what you need to accomplish. The following table describes all of the styles, their advantages and disadvantages: Style Draw Model Description Simply displays all entities. Advantages Fast. Everything visible. Usually best working mode. Good for screen selection. Disadvantages

Complex 3D models can be hard to visualize. Entities drawn on top of each other may make it difficult to locate a particular detail. Not usually appropriate for Fast. Results in a plot FeaDraws all entities. screen selection. Resulting which only shows color tures Lines of the same display depends on your color, which overlap, boundaries. With proper alternately draw and color assignments can show color choices. property or material bounderase themselves. aries. Good for final display and Not usually best for picking Quick Sorts all elements, - many entities are not visiHidden then displays from the visualization of complex 3D models. Can be helpful ble. Does not properly Line back of view. Only shows entities which for screen selection in com- remove hidden lines for some elements (see Full plicated models. are visible - hidden Hidden Line). lines are removed. Same as Quick Hidden Full Same as Quick Hid- Same as Quick Hidden Line. Line. Slower than Quick Hidden den Line, but does hidden line due to the addiadditional checking to Line tional checking required. properly remove all hidden lines. Free Finds and displays all Can quickly point out holes Not appropriate as a working mode. Really just Edge element edges which or disconnections in your intended for checking your do not join to another model. model. element. Free Finds and displays all Can quickly point out dis- Usually not used for a Face element faces which connections between solid working mode. Intended for checking model. do not join to another elements. Reduces complexity of solid model element. plots. Can help to find duplicate plate elements. Some limitations in plots Render High speed graphics Increased drawing speed for all plots. Dynamic rotaMode mode utilizing the OpenGL graphics lan- tions of solid shaded models and elements. guage

View Select



The pictures below show examples of the various model styles.

Draw Model Hidden Line

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Free Edge

Free Face

Although the hidden line removal options do require substantial calculations, and are therefore somewhat slower, they can often be the best approach to understanding a complex model. This is especially true for 3D models. After you make the first hidden line display, FEMAP retains a display list of the sorted information. This dramatically speeds up redrawing hidden line views. Refer to the View Redraw and View Regenerate commands in the Command Reference Manual for more information. For Solid Element Models, you can also use the Free Face option to simulate a hidden line view. In fact, you can even use this mode to show hidden lines in a different line style (like dashed), instead of removing them. To remove backfaces, use the Fill, Backfaces and Hidden Option, in the View Options command, and chose one of the Skip methods. Choose the Show All Faces method to show hidden lines as a different color/style, then go to the Free Edge and Face option and set the Free Edge Color to Use View Color. Finally, choose the color and linestyle that you want to use.

Render Mode
Render Mode is generally the same as in the regular view mode with the following additions and exceptions



The FEA Process

Additions
1 Can take advantage of OpenGL hardware acceleration 2 Dynamic pan, zoom and rotate will work with curves, surfaces, nodes and elements, in hidden line, shaded, and contoured view styles. 3 Solids and surfaces can be drawn transparent so curves may be seen behind them.

Exceptions
1 Free Face plots are not drawn 2 Labels are not drawn for entities 3 Perspective and Stereo plots are not supported 4 Boundaries are drawn as curves only 5 Deformed Vector and Trace Plots are not available

Selecting Data for a Model Style

You can control what portions of your model are displayed by any of the model styles by pressing the Model Data command button in the View Select Dialog Box. The Select Model Data for View dialog box will then be displayed. Here you can choose the Load Set, Constraint Set and Group which will be displayed in the view. By default, whatever load and constraint set you activate will be displayed. You can however eliminate loads and/or constraints by choosing the None options, or you can Select a particular set for display whether or not it is active. If you choose the Select option, you must specify an existing set in the appropriate drop-down list. By default, your entire model will always be displayed. Since the Group option is set to None, activating a Group will not change the display. This enables you to activate a Group and then graphically select entities from your entire model into the Group. If you want to display only a portion of your model, switch this option to either Active or Select. Then only the entities which are in the appropriate Group will be displayed. The final section of this dialog box, Function, is used to select the function that will be displayed when you choose the XY of Function display style. Even though this is obviously an XY style of plot, you must choose the function to be displayed from this dialog because it is a display of model information, not postprocessing information like all other XY plotting styles.

View Options



5.8.1.2 View Options

The View Options command in FEMAP provides detailed control of the display of all entities in the FEMAP graphics window(s). Each view in FEMAP is independent, and the View Select and View Options changes will affect only that view, unless you select the All Views option. The quickest method to assess how View Options can help you tailor the display of a finite element model is to experiment with the various settings. As you can see from the View - Options Dialog Box there is an enormous amount of control over how your model is displayed. Describing how each option affects the display of your model is beyond the scope of this manual. Detailed descriptions of each option can be found in the FEMAP Command Reference, and in the on-line help.

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5.8.2 Groups and Layers Overview

Some main points about groups and layers that will help you understand them better: m Each entity in FEMAP can have only one layer reference. m An entity can be in more than one group. m Only one group can be displayed, by itself at one time. m Any combination of layers from none to all can be displayed at any time. m A model can have only one active group at a time. m FEMAP graphics windows can use the entities in a group to display one of the following: - Entities from the active group. - Entities from a specified group. - All Entities, i.e. no group. Groups are designed to mimic how FEA models were numbered and arranged when there were built by hand. For example, in the aircraft industry, a model of a complete aircraft would be very carefully numbered. All the nodes and elements at a frame at a particular location along the fuselage would be numbered in such a way to clearly identify them as belonging to that frame. FEMAP grouping makes it very easy to isolate portions of a finite element model that are numbered in such a manner. Layers are designed similar to layering in most CAD systems. The name layer comes from the clear sheet of paper analogy for CAD layering, where all the entities associated with a given layer would be drawn on a clear sheet of paper, and only the active clear sheets would be overlaid to produce a visual image.

Automatic Generation of Groups

Once you become proficient in FEMAP, you will probably find yourself creating groups as you build a finite element model to keep important areas of the model together for use down-



The FEA Process

stream. If you do not do this, or if you import an existing model, FEMAP has several tools for automatically grouping together portions of your model based on changes in material properties, element properties or even geometric regions.

Combining Grouping, Layers and View Options

Between Grouping, Layers, and the wide array of View Options, there is a tremendous amount of control over how your model will be displayed on screen. However, with all these different methods of control you can have problems. These three methods of view controls are not exclusive. They each affect one another. For example, say you create a new group, add all elements of property 1, and all the nodes associated with these elements, and then use View Select Model Data command to display just that group. You would expect to see the exact entities that you just put in the group. The problem arises out of the fact the layering and the options picked in View Options also come into play. If all the nodes that were added into this group were on a layer that is not currently being displayed, they will still not be displayed. Similarly, if the nodes have been turned off in View Options, they will not be displayed. If you ever get into the situation where you think something should be visible on the display and it is not, first check View Options and verify that it is on. Next, check View Layer and verify that the layer associated with the missing entities is being displayed. Finally, make certain that if a group is being used for the view, that the missing entities are actually in the group. Once you become more familiar with FEMAP and the various options which control the model display, the benefits of the multiple view options methods will become apparent.

5.8.3 Printing
As a Windows application, FEMAP provides What You See is What You Get printing. By default, graphics sent to any printer are vector images, the actual lines, curves and polygons that comprise the graphical representation of your model on screen. As a vector image, the printer driver will break the components down into the colored (or gray scale) dots that form that actual print out. In this manner, FEMAP takes full advantage of the resolution of the output device. Traditional DOS-based FEA (and some Windows ones too), simply dump the bitmap of the screen to the printer. By doing so you are limited to the resolution of the screen, and not that of the printer. To print any graphics window, select FILE - PRINT from the FEMAP menu. If you have more than one graphics windows displayed, you will need to make the window that you want to print from the active graphics window. To do so, simply click the mouse in the window.

Printing



File Print will display the PRINT dialog box that provides control over how your FEMAP graphics will be printed. You can quickly add a Header and Footer to describe the plot being made in more detail and adjust several aspects of the print including the Page Setup and Printer Setup. Printer Setup is most useful for changing the orientation of the plot between landscape and portrait and for controlling aspects particular to your printer. Page setup makes it possible to control aspects more closely related to FEA. The most important being in the Plot and Metafile Style. Here, you find the Swap Black and White very useful if you work in the FEMAP default black background with white elements. Without Swap Black and White any prints made would be What You See Is What You Get including the black background. With Swap Black and White, all black entities are switched to white and vice-versa, saving you both toner and making the plot easier to see.

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The FEA Process

5.9 Postprocessing
The first step in postprocessing is to obtain the results. If your analysis program does not launch from FEMAP and automatically return the results, you must import them. Use File Import Analysis Results and select the proper format. Select the results file for your model from the standard file selection box using the default file extension for your analysis program. Similar to Loads and Constraints, output data is also stored in sets. If you run your model with several different loading conditions or through several different analysis types, FEMAP will keep the output data from each analysis, each mode shape, or each time step in a different output set. Postprocessing can be divided into two main categories, graphical and report. Graphical postprocessing can be further divided into: 1. Deformation Plots 2. Contour/Criteria Plots 3. Free Body Plots 4. XY Plots Deformation and Contour/Criteria plots can be combined in the same view. All model style options (such as Hidden Line) are available for deformed and contour styles. Free Body Plots can be shown in any view with either a Deformed and/or Contour Plot on or off. Report based post-processing is fairly straight forward, providing text output of results data in a variety of formats, printing options, and sorting options.

5.9.1 Deformed and Contour Plots

The first step in postprocessing is to define the type of plot desired, and the data to be used in the display. The main control for how your model is displayed including what postprocessing options are being used is the View Select menu option. From View Select you can invoke five different types of deformed style plots: 1. Deformed - Show a plot of the deformed shape. 2. Animate - Animate the deformed shape. 3. Animate Multi-Set - Perform animation across several sets. Good for transient, nonlinear

Deformed and Contour Plots



and frequency response analyses. 4. Vector - Show vectors representing direction and magnitude of output. 5. Trace - Similar to Multi-Set Animation except displays trace lines connecting historical positions of nodes. For Multi-Set Animation and Trace plots, you may also decide to only animate the contours by selecting the Skip Deformations plot. This can be extremely useful for heat transfer and similar types of analyses. From View Select you can invoke six general contour style options: 1. Contour - Provides smooth representation of data. 2. Criteria - Elemental values displayed at centroid of element. 3. Beam Diagram - Similar to 3-D shear and bending moment diagrams. Display results along the length of Line Elements. 4. IsoSurface - Provides interior surfaces of constant values in solid models. 5. Section Cut - Shows contours through any planar cut of a solid model. 6. Vector - Vectors at centroids of elements.

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Post-Processing in Render Mode

Postprocessing in Render Mode is generally the same as in the regular view mode with the following additions and exceptions

Additions.
1 View - Advanced Post - Works in undeformed or deformed contour plot mode only, Dynamic Cutting Plane and only with solid elements. Allows you to choose an arbitrary cutting plane and dynamically pass it through a solid model. The value associated with the plane is the distance from the global origin to the plane along the normal vector of the plane. Colors indicate the value associated with the corresponding color on the contour legend. 2 View - Advanced Post - Works in undeformed or deformed contour plot mode only, Dynamic IsoSurface and only with solid elements. Allows you to dynamically change the value of the isosurface being shown. The value is from the current output set and vector chosen as the contour vector. The color of the IsoSurface is controlled in the view options postprocessing category. If Contour Deformed is chosen, the vector for the deformed data is contoured across the isosurface. Otherwise it is a single color chosen from the palette.



The FEA Process

3 Dynamic Rotation of Deformed/Contour Plots 4 Dynamic Rotation of Animations

Render mode allows dynamic rotation of deformed and/or contour plots. Normal mode must switch to a wireframe with no contours and no deformation to dynamically rotate If the Rotate Animation option under File Preferences, Views is on, Render mode can dynamically rotate an animation, although a Contour Legend will not be visible.

Exceptions
1 Quick Hidden Line or Full Hidden Line must be used as the view mode 2 Vector plots are not drawn 3 Trace plots are not drawn 4 Criteria plots are drawn in the no limits mode only 5 The user defined contour palette is not used. Contour/Criteria colors ranges may be changed by changing the standard palettes six defining colors.

Selecting the Data to use for Post-Processing

Control over what data is used in deformed or contour plots is provided by the Select PostProcessing Data dialog box. This dialog box is accessed through the View Select command or the Quick Access Menu (right mouse) menu as Post Data. It allows you to control the output set and output vectors shown with the deformed and contour plots. To choose what data is used in the display, simply choose A.) the output set, B.) the data vector to use for deformation, and C.) the data vector to use for contourA ing. You can limit the category and type of output you B see in the drop down lists with the C data selection area. If you are animating a multi-set you can choose the final output set and the output set increment to animate as well. Section cuts are defined with the standard plane definition dialog box and are accessed here by pressing the Define Section button.

Deformed and Contour Plots



Contour Options
The contour options dialog box allows access to the type of contour and data conversion to perform. When you select this option, The Select Contour Options dialog box appears. These options are very important to understand since they control the type of contour and how the data is converted from pure discrete numbers to a visual representation. Improper selection of Contour Type or Data Conversion can lead to erroneous interpretation of the results. This dialog box is separated into five major sections: (1) Contour Type, (2) Data Conversion, (3) Rendered Contours, (4) Element Contour Discontinuities, and (5) Other Options. Each of these areas are discussed more fully below. All of these options can also be accessed through the View Options command (Category - Postprocessing, Option - Contour Type).

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Contour Type
This section allows you to pick from either Nodal or Elemental contouring. Nodal contouring simply averages all values at the nodes and cannot account for any discontinuities in material or geometry. When Nodal is selected, a relatively smooth contour will appear, although the results will not be accurate at material boundaries or property breaks. In addition, the Other Options section will not be available. Nodal contouring should not be used across material boundaries or changes in properties such as plate thickness since averaging stresses across these areas results in inaccurate results at the interface. If Elemental contouring is chosen, the user can specify which discontinuities in the model to use in the contouring to obtain an accurate representation of the results. This type of contouring is very useful for multiple material models as well as models with plates with that intersect at large angles or have varying thickness. Stresses will not be averaged across these values. The resulting graphics may not be as smooth as nodal contouring, especially at material breaks, but it provides a more accurate representation of the results when discontinuities exist in the model. In addition, element contouring allows you to view both top and bottom stresses of plates on one plot, as well as an additional output vector (see Other Options below).

Note:
Element contouring has the additional feature that if you select No Averaging under Element Contour Discontinuities (discussed more fully below), the pure data at the element centroid and corners is plotted without any manipulation. This provides a graphical representation of the pure data.



The FEA Process

Data Conversion
This section controls how FEMAP converts the results from pure data at element centroids, corners, and nodes to the actual continuous graphical representation. There are three options to convert the data: (1) Average, (2) Max Value, and (3) Min Value. If Average is on, FEMAP will take an average of the surrounding values to obtain a result, whereas Max or Min Value will just use the max or min value, respectively, of the pertinent surrounding locations. The Min Value option should only be used when performing contours for vectors where the minimum values are actually the worst case, such as Safety Factor or large compressive stresses. The user can also choose to use any elemental corner data (if it has been recovered from the analysis program) or to skip it for any of these methods. The easiest way to understand the data conversion process is through an example. If an interior node of a continuous mesh (no geometric or material breaks and averaging is on) is attached to four elements, there will be four values associated with it for a given stress vector (either corner data or if Use Corner Data is off elemental centroidal data). If these values are 100, 200, 300 and 400, an Average conversion would result in 250 at that node, a Max conversion with 400, and a Min conversion of 100. This procedure would be used at all nodal locations to get the basis of the plot, and then FEMAP would produce the corresponding colors between locations. Thus, the data conversion can significantly affect the results if there is a large gradient across adjacent elements.

Hint:
You can use the difference in Max, Min and Average results to make a quick estimate of the fidelity of the model. If there is a large difference between these two contours, especially at locations that do not have sharp corners or breaks in the model, your FEA model may require a finer mesh.

Rendered Contours
This section allows you to choose between Continuous Colors and Color Levels for Render Mode. Versions prior to v6.0 required continuous colors due to limitations in render mode. FEMAP v6.0 and beyond now provide support for Color Levels by producing a texture map, but this can be significantly slower than the Continuous Colors depending upon your graphics card. The speed of the Color Levels option depends upon the ability of the graphics board to produce texture maps. If your graphics board supports acceleration of texture maps, this option will not be much slower than the Continuous Colors option. If the graphics board does not accelerate texture maps, this option could be significantly slower.

Deformed and Contour Plots



Elemental Contour Discontinuities

This section controls averaging for elemental contouring. It is only available when Contour Type is Elemental. If No Average is selected, contours for each element will be created without consideration to any connected elements. This can lead to a very discontinuous plot but is useful for certain models such as variable thickness plate models to speed the data conversion process. It is also useful to obtain a graphical representation of the pure data, both centroidal and corner data, since only pure data is plotted. If this option is not checked, the user can create averaged elemental contours, and must therefore choose the type of discontinuities across which they do not want to average. Valid discontinuities include Property, Material, Layer, Color, or Angle. If Angle is selected, the user must input a tolerance. This can be very important with plate models that have intersecting edges. For example, you do not want to average stresses of plates that intersect at right angles. If Property is selected, the material option will be grayed since Property is a more discrete choice than Material (a Material can be on Multiple Properties but typically a Property can only reference 1 Material). Again, you do not typically want to average across material or property boundaries. If Property is off, the user can select to use Materials as the break. In addition, Layers and Colors are also available since many users separate their model into specific key areas based upon layer or color, even if they contain the same property.

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Other Options
This section is also only available for Elemental Contours. If you select a standard Top or Bottom Plate Vector for contouring, such as Plate Top Von Mises Stress, FEMAP can automatically contour both Top and Bottom Stresses on the same plot. Simply select the DoubleSide Planar Contours option. When you rotate the model from top to bottom, you will see the stresses change from Top to Bottom stresses. These are only available for the standard plate output vectors. You may also select an Additional Output Vector to contour. This is very useful if you have a combined Plate and Solid Model. You could select Plate Top Von Mises Stress for the original Contour Vector, select Double-Sided to also view the Bottom Von Mises Stress, and then select Solid Von Mises Stress for the Additional Output Vector to see these values contoured on the solids.



The FEA Process

Specifying Detailed Post-Processing Display Options

Options for controlling the detailed aspects of post-processing can be found in the FEMAP View Options command. Each graphics window can have its view options modified independent of other views. The number and depth of the various view options is such that a full discussion of each is not possible in this manual. Please refer to the FEMAP Command Reference Manual (Postprocessing Chapter) for a detailed description of what each option does, and how to use it.

Post Titles
Controls whether an additional legend is displayed for deformed or contour views. This legend contains information about the output set and output vectors which are displayed. You can position the legend in any of the eight locations. Make certain it does not overlap the View Legend or the Contour/Criteria Legend.
6028. -7662. 5173. 4317. 3461. 2606. 1750. 894.5 38.85 -816.8 6028. -1672. -2528. -3384.

Post Titles
Output Set: NASTRAN Case 1 Deformed(4.251E-3): Total Translation Contour: Plate Top Mean Stress

-4239. -5095. -5951. -6806. -7662.

Deformed Style View Options

The following options control the Deformed Plot. m Deformed Style - determines on-screen scale of deformations. m Vector Style - controls % of vectors displayed and arrowheads for Deformed Vector Plots as well as color for both Deformed Vectors and FreeBody displays. m Animate Style - number of frames, delay, and shape of the animation (Sine, Linear, etc.) m Deformed Model - controls colors for Deformed Style display. m Undeformed Model - can display or remove Undeformed Model, as well as set its color. m Trace Style - controls labeling and display of Trace Plots.

FreeBody Plots



Contour Style View Options

m Contour Options - controls type of contour and render mode levels option (see Contour Options section above for more details). m Contour/Criteria Style - allows choice of solid/filled or line contours, controls data conversion between Nodal and Elemental Data, and controls labeling options. m Contour/Criteria Levels - controls number and spacing of levels for a Contour or Criteria Plot. User may define own levels (and colors), or have FEMAP automatically scale the plot. m Contour/Criteria Legend - controls style, color, and visibility of the contour legend. m Criteria Limits/Beam Diagrams - selects criteria for Criteria Plots and controls direction of Beam Diagram plots. m Criteria-Elements that Pass - controls display of elements and their values that pass Criteria. m Criteria-Elements that Fail - controls display of elements that fail Criteria. m IsoSurface - controls color and mode for Isosurface plots. m Contour Vector Style - allows you to choose where vectors are located, whether their lengths are adjusted, and the color of the vectors for the Contour Vector

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5.9.2 FreeBody Plots

FreeBody information for an entire body or a specific group of elements can be displayed in FEMAP. The Freebody display can be performed at any time, whether you are showing a Deformed and Contour plot, or a simple undeformed plot. The one exception to this is that you must be in a hidden line mode when in Render to view these vectors. You can access FreeBody Display either through the Post Options button on the Postprocessing Command toolbar, or through View Select, Deformed and Contour Data, Freebody Display.

Note:
The External and Internal Element Loads will only be available if you have recovered Grid Point Force Balance from NASTRAN. If you are not using NASTRAN, or have not recovered the Grid Point Force Balance, you will only have access to the Applied and Reaction Loads (including MultiPoint), thereby limiting the overall usefulness of FreeBody displays.



The FEA Process

The View FreeBody Options dialog box is shown here. Specific details of this dialog box are contained in the Postprocessing section of the FEMAP Commands Guide and will not be reiterated here, however, we will provide a general overview of using this command. The most typical use of this command is to examine the forces across a specific interface in your model to check the load transfer path, examine the results and their validity, and possibly even create loads to drive another analysis. To do this, simply create a group of the elements on one side of the interface. After this group is created, access the above dialog box through the Freebody Display button, set the Show Freebody Display On, and change the Freebody Group to either Select the group or to the Active group (if the desired group is currently active). The picture shown here is a simple example of a Free Body diagram. The eight elements in the two columns on the right of the diagram were grouped, and the Freebody displayed. The result was a diagram containing the external plate forces at the interface, and the original applied loads on the ends (there were no constraints on this section of the model). By using some of the other viewing options for the FreeBody, you could check that the total loads summed to zero (Total Summed Loads option) to verify that equilibrium conditions were met and leaking of loads did not occur. You could also examine results as components in any desired coordinate system. You could even specify a location to calculate the Total Force and Moment of the Force Balance to a particular location in space. If you wanted to create loads at particular locations to replace portions of your model, you could employ the Model Load From Freebody command to automatically create these loads.

XY Style



5.9.3 XY Style
FEMAP can also provide XY plots of results. Just like the Deformed and Contour options discussed above, View - Select controls whether an XY Plot is displayed, and what type of XY Plot to display. The available types are: m XY vs. ID - Plots XY Data as a function of ID number for an Output Vector in one Output Set. m XY vs. Set - Plots XY data versus the output set number for an Output Vector across several Output Sets. m XY vs. Set Value - Similar to XY vs. Set except uses Output Set value for X. m XY vs. Position - Plots XY data versus the position of nodes or elements in an axis direction for an Output Vector in one Output Set. m XY as a Function - Plots XY data for functions. Not a Post-Processing option.

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Controlling an XY Plot
Control over the contents of an XY plot is provided by the Select XY Curve Data Dialog Box, accessed by pressing the XY Data button in View Select, or from the right mouse button shortcut menu as XY data. It allows you to control the output set and output vectors shown on the XY data plots. Simply choose the output set and the output vector from the appropriate drop down boxes. You can limit the category and type of output you see in the drop down lists with the data selection area. If you are plotting by position you can choose which direction. If you are plotting multiple sets you can choose a starting and ending set and a node or element to plot. You can also choose a group to limit the data viewed. If you are plotting by Position or limiting the plot to a Group, you must pick the same Position and/or Group for all curves. You can plot up to nine curves on the same plot.



The FEA Process

View Options Post-Processing

View - Options (F6) Post-Processing is where you control the appearance of the XY plots. Each of the options are briefly described below. For more detail on these options, please see the FEMAP Command Reference Manual, Postprocessing Chapter. m XY Titles - specify/locate Title and Subtitle. m XY Legend - controls location and format of XY Legend. m XY Axes Style - defines colors of the X and Y axes, number of axis divisions (tics), and type of plot (Rectilinear, SemiLog Y-Axis, Log-Log, and SemiLog X-Axis). m XY X Range/Grid - controls the minimum and maximum X axis values, and display of vertical grid lines. m XY Y Range/Grid - controls the Y axis and the horizontal grid lines. m XY Curve 1 through XY Curve 9 - controls the visibility, style, color, and labeling of the data curves for an XY-plot. You may also use this option to scale individual curves.

5.9.4 Reporting Results

In addition to the graphical post-processing capabilities of FEMAP, there is also a powerful set of report based tools for examination of FEA results.

Directing Output
Reports are created using the command in the List Output SubMenu By default, all listings go to the Messages and Lists Window. You can also direct listings to a printer and/or a file. To control where listings appear, choose List Destination from the FEMAP menu and select the desired options.

Note:
Make certain to toggle off listings to printer or file when you finish listing the desired information. FEMAP will continue to send all listings to whatever destinations have been chosen until they are turned off.

Listing Formatted Output

The most powerful commands associated with listing output are List Output Standard and List Output Use Format. Both are used to process the nodal and elemental data recovered from a finite element analysis and repackage that data into standard formats or ones you define, and then list that data in printed format.

Reporting Results



Describing how to create your own report formats is beyond the scope of this manual. Details are provided in the FEMAP Command Reference and in the on-line help. One of the easiest methods of creating your own format is to load a standard format and then edit it.

Querying Your Model

There are two methods to quickly query your model for postprocessing information, List Output Query command, and Dynamic Query. If you would like to examine large amounts of data for a single entity, simply use the List Output Query command. This command provides a quick method for retrieving the output results for a particular node or element, or group of nodes or elements in your model. The results, as always, will be written to the List File Destination area(s).

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Dynamic Query
The Dynamic Query capability in FEMAP can be accessed by clicking the right most tray on the Status Bar. By selecting any of the items on the menu, you activate Dynamic Query for that entity type. If you are graphically post-processing during Dynamic Query, the exact information that is being used to create the graphic is also displayed in the pop-up windows. While a pop-up window is displaying Dynamic Query information, if you click the left mouse button, the information will be echoed to the List Destination, typically the Messages and Lists window. Using this capability, you can quickly walk around the model, recover important information at specific nodes and elements, and by transferring the information to List Destination, you can easily create a report of that critical information.

Hint:
You can also use the Dynamic Query option to annotate your model with the information it contains. Simply hit the right mouse button inside the Dynamic Query box when it is visible, and FEMAP will create a Text entity identical to the Dynamic Query box at that location. Be careful when using this capability, however, because the Text is not drawn until you redraw the Graphics Window.



The FEA Process

Element Reference

This chapter describes the FEMAP element library, the geometry used to create the elements and apply loads, and the properties which can be specified. The descriptions given for the various element types define typical characteristics of the elements as they are translated to various analysis programs. Check your analysis program documentation for additional capabilities or limitations of each element type in that program.

6.1 Line Elements

All of the elements in this section structurally connect two nodes. The different types represent different structural conditions.

6.1.1 Rod Element

Description Uniaxial element with tension, compression and torsional stiffness. It does not have any bending or shear capability. Application Typically used to model truss, or other pin-ended members. Shape Line, connecting two Nodes. Element Coordinate System The element X axis goes from the first node to the second.
1

Properties Area (of cross-section), Torsional Constant, Coefficient for Torsional Stress, Nonstructural Mass/Length. Formulation None or Hybrid. Hybrid formulation only affects ABAQUS export (hybrid TRUSS).



Element Reference

6.1.2 Tube Element

Description
2

Variation of the Rod element with a tubular cross section. It is also a uniaxial element with tension, compression, and torsional stiffness. Some analysis programs also include bending and shear stiffness when they use this type to represent a pipe.

Application Often used to model pipes. Also used as a more convenient way to specify properties for a Rod element if the cross section is tubular.
1

Shape Line, connecting two Nodes.

Element Coordinate System The element X axis goes from the first node to the second. Properties Inner Diameter, Outer Diameter, Nonstructural Mass/Length. Formulation None or Hybrid. Hybrid formulation affects ABAQUS export (hybrid PIPE) and MARC export (element 14 for hybrid, otherwise 31).

6.1.3 Curved Tube Element

Description Another Tube type element. This element is curved. The neutral axis is an arc, not a line, which goes between the nodes. You can often use multiple tube elements, arranged in an arc, instead of this element. Application Modeling of bends and elbows in piping systems, or other curved members. Shape Arc, connecting two nodes. Element Coordinate System Same as Beam/Curved Beam element. The element is curved in the elemental XY plane, with the outward radius pointing toward the third node (or in the direction of the orientation vector). Refer to the Curved Beam Element, for a picture of the element definition. Properties Inner Diameter, Outer Diameter, Nonstructural Mass/Length. Formulation None.

Bar Element



Additional Notes Unlike the Beam Element, Offsets, Stress Recovery Locations and releases are not supported for this element type.

6.1.4 Bar Element

Description Uniaxial element with tension, compression, torsion, and bending capabilities. The more general Beam element is often used instead of this element. The figure, at the end of this section, defines both element types. For some analysis programs, FEMAP translates both types to the same element type. Application Used to model general beam/frame structures. Shape Line, connecting two nodes. A third node can be specified to orient the element Y axis. Element Coordinate System The element X axis goes from the first node to the second. The element Y axis is perpendicular to the element X axis. It points from the first node toward the orientation (or third) node. If you use an orientation vector, the Y axis points from the first node in the direction of the orientation vector. The element Z axis is determined from the cross product of the element X and Y axes. Properties Area, Moments of Inertia (I1, I2, I12), Torsional Constant, Shear Areas (Y, Z), Nonstructural Mass/Length, Stress Recovery Locations. All required input properties for this element can be automatically calculated for standard or arbitrary shapes by using the FEMAP Beam Property Section Generator (accessed under Model Property Shape). The Shear Areas calculated by the Beam Property Section Generator and the input to FEMAP are the effective areas for shearing, not a shear factor. If you are inputting values directly and have a shear factor, simply multiple it by the actual area to obtain the shear area. Formulation Nine available formulations for DYNA defining value for ELFORM on *SECTION_BEAM card. Standard (MARC - 98, ABAQUS - B21, B31) or Euler-Bernoulli (MARC - 52, ABAQUS B23, B33) options. The Hybrid formulation option only affects ABAQUS export by adding an H to the element name, thereby calling the ABAQUS hyrbrid form of the element. Additional Notes Refer to the Beam element for further descriptions regarding Releases, Offsets and Stress Recovery Locations.

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Element Reference

Xe

Ze
Plane 2 (XZ)

B
Nby

Nbz

Sh

Offset B

ea r

Ce nt

Ne ut ra l
er

Ax is

Cz A
Naz Nay

Ye
Plane 1 (XY)

Third Node, or Orientation Vector

Cy Offset A 1 Bar / Beam Elements

6.1.5 Beam Element

Description Uniaxial element with tension, compression, torsion, and bending capabilities. This element can be tapered. You can specify different properties at each end of the beam. Application Used to model beam/frame structures. Shape Line, connecting two nodes. A third node can be specified to orient the element Y axis. Element Coordinate System The element X axis goes from the first node to the second. The element Y axis is perpendicular to the element X axis. It points from the first node toward the orientation (or third) node. If you use an orientation vector, the Y axis points from the first node in the direction of the orientation vector. The element Z axis is determined from the cross product of the element X and Y axes. Properties Area, Moments of Inertia (I1, I2, I12), Torsional Constant, Shear Areas (Y, Z), Nonstructural Mass/Length, Warping Constant, Stress Recovery Locations, Neutral Axis Offsets (Nay, Naz, Nby and Nbz). All required input properties for this element can be automatically calculated for standard or arbitrary shapes by using the FEMAP Beam Cross Section Generator (accessed under Model Property Shape).The Shear Areas calculated by the Beam Property Section Generator and the input to FEMAP are the effective areas for shearing, not a shear factor. If you are inputting values directly, and have a shear factor, simply multiple it by the

Link Element



actual area to obtain the shear area. If the beam is tapered, you can specify different properties at each end of the element.

Formulation Nine available formulations for DYNA defining value for ELFORM on *SECTION_BEAM card. Standard (MARC - 98, ABAQUS - B21, B31) or Euler-Bernoulli (MARC - 52, ABAQUS B23, B33) options. The Hybrid formulation option only affects ABAQUS export by adding an H to the element name, thereby calling the ABAQUS hybrid form of the element. Additional Notes You can specify Releases which remove the connection between selected element degrees of freedom and the nodes.
Offset vectors defined on the Element move the neutral axis and shear center from the nodes. Neutral Axis Offsets (Y,Z) defined on the Property card move the neutral axis away from the shear center. If there are no Neutral Axis Offsets, the neutral axis and shear center are coincident. If there are no offsets, both the neutral axis and shear center lie directly between the nodes. Stress Recovery Locations define positions in the elemental YZ plane (element cross-section) where you want the analysis program to calculate stresses. Specifying moments of inertia for Beam (and Bar) elements can sometimes be confusing. In FEMAP, I1 is the moment of inertia about the elemental Z axis. It resists bending in the outer Y fibers of the beam. It is the moment of inertia in plane 1. Similarly, I2 is the moment of inertia about the elemental Y axis. If you are familiar with one of the analysis program conventions, the following table may help you convert to FEMAP's convention. FEMAP MSC/pal & CDA/Sprint NASTRAN ANSYS STARDYNE ALGOR, mTAB & SAP ABAQUS MARC LS-DYNA3D WECAN COSMOS STAAD Iww Izz IZ1 I3 I3 I22 Iyy Itt Izz Izz IZ I1 Ivv Iyy IY1 I2 I2 I11 Ixx Iss Iyy Iyy IY I2

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6.1.6 Link Element

Description This element is a rigid link with six spring (bushing) stiffnesses at each end. Link elements are only supported by MSC/pal and CDA/Sprint I.



Element Reference

Application Can be used to represent members that are very stiff compared to the stiffness of their connections. Can also simulate a rigid connection if you specify large spring stiffnesses. Shape Line, connecting two nodes. Element Coordinate System The elemental X axis goes from the first node to the second. Properties Six stiffnesses at each node. Formulation None.

6.1.7 Curved Beam Element

Description Another Beam type element. This element is curved. The neutral axis is an arc, not a line, which goes between the nodes. You can often use multiple beam elements, arranged in an arc, instead of this element. Application
Third Node or Orientation Vector 2

Modeling of bends and elbows in piping systems, or other curved members.

Shape Arc, connecting two nodes. Element Coordinate System Same as Beam element. The element is curved in the elemental XY plane, with the outward radius pointing toward the third node (or in the direction of the orientation vector).

Rc

1 Center of Curvature

Properties Bend Radius, Area, Moments of Inertia (I1, I2, I12), Torsional Constant, Shear Areas (Y, Z), Nonstructural Mass/Length, Stress Recovery Locations.All required input properties for this element can be automatically calculated for standard or arbitrary shapes by using the FEMAP Beam Cross Section Generator (accessed under Model Property Shape). The Shear Areas calculated by the Beam Property Section Generator and the input to FEMAP are the effective areas for shearing, not a shear factor. If you are inputting values directly and have a shear factor, simply multiple it by the actual area to obtain the shear area.

Spring Element



Additional Notes Refer to the Beam element for further descriptions regarding Offsets and Stress Recovery Locations. Note that releases are not supported for this element type. Formulation None.

6.1.8 Spring Element

Description A combined stiffness (spring) and damper element. It can be either axial or torsional. The DOF spring is an alternative formulation. Application Used to represent any purely axial, or purely torsional, structural member. Shape Line, connecting two nodes. Element Coordinate System The element X axis goes from the first node toward the second. Properties Stiffness, Damping Formulation None.

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6.1.9 DOF Spring Element

Description A combined stiffness (spring) and damper element. This element connects any (of six) nodal degree of freedom at the first node, to any nodal degree of freedom at the second node. The spring element is an alternative formulation for axial members. Application Used to connect two degrees of freedom with a specified stiffness. Depending on the degrees of freedom and the position of the nodes, this can be an axial member or something much more complex. Shape Connects two nodes. Drawn as a line by FEMAP, but more complex depending on degrees of freedom that you connect. Element Coordinate System Determined by nodal degrees of freedom. Properties Degree of Freedom (at each node), stiffness, damping.



Element Reference

Formulation None.

6.1.10 Gap Element

Description A nonlinear element which has different tension, compression, and shear stiffnesses. Check your analysis program for further descriptions. The exact capabilities of this element type vary widely between analysis programs. Application Used to represent surfaces or points which can separate, close, or slide, relative to each other. Shape Line, connecting two nodes. Element Coordinate System The element X axis goes from the first node to the second. The element Y axis is perpendicular to the element X axis. It points from the first node toward the orientation (or third) node. If you use an orientation vector, the Y axis points from the first node in the direction of the orientation vector. The element Z axis is determined from the cross product of the element X and Y axes. Properties Initial Gap, Compression Stiffness, Tension Stiffness, Transverse Stiffness, Y and Z Friction Coefficients, Preload Force, Interface Plane Normal (ABAQUS Only), Interface Width/Area (ABAQUS Only). Many of these properties are not supported by all analysis programs. Formulation None.

6.1.11 Plot Only Element

Description This element is nonstructural. It does not add any stiffness to your model. It is only used for plotting. Application Used to represent structural features that are not being analyzed, but that aid in the visualization of the model. Plot-only elements are also used by the ABAQUS interface to create interface elements and rigid bodies. Shape Line, connecting two nodes. Element Coordinate System None

Plane Elements



Properties None Formulation None.

6.2 Plane Elements

The plane elements are used to represent membrane, shell, and plate structures. They all follow the same shape and numbering conventions. The simplest formulation of these elements are just a three-noded triangle and a four-noded quadrilateral. In addition, six-noded parabolic triangles and eight-noded parabolic quadrilaterals are also available.
3 3

Ye Xm
1 Linear Triangle 3 2

Ye
6

Xm

Xe
1

Xe

Ye

Ye Xm
8

4 2 Parabolic Triangle 3 7 4

Xm

Xe
2 1

Xe

1 Linear Quadrilateral

5 2 Parabolic Quadrilateral

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( 5

In most cases, loads on plane F5 elements will be applied to face 1. In 4 3 Triangular elements do this case positive pressure acts in the F4 not have a face 6. F1&2 same direction as the face normal (as F6 determined by the right-hand rule). 1 2 Conversely, if loads are applied to face F3 2, their positive direction will be opposite to the face normal. Therefore a positive pressure on face 2 is equivalent to a negative pressure on face 1. If you need to apply edge loads, they can be applied to faces 3 thru 6 as shown. Their positive direction is inward, toward the element center.. Whenever possible, you should try to use elements which closely resemble equilateral triangles or squares. These shapes will usually result in the best analysis accuracy. Consult your analysis program documentation for specific shape limitations of that program.

6.2.1 Shear Panel Element

Description A plane element that only resists shear forces, tangential forces applied to the element edges. Some analysis programs also allow this element to resist normal forces through the use of effectiveness factors.



Element Reference

Application Representing structures which contain very thin elastic sheets, typically supported by stiffeners. Shape Planar, three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight-noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System Refer to the figure in Section 6.2. The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. Properties Thickness, Nonstructural mass/area, Effectiveness Factors (not supported by many analysis programs). Formulation None.

6.2.2 Membrane Element

Description A plane element that only resists in-plane normal (membrane) forces. In some analysis programs this is a degenerate form of the general plate element. Application Used to represent very thin elastic sheets. Shape Planar, three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight-noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System Refer to the figure in Section 6.2. The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. Properties Thickness, Nonstructural mass/area. Formulation DYNA option between Standard or Fully Integrated Belytschko-Tsay Membrane. ABAQUS option for Standard or Reduced Integration Membrane. This formulation has no affect on MARC.

6.2.3 Bending Element

Description A plane element that resists only bending forces. In some analysis programs this is a degenerate form of the general plate element.

Plate Element



Application Used to model plates that will only resist bending. Shape Planar, three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight-noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System Refer to the figure in Section 6.2. The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. Properties Thickness, Nonstructural mass/area, Bending Stiffness parameter (NASTRAN only), Fiber distances for stress recovery. Formulation None.

6.2.4 Plate Element

Description A combined planar shell element. This element typically resists membrane (in-plane), shear, and bending forces. Some analysis programs also include transverse (through the thickness of the element) capabilities. Application Any structure which is comprised of thin plates/shells. Shape Planar, three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight-noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System Refer to the figure in Section 6.2. The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. Properties Thickness (average, or varying at each corner), Nonstructural mass/area, Bending Stiffness parameter (NASTRAN only), Transverse shear/Membrane thickness (NASTRAN only), Bending, Shear and Membrane-Bending Coupling Materials (NASTRAN only), Fiber distances for stress recovery. Additional Notes Many analysis programs do not support tapered plate elements. For those that do, you can specify a different thickness for each corner of the plate. You can always specify a single thickness for all corners simply by entering the average thickness.

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Element Reference

Plate Offsets (NASTRAN Only) can be defined to offset the plate a particular distance from its Nodes. Only one offset may be specified, and it will be in the plates positive or negative normal direction.

Formulation DYNA choice between ten different element formulations. User selection is written to the SECTION_SHELL card. No MARC options are available for this element type.
ABAQUS Plate options for Standard (S3, S4, STRI65, S8R), Reduced Integration (S3R, S4R, S8R5, S8R), or Thin shells (STRI35, S4R5, STRI65, S8R5) can be defined. In addition, you can select Flat Triangles to export STRI3 elements instead of STRI35. The Warping option is only applicable to ABAQUS EXPLICIT, which causes S4RSW elements to be written instead of S4RS elements.

6.2.5 Laminate Element

Description
Ze

Layer n Layer n-1

Similar to the plate element, except that this element is composed of one or more layers (lamina). Each layer can represent a different material. FEMAP supports up to 90 layers for a laminate (180 layers are available if the laminate is symmetrical and your analysis program supports symmetrical laminates).
Thickness

Shape Planar, three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight- noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System Refer to the figure in Section 6.2. The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. In addition, the material axes of each layer can be rotated in the element XY plane, relative to the element X axis. Properties For each layer - Material, Orientation Angle, and Thickness. Also, Bottom Surface, Nonstructural mass/area, Bond Shear Allowable and a Failure Theory. Not all of these options are available for all analysis programs Formulation DYNA choice between ten different element formulations. User selection is written to the SECTION_SHELL card. No MARC options are available for this element type.
ABAQUS Plate options for Standard (S3, S4, STRI65, S8R), Reduced Integration (S3R, S4R, S8R5, S8R), or Thin shells (STRI35, S4R5, STRI65, S8R5) can be defined. In addition, you can select Flat Triangles to export STRI3 elements instead of STRI35. The Warp-

Layer 4 Layer 3 Layer 2 Layer 1

Application Usually used to represent laminated composite shells.

Plane Strain Element



ing option is only applicable to ABAQUS EXPLICIT, which causes S4RSW elements to be written instead of S4RS elements.

6.2.6 Plane Strain Element

Description This is a biaxial plane element. It creates a two-dimensional model of a solid structure which does not vary through its depth, the plane strain condition.

Note:
Some analysis programs use two-dimensional elements for plane strain analysis. Those programs usually require that the elements be located in a specific global plane. The required planes for each program are given with the description of Axisymmetric Elements, later in this chapter. Refer to the chapter on translation, and your analysis program documentation, for more information about which programs use two dimensional elements. You must build your model in one of the listed planes if you plan to use one of these analysis programs.

Application Modeling of very thick solids which have one constant cross section. Shape Drawn as planar, but really a volume. Triangles represent wedges, quadrilaterals represent hexahedra. Three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight-noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System Refer to the figure in Section 6.2. The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. Properties Thickness and fiber distances (often not needed), Nonstructural mass/area. Formulation DYNA choice between Plane Strain or Plane Stress Elements. You can also select Plane Stress for ANSYS by checking Plane Stress under the ABAQUS/MARC and ANSYS options area. The default is Plane Strain.
For ABAQUS and MARC, the elements will be written as Plane Strain unless the Plane Stress option is selected. The following table provides the elements associated with the different options. These elements correspond to linear and parabolic triangular and quadrilateral topologies. Certain options may only effect specific element topologies.

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Element Reference

PLANE STRAIN/STRESS Formulations Analysis Program--> Plane--> Standard Reduced Integration Incompatible Modes Modified Contact Hybrid ABAQUS Strain CPE3, CPE4, CPE6, CPE8 CPE3, CPE4R, CPE6, CPE8R CPE3, CPE4I CPE6M Add H ABAQUS Stress CPS3, CPS4 CPS6, CPS8 CPS3, CPS4R, CPS6, CPS8R CPS3, CPS4I CPS6M Add H MARC Strain 6, 11, 125, 27 6, 115, 125, 54 or 58 Standard No effect 6, 11, 128, 32 or 58 MARC Stress 3, 124, 26 114, 53 3 (Assumed Strain) No effect No effect

6.2.7 Planar Plot Only Element

Description This element is nonstructural. It does not add any stiffness to your model. It is only used for plotting. Planar plot-only elements are also used by the ABAQUS interface to create interface elements and rigid bodies. Application Used to represent structural features that are not being analyzed, but that aid in the visualization of the model. Shape Linear quadrilateral and linear triangular shapes are allowed (midside nodes cannot be created) connecting 3 or 4 nodes. Element Coordinate System None Properties None Formulation None

6.3 Volume Elements

These elements are all used to model three-dimensional solid structures. They can provide very detailed results, but usually require additional modeling and analysis time and effort.

Axisymmetric Element



6.3.1 Axisymmetric Element

Description The axisymmetric element is a two-dimensional element used to represent volumes of revolution.

Ye Xm

Ye
6

Xm

Note:
Before using axisymmetric elements, it is very important to consult your analysis documentation. Most analysis programs require you to construct your model in a specific global plane. The following table lists the required conventions for the supported programs: Program NASTRAN MSC/pal & CDA/Sprint STARDYNE ANSYS COSMOS ALGOR, mTAB & SAP WECAN ABAQUS MARC LS-DYNA3D
Ye

1 Linear Triangle 3 4 2

Xe
1

Xe

Ye Xm
8

4 2 Parabolic Triangle 3 7 4

Xm

Xe
2 1

Xe

1 Linear Quadrilateral

5 2 Parabolic Quadrilateral

Global Model Plane XZ XZ XY XY XY YZ XY XY XY XY

Radial Direction Global X Global X Global X Global X Global X Global Y Global X Global X Global Y Global X

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If possible, you should always build your model in the convention of the program you plan to use. To properly translate your model to any of the programs, FEMAP requires that you build the model using one of the listed conventions. When you write your model using one of the program translators, FEMAP checks to see if the model is in the correct plane for that program. If it is not, you will be given several options to automatically rotate it into the correct plane. If you do not use one of the above conventions, FEMAP will translate your model, but the results may be incorrect.

Application Modeling of axisymmetric solid structures with axisymmetric constraints and loading.



Element Reference

Shape Drawn as planar, but really represent axisymmetric rings. Three-noded triangle, four-noded quadrilateral, six-noded triangle, eight-noded quadrilateral. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs. Element Coordinate System See the figure above (in this section). The material angle can be used to rotate the element X axis. Note the differences between the axisymmetric element coordinate angles and those for the plane elements. In this case, the angles are from a global axis, not from the first side of the element. Properties None. Formulation For DYNA you can choose between an Area or Volume Weighted formulation.
Both ABAQUS and DYNA have typical axisymmetric elements (2-DOF) as well as axisymmetric elements with twist. The 2-DOF elements will be used unless the Twist option is selected. The following table provides the elements associated with the different options. These elements correspond to linear and parabolic triangular and quadrilateral topologies. Certain options may only affect specific element topologies. Axisymmetric Formulations Analysis Program--> Type--> Standard Reduced Integration Incompatible Modes Modified Contact Hybrid Hybrid+Reduced (MARC) ABAQUS 2-DOF CAX3, CAX4 CAX6, CAX8 CAX3, CAX4R CAX6, CAX8R CAX3, CAX4I CAX6M Add H ABAQUS Twist CGAX3, CGAX4 CGAX6, CGAX8 CGAX3, CGAX4R CGAX6, CGAX8R Standard No effect Add H MARC 2-DOF 2, 10 126, 28 2, 116, 126, 55 Standard No effect 2, 10 126, 33 2, 116 129, 59 MARC Twist 20 67 Standard Standard No effect 66 66

Solid Element



6.3.2 Solid Element

Description A three-dimensional solid element. Application Modeling of any three-dimensional structure. Shape Four-noded tetrahedron, Sixnoded wedge, Eight-noded brick (hexahedron), Ten-noded tetrahedron, Fifteen-noded wedge, and Twenty-noded brick. Some shapes are not available for all analysis programs.
5 F6 4 F3 F1 1 2 Linear Hexahedron 6 F2 F5 3 Positive pressure on solid elements acts inward, toward center of element. F1 1 Linear Wedge F4 4 F3 2 5 8 F2 F5 6 F4 7 Linear Tetrahedron 4

3 3

F3 F4 F1 1 F2 2

Zm Ym Xm

Element Coordinate System Can be aligned based on the node locations or aligned to a coordinate system. Check your analysis program documentation for supported options. Properties Material axes, integration order (not all programs). Formulation For DYNA you can choose between 13 element formulations, although you will typically want to choose one of the first four: (1) 1-Stress Point, (2) Fully Integrated S/R, (3) Fully Integrated 6-DOF/Node, or (4) Tetrahedral 6-DOF/Node. The selected option is output to the SECTION_SOLID card.
Both ABAQUS and DYNA have element metric elements with twist. The 2-DOF elements will be used unless the Twist option is selected. The following table provides the elements associated with the different options. These elements correspond to linear and parabolic triangular and quadrilateral topologies. Certain options may only affect specific element topologies Solid Formulations Analysis Program--> Standard Reduced Integration Incompatible Modes ABAQUS C3D4, C3D6, CRD8 C3D10, C3D15, C3D20 C3D4, C3D6, C3D8R C3D10, C3D15, C3D20R C3D4, C3D6, C3D8I MARC 134, 7 127, 21 134, 117 127, 57 7 (Assumed Strain)

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Element Reference

Solid Formulations Analysis Program--> Modified Contact Hybrid Hybrid+Reduced (MARC) C3D10M Add H ABAQUS No effect 2, 10 126, 33 2, 116 129, 59 If you want to apply pressure loads to Solid elements, you must specify a face number. The previous and following figures, show the face numbers (F1 through F6, in the circles) for each element shape. Positive pressure is always directed inward, toward the center of the element. MARC

Additional Notes
8 20 5 F2 19 7 Parabolic Tetrahedron 18 15 10 9

16 17 F5 6 F6 F4 4 F3 11 3 13 12 14 F1 10 1 9 2 Parabolic Hexahedron 6

F3 8 F4 F2 2 6 F1 5 7 1

Zm Ym Xm

12 3

13 11 F4 4 F3 F5 8 10 2 9 F1 1 7 Parabolic Wedge

14 15 F2

6.4 Other Elements

This category of elements allows you to define masses, rigid connections, general stiffnesses, contact pairs and slide lines.

6.4.1 Mass Element

Description A generalized three-dimensional mass and/or inertia element located at a node. The center of mass can be offset from the node. An even more general form is the Mass Matrix element. Application Representing parts of a structure which contain mass, but which do not add any stiffness. Shape Point, connected to one node.

Mass Matrix Element



Element Coordinate System Aligned with a coordinate system that you specify. Some analysis programs require that you define masses relative to global rectangular coordinates or the nodal degrees of freedom. Properties Mass (or MassX, MassY, and MassZ for some programs), Inertias (Ixx, Iyy, Izz, Ixy, Iyz, Izx), Offsets. Formulation None

6.4.2 Mass Matrix Element

Description A generalized three-dimensional mass and/or inertia element. The mass and inertia properties are defined as a 6x6 mass matrix. In most cases, the Mass Element is easier to define. Application Representing parts of a structure which contain mass, but which do not add any stiffness. Shape Point, connected to one node. Element Coordinate System Aligned with a coordinate system that you specify. Some analysis programs require that you define masses relative to global rectangular coordinates or the nodal degrees of freedom. Properties Upper triangular portion of a 6x6 mass matrix. Formulation None

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6.4.3 Rigid Element

Description Represents a rigid connection between a master node and one or more other nodes. FEMAP has no limit on the number of additional nodes, or the degrees of freedom which may be connected on these additional nodes. Weighting factors for these connections may also be defined.
Some analysis programs require that the rigid element connects all six degrees of freedom. Other programs let you limit the connection to selected degrees of freedom. In addition, support for the Rigid Element weighting factors in analysis programs is limited.

Application Modeling connections which are very stiff relative to the remainder of the structure. Shape One master node, connected to one, to nineteen, additional nodes.



Element Reference

Element Coordinate System None, depends on nodal degrees of freedom. Properties None. Formulation Rigid Element Formulations are only currently supported for ABAQUS. These formulations allow you to export FEMAP rigid elements as ABAQUS MPC type. There are currently thirteen different ABAQUS *MPC types supported by FEMAP. The following table provides a list of the different supported MPCs, the number of required slave nodes, whether the order of the slave nodes are important, the total number of MPCs written for each rigid element, and the output format. If any of these options are unclear, please cross-reference this table with the Multi-Point Constraints section in the ABAQUS/Standard users Manual. The references to Node a, b, S, etc. are taken directly from this manual.
RIGID ELEMENT FORMULATION MPC Type
BEAM, TIE, PIN LINK, ELBOW SS LINEAR SS BILINEAR SSF BILINEAR SS BEAM

No. of Slave Nodes/Order

>0/Unimportant >1/Important

No. of MPCs

Output Format/Comments

No. Slave Same Master (2nd Node in ABAQUS MPC) for all Nodes MPCs but Different Slave Node. Single

Master Node as Shell Node, S. Slave Nodes exported as solid nodes, p values. First 2 Slave Nodes (s1, s2) written as Pipe Axis. Master then written as Beam Node, b. Remaining Slaves (s3, etc.) written after Master. Master as Node a. First Slave as Node b. Second Slave as Node c to define rotation. Master Node as Sliding Node, p First 2 Slave Nodes as sliding axis, a, b. Master as First Edge Node a First Slave as Second Edge Node b. Second and Third Slaves as cyl symmetry axis c, d Master as First Node a. First Slave as Node b. Second and Third Slaves (c, d) define rotation. Master as Velocity Constrained Node a. First Slave defines local rotation direction (Node b) Second Slave defines velocity (Node c)

>2/Important

Single

REVOLUTE

2/Important

Single

SLIDER

2/Important

Single

CYCLSYM

3/Important

Single

UNIVERSAL

3/Important

Single

V LOCAL

3/Important

Single

Stiffness Matrix Element



6.4.4 Stiffness Matrix Element

Description A general stiffness element. This element lets you define a 6x6 stiffness matrix that will be symmetrically applied (expanded to a 12x12 matrix) to two nodes. Application Modeling of custom stiffness connections between two nodes that can not be adequately represented by other available element types. Shape Drawn as a line. Real shape is undefined. Element Coordinate System Depends on nodal degrees of freedom. Properties Upper triangular portion of a 6x6 stiffness matrix.
None.

6.4.5 Contact Element

Description An element which defines geometry of surface contact between two bodies. Input includes two Contact Segments, one Master and One Slave. The Contact Segments may be comprised of Nodes, Element Faces, Curves, Surfaces. Self-Contact can be modeled by choosing the same Contact Segment for both Master and Slave. Application Modeling of multiple body parts that come into contact. Shape Drawn as lines between Master and Slave Contact Segments. Element Coordinate System None. Depends on Coordinate System of Nodes. Properties Varies depending upon analysis program. Friction and contact tolerances (largest allowable penetration, largest separation force, etc.) are typical inputs.

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6.4.6 Slide Line Element

Description A contact element which allows input of frictional and stiffness contact information between Nodes on Surfaces. Input includes a series of Master and Slave Nodes to define geometry of surface contact.



Element Reference

Application Modeling of finite-sliding surface interaction between two deformable bodies. Shape Drawn as lines between Master and Slave Nodes. Element Coordinate System None. Depends on Coordinate System of Nodes. Properties Width of contact surfaces and stiffness/frictional data including Stiffness Scale Factor, Nonsliding Frictional Stiffness, and Static Friction Coefficient.

Translator Reference

This chapter defines the use of the FEMAP interfaces to CAD and Finite Element analysis programs. The first section shows how FEMAP entities are translated to and from the analysis programs. The second section provides detailed instructions about using each of the FEMAP interfaces to analysis programs. The final section provides information related to importing and exporting geometry from/to CAD programs. Each subsection in section 7.2 and 7.3 are devoted to an interface between FEMAP and another program.

7.1 The Translation Table

The following pages contain a table which shows how FEMAP entities are translated to and from the supported analysis programs. The superscripts in the table refer to the notes which follow the table. You will find the notes (and the superscripts) are numbered from 1-N for each analysis program. Therefore, if you see superscript 6 in the column for ANSYS Write translator, that refers to Note 6 for ANSYS, not note 6 for one of the other programs. You will see numerous symbols listed for the various read translators. Wherever you see this symbol, it means that the read translator supports the same entities as the corresponding write translator. The column for the write translator is to the left of the column for the read translator, hence the symbol. In some cases, the read translator will support more entities than the write translator. In those cases you will see + followed by the additional entities that are supported. Whenever an entity is not supported by the corresponding read or write translator (or by the analysis program), you will see ---



FEMAP

ABAQUS Write
-----

ALGOR Write
---

ANSYS Write
LOCAL (KCS=0)6 LOCAL (KCS=1)6 LOCAL (KCS=2)6

COSMOS Write
CSMATRIX (type 0) CSMATRIX (type 1) CSMATRIX (type 2)4

I-DEAS Write
Dataset 24201

mTAB/SAP IV Write
-----

Read

Read

Read

Read

Read Translator Reference

Coordinate Systems
Rectangular

Cylindrical Spherical

-----

-----

-----

Dataset 24201 Dataset 24201

-----

-----

Nodes
All *NODE, *TRANSFORM1 Nodal Data1

18

N, NROTAT1

+ NMODIF1

ND4

13

Dataset 2411

Nodal Data1

18

Elements
Rod T2D2,T2D2H, T3D2, T3D2H, DC1D2, C1D2, C1D2H4 B21, B23, B21H, B23H, B31, B33, B31H, B33H2 *RELEASE PIPE21, PIPE21H, PIPE31, PIPE31H5 ELBOW315 --B21, B23, B21H, B23H, B31, B33, B31H, B33H2 *RELEASE12 SPRINGA, DASHPOTA6 Type 1

20
as Beam

EN (stif8)29

+ E12 + E12 + E12 + E12

---

EL (truss3d)

as Beam

Dataset 2412 (fe 11) Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 21)

Type 1

20
as Beam

Bar

Type 213

EN (stif4, stif33)2,23

EL (beam3d) op[1]=11

Type 2

Tube Curved Tube Link Beam

Type 1210 Type 1210 --Type 22,13

20,25 20,25
---

EN (stif16) EN (stif18) --EN (stif44, stif33)2

EL (pipe) EL (elbow) --EL (beam3d) op[1]=1,21

---

Dataset 2412 (fe 21) Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 23) ----Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 22)

Type 1210 Type 1210 --Type 22

20,9 20,9
---

20,21

+ E12 + E12

20,21

Spring

---

---

EN (stif14) ko[3]=0,1 7

EL (spring) op[1]=0,1

Dataset 2412 (fe 136, 137)

Type 711

FEMAP

NASTRAN Write
CORD2R1

MARC Write
---1

PATRAN Write
Type 51

LS-DYNA3D Write
*DEFINE_COORDINATE ---1 _SYSTEM -------1 ---1

STARDYNE Write Read

NEWSYS, NEWSYSA, NEWSYSJ -----

WECAN Write
---1

Read + CORD1R + CORD1C + CORD1S

Read

Coordinate Systems
Rectangular

Cylindrical Spherical

CORD2C1 CORD2S1

---1 ---1

Type 51 Type 51

---1 ---1

Nodes
All GRID, SPOINT, EPOINT COORDINATES1 TRANSFORM CYLINDRICAL Type 12

*NODE

NODE, ASYSG1

+ Series 4.11 NODEG, NODEGRD1, NODEGRD2

Elements
Rod CROD

+ CONROD

Packet 23 (Cfg=3) Packet 23 (Cfg=1) ---

---

BEAM1

BEAMG2 (001111) BEAMG3

as Beam BRECT

STIF8, STIF332

Bar

CBAR

52, 983 14, 312

BEAM1 BEAM1

STIF45,6

The Translation Table

Tube

CTUBE (not UAI, Cosmic) CBEND (not UAI, Cosmic)

PIPEG

17 17 + 5
---

STIF73 STIF293

Curved Tube

31

---

---

---

PIPEG

Link Beam Spring

----CBEAM, (Cosmic-CBAR) CROD3 as Rod CVISC

--52, 983 ---

--Packet 23 (Cfg=2) ---

---

---

--BEAM1 SPRING

--BEAMG, BEAMTPR3,4 MADDEL, MADDX5

--STIF645,6 STIF14, STIF478

BEAMI18



FEMAP
DOF Spring

ABAQUS Write
SPRING2, DASHPOT26 --GAPUNI7 R2D2, RAX2, RB2D2, ISL21, ISL21A, ISL31, IRS21, IRS21A9 -----

ALGOR Write
---

ANSYS Write
EN (stif14) ko[2]=1-6 --EN (stif52) ko[1]=1 KNODE, L

COSMOS Write
-----

I-DEAS Write
-----

mTAB/SAP IV Write
-----



Read

Read + E12
---

Read

Read

Read

Translator Reference

Curved Beam Gap Plot Only

--Type 1411 ---

---

-------

-------

20
---

+ E12
---

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 23) -----

-----

-------

-------

Shear

----Type 36

-----

Parabolic Shear --Membrane M3D3, M3D4, M3D4R8

EN (stif28) quad only3 --EN (stif63) ko[1]=19

+ E12
---

EL (shell4) op[2]=2 --EL (shell4) op[2]=1

(+shell3)19 ---

----Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 41, 44)

-----

----Type 36

-----

20,22

+ E12
+ (stif42) ko[3]=0,3 EN + E12 + (stif82) ko[3]=0,3 + E12

(+shell3)19

---

20,22

Parabolic Membrane Bending

M3D6, M3D8, M3D8R8 ---

---

---

---

---

---

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 42, 45) ---

---

---

---

---

EN (stif63) ko[1]=29

---

---

---

---

Parabolic Bending Plate

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

S3, S4, STRI3, STRI35, S3R, S4R, S4RF, S4R5, DS48

Type 68

20,23,29

EN (stif63, stif57, stif43) ko[1]=09

+ E12

EL (+shell3, Dataset 748, (shell4,shell4t)5 shell3t)19 2412 (fe 91, 94) op[2]=0

Type 68

20,23,13

Parabolic Plate

STRI65, S8R, S8R58 --DS8

---

EN (stif93)9

+ E12

EL (shell9) quad only8

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 92, 95)

---

---

FEMAP
DOF Spring

NASTRAN Write
CELAS2, CDAMP24

MARC Write
SPRINGS

PATRAN Write
Packet (Cfg=6) 23

LS-DYNA3D Write
---

STARDYNE Write
MADDXINC

WECAN Write
---

Read + CELAS1, CDAMP124

---

Read

Read +
MADDX19

Curved Beam Gap Plot Only Shear

CBEND5 (not UAI, Cosmic) CGAP (not Cosmic) PLOTEL

31 ----68 --18

------Packet 23 (Cfg=7) Packet 23 (Cfg=7) Packet 23 (Cfg=5)

-------

----------SHELL2 _BETA

ELBOW22 ----TRIAB6 (type -4) --TRIAB, QUADB(H) (type 2) ---

<-----

----------STIF13 ks[1]=19

CSHEAR quad only Parabolic Shear --CTRIA3, CQUAD4, CQUADR, CTRIAR CTRIA6, CQUAD823 (not Cosmic) CTRIA3, CQUAD4, CQUADR, CTRIAR CTRIA6, CQUAD823 (not Cosmic) CTRIA3, CQUAD4, CQUADR, CTRIAR CTRIA6, CQUAD823 (not Cosmic)

---

Membrane

+
CTRMEM, CQDMEM

Parabolic Membrane Bending

+
+ CTRPLT, CQDPLT

30

Packet 23 (Cfg=5) Packet 23 (Cfg=10)

---

---

---

---

---

TRIAB, QUADB(H) (type 3) ---

STIF13 ks[1]=29

The Translation Table

Parabolic Bending Plate

+
CTRIA1, CQUAD1, CTRIA2, CQUAD2

---

Packet 23 (Cfg=10) Packet 23 (Cfg=4)

---

---

---

75, 138, 139, 1403

SHELL2 _BETA _THICKNESS

TRIAB, QUADB(H)7 (type user)

STIF13 ks[1]=0 STIF599

Parabolic Plate

22

Packet 23 (Cfg=4)

---

---

---

---



FEMAP
Plane Strain

ABAQUS Write
CPE3, CPE4, CPE4I, Type 46 CPE4R, CPS3, CPS4, CPS4I, CPS4R and hybrid DC2D3, DC2D4

ALGOR Write Read 20,22

ANSYS Write
EN (stif42, stif55, stif56) ko[3]=23

COSMOS Write
EL (plane2d) op[3]=0,2

I-DEAS Write
Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 51, 54)

mTAB/SAP IV Write
Type 46



Read + E12
(do not read any hyper)

Read

Read

Read 20,22

Translator Reference

Parabolic Plane CPE6, CPE8, CPE8R, --Strain CPS6, CPS8, CPS8R and hybrid8 DC2D6, DC2D8 Laminated Plate STRI3, STRI35, S4R, Type 1528 S4RF, S4R58,10

---

EN (stif82, stif77, stif74) ko[3]=23 EN (stif53) ko[3]=NL tri only8,9 EN (stif91, stif99) ko[3]=NL9 --EN (stif42, stif55, stif56) ko[3]=13 EN (stif82, stif77, stif74) ko[3]=13 EN (stif45 or stif73, stif70, stif58) ko[4]=122

+ E, +(stif2)12 + E12 + E12

---

EL (plane2d / triang) op[3]=0,22 EL (shell4l) ko[2]=NL

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 52, 55)

---

---

+ Type 1628
---

---

---

---

---

(+shell3l)19

Parabolic STRI65, S8R, Laminated Plate S8R58,10 Planar Plot Only R2D3, R3D4, IRS3, IRS49 Axisymmetric CAX3, CAX4, CAX4I, CAX4R, hybrid, DCAX3, DCAX4 Parabolic Axi- CAX6, CAX8, symmetric CAX8R and hybrid, DCAX6, DCAX8 Solid

---

EL (shell9l) quad only8 --EL (plane2d) ko[3]=1

---

---

---

---

---

--Type 4

---

--Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 81, 84)

---

--Type 4

---

20,22

+ E12 + E, +(stif2)12 + E12

+ (stif72)

20,22

---

---

EL (plane2d / triang) op[3]=12

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe82,85)

---

---

C3D4, C3D6, C3D8, Type 5, C3D8I, C3D8R and Type 95 hybrid3 DC3D4, DC3D6, DC3D8

20

EL (solid / tetra4)

(+tetra4r)19

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 111, 112, 115)

Type 5, Type 84,5

20

Parabolic Solid C3D10, C3D15, --C3D20, C3D20I, C3D20R and hybrid3 DC3D10, DC3D15, DC3D20

---

EN (stif95, stif87, stif90, stif92) EMORE22

+ E12
+ (stif92)

EL (solid / tetra10) no wedge8

Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 118, 113, 116)

Type 85

20

FEMAP
Plane Strain

NASTRAN Write
CTRIA3, CQUAD4, CQUADR, CTRIAR (not UAI, Cosmic) CTRIA6, CQUAD823 (not UAI, Cosmic) CTRIA3, CQUAD4, CQUADR, CTRIAR CTRIA6, CQUAD823 (not Cosmic) -----

MARC Write
6, 11, 3, 114 1153

PATRAN Write
Packet 2 (Cfg=11)
3

LS-DYNA3D Write
SHELL2 _BETA

STARDYNE Write
TRIAB, QUADB(H)25 (type user)

WECAN Write
STIF53, STIF56 ks[1]=2, ks[2]=2, STIF58, STIF68

Read

Read

Read
as Plate
25

Parabolic Plane Strain Laminated Plate

27, 54, 1253 32, 58, 128 26, 53, 124 753, 138, 139, 140 22

Packet 23 (Cfg=11) ---

---

---

---

---

SHELL2 _BETA

QUADC20

+ QUADCM20
---

STIF53, STIF56 ks[1]=1, ks[2]=2, STIF58, STIF68 ---

Parabolic Laminated Plate Planar Plot Only Axisymmetric

---

---

---

---

---

--2, 116 20 103

--Packet 2 (Cfg=8)
3

---

--SHELL2 _BETA

--QUADA
8,9

CTRIAX6, CTRIARG, CTRIAX, CQUADX7 Parabolic Axi- CTRIAX6, symmetric CTRIAX, CQUADX7 (not UAI, Cosmic) Solid CTETRA, CPENTA, CHEXA (Cosmic-CTETRA, CWEDGE, CHEXA1, CHEXA2, CIHEX1) Parabolic Solid CTETRA, CPENTA, CHEXA (Cosmic-CIHEX2)

+ CHEXA1, CHEXA2, CWEDGE

--STIF53, STIF56 ks[1]=2, ks[2]=0, STIF58, STIF68 STIF53, STIF56 ks[1]=1, ks[2]=0, STIF58, STIF68

28, 553 66, 67 33, 59 126, 129 7, 1343 117

Packet 23 (Cfg=6)

---

---

---

The Translation Table

Packet 23 (Cfg=0)

SOLID

CUBEG(H)8

STIF48, STIF55, STIF78, ks[1]=1,2 STIF49, STIF65, STIF794,14

+ CHEX20

21, 57, 1273 35, 61, 130

Packet 23 (Cfg=0)

---

---

---

STIF48, STIF55, STIF78,ks[1]=1,2 STIF49, STIF65, STIF794,14



FEMAP
Mass Mass Matrix Rigid

ABAQUS Write
MASS, ROTARYI3,11 --*MPC

ALGOR Write
Load Mass14 Load Mass15 Type 1312 Type 109 -----

ANSYS Write
EN (stif21) ko[3]=010 EN (stif27) ko[3]=220 CP, CEAVE, CERIG24 EN (stif27) ko[3]=411 see31 ---

COSMOS Write
EL (mass)6 --CPDOF9 EL (genstif)7 -----

I-DEAS Write Read

Dataset 2412 (fe 161) ----Dataset 748, 2412 (fe 122) -------

mTAB/SAP IV Write
Load Mass14 Load Mass15 ---------



Read
as Mass

Read + E12,13 + E12,20 14 + E11,12

-----

Read
---

Read
as Mass ---------

Translator Reference

20,26 20,24
-----

7
-----

-------

Stiffness Matrix --Contact Slide Line *CONTACT PAIR ---

Properties
Rod Bar *SOLID SECTION *BEAM GENERAL SECTION, *SECTION POINTS, *CENTROID, *SHEAR CENTER *BEAM SECTION (PIPE) *BEAM SECTION (ELBOW) --*BEAM GENERAL SECTION, *SECTION POINTS, *CENTROID, *SHEAR CENTER *SPRING, *DASHPOT *SPRING, *DASHPOT --Type 1 Type 23

as Beam

R (1)29 R (1-6,810,12)

15 + R(7)15

RCONST (1) RCONST (1-10, 15-20, 25-27)

Dataset 776, 789 Dataset 776, 789

3 3

Type 1 Type 23

as Beam

Tube Curved Tube Link Beam

Type 1210 Type 1210 --Type 22,3

---

R (1,2) R (1-3) --R (1- 24,55)

15 15 + R(53)15
---

RCONST (1,2) RCONST (1,2,4) --RCONST op[1]=1 (1-10, 15-20,25-27) op[1]=2 (1-16) RCONST (1,2) -----

---

Dataset 776, 789 Dataset 776, 789

3 3

Type 1210 Type 1210 --Type 22,3

---

----Dataset 776, 789 3

Spring DOF Spring Curved Beam

-------

-------

R (1,2) R (1,2) ---

15 15
---

-----

Dataset 789 --Dataset 776, 789

3
---

Type 7 -----

-----

FEMAP
Mass

NASTRAN Write
CONM28

MARC Write
MASSES

PATRAN Write
Packet (Cfg=7) --23

LS-DYNA3D Write
*MASS-

STARDYNE Write
WGHT10

WECAN Write
STIF4410

Read + RBAR2
( CRBARCosmic)

Read
-----

Read + WGHTG, WGHTGEN --+

PIPEG, BRECT -------------

Mass Matrix Rigid

CONM1

--TYING
4

---

MASSX23 BEAMG11 (rigid)

--STIF7211

RBE2, RBE3 (CRBE2, CRBE3 -Cosmic) Stiffness Matrix --Contact --Slide Line BLSEG, BCONP

---

-------

--CONTACT TABLE ---

-------

-------

--*CONTACT ---

MADDX24 -----

Properties
Rod Bar PROD PBAR

GEOMETRY BEAM SECT

Packet 44 Packet 44

*SECTION_BEAM *SECTION_BEAM

BPROP1, BPROP2 BPROP1, BPROP2, BPROP4, BPROP512 BPROP3 BPROP3 --BPROP1, BPROP2, BPROP4, BPROP512

as Beam BPROP2, BPROP4, BPROP5

Area2 Area, Ixx, Izz, Iyy, THz, THy, THET, Rgyr, TAUi, Dxi, Dyi, Dzi, Yi, Zi5,6 Do, Twall3

Tube Curved Tube Link Beam

PTUBE10 PBEND

GEOMETRY GEOMETRY --BEAM SECT GEOMETRY

------Packet 44

-------

*SECTION_BEAM ----*SECTION_BEAM

---

The Translation Table

----PBEAM11 (PBAR-Cosmic)

Spring DOF Spring

PROD3 PVISC on Elem

as Rod

---

--Packet 44

---

+ PELAS, SPRING PDAMP

BEAM SECT GEOMETRY

---

*MAT_SPRING *MAT_DAMPER ---

MADDX MADDXINC

+ MADDX19

Do, Twall, Rcurve3 --AREAi, IXXi, IZZi, IYYi, THZi, THYi, THET, RGYRi, TAUi, DXi, DYi, DZi, Yij, Zij5,6,7 K8 ---



Curved Beam

PBEND5

---

---

BPROP3, BPROP522

---

FEMAP
Gap Plot Only Shear

ABAQUS Write
*GAP, *FRICTION ---------

ALGOR Write
Type 1411 -----

ANSYS Write
R (1,2), MU4 --R (1) ---

COSMOS Write
----RCONST (1) -----

I-DEAS Write
-------------

mTAB/SAP IV Write
-------------



Read

Read
R (1,2)4,15

Read

Read

Read

+ ESYS15
---

---

Translator Reference

Parabolic Shear --Membrane *SOLID SECTION Parabolic Membrane Bending Parabolic Bending Plate *SOLID SECTION ----*SHELL SECTION

--Type 37 ------Type 68

---

-------

--R (1,5) --R (1,5) --R (1-5)

+ ESYS15
---

--RCONST (1) ------RCONST (1)

-------

--Dataset 789 Dataset 789 Dataset 789 Dataset 789 Dataset 789

---

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
---

--Type 37 ------Type 68

---

-------

+ ESYS15
---

29

+ ESYS15 + ESYS15
ESYS15

13

Parabolic Plate Plane Strain

*SHELL SECTION *SOLID SECTION

--Type 4
7

---

R (1-4,6) none

RCONST (1) RCONST (2)

Dataset 789 Dataset 789

--Type 47

---

---

-----

Parabolic Plane *SOLID SECTION Strain Laminated Plate *SHELL SECTION

--Type 1528

none R (1-60)

ESYS15

RCONST (2) RCONST (1,362)10 RCONST (1,362)10 RCONST (2)

Dataset 789 ---

-----

+ Type 1628
---

+ ESYS15

Parabolic *SHELL SECTION Laminated Plate Axisymmetric *SOLID SECTION

--Type 47

---

R (1-3,7- 9,13- + 15 ...)21 ESYS15,21 none ESYS15

--Dataset 789

---

--Type 47

---

3 3

---

Parabolic Axisymmetric

*SOLID SECTION

---

none

ESYS15

RCONST (2)

Dataset 789

---

FEMAP
Gap Plot Only Shear

NASTRAN Write
PGAP --PSHEAR

MARC Write
----GEOMETRY GEOMETRY GEOMETRY ---

PATRAN Write
------Packet 44 Packet 44 Packet 44

LS-DYNA3D Write
--------*SECTION_SHELL ---

STARDYNE Write
------on Elem --on Elem

WECAN Write
--------Thick, V11

Read
---

Read

Read

---

Parabolic Shear --Membrane PSHELL12

+PTRMEM, PQDMEM, PQDMEM1, PQDMEM2

---

Parabolic Membrane Bending

PSHELL12 PSHELL12

+PTRPLT, PQDPLT

GEOMETRY GEOMETRY

Packet 44 Packet 44

---

--on Elem

---

--Thick, V11

---

Parabolic Bending

PSHELL12

GEOMETRY

Packet 44

---

---

---

Plate

PSHELL12

Parabolic Plate Plane Strain

PSHELL12

+PTRIA1, GEOMETRY PQUAD1, PTRIA2, PQUAD2 GEOMETRY

GEOMETRY GEOMETRY GEOMETRY COMPOSITE GEOMETRY COMPOSITE GEOMETRY ---

Packet 44

---

SECTION_SHELL

on Elem

Thick, V119

The Translation Table

Packet 44 Packet 44 Packet --44

--*SECTION_SHELL --*SECTION_SHELL *INTEGRATION_RULE --*SECTION_SHELL ---

--on Elem25 --QCSTAK, QCBLOC13 --none ---

---

--Angle Angle ---

PSHELL, PLPLANE12 Parabolic Plane PSHELL, Strain PLPLANE12 Laminated Plate PCOMP13

---

+ QCSTACK20
--none ---

Parabolic PCOMP13 Laminated Plate Axisymmetric PLPLANE Parabolic Axisymmetric PLPLANE

--Packet 44 Packet 44

---

---



Angle Angle

FEMAP
Solid

ABAQUS Write
*SOLID SECTION Type 5, Type 94

ALGOR Write Read

ESYS

ANSYS Write Read 15

COSMOS Write
RCONST (1-9)

I-DEAS Write
Dataset 789

mTAB/SAP IV Write
Type 5, Type 84



Read

Read 3

Read

Translator Reference

Parabolic Solid *SOLID SECTION

---

---

ESYS

15 15

RCONST (1-9)

---

Dataset 789

3 3
---

Type 85

---

Mass

*MASS, *ROTARY INERTIA ---

Load Mass14

as Mass

R (1-6)

RCONST (1-6)

Dataset 789

Load Mass14

as Mass

Mass Matrix

Load Mass15

R (1-78)20

Rigid

none

Type 1312 Type 109

Stiffness Matrix ---

none R (1-78)11

R (1-6, --13-17, 24-27, 34-36, 43,44,51) 15,20 none none R (1-6, RCONST (113-17, 78)7 24-27, 34-36, 43,44,51) 11,15 -----

---

Load Mass15

none

none Dataset 789

none

-----

-----

Slide Line

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Materials
Isotropic *MATERIAL, with Elems16 *ELASTIC (ISO), *EXPANSION, *DENSITY, *SPECIFIC HEAT, *DAMPING, *CONDUCTIVITY, *PLASTIC,*CREEP, *DRUCKER PRAG *PLASTIC *MOHR COULOMB

EX, GXY, + NUXY, DENS, MPDATA, ALPX, DAMP, MP16 TREF, REFT(R5), KXX, C, MPTEMP, TB(BKIN, MKIN, MISO, BISO, DP, MELAS)

MPROP ( EX, GXY, NUXY, DENS, ALPX, KX, C, SIGXT, SIGXC, SIGXYT, SIGXYC ), TREF

14

Dataset 1710

with Elems16

FEMAP
Solid

NASTRAN Write
PSOLID14

MARC Write
GEOMETRY Packet

PATRAN Write
44

LS-DYNA3D Write
*SECTION_SOLID none

STARDYNE Write Read

none

WECAN Write
none4

Read

Read
---

(+PIHEX-Cosmic), PLSOLID Parabolic Solid PSOLID14 (+PIHEX-Cosmic), PLSOLID Mass on Elem Mass Matrix on Elem

---

Packet 44

---

---

---

none4

MASSES ---

Packet 44 ---

*ELEMENT_MASS ---

on WGHT MASSX23

---

Mx, My, Mz, Ixx, Iyy, Izz10 ---

Rigid

none

none ---

none ---

-----

-----

-----

BPROP6 MADDX24

---

none11 ---

Stiffness Matrix ---

Slide Line

BFRIC, BOUT- --PUT, BWIDTH

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

The Translation Table

Materials
Isotropic MAT1, MAT4, MATT1, MATT4, TABLEM215 CREEP, MATS1, TABLES1, TABLEST

+ TABLEM1, TABLEM3

ISOTROPIC WORK HARDENING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS STRAIN RATE

Packet 3

ELASTIC MATLG ISOTROPIC_ELASTIC_P LASTIC PLASTIC_KINEMATIC ELASTIC_PLASTIC_THE RMAL

EX, NUXY, DENS, ALPX, KDAM14,15



FEMAP

ABAQUS Write

ALGOR Write Read

ANSYS Write Read

EX, EY, GXY, + NUXY, DENS, MPDATA, ALPX, ALPY, MP16,30 DAMP, TREF, REFT(R5), KXX, KYY, C, MPTEMP30

COSMOS Write
MPROP ( EX, EY, GXY, NUXY, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, KX, KY, C, SIGXT,SIGXC, SIGYT,SIGYC, SIGXYT,SIGX YC ), TREF

I-DEAS Write
Dataset 1710

mTAB/SAP IV Write
with Elems16



Orthotropic -2D *MATERIAL, with Elems16 *ELASTIC (LAMINA), *EXPANSION, *DENSITY, *SPECIFIC HEAT, *DAMPING, *CONDUCTIVITY DUCTIVITY, *PLASTIC,*CREEP, *DRUCKER PRAG *MOHR COULOMB Orthotropic -3D *MATERIAL, with Elems16 *ELASTIC (ENGR CONST), *EXPANSION, *DENSITY, *SPECIFIC HEAT, *DAMPING, *CONDUCTIVITY DUCTIVITY, *PLASTIC,*CREEP, *DRUCKER PRAG *MOHR COULOMB

Read 14

Read 4

Read

Translator Reference

EX, EY, EZ, + GXY, GYZ, MPDATA, GXZ, NUXY, MP16,30 NUYZ, NUXZ, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ DAMP, TREF, REFT(R5), KXX, KYY, KZZ, C, MPTEMP30 EX, EY, GXY, --NUXY, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, DAMP, TREF, REFT(R5), KXX, KYY, C, TB(BKIN, MKIN, MISO, BISO, DP, MELAS), MPTEMP5,30

Anisotropic -2D *MATERIAL, with Elems16 *ELASTIC (ANISO), *EXPANSION, *DENSITY, *SPECIFIC HEAT, *DAMPING, *CONDUCTIVITY, DUCTIVITY, *PLASTIC,*CREEP, *DRUCKER PRAG *PLASTIC *MOHR COULOMB

MPROP ( EX, EY, EZ, GXY, GYZ, GXZ, NUXY, NUYZ, NUXZ, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ KX, KY, KZ, C, SIGXT, SIGXC, SIGYT, SIGYC, SIGXYT, SIGXYC ), TREF MPROP (MCij, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, KX, KY, C, SIGXT, SIGXC, SIGYT, SIGYC, SIGXYT, SIGXYC ), TREF3

14

Dataset 1710

with Elems16

14

Dataset 1710

with Elems16

FEMAP

NASTRAN Write Read + TABLEM1, TABLEM3

MARC Write
ORTHOTROPIC WORK HARDENING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS STRAIN RATE

PATRAN Write
Packet 3

LS-DYNA3D Write
ORTHOTROPIC_ ELASTIC COMPOSITE_DAMAGE

STARDYNE Write
MATLG1, MATLG2, MATLG3, MATLG4, MATLG515

WECAN Write
EX, EY, NUXY, GXY, ALPX, ALPY, DENS, KDAM14,15

Read

Read

Orthotropic -2D MAT8, MAT5, MATT5, TABLEM215

Orthotropic -3D MAT3, MAT5, MATT3, MATT5. TABLEM227

9+ TABLEM1, TABLEM3

ORTHOTROPIC WORK HARDENING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS STRAIN RATE

Packet 3

ORTHOTROPIC_ ELASTIC3 COMPOSITE_DAMAGE

MATLG1, MATLG2, MATLG3, MATLG6

EX, EY, EZ, NUXY, NUYZ, NUXZ, GXY, GYZ, GXZ, ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ, DENS, KDAM14,15

The Translation Table

Anisotropic -2D MAT2, MAT5, MATT2, MATT5, TABLEM215 CREEP, MATS1, TABLES1, TABLEST

+ TABLEM1, TABLEM3

ANISOTROPIC WORK HARDENING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS STRAIN RATE

Packet 3

ANISOTROPIC_ ELASTIC

MATLG1, MATLG2, MATLG3, MATLG414, MATLG515

as Ortho

Eij or Aij, Bij, Dij, and ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ, DENS, KDAM14,15



FEMAP

ABAQUS Write

ALGOR Write Read

ANSYS Write
EX, EY, EZ, --GXY, GYZ, GXZ, NUXY, NUYZ, NUXZ, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ DAMP,TREF, REFT(R5), KXX, KYY, KZZ, C, TB(BKIN, MKIN, MISO, BISO, DP, MELAS), MPTEMP5,30 -----

COSMOS Write
MPROP ( MCij, DENS, ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ KX, KY, KZ, C, SIGXT, SIGXC, SIGYT, SIGYC, SIGXYT, SIGXYC ), TREF3

I-DEAS Write
Dataset 1710

mTAB/SAP IV Write
with Elems16



Read

Anisotropic -3D *MATERIAL, with Elems16 *ELASTIC (ANISO), *EXPANSION, *DENSITY, *SPECIFIC HEAT, *DAMPING, *CONDUCTIVITY, DUCTIVITY, *PLASTIC,*CREEP, *DRUCKER PRAG *MOHR COULOMB

Read 14

Read 4

Read

Translator Reference

Hyperelastic OTHER

*HYPERELASTIC *HYPERELA--SITIC,OGDEN (200) *HYPERFOAM(201)

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Functions
All *AMPLITUDE --------CURDEF

---

---

---

---

Constraints
Nodal Equation *BOUNDARY *EQUATION on Nodes ---

---

D (=0.), M CE

17,18
19

DND (=0.), RFND18 CPEQN11

DND (=0.)17 Dataset 791

5
6

on Nodes ---

---

17

Dataset 754

Nodal Loads
Force and Moment Displacement *CLOAD Load Mass17

18 17,18

FND

Dataset 790

7
---

Load Mass17

*BOUNDARY, TYPE=DISPLACEMENT (not 0.)

Type 7 Element

D (not 0.)

DND (not 0.), RFND12,18

DND (not 0.)12,15

---

Type 7 Element

FEMAP

NASTRAN Write Read

MARC Write
ANISOTROPIC WORK HARDENING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS STRAIN RATE

PATRAN Write
Packet 3

LS-DYNA3D Write
ANSIOTROPIC_ ELASTIC3

STARDYNE Write
MATLG1, MATLG2, MATLG3, MATLG614

WECAN Write
Eij or Aij, Bij, Dij, and ALPX, ALPY, ALPZ, DENS, KDAM14,15

Read

Read
as Ortho

Anisotropic -3D MAT9, MAT5, + MATT9, TABLEM1, MATT5, TABLEM3 TABLEM2, CREEP, MATS1, TABLES1, TABLEST (Cosmic-MAT6) Hyperelastic Other MATHP -----

MOONEY OGDEN (300) FOAM(301) ----*MAT (1 to 126)3 -------

Functions
All --------*DEFINE_CURVE -------

Constraints
Nodal SPC, ASET, BSET, CSET, QSET, OMIT, SUPORT16

+ SPC1, ASET1, BSET1, CSET1, QSET1, OMIT1, SUPORT1

FIXED DISP DISP CHANGE

Packet 85

*BOUNDARY_ SPC_NODE

RESTG, BOUNG, GUYAN

+ Series 9.1 RESTGADD BOUNGADD GUYANADD

The Translation Table

Equation

MPC17

SERVO LINK

---

---

*CONSTRAINED_ LINEAR4

---

---

Series 7.3

Nodal Loads
Force and Moment Displacement FORCE, MOMENT SPCD18 TIC

+ FORCE1, MOMENT1

POINT LOAD

Packet 7

*LOAD_NODE_ POINT *BOUNDARY_ PRESCRIBED_ MOTION

CONC

FIXED DISP DISP CHANGE

Packet 8

DISPG

+ CONCG, CONCGBL + DISPGEN

Series 9.2

Series 9.112



FEMAP
Velocity Acceleration

ABAQUS Write
*BOUNDARY, --TYPE=VELOCITY *BOUNDARY, --TYPE=ACCELERATION

ALGOR Write
-----

ANSYS Write
---------

COSMOS Write
---------

I-DEAS Write
---------

mTAB/SAP IV Write
---------



Read

Read

Read

Read

Read

Translator Reference

Temperature

*BOUNDARY (DOF on Nodes17 11), *TEMPERATURE -------

19

T(R4), BF(R5)25

---

NTND and INITIAL,TEMP

-----

Dataset 792

on Nodes17

19

Heat Generation --Heat Flux Nonlinear Transient *CFLUX ---

-------

BF(HGEN) F(HEAT) ---

QND -----

-------

-------

-------

-------

Elemental Loads
Distributed Load Pressure Temperature *DLOAD(PX, PY, PZ, P1, P2) *DLOAD (P) --on Elems

19

SFBEAM

PEL

16
---

---

---

on Elems

19

on Elems17 on Elems17

EP(R4), SFE(R5)26 TE(R4), BFE(R5)27

PEL ---

Dataset 790 ---

7
---

on Elems17 on Elems17

Heat Generation *DFLUX(BF) Heat Flux Convection *DFLUX(Sn) *FILM

-------

-------

BFE(HGEN)

QEL HXEL CEL

-------

-------

-------

SFE(HFLUX) --SFE(CONV) ---

FEMAP
Velocity

NASTRAN Write
TIC ---

MARC Write
INITIAL VELO ---

PATRAN Write
---

LS-DYNA3D Write
*BOUNDARY_ --PRESCRIBED_ MOTION INITIAL_VELOCITY_NO DE *BOUNDARY_ PRESCRIBED_ MOTION *INITIAL_TEMPERATUR E_ LOAD *LOAD_THERMAL_CON STANT_NODE ---------

STARDYNE Write
---

WECAN Write
---

Read

Read

Read

Acceleration

---

---

FIXED ACCE

---

---

---

---

Temperature

TEMP, Heat Transfer SPC, TEMPBC

POINT TEMP INITIAL TEMP

Packet 10

---

---

Series 9.415

Heat Generation Heat Flux Nonlinear Transient

SLOAD --QHBDY --NOLIN1 thru 4, --TF

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

Series 9.4 Series 9.2 ---

Elemental Loads
Distributed Load Pressure PLOAD1 PLOAD, PLOAD2, PLOAD3, PLOAD4, PLOADX119 TEMPRB, TEMPP120

DISP LOADS (1,2,3) DISP LOADS

Packet 6 Packet 6

LOAD_BEAM_ ELEMENT *LOAD_SEGMENT *LOAD_SHELL_ ELEMENT

BMLOAD TPRS, QPRSN, CPRS21

---

Series 9.3 Series 9.3

+ QPRS21

The Translation Table

Temperature

---

Packet 11

---

Heat Generation QVOL Heat Flux QBDY1 Convection CONV, CONVM, PCONV, PCONVM

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

BMTEMPG, TPTEMP, QPTEMP, CUTEMP16 -------

+ BMTEMP16
-------

Series 9.415

Series 9.4 --Series 9.3



FEMAP
Radiation

ABAQUS Write
*RADIATE ---

ALGOR Write
---

ANSYS Write
-----

COSMOS Write
REL

I-DEAS Write
-----

mTAB/SAP IV Write
---



Read

Read

Read

Read

Read

Translator Reference

Body Loads
Translational Acceleration Rotational Acceleration Rotational Velocity Rotation Origin *DLOAD (GRAV) --*DLOAD (CENT) --Element Load Multipliers 17 --Centrifugal Load17 Centrifugal Load17

19
---

ACEL DCGOMG CGOMGA CGLOC

+ BFUNIF, TEMP(R5)
---

ACEL DCGOMEGA CGOMEGA CGLOC

---

Dataset 790 Dataset 790 Dataset 790 Dataset 790

8
---

Element Load Multipliers 17 --Centrifugal Load17 Centrifugal Load17 on Nodes17

19
---

---

---

Default Temperature Heat Transfer

*INITIAL CONDI- on Nodes17 TIONS, TYPE=TEMPERATURE *PHYSICAL CONSTANTS ---

TUNIF

TUNIF

Dataset 792

---

---

---

---

Miscellaneous
CONTACT RMODIF CONTA171, CONTA172, CONTA173, CONTA174, TARGE169, TARGE170, ko[2,4-9,1112]31 CSYS, MAT, REAL, ET, KEYOPT, TYPE, ESYS28 + NUMSTR (elem only) -----

*NSET, *ELSET, *SLIDE LINE, *INTERFACE, *RIGID SURFACE, *VERTEX, *PATCH

ACTSET (ECS, EG, MP, RC, CS, LC ,TC,TP), EGROUP

Dataset 164

FEMAP
Radiation

NASTRAN Write
RADBC, --RADM, RADMT, VIEW, VIEW3D, RADCAV, RADSET

MARC Write
-----

PATRAN Write
---

LS-DYNA3D Write
-----

STARDYNE Write
---

WECAN Write
---

Read

Read

Read

Body Loads
Translational Acceleration Rotational Acceleration Rotational Velocity GRAV

DISP LOADS (102)

---

---

RFORCE22 RFORCE22

--DISP LOADS (103)

-----

-----

LOAD_BODY_X5 LOAD_BODY_Y LOAD_BODY_Z --LOAD_BODY_RX5 LOAD_BODY_RY LOAD_BODY_RZ *INTIAL_VELOCITY_ GENERATION --On Above
---

ACCEL(-1)

Series 9.0.1

ACCEL(-1) ACCEL(0)

--Series 9.0.113

Rotation Origin RFORCE Default Temperature Heat Transfer TEMPD PARAM,TABS and SIGMA

---

ROTATION A -----

-------

------

ACCEL(0) CTRL ---

---

--Series 9.0.115

The Translation Table

---

---

Miscellaneous
CONTACT CONTACT CONTACT NODE CONTACT TABLE CHBDYP, CHBDYG, PHBDY, TLOAD1, DLOAD, LOAD21 EIGR, EIGRL DEFINE END OPTION CONTINUE DYNAMIC RECOVER MODAL SHAPE CONTROL, SOLVER AUTO INCREMENT5 ----*CONTACT *DEFINE_BOX *DEFORMABLE_ TO_RIGID *CONTROL _SOLUTION _TERMINATION *DAMPING _GLOBAL _PART_STIFFNESS ---



---

FEMAP

ABAQUS Write
*ORIENTATION,*NORMAL

ALGOR Write Read

ANSYS Write Read

Rev 4 only: RSIZE, CPSIZE, CESIZE

COSMOS Write Read

I-DEAS Write Read

mTAB/SAP IV Write Read


Translator Reference

*STEP, *END STEP, *AMPLITUDE, *VISCO, *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS, *MODAL DYNAMIC, *DYNAMIC

Rev 4: LWRITE, TEDELE, TDELE, FDELE, EPDELE, DDELE, CEDELE Rev 5: BFEDELE,BFDELE, FDELE, SFEDELE,DDELE, CEDELE Rev4: LWRITE Rev5: LSWRITE, SOLVE /PREP7, /NOPR, /GOPR, / VIEW, /ANGLE, TOTAL, FINISH Rev 4: KAN, ITER, AFWRITE Rev 5: ANTYPE, OUTPR, OUTRES

TIMES, TOFFSET, SB_CONST

Header, Master Control, *HEADING, Mode Shapes & Freq., *STATIC, *FREQUENCY, *BUCKLE, *EL PRINT, *NODE PRINT, *FILE FORMAT, *EL FILE, *NODE FILE

TITLE, DATA_CHECK, RENUMBER,PRINT_OPS, STRESS, A_STATIC, A_STRESS, A_FREQUENCY, R_STATIC, R_FREQUENCY, A_BUCKLING, R_BUCKLING, HT_SOLN, HT_OUTPUT, A_THERMAL, R_THERMAL

Header, Master Control, Mode Shapes & Freq.,

FEMAP

NASTRAN Write
PARAM AUTOSPC, GRDPNT

MARC Write
PLASTICITY, ELASTICITY, LARGE DISP, UPDATE, ELASTIC TIE, DIST LOADS, SIZING, FOLLOW FOR, PROCESSOR ELSO SETNAME, TITLE SHELL SECT, EXTENDED, $NO LIST ---

PATRAN Write Read

LS-DYNA3D Write
*SET _SOLID_LIST _SHELL_LIST _PART_LIST _NODE_LIST _BEAM_LIST *DATABASE _BINARY_D3PLOT _BINARY_D3THDT _NODOUT _ELOUT _HISTORY

STARDYNE Write Read

WECAN Write

Read
GRDSET, BAROR, BEAMOR, PARAMWTMASS6 ---

TSTEPNL, NLPARM, NLPCI, FREQ, RLOAD2, TLOAD1, DPHASE, LSEQ, TABDMP1

Packet 25 -Title, Packet 26 Summary

ENDGEOM, START, TITLE1, TITLE2, TITLE3, TITLE4, TITLE5, ENDCASE, OPTION, OUTPUT, TAPE4G, ALLDONE, ENDMODEL

BEGIN BULK, ENDDATA, Executive and Case Control

---

STATIC, HQR, INVITR, DYNAMIC

The Translation Table





Translator Reference

Entity Translation Notes

The following subsections provide additional information for each of the translators described in the previous table.

7.1.1 ABAQUS Translation Notes

1. Nodal coordinates are always written by FEMAP in the Global Cartesian coordinate system, no matter how they are defined in FEMAP. However, if output coordinate systems are selected, additional *TRANSFORM commands are written to properly orient the degrees of freedom. 2. Beam/Bar offsets are supported, but all offsets at both ends of the element must be equal, and they must not have any components along the length of the beam. Nonstructural mass and tapered beams are likewise not supported. Beam/Bar offsets can only be applied to ABAQUS 3-D beam elements. 3. Solid elements can use coordinate systems to orient their material axes, and Mass elements use coordinate systems to orient their inertial axes. The coordinate systems that you pick are written as *ORIENTATION commands. You should not typically use spherical coordinate systems for this purpose because the ABAQUS spherical degrees of freedom are different than the FEMAP degrees of freedom. 4. Rod elements do not support torsional properties or nonstructural mass. ABAQUS Link Elements C1D2 and C1D2H were replaced by the TnDn series of Truss elements in ABAQUS v5.4. C1D2 and C1D2H elements will only be written if pre-version 5.4 format is checked. 5. Tube and Curved tube elements do not support nonstructural mass. 6. Spring/Dashpot elements are axial only - torsional springs/dampers are not supported. FEMAP Spring and FEMAP DOF Spring Elements must be defined in one of two ways. Elements that reference a property card with a non-zero stiffness value (property written as *SPRING) will be written as ABAQUS Spring Elements. Elements that reference a property with zero stiffness and non-zero damping (property written as *DASHPOT) will be written as ABAQUS Dashpot Elements. Both Spring and Dashpot properties are not supported on the same property card. DOF Springs can be used to connect any degrees of freedom. 7. Gap friction can be specified. It is translated to GAP FRICTION ANISOTROPIC. 8. Nonstructural mass is not supported for membrane, plate or laminate elements. 9. Plot Only and Plot Planar elements are only translated if they are selected as part of a contact segment (rigid), slide line, rigid surface or rigid body. 10. The symmetric laminate flag is not supported. All laminate plys must be specified directly in FEMAP. 11. Mass element must be defined in one of two ways - either pure mass, or pure inertia. Elements that are defined with a MassX term will be translated to *MASS commands. Other mass elements will be translated to *ROTARY INERTIA commands. In either

ALGOR Translation Notes



case, only MassX, I11, I22 and I33 terms are supported - other entries are skipped. 12. Beam Releases are only supported in the Elemental Rotational Degrees of Freedom. Also, DOF 5 in FEMAP corresponds to M2 in ABAQUS and DOF 6 corresponds to M3.

7.1.2 ALGOR Translation Notes

1. Nodal coordinates are always written by FEMAP in the Global Cartesian coordinate system. Algor does not support Output Coordinate Systems. There is no way to rotate nodal degrees of freedom. You will receive an error message for any node that references a nonzero Output Coordinate System. All coordinate systems are supported when you read an Algor model. 2. Tapered Beam Elements are not supported by Algor. Only the first end of the element will be considered. 3. FEMAP nonisotropic materials can be used to define the three thermal expansion coefficients for Type 2 elements. FEMAP only uses the first fiber location to calculate the section moduli for Algor. All other fibers are ignored. FEMAP does not support Fixed End Force or Intermediate Load data for Type 2 elements, other than the thermal (TL and TN) loads. 4. Algor Type 5 Elements only support isotropic materials. Other FEMAP material types will be converted to an effective isotropic representation. You should review this approximation carefully. 5. Algor does not support tetrahedral (4-noded) Type 5 elements, these will be translated as Type 9. Both 8-noded bricks and 6-noded wedges will be translated as Type 5 elements. FEMAP supports uniform face pressures, but does not support hydrostatic pressure. FEMAP can not write pressure loads for more than one face of a single solid element. 6. FEMAP does not support writing pressures for Type 3 or Type 4 elements, since these are edge, not face, pressures. During Read, FEMAP converts any edge pressures to equivalent nodal forces. 7. Algor only supports an orthotropic material formulation for Type 3 and Type 4 elements. FEMAP will convert any anisotropic materials to an equivalent orthotropic representation. You should review this approximation carefully. 8. Algor does not support any orientation angles for Type 6 elements. If you use nonisotropic materials with this element type, FEMAP will write the material constants, but will give you an error message. You must make sure that the constants are properly oriented. Element orientation angles are simply ignored. 9. FEMAPs Stiffness Matrix element only allows entry of a 6x6 matrix. This is automatically expanded to a 12x12 during translation to the Type 10 element. The expansion however does not take into account the geometric transformations required for non-coincident nodes. You will therefore receive a warning for each Stiffness Matrix element that you translate which connects non-coincident nodes. When reading these elements, you will receive an error message if the 12x12 real constants are not equivalent to the internal 6x6 representation.

5 $ 1 6 / $ 7 2 5 6



Translator Reference

10. FEMAP writes Tube elements as Type 12. These elements only support isotropic materials. FEMAP does not support internal pressure on tubes, curved tubes, or branching tubes. You can simulate the weight of an internal fluid by defining a nonstructural mass property. This mass is added to the material density when the property is written. 11. Algor only supports simple tension or compression gaps, with an initial gap that is either zero or the distance between the nodes. You can specify both tension and compression stiffness, and an arbitrary initial gap, in FEMAP. FEMAP will try to match your gap element to one of the available types. If it does not match, you will receive error messages. 12. All Rigid elements must be written in the first element group. FEMAP will therefore find all rigid elements in your model and write them into the first group. FEMAP uses Mass Matrix Option 4. This uses very stiff massless beams for the rigid elements. You may want to review and change this selection. 13. Algor only supports one stress free temperature per element group. You will receive an error if you have different material temperatures defined for various elements in the same group. 14. All Mass elements must be defined at a Node, in global coordinates. Offsets are not supported. Inertias are not written for static analysis. For modal analysis the moments of inertia are written, but the products of inertia are skipped. 15. All Mass Matrix elements will generate error messages to warn you that only the diagonal terms of the matrix can be used for Algor. You will see these errors even if the offdiagonal terms are zero. 16. Algor supports different material types for each element type. Refer to the Algor documentation, and the element portion of this table, for the types of materials supported. If you use a material type that is not available, FEMAP will approximate it with the available material type. These approximations can not fully represent the desired material behavior. You should always review your model carefully if you get this type of error message. 17. FEMAP uses the Algor Element Load Cases A, B, and C for gravity loads. Element Load Case D is used for both Temperature and Pressure Loads. You can only select one load case for Temperatures and one load case for Pressures. Forces, Moments, and other loads are written from all load cases, as they are defined in your model. 18. Master Nodes for Beams are not supported, but coordinates may be specified in any of the available coordinate systems. 19. FEMAP does not support all possible Elemental Load Factor combinations. FEMAP can only apply gravity loads to an entire model. You must therefore have a consistent set of gravity load factors for all element groups. Thermal load factors must also be consistent across groups, and in addition, must be either 0.0 or 1.0. FEMAP can not apply fractional thermal loads. Thermal load multipliers must also be 0.0 or 1.0. Elemental thermal loads on beams, which are included as part of the intermediate loads can not be read, even though they can be written. 20. Because of the differences in the way Algor and FEMAP handle temperatures, you must

ANSYS Translation Notes



only specify one stress free temperature per Algor material. FEMAP does not support any of the element data generators. If you have these, use Algor to expand the model. 21. Beam Fixed End Forces are not supported. Intermediate Loads are also not supported, except for TN, temperature from nodes, and constant value TL loads. 22. Temperature dependent material properties are not supported. 23. Midnodes and thru-thickness temperature gradients are not supported. 24. FEMAP can only read the format of stiffness matrix elements that it writes. That is, elements connected to six degrees of freedom at each of two nodes. When FEMAP reads these elements, it simply reads the upper-left 6x6 and discards the rest of the 12x12. 25. FEMAP can only read the tangential and curve tube elements that it writes. Branch point data is not supported. Internal pressure and temperature dependent material properties are also not supported. 26. FEMAP only supports Rigid elements that reference 20 nodes or less. 27. When FEMAP reads Type 7 elements, it will create enforced displacements. In addition, if the spring stiffness is not zero (or blank), FEMAP will create a Rod element, and a fully constrained node, to represent the specified stiffness. 28. FEMAP supports Algor thin composite plates with the following restrictions. No core layer is supported. The Failure analysis code is always written as 1 (Tsai-Wu). The Minor Poisson's ratio (v21), and the F12 and core crushing allowable stresses, are written as 0.0 and completely ignored by the read translator. Likewise the temperature difference for curing (DTCUR) is written as 0.0 and ignored on read. Additionally, laminates can only contain up to 45 plys - the maximum that FEMAP can handle. In addition to the support for Type 15 elements, the read translator will also read Type 16 elements. All core information will be lost however, and if you write them back to Algor they will become Type 15. 29. ALGOR plate properties are always written as anisotropic matrix properties. When reading an ALGOR model, FEMAP will automatically convert the properties back to isotropic, if the matrix formulation matches that for an isotropic material

5 $ 1 6 / $ 7 2 5 6

7.1.3 ANSYS Translation Notes

1. FEMAP defines the directions of nodal degrees of freedom using an output coordinate system. At each node, the directions of the nodal degrees of freedom in the output coordinate system are used to calculate nodal rotations (on N or NROTAT) for ANSYS. FEMAP supports either the ANSYS Rev 4 or Rev 5 angle definition. FEMAP Permanent constraints are merged with the nodal constraints in each constraint set translated. 2. For Beam (STIF44) elements, Keyopts 3 and 4 are used to represent the FEMAP Beam Releases in ANSYS Rev 4. Only the elemental rotational degrees of freedom can be released. In ANSYS Rev 5, Keyopts 7 and 8 are used and any combination of DOF can be released. Releases on translational DOF will generate a warning. Releases on Bar elements (STIF4) are not supported. These elements should be converted to Beams, or if possible modify the properties to eliminate the stiffness in the released direction. For Rev



Translator Reference

5, FEMAP will translate nonstructural mass to and from the additional mass real constant. 3. FEMAP orients the material coordinate system for planar elements using a specified angle for each element. Certain elements in ANSYS do not readily support this approach. For the Shear (STIF28), Plane Strain and Axisymmetric (STIF42, STIF82 and STIF2) elements, FEMAP does not support elemental material angles. For these elements, you must enter all material properties in global coordinates. ANSYS does not recommend using triangular STIF42 elements. You should convert to triangular STIF82 (parabolic) elements, or use the linear triangles with great care. 4. When FEMAP writes a GAP (STIF52) property which has a coefficient of friction a MU command is written. Only the Y-direction coefficient of friction is used. You will receive an error message if you specify a different coefficient of friction in the Y and Z directions. The MU command is not supported by the read translator and all friction will be ignored. FEMAP will write compression stiffness, gap distance, and transverse stiffness for gap elements. You will receive an error message if you specify a nonzero tension stiffness since it is not supported by STIF52. The starting condition is not supported and is left blank. It will be skipped by the read translator. 5. When Anisotropic materials are translated to ANSYS, the full matrix representation that you input is lost. The matrix input is converted to an effective orthotropic representation prior to translating. You should review this approximation carefully. 6. FEMAP does not support elliptical coordinate systems, or the elliptical factors on the LOCAL command. FEMAP does support the differences in angle definitions between ANSYS Rev 4 and Rev 5. ANSYS Coordinate Systems must be numbered between 11 and 40 for ANSYS Rev 4, or 11 and 999999 for ANSYS Rev 5. Other Coordinate systems are not supported for translation. Also, note the difference between ANSYS Spherical Coordinate systems and FEMAP Spherical Coordinate systems. The angular coordinates, and therefore, the degrees of freedom, are switched, and reoriented. For all entities which FEMAP handles in spherical coordinates, the differences are automatically corrected for you, but the switches can lead to confusion. It is often best to avoid spherical coordinates, if possible. 7. DOF Spring elements in ANSYS (STIF14) must connect to the same DOF at both nodes. 8. This element is not recommended. It is only supported in ANSYS Rev 4, it has been dropped from Rev 5. Use the Parabolic Laminated Plates (STIF91) instead. 9. FEMAP supports material angle definition for each element but ANSYS defines these angles with Real Constants. A model with an irregular mesh (many different angles) will have to generate many sets of real constants. You should use this capability with caution. For Laminate Plates, any material orientation angle specified for the element is combined with the angles specified for each layer when the real constants are defined. 10. When you translate for ANSYS Rev 4, Mass Elements must be defined in Global Coordinates unless they are specified as a pure lumped mass. That is, mass in all directions is the same, and there is no inertia. If specified, mass offsets and products of inertia are skipped. For ANSYS Rev 5, they can also be defined in the output coordinate system of the node where they are located.

ANSYS Translation Notes



11. FEMAPs Stiffness Matrix element only allows entry of a 6x6 matrix. This is automatically expanded to a 12x12 during translation to the STIF27 real constants. The expansion however does not take into account the geometric transformations required for non-coincident nodes. You will therefore receive a warning for each Stiffness Matrix element that you translate which connects non-coincident nodes. When reading these elements, you will receive an error message if the 12x12 real constants are not equivalent to the internal 6x6 representation. 12. FEMAP Reads the normal EN command format as well as the E command format. The NUMSTR,ELEM command is also supported to define the element ID for the E command. In addition to these normal PREP7 commands, FEMAP also supports a variation of the EN command that is generated by the CDWRIT command. The format of this variation is:
EN,4.4, 1 11 2 12 1, 3 13 1, 4 14 1, 5 15 6 16 1, 7 17 1, 8 18 0, 9 19 0 10 20

where the first line is EN, ANSYS Version, Order number (not read), MATL, ETYPE, REAL, Element ID, ESYS, and Select Key (not read). The next two lines contain up to 20 nodes which define the element. Unused nodes are 0. 13. Only 3D Mass elements (KEYOPT 3 = 0 or 2) are read. 14. FEMAP Rigid elements only support up to 20 nodes per element. If you have more nodes in a Coupled DOF set, the set will be broken into multiple rigid elements. 15. In addition to the R commands that FEMAP writes, The RMODIF and RMORE commands are also supported when reading an ANSYS model. In addition, if you set a material direction via the ESYS command, it sets the element orientation in FEMAP. 16. FEMAP can read the various material constant commands that it writes and also the MPDATA command (1st term only) which is generated by CDWRIT. FEMAP can also read the constant term from the MP command. 17. When reading D (displacement) commands, FEMAP creates constraints if the displacement value is 0.0, or loads if it is non-zero. 18. When reading loads and constraints (D, M, F), FEMAP only reads the first fields which define the node, degree of freedom, and value. The other fields which specify additional DOF, IDs, or other data are simply skipped without generating warnings. 19. FEMAP can only read constraint equations (CE) which reference 20 or fewer degrees of freedom. Entering a negative node ID to remove nodes from the equation is not supported. 20. FEMAP Mass Matrix elements only allow specification of mass at one node, and are therefore represented as a 6x6 matrix. ANSYS STIF27 (KEYOPT 3=2) mass matrices connect to two nodes, and are therefore a 12x12. When FEMAP writes Mass Matrix Elements the second node is simply connected to the minimum node number in your model. Only the 6x6 real constants connect to the first node are entered with the values you specified - all others are entered as 0.0. Since the ANSYS Weight Generator looks at the center of the two nodes, this approach results in incorrect CG and inertia estimations from

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ANSYS - however the overall mass matrix is still formulated properly. When reading Mass Matrix elements, you will receive an error message if there is any nonzero mass or inertia associated with the second node point. In fact the second node is completely skipped and the mass is only connected to the first node. 21. FEMAP does not support writing or reading tapered laminate elements. Only a single thickness is allowed for each ply. 22. FEMAP always writes the STIF45 ET command with KEYOPT(4)=1. That is the material axes aligned with the element IJ nodes. Then, if your model contains Properties that align the material axes to a specific coordinate system, FEMAP writes ESYS commands to override this specification. If you align with global rectangular coordinates (CSys 0), FEMAP will create a local coordinate system at the origin which is aligned to the Global axes and use it for the orientation. STIF73 and STIF95 elements do not support material axes which are aligned to the element IJ side, so you will receive an error message if you attempt to translate elements using this convention. 23. FEMAP always writes Beam (STIF44) and Bar (STIF4) elements with a third node to define the orientation. When reading these elements however, either the third node, or angular orientation method can be used. 24. FEMAP supports translating Rigid elements to either CP or CERIG commands. If you have rigid elements in your model, FEMAP will ask which method you prefer to use in the translation. Normally CERIG commands are preferred since they generate the proper equations for rotational coupling, rather than just connecting specified DOF. In ANSYS Rev 4 however, they can only represent fully coupled (all 6 DOF) or translationally coupled (all 3 translational DOF) connections. If you need other connections, you must either use CP commands, or use constraint equations instead of rigid elements. In ANSYS Rev 5, CERIG commands support any combination of rigid DOF. 25. FEMAP uses T commands when translating nodal temperatures to ANSYS Rev 4. BF,,TEMP commands are used for Rev 5. 26. FEMAP uses EP commands when translating pressures to ANSYS Rev 4 and SFE,,PRES commands for Rev 5. Varying pressures at different corners of an element are not supported. Similarly, pressures on the edges of planar elements are not supported. 27. FEMAP uses TE commands when translating elemental temperatures to ANSYS Rev 4. BFE,,TEMP commands are used for Rev 5. FEMAP only supports one constant temperature for each element. In Rev 4, FEMAP translates the proper number of identical temperatures to define a uniform element temperature. In Rev 5, only one temperature is translated, since other temperatures will all default to the first, and automatically produce uniform element temperature. 28. In ANSYS Rev 4, element types were selected with a numeric value (e.g. 44 for STIF44 beams). In Rev 5, this changes to a combined name and numeric (e.g. BEAM44 for STIF44 beams). FEMAP writes the appropriate method for each version and can read either format. 29. Any rod torsional properties will be lost when translating to ANSYS STIF4 elements. STIF4s do not have any torsional stiffness.

COSMOS Translation Notes



30. The Poissons ratio coefficients NUXY, NUYZ, and NUXZ follow a different convention than used by most other programs and FEMAP. The values that you enter are therefore converted to the ANSYS convention when you write an ANSYS file, and converted to the FEMAP convention when you read an ANSYS file. This involves the following conversion: NUij(ANSYS) = NUij(FEMAP) * Ej / Ei. 31. Surface-to-surface contact is defined in ANSYS using a combination of contact surface and target segment elements. ANSYS looks for contact only between contact surfaces and target segments which share the same real constant set. The real constant set is defined using the Model-Contact-Contact Property command. By pushing the ANSYS... button, the KEYOPTs can also be modified.

7.1.4 COSMOS Translation Notes

1. FEMAP translates both Bar and Beam elements as unsymmetrical BEAM3D elements. The only exception is if you have a Tapered Beam. These are translated as Tapered BEAM3D elements. Due to limitations in COSMOS, tapered elements can not be offset. 2. Triangular parabolic plane strain or axisymmetric elements are translated to TRIANG elements. Quadrilaterals translate to PLANE2D elements. 3. When Anisotropic materials are translated to COSMOS, the full matrix representation that you defined is lost. The matrix input is converted to an effective orthotropic representation prior to translating. You should review this approximation carefully. 4. Spherical FEMAP coordinate systems are translated to COSMOS but can be confusing since FEMAP uses different angular definitions for the coordinates. Spherical output coordinate systems on nodes are not supported due to the differences in coordinate definitions between FEMAP and COSMOS and the resulting inability to align the nodal degrees of freedom. 5. COSMOS Plate elements are only isotropic. If you want to use orthotropic materials or set a material angle, use the Laminated Plate(SHELL4L) elements instead - even if they only have 1 layer. When you are translating, you can choose between thin and thick plate behavior for isotropic plates. 6. Mass Elements must be defined in Global Coordinates for COSMOS. 7. FEMAPs Stiffness Matrix element only allows entry of a 6x6 matrix. This is automatically expanded to a 12x12 during translation to the GENSTIF real constants. The expansion however does not take into account the geometric transformations required for noncoincident nodes. You will therefore receive a warning for each Stiffness Matrix element that you translate which connects non-coincident nodes. You will also receive an error message if the 12x12 real constants are not equivalent to the internal 6x6 representation. 8. COSMOS only supports quadrilateral parabolic plates and laminated plates. Similarly parabolic wedge-shaped solids are not supported. 9. FEMAP splits rigid elements into multiple CPDOF sets depending on how many degrees of freedom and nodes are connected. 10. The number of real constants written for laminated plate elements depends on the num-

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ber of layers used. FEMAP only supports elements with up to 45 layers. 11. COSMOS only supports up to 10 terms in constraint equations. 12. COSMOS does not support multiple constraint cases, therefore whenever you translate enforced displacement loads, they are added to the constraints that you translated. If you are translating multiple load sets, any enforced displacements will apply to all load sets, not just the set that originally contained them. If you are translating more than one load set, FEMAP will always issue an error message if you translate enforced displacements to warn you of this condition. In some cases, you may want to ignore the error message, but you should always carefully review your model. To get around this limitation, you will have to translate the model multiple times - once for each load set that contains enforced displacements. 13. All nodes must be in Global Rectangular coordinates. That is, Coordinate System 0. If you have a model that uses other coordinate systems for input, just use the GEOSTAR GFORM_OUT command to write a new file. It will automatically transform all nodes into Global Rectangular coordinates. 14. FEMAP only supports the first numerical value for each of the MPROP variables. Other data is ignored. 15. FEMAP can only read DND commands which reference symmetry or antisymmetry conditions when the displacement value is zero. In addition, FEMAP stores enforced displacements with the load cases and not with the constraints as in COSMOS. This can cause problems if you have multiple load cases defined along with nonzero enforced displacements. FEMAP will always issue a warning in this case that you check your model thoroughly. Nonzero enforced displacements will be placed into whatever load case was active at the time they were read. If you translate back to COSMOS, and write all load cases, all enforced displacements will again be written. However, if you translate to other analysis programs, or only translate some load cases, you will lose some enforced displacements. Be careful! 16. FEMAP can only read pressures which are normal to the face of planar or solid elements. Pressures along the edge of axisymmetric or other elements are not supported. 17. FEMAP can only define constraints (and constraint equations) relative to the output coordinate system at each node. You will receive an error message if you try to read a model that contains multiple constraints (and or constraint equations) at a single node which are defined relative to different coordinate systems. As long as you only have one constraint per node, or if they are all relative to the same coordinate system, FEMAP can handle it properly. 18. Reaction force requests (RFND) are written for every constrained degree of freedom if you request them. The read translator skips over these commands without giving any warnings or messages. 19. These elements can only be read. If you rewrite the model they will be converted to one of the supported types for write. Postprocessing output for these elements is not supported.

I-DEAS Translation Notes



7.1.5 I-DEAS Translation Notes

1. FEMAP writes all coordinate systems, including the Global systems to the I-DEAS file. The Global systems are renumbered, but are titled FEMAP Global .... If you read a Universal file with these titles, FEMAP remaps them back to the Global. Likewise, if you read a Universal file that contains CSys 1 or 2, they are renumbered to valid FEMAP coordinate system IDs. 2. FEMAP can write, but not read Solid element material orientation vectors. 3. FEMAP supports a limited number of structural element properties for all element types. Any other properties that are written in the file will be skipped without warning. 4. Only CONSTANT material properties are supported. If your file contains other types of materials, or material constants that FEMAP does not support, FEMAP will still attempt to read DataSet 1710. To do this however, FEMAP must rely on the ------------ comments that separate the material properties. Even though these are comments, and could conceivably contain any text, they must contain dashes for FEMAP to successfully read the file. IDEAS Master Series creates these automatically. 5. Only constant zero, displacement constraints are supported. Temperature and time varying constraints will be skipped. 6. Only constraint equations with up to 13 terms can be read. In addition, the constant term must be zero. Only real terms are read. 7. Time varying loads are not supported - they will be read as constants. Shell temperatures will be read as a single nodal value using the Top temperature. FEMAP only reads the loading DataSets if they correspond the one of the available FEMAP load types. 8. Gravity Loads are skipped. Only the Translational Acceleration loads are read.

7.1.6 LS-DYNA3D Translation Notes

1. Rod, Tube, Bar, and Beam elements are all written as LS-DYNA3D SHELL elements, although with different element formulations. Also, FEMAP will create synthetic nodes for all beam elements that do not have third node referenced for orientation. Also, beam offsets are not currently supported for LS-DYNA3D 2. Membrane, Plate, Laminate, Plain Strain, and Axisymmetric elements are all written as LS-DYNA3D SHELL elements. 3. In general it is best to use the Other Type materials for all LS-DYNA3D materials since this enables you to specify exactly what material to use instead of FEMAP selecting a material. 4. FEMAP writes constraint equations to LS-DYNA3D, but all coefficients for the DOFs of a given node in the constraint equation must hvae the same value. 5. Body loads can only be applied to the entire structure. Also, LS-DYNA3D conventions are directly opposite of FEMAP, so FEMAP will automatically reverse the sign of the body loads.

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7.1.7 mTAB*STRESS Translation Notes

The mTAB*STRESS file formats are the same as those for SAP IV, these notes therefore also apply if you are using FEMAP with SAP IV. Throughout these notes, you will see references to STRESS. These refer to the mTAB*STRESS/SAP IV file format. 1. Nodal coordinates are always written by FEMAP in the Global Cartesian coordinate system. STRESS does not support Output Coordinate Systems. There is no way to rotate nodal degrees of freedom. You will receive an error message for any node that references a nonzero Output Coordinate System. All coordinate systems are supported when you read an STRESS model. 2. Tapered Beam Elements are not supported by STRESS. Only the first end of the element will be considered. 3. FEMAP nonisotropic materials can be used to define the three thermal expansion coefficients for Type 2 elements. FEMAP only uses the first fiber location to calculate the section moduli for STRESS. All other fibers are ignored. FEMAP does not support Fixed End Force data for Type 2 elements. 4. STRESS Type 5 Elements only support isotropic materials. If your solid elements reference nonisotropic materials, they will be written as Type 8 elements, even if they are linear solids. 5. STRESS does not support tetrahedral (4-noded) Type 5 elements. These elements will be simulated by duplicating nodes on a Type 8 Brick element. FEMAP supports uniform face pressures, but does not support hydrostatic pressure. 6. FEMAP does not support writing pressures for Type 3 or Type 4 elements, since these are edge, not face, pressures. During Read, FEMAP converts any edge pressures to equivalent nodal forces. 7. STRESS only supports an orthotropic material formulation for Type 3 and Type 4 elements. FEMAP will convert any anisotropic materials to an equivalent orthotropic representation. You should review this approximation carefully. 8. STRESS does not support any orientation angles for Type 6 elements. If you use nonisotropic materials with this element type, FEMAP will write the material constants, but will give you an error message. You must make sure that the constants are properly oriented. Element orientation angles are simply ignored. 9. FEMAP can only read the tangential and curve tube elements that it writes. Branch point data is not supported. Internal pressure and temperature dependent material properties are also not supported. 10. FEMAP writes Tube elements as Type 12. These elements only support isotropic materials. FEMAP does not support internal pressure on tubes, curved tubes, or branching tubes. You can simulate the weight of an internal fluid by defining a nonstructural mass property. This mass is added to the material density when the property is written. 11. Spring elements are converted to Boundary Elements. Therefore, they are only supported if one end of the spring is connected to a node that is constrained in all 6 degrees of

MARC Translation Notes



freedom. 12. When FEMAP reads Type 7 elements, it will create enforced displacements. In addition, if the spring stiffness is not zero (or blank), FEMAP will create a Rod element, and a fully constrained node, to represent the specified stiffness. 13. STRESS plate properties are always written as anisotropic matrix properties. When reading an STRESS model, FEMAP will automatically convert the properties back to isotropic, if the matrix formulation matches that for an isotropic material 14. All Mass elements must be defined at a Node, in global coordinates. Offsets are not supported. Inertias are not written for static analysis. For modal analysis the moments of inertia are written, but the products of inertia are skipped. 15. All Mass Matrix elements will generate error messages to warn you that only the diagonal terms of the matrix can be used for STRESS. You will see these errors even if the offdiagonal terms are zero. 16. STRESS supports different material types for each element type. Refer to the STRESS documentation, and the element portion of this table, for the types of materials supported. If you use a material type that is not available, FEMAP will approximate it with the available material type. These approximations can not fully represent the desired material behavior. You should always review your model carefully if you get this type of error message. 17. Because of the limited number of Element Load Cases (4) in STRESS, only one load case for Temperatures and Pressures can be selected. 18. Master Nodes for Beams are not supported, but coordinates may be specified in any of the available coordinate systems. 19. FEMAP does not support all possible Elemental Load Factor combinations. FEMAP can only apply gravity loads to an entire model. You must therefore have a consistent set of gravity load factors for all element groups. Thermal load factors must also be consistent across groups, and in addition, must be either 0.0 or 1.0. FEMAP can not apply fractional thermal loads. Thermal load multipliers must also be 0.0 or 1.0. Elemental thermal loads on beams, which are included as part of the intermediate loads can not be read, even though they can be written. 20. Because of the differences in the way STRESS and FEMAP handle temperatures, you must only specify one stress free temperature per STRESS material. FEMAP does not support any of the element data generators. 21. Beam Fixed End Forces are not supported. 22. Temperature dependent material properties are not supported. 23. Midnodes and thru-thickness temperature gradients are not supported.

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7.1.8 MARC Translation Notes

1. Nodal coordinates referencing a rectangular coordinate system for their output coordinate system will be written in Global Rectangular (CSys 0) and and corrseponding TRANS-



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FORM is written for those not in Global Rectangular. Nodes referencing a cylindrical system are written in that coordinate system with a vorresponding CYLINDRICAL option. 2. Type 14 element is only chosen if Hybrid Formulation is selected. 3. For many FEMAP elements, MARC has several different types for each element. To set the element type please set the Element Formulation.To determine which element will be used for a specific formulation, please see the previous chapter, Element Reference. 4. Rigid Elements connecting all 6 DOFs are translated as TYING, type 100. If all 6 DOFs are not connected, separate TYING cards are written for each connected DOF. 5. This option is only output if there is Contact in the model, or the user has specified Number of Increments on the Modal Load Nonlinear Analysis dialog box for a load set selected in a Historuy Definition.

7.1.9 NASTRAN Translation Notes

The following translation notes apply to translations for MSC/NASTRAN, CSA/NASTRAN, UAI/NASTRAN, Cosmic/NASTRAN, ME/NASTRAN and SSS/NASTRAN. All programs use similar file formats. 1. Coordinate Systems 1 and 2 are predefined in FEMAP. They are always written to your NASTRAN data file, but use a special continuation field that tells FEMAPs NASTRAN Read translator to skip them. If you read a NASTRAN model which has a Coordinate System 1 or 2 (and does not have the special continuation field) those coordinate systems, and all entities which reference them will be automatically renumbered. 2. FEMAP will read RBAR elements if all six independent elemental DOF are connected to one node. This is the typical case for a true rigid bar. If the model is then translated back to NASTRAN, the elements will be converted to RBE2 elements. 3. FEMAP Spring Elements are automatically converted to equivalent CROD elements during write. A representative PROD and MAT1 card are generated based on the element length and specified spring constants. Damping is not supported. 4. The stress coefficient, S, is not supported for CELAS2 elements. If you specify the spring stiffness as 0.0, FEMAP will write a CDAMP2 element instead of the CELAS2. 5. Type 3 CBEND cards are written. Type 1, 2 or 3 can be read, but for type 1 or 2 the radius on the PBEND card must be 0. Only the primary CBEND format is supported. The ThetaB field is not supported on the PBEND card. Likewise, the geometric centroid offsets and radial neutral axis offsets are not supported. 6. If you have a PARAM,WTMASS entry in your model, FEMAP will automatically multiply all material densities, mass, and inertias for CONM2 elements, and matrix entries for CONM1 elements by the WTMASS factor. When FEMAP writes a NASTRAN model, the WTMASS parameter is not written. 7. Only triangular axisymmetric elements are supported by the FEMAP NASTRAN translators. Quadrilateral elements are skipped. For the MSC/NASTRAN translator linear axisymmetric triangles are converted to CTRIAX6 elements with missing midside nodes. Other translators convert them to CTRIARG elements.

NASTRAN Translation Notes



8. NASTRAN only supports one mass component on CONM2. FEMAP uses the X-Direction Mass for this value on write, and sets all three components equal on read. 9. 3D ORTHOTROPIC materials which are used by axisymmetric elements are translated to MAT3 commands. Most data is directly translated for this command, but the NUXY term must be converted as it is translated to or from the NUZX MAT3 term. The conversion is required because NUZX would really correspond to NUYX, not NUXY. The MAT3 NUZX is set equal to NUXY * EY / EX. 10. FEMAPs tube element is not tapered, so the OD2 field is not supported. 11. FEMAP does support tapered beams, with properties at both ends, but does not support intermediate property data. In addition, FEMAP only supports shear cetner and neutral axis offsets. The additional nonstructural mass center of gravity offset is not supported. 12. PSHELL is used for all of the plate-like element properties. The various MID fields control the type of plate. For a Plane Strain representation MID2=-1. For a Membrane MID2=0 and MID3=0. For a Bending representation MID1 and MID2 are not 0, but MID3 is 0. For a full Plate representation none of the MIDs are 0. FEMAP also supports full definition of all of the material IDs. 13. FEMAP only supports up to 90layers for PCOMP. Using the symmetric option can simulate 180 layers. The SOUT fields to request output for individual plies are not supported. 14. Only the material and integration network are supported for PSOLID. 15. The material coordinate system ids are not supported. 16. The type of NASTRAN card written by the nodal constraints is controlled by your selections during the translation process. Any FEMAP constraint set which is not selected as one of the other sets will automatically be translated as SPC cards. FEMAP does not support nonzero displacements which are defined on SPC cards. 17. FEMAP only supports MPC equations with up to 70 terms. 18. Nodes referenced on SPCD cards must also be selected by a Nodal Constraint. FEMAP does not do this automatically for you. You must create nodal constraints for all nodes using SPCDs. 19. FEMAP only supports normal pressure on element faces so the PLOAD4 continuation card which specifies a coordinate system and direction vector are not supported. 20. FEMAP only supports constant elemental temperatures so all fields pertaining to gradients on the TEMPP1 and TEMPRB card are not supported. 21. LOAD cards are automatically generated if you combine body and nodal/elemental loads in the same FEMAP case. The LOAD card takes the ID of the FEMAP load case, and all of the actual loads are renumbered to nonexisting cases which are then combined by LOAD. Temperatures remain in the original case. LOAD cards are not supported by the NASTRAN read translator. When you read a model with combined loads, the individual loads will be read into their new cases, but the combination will be ignored. 22. For MSC and UAI/NASTRAN both Tangential Acceleration and Rotational Velocity are supported on the RFORCE command, but they must be along/around the same vector.

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23. For parabolic plate elements, NASTRAN evaluates the material axis orientation at each interior integration point, along the constant parametric lines of the element. FEMAP orients, based on the edge going from nodes 1-2 on the element. As long as your elements have straight sides, with the midside nodes at the midside, these are equivalent. If not, the NASTRAN representation will not match what you defined in FEMAP. In fact, the NASTRAN formulation will point in different physical directions at each interior integration point. 24. FEMAP does not support spring/damper elements that refer to scalar points to indicate a constrained coordinate.

7.1.10 PATRAN Translation Notes

1. FEMAP Coordinate System 0 is not written to the PATRAN file, but Coordinate Systems 1 and 2 are always written. 2. All coordinates are written to PATRAN in global rectangular coordinates (CSys 0). 3. All element types are written with the appropriate shape and number of nodes to match your definition in FEMAP. The PATRAN Element Configuration (CONFIG) is set to the value shown (Cfg=). 4. Properties are written to (and read from) the PATRAN Neutral file in the same format used by the NASPAT translator. The property values match the order used by NASTRAN. This format may be incompatible with interfaces from PATRAN to other programs. 5. Constraints are written to the PATRAN Neutral file as enforced displacement loads. When reading a Neutral File, FEMAP converts an enforced displacement of 0.0 to a constraint, and all others to loads.

7.1.11 STARDYNE Translation Notes

1. STARDYNE does not directly support Coordinate Systems. All Nodes are translated in Global Rectangular coordinates. If you use non-Global output coordinate systems in FEMAP though, extra nodes will be generated to represent the proper coordinate angles. For rectangular coordinate systems, only one set of nodes will be generated per coordinate system. For non-rectangular systems, a set of synthetic nodes will be generated to orient every node which references that coordinate system. All synthetic nodes will be automatically fully constrained and referenced on ASYSG commands. Even so, be careful when using nonrectangular output coordinate systems since the number of nodes generated can be very large. 2. FEMAP Rod elements are translated as BEAMG elements with only Area and J defined, and with a 001111 release code. This releases all but the axial and torsional element directions. 3. STARDYNE's definition of Beam Releases is not as general as FEMAP's. There are certain combinations which can not be represented. 4. Tapered Beam elements are translated to BEAMTPR commands. Non-tapered beams to BEAMG commands.

STARDYNE Translation Notes



5. FEMAP converts Spring Elements to a MADDEL with a series of MADDX entries. When reading a STARDYNE model, FEMAP can read MADDEL/MADDX combinations and recreate the original springs, but only if they follow the scheme that FEMAP normally writes. A general series of MADDXs can not be converted. Damping is not supported for spring elements that are translated to or from STARDYNE. 6. Only Triangular Shear elements are supported. Quad elements are not written to STARDYNE. 7. During translation you will be given the opportunity to choose the type of plates to be used in your analysis. These types are used for Linear Plate Triangles and Quads. 8. FEMAP allows you to set a material angle for Axisymmetric elements and a Coordinate System for Solid Elements. All materials must be defined in Global Coordinates for Axisymmetric or Solid STARDYNE elements. 9. STARDYNE requires you to define Axisymmetric elements in the global XY plane. FEMAP does not restrict this definition and you must build your model that way, or move/rotate it there prior to translation. 10. Offsets on Mass (WGHT) Elements are not supported by STARDYNE. They will be skipped. Similarly, all Mass Elements must be defined in the output coordinate system of the node they are defined on. 11. FEMAP translates Rigid Elements which connect up to 20 nodes into multiple rigid beams, all connected to the specified independent node. STARDYNE does not however support partial rigid elements - all 6 DOF are connected rigidly, no matter what you specify in FEMAP. Also, STARDYNE chooses its own independent node based on the highest node number - not necessarily the one you specified in FEMAP. 12. If you use offset Bar or Beam elements, multiple properties will be generated - one for each unique set of offsets. 13. FEMAP's Laminated Plate Element allows definition of up to 45 layers per property. Each Laminated Plate property is translated to a QCSTAK command, and each layer is translated to a QCBLOC. FEMAP defines the bond shear allowable on the Laminate Plate property. STARDYNE does it on the MATLG5. For this reason FEMAP only supports translation of one bond shear allowable per material. If you have multiple allowables, you must create multiple materials and reference only one per property. As long as your bond shear allowable is consistent, this is not a limitation. 14. When Anisotropic materials are translated to STARDYNE, the full matrix input that you input is lost. The matrix input is converted to an effective orthotropic representation prior to translating. You should review this approximation carefully. 15. MATLG4 and MATLG5 commands are only written for Materials referenced by Laminate Plate Elements. These materials are written in orthotropic formulation (MATLG1...MATLG6) even if defined as isotropic. 16. FEMAP only supports single element temperatures. The same temperature is written to both the top and bottom face for TPTEMP and QPTEMP.

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17. FEMAP Tube elements do not support offsets or releases, so those items are skipped. In addition, straight Tubes are not oriented so the Beta Angle or Third Node is also ignored. 18. BEAMI elements will be read from your model but only blank properties will be created since there is no property data really stored with the STARDYNE model. The BPROP7 command is not read. 19. MADDXINC commands can be read to create DOF Spring elements. MADDX commands which represent springs-to-ground can also be read and will result in the creation of a coincident, fully-constrained node, and a connection between that new node and the original. 20. STARDYNE only supports quadrilateral laminate elements. Triangular elements will be skipped. FEMAP Laminate Plate Elements only support up to 45 plys. These plys can be defined in any combination of QCBLOC and QCSTAK commands, but the total number of plys must be less than 45. Any additional plys will be skipped. 21. FEMAP only supports constant elemental face pressure. Additional corner pressures on the QPRS and CPRS commands are ignored when the commands are written. During Read the first corner pressure is read if all others are zero. If multiple corner pressures are present, they are averaged. 22. FEMAP converts Curved Beam elements to STARDYNE ELBOW elements. Since the ELBOW is really a tube, FEMAP calculates an effective tube cross section based on the Area and Inertia that you specify. If you specify a value for I2 that is different from I1, you will see an error message, and FEMAP will skip I2. Similarly, offsets and releases are not supported by the STARDYNE ELBOW and will be skipped. 23. MASSX entries are formatted just like MADDX. Although FEMAP allows you to specify any coordinate systems for a Mass Matrix element, to translate it to STARDYNE, you must choose the same coordinate system that you chose for the node where the mass is applied. All masses and inertias must be specified in that coordinate system. You will receive an error message if you choose any other system. FEMAP can not read MASSX entries from a STARDYNE model. 24. FEMAPs Stiffness Matrix element only allows entry of a 6x6 matrix. This is automatically expanded to a 12x12 during translation to MADDX entries. The expansion however does not take into account the geometric transformations required for non-coincident nodes. You will therefore receive a warning for each Stiffness Matrix element that you translate which connects non-coincident nodes. FEMAP can not read MADDX entries which represent Stiffness Matrix elements. 25. Plane strain analyses in STARDYNE use plate elements with modified material constants. Refer to page M-85 of the STARDYNE Users Manual for details. If you model with FEMAP however, you should specify the actual constants. FEMAP automatically calculates the effective plane strain constants for you (based on the equations on page M85). If, for some reason, your model contains a mixture of plane strain and other elements, the plane strain elements must reference different materials than the other elements. If you read a model that contained plane strain elements, FEMAP will create plate elements with the effective material constants. There is no way to distinguish that those elements really

weCan Translation Notes



represent a plane strain condition.

7.1.12 weCan Translation Notes

1. All nodal coordinates (and other geometry) are written to weCan in Global Rectangular coordinates (CSys 0), no matter how they are defined in FEMAP. 2. For Rod (STIF8) elements, weCan does not support torsion or nonstructural mass. 3. Tube and curved tube elements do not support nonstructural mass. 4. If you are using nonisotropic materials with Solid elements, you must either choose to align the material axes to element coordinates, or more typically to Global Rectangular coordinates. Other Global or user defined coordinate systems are not supported for material axes. 5. For Bar (STIF4) and Beam (STIF64) elements, FEMAP will base the element thickness for stress recovery on the first stress recovery location that you specify. If you do not specify any stress recovery locations, FEMAP will calculate an effective thickness from the ratios of the cross sectional area and the inertias. To insure proper stress calculations however, you should always specify at least one recovery location. 6. For Bar (STIF4) and Beam (STIF64) elements, releases are not supported. You must modify the properties to eliminate axial, bending or shear behavior. 7. Tapered beam elements do not support differing shear areas at the two ends of the beam. 8. Damping is not supported for Spring elements. 9. STIF13 elements do not support multiple thicknesses. If you specify corner thicknesses, only the first one will be used. 10. Mass elements must be defined relative to the output coordinate system of the node where they are attached. Offsets and the product of inertia (I12, I31 and I32) terms are not supported and are skipped. 11. Rigid elements must be fully rigid in all degrees of freedom. 12. All components of displacement loads that you specify must be nonzero. If you want to enforce a zero displacement, use constraints instead of displacement loads. 13. All rotational velocities are applied around the global origin. Moving the origin for rotations is not supported by weCan. 14. Nonisotropic materials are only supported by plate, plane strain, axisymmetric and brick and wedge solid elements. They are not supported for any line elements (bar, beam,...), nor for tetrahedral solids. 15. You must specify the same temperature for all materials in your model - multiple material reference temperatures are not supported.

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7.2 Analysis Program Interfaces

This section provides detailed descriptions of the commands and menus available when exporting to the different analysis programs. Each subsection contained in this section details the interface to a specific analysis program.

7.2.1 ABAQUS Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the ABAQUS file formats. You can write a FEMAP model for analysis in ABAQUS, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

7.2.1.1 Writing an ABAQUS Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be analyzed by ABAQUS.

Starting to Export
There are eight options available for ABAQUS translation: (1) Static, (2) Modal Analysis, (3) Transient Dynamic/Time History, (4) Frequency/Harmonic Response, (5) Buckling, (6) Explicit Transient Dynamics (ABAQUS EXPLICIT) (7) Steady-State Heat Transfer, and (8) Transient Heat Transfer. These options determine which element types (structural or heat transfer) will be written, and set the defaults for the dialog boxes to come. Later, you will be able to change your selection if you picked the wrong one, as long as the new selection is consistent with the initial element type (i.e. you can switch between the various Structural Standard options, or between Steady State and Transient Heat Transfer, but not between Structural and Heat Transfer types, or between STANDARD and EXPLICIT options). Once you make your selection, you will see the standard file access dialog box, where you can specify the name of the file to be created. The default filename extension for this file is .INP, but you can choose any name. After choosing a filename, you will see the ABAQUS Model Write dialog box. This dialog box allows you to specify Model Definition information.

Title
Here you can specify a one-line title that will be written as an ABAQUS *HEADER command. It will appear as the page header in your print files.

Kinematic Constraint Set

This option allows you to choose a constraint set that will be written prior to your first analysis *STEP. Nodal constraints from the set that you select will be combined with any permanent constraints on your FEMAP nodes and both will be written. The permanent constraints will not be written unless you select a set with this option. During the Step Definition phase, you can again specify constraints to be applied to the model.

Writing an ABAQUS Model



In addition to Nodal constraints however, the Kinematic Constraint Set can also contain Constraint Equations which will be applied with *EQUATION commands. Any Constraint Equations that are in Constraint Sets that you select during Step Definition will be ignored. They must be specified via this option.

Initial Conditions
This option allows you to select initial conditions for your model. It also can be used to define the frequencies for calculation of Rayleigh Damping in Direct Transient (EXPLICIT or STANDARD) analysis. FEMAP currently supports both temperature and velocity initial conditions. Temperatures from the set you select will be applied to your Nodes as *INITIAL CONDITIONS, TYPE = TEMPERATURE. If the load set contains a body load default temperature, it will be applied to all the nodes of the model. If any nodal temperatures exist, they will then be applied to the appropriate nodes, redefining their initial temperatures. This will produce a warning in your ABAQUS run, but ABAQUS will utilize the appropriate temperatures. If Elemental Temperature Loads exist in the selected load set, they will be skipped and an error message will be printed. Velocity initial conditions can also be specified in a similar manner. Any Nodal Velocity Loads contained in the selected load set will be written as *INITIAL CONDITIONS, TYPE=VELOCITY. Only temperatures and velocities will be utilized from the selected load set. Since load sets can be selected for each STEP, and all loads in these sets are exported, you should create a load set containing just initial temperatures and velocities so these conditions are not exported in a STEP along with other loads. The Body Load Default Temperature is an easy method to assign an initial temperature to all nodes in the model, which can then be redefined for any single nodes utilizing Nodal Temperature Loads. For direct transient analysis, FEMAP will calculate the Rayleigh damping values for each material based upon the material entry, and the frequencies input for System (W3) and Element (W4) Damping under Model Load Dynamic Analysis. The type of analysis must be selected as Direct Transient for FEMAP to properly convert the values. Alpha damping is computed from the product of W4 and the damping material value. Beta damping is simply the damping material value divided by W3.

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Overrides/Group Contact
This button allows you to access a much larger ABAQUS Model Write dialog box. This dialog box will allow you to override your current element formulations (hybrid, 5DOF plates, etc.) as well as form contact entities via groups. All options that are available in the larger dialog box are also available by simply changing the element formulation, or using Contact Pairs and Segments. The Group Contact has been made obsolete by the Contact Segment/ Pair support. These options remain here to support old models which used this capability. Since you will typically not need to use these overrides or group contact, it will not be explained until the end of this section.

Write All Groups As Sets

This option, if checked, will simply write additional *NSET and *ELSET commands to the file which represent the Nodes and Elements that you have selected into every Group in your model. These sets are not used except when a Group is selected when defining a Rigid Sur-



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face or Contact Pair. They can be very convenient if you want to edit the resulting file later, and will also compact the data on the *SURFACE DEFINITION options by using Group Sets.

Rigid Surfaces...
...simply lets you select a FEMAP group which will be translated as a rigid surface, and the associated slave surface or Contact Node Set. Refer to the following section for information regarding how to define the group.

Defining a Rigid Surface

Although FEMAP does not have the equivalent of an ABAQUS rigid surface, the translator can use a FEMAP group to create one. First, however, you must properly construct your model and the group that you will use. The required contents of the group is different than the old contact modeling which we be explained later in this section. To successfully create a rigid surface, a FEMAP group must contain the following entities: m Either One or more Lines or Arcs. m One Reference Node m One or More FEMAP Contact Segments. m Optionally, a Coordinate System for 3-D Contact m Optionally, a single Contact Property. When selecting Lines and/or Arcs, they must form a continuous path. You must select the lines such that as you would walk along the lines, the contact is on your left. This can be accomplished by using View Options, Tools and View Style, Curve and Surface Accuracy to show the direction of the lines. The first line selected must be the start of the rigid surface, and it must be in the proper direction. FEMAP will automatically form the remaining lines in the appropriate direction. The lines and arcs will be converted to SEGMENTS (if there are plane strain or axisymmetric elements in the model) or CYLINDER rigid surface. Splines may not be chosen, and if you choose arcs, they must always have an included angle less than 180 degrees. If you need larger arcs, simply break the arc into pieces before you export. You must also select a reference node for the rigid surface and one or more contact segments. The node can (and usually should) be constrained in your model. The motion, or lack thereof of this reference node will determine the motion of the rigid body. The contact segments will be placed as the slave surfaces to the Master Rigid Surface. There are also two optional inputs to the group. The first, a coordinate system, is used to orient 3-D contact in space. If planar or axisymmetric elements are present, this coordinate system is unnecessary and will be ignored. If these elements are not present, thereby denoting a 3-D contact problem, FEMAP will use the coordinate system to determine the direction in which the 2-D cross-section will be extruded to form an infinite 3-D rigid surface. The x axis of the coordinate system should typically be along the length of contact, with the Y axis denoting the interface normal. The Negative Z axis of the coordinate system is used to

Defining Analysis Steps



extrude the cross section. If no coordinate system is specified, FEMAP will use the Z axis as the default for the extrusion axis. A Contact property can also be included in the group to define the specific relationship between the rigid surface and the contact segment. This property information is exported in an identical manner as that for a Contact Pair (please see both Contact Pair and Contact Property explanations in the FEMAP Commands Guide).

7.2.1.2 Defining Analysis Steps

After you select the model translation options, you will see the ABAQUS STEP definition dialog box: It allows you to choose the various options that are available for controlling the ABAQUS analysis steps.

Load Selection
With these options, you can select the Constraints and Loads that will be used for the current step. In most cases, only one step will be written at a time, however if you need to do an analysis of many independent load cases, the All Loads as Individual Steps can be convenient. If it is selected, every load set in your model will be written to a corresponding step. All other options in each step will be identical, including the single constraint set you select. A selection of a constraint set will be ignored for modal procedures such as *MODAL DYNAMIC and *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS (modal) which are Linear Perturbation Steps and do not allow the user to modify the boundary conditions.

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Note:
All loads supported by the ABAQUS Translator will be written for the load case selected. No checking is performed to determine if the load is appropriate for the analysis type chosen. Therefore, care should be utilized when developing load sets to place only appropriate loads for your analysis in that load set.

Applying Loads
The Amplitude options determine how loads will be applied for loads which do not have an associated vs. Time function defining their time histories. These options are added to the



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*STEP command. STEP amplitude applies full loading at the beginning of the step. RAMP amplitude starts at zero, and increases the magnitude of the loads throughout the step. Default chooses whichever type is default for the type of analysis you are performing. Similarly loads can either be applied as a new load case, or to modify loads that are previously applied. If you are defining a new, independent load case, or if this is the first step, choose NEW. If you are trying to apply additional loads to those already defined for a previous step, as in a perturbation analysis, choose MODIFY.

Applying Constraints
Constraints can also be applied as either a new constraint set, or to modify current constraints. If you have defined a Kinematic Constraint Set in the Model Write dialog box with boundary conditions that you would like to remain on your model, choose Modify. However, if you would like to define completely new constraints, choose New. For Modal Superposition Analysis types such as *MODAL DYNAMIC, and *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS (not Direct), this option is ignored since constraints cannot be modified or created in a Modal Superposition method. Furthermore, any constraints defined in a newly chosen constraint set for this STEP will be ignored.

Note:
This option will be used for all *BOUNDARY conditions in the ABAQUS STEP, including certain FEMAP Nodal Loads such as Enforced Displacements, Velocities, and Accelerations.

Procedure Definition
The options in this group allow you to choose the analysis type to be performed. Once again, remember that you will not be able to change your previous analysis type selection from Structural to Heat Transfer types (or vice versa).

Type
Your choice here indicates the type of analysis that you want to perform. If you chose a structural STANDARD analysis type, you may select between Static, Modes, Transient Response/Time History, SS Dynamics/Frequency Response, Buckling, Explicit Transient Visco (Creep). If you chose a heat transfer type previously, you may choose between Steady State and Transient Heat Transfer types. You can perform any of the current analysis types, even different types in different steps. If you previously chose Explicit Transient Dynamics, this will be the only option available to you. Depending upon which analysis type you choose, some of the following options must also be specified:

Time Period and Increments

These options are translated directly to the second card of the *STATIC, *DYNAMIC, *MODAL DYNAMIC, and *HEAT TRANSFER (both steady state and transient) procedures. They control the way that ABAQUS will increment through the time step.

Defining Analysis Steps



Tolerance control (DELTMX for a *HEAT TRANSFER and HAFTOL for a *DYNAMIC analysis) can also be utilized, but must be input as part of the current selected load set under the Nonlinear Analysis Load Option (select Transient under Solution Type and enter a value in any of the convergence tolerances for DELTMX on the *HEAT TRANSFER option, or a value in the force convergence tolerance for HAFTOL on the *DYNAMIC option). The maximum number of increments/step (INC=) can be similarly defined by entering a value of Max Iterations/Step under the Nonlinear Analysis Load Option.

Note:
When translating for ABAQUS EXPLICIT, you should typically only define the Time Period and Scale Factor. You can specify a Max Time Increment, but this may cause the run to fail in many cases.

Number of Eigenvectors/Points, Min, Max and Shift Frequency

This information is written to the second card of the *FREQUENCY, *BUCKLE, and *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS options. For the *FREQUENCY procedure, ABAQUS will extract frequencies until it reaches either the number you specify or the Max Frequency limit. A Shift Frequency can be specified if you do not want to recover frequencies near 0 Hz. For buckling analysis, only the number of Eigenvalues and the Max Frequency are utilized. The user may specify the number of points to be utilized in the analysis as well as the minimum and maximum frequencies for frequency/harmonic response analyses. These values are translated directly to the second card of the *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS option. The user can also specify additional individual frequencies of interest by inputting a function containing a list of frequencies under the Solution Frequency option contained under Create Load Dynamic Analysis. Values contained in this table will be written as single frequency values to be analyzed by ABAQUS.

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Note:
It is important to define the Dynamic Analysis options for any load set with which you plan to perform a Transient or Frequency Response analysis. These options control whether a direct or modal type of analysis is performed. If no solution method is chosen for the selected load case, or the solution method does not agree with the selected type (i.e. solution method is a frequency type and you chose Transient), the STEP will not be written and FEMAP will prompt the user with an error message. Furthermore, ABAQUS requires that a *FREQUENCY analysis be performed on a previous step when choosing modal superposition. If a modal solution method is requested on the load case chosen for the STEP and modal analysis has not been selected on a previous STEP, FEMAP will again prompt the user with an error message and the STEP will not be written.

NonLinear Geometry:
If checked, adds the NLGEOM option to the *STEP command. This will account for geometric non-linearity during this and subsequent steps, and is only relevant for stress analysis.



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This option is required for models which use hyperelastic materials. FEMAP will recognize that hyperelastic materials exist in the model, and then check this option. If this option is checked when you enter FEMAP, de-selecting it will almost always cause your analysis to fail.

Linear Perturbation Step:

If you check this option, the PERTURBATION option will be added to *STEP, indicating that the current step represents a change from the previous step (as opposed to an independent load step).

Requesting Output
Here you can choose the output that will be calculated for each step. The first choice is whether output should go to the Print file, PostProcessing file, or both. If you plan to use FEMAP for postprocessing, you must choose the Post option (or Both). The print frequency can also be controlled, but must be input as part of the load set, again under Nonlinear Analysis Load, Output Every Nth Step. The various output types are self-explanatory. Simply choose the ones you want. Be aware however, ABAQUS does not produce all types of output for every element or analysis type. If you check an option, but do not get output, that is probably the reason. Finally, you can choose to recover either integration point or nodal output for elemental data. FEMAP will automatically recover centroidal data if you request any elemental output, simply because centroidal values are required for postprocessing.

Note:
The Write Zero Increment allows the user to write an initial condition step to the output which can be useful when performing Multi-Set animation. This option, however, is only available in ABAQUS 5.6+.

Include File...
...allows you to input a file into the current *.inp file that you are writing to include information which may not directly supported by FEMAP. This file will be placed at the end of the previous selection. You can select a file before you even write a step to include information in the model portion of the *.inp file. If you would like to include a file inside a step, simply select the step, press OK, and then press the Include File button. The file will then be written before the *END STEP card. If All Load Sets as Individual Steps is chosen, FEMAP will only write the file at the end of the Last STEP written. It will not include the file in all STEPs. Therefore, the File Include option should rarely be used with the Load Sets as Individual Steps option. You can even use this option to define a full STEP for analyses not currently supported by FEMAP. If this file is included before the first STEP, you simply define the STEP in your file, including the *STEP option as the first line and the *END STEP as the last line. If STEPs have already been defined, you must start the file with an *END STEP to complete the previous step, and then define the *STEP information. The *END STEP should not be included in this case at the end of the file because FEMAP will automatically write this card.

Overrides/Group Contact



Specifying Additional Analysis Steps

To write the STEP that you have just defined to the file, simply press the OK button. You will notice a momentary flash of the dialog box, and the window title will change to reflect the new step number that you are defining. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary, selecting new loads, constraints, or other options. After writing the final step (by pressing OK), simply press Cancel to complete the process and close the ABAQUS input file.

7.2.1.3 Overrides/Group Contact

This section describes element formulation overrides as well as group (old) contact. It is important to note that all element formulations can be chosen in FEMAP with the Formulation option under Elem/Prop type or the Modify Update Elements Formulation command. The options in this particular dialog box cause the element formulations to be overridden by the chosen option.

Note:
It is important to note group contact (old) was made obsolete by inclusion of Contact Segments and pairs directly in FEMAP. This dialog box allows you to specify options that control how your model will be written for both structural and heat transfer analysis types. Structural analysis types utilize all these dialog options, while heat transfer analyses utilize only Title, Initial Conditions, and Write All Groups as Sets, Some of these options are repeated from the main ABAQUS Model Write dialog box, and will not be explained here.

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Line Elements
These options allow you to choose the element formulation that will be used when FEMAP Line (Rod, Bar, Beam...) elements are written to your ABAQUS file. FEMAP will read the types of elements in your model file, and will either use ABAQUS Planar (2-D) Beams, Trusses, etc. if plane strain or axisymmetric FEMAP element types are present, or (3-D) Beams and Trusses in Space if plane strain or axisymmetric element types are not present. If you choose the Hybrid Elements option, then FEMAP will choose the appropriate hybrid type (T3D2H, B31H, PIPE31H...). If you check Cubic Beams, FEMAP Bar and Beam Elements will be translated to B23 or B33 (B23H or B33H with hybrid selected), instead of the B21, B31 elements. FEMAP Rod Elements which where formerly translated as C1D2,



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C1D2H elements are now translated as T2D2, T2D2H, T3D2, and T3D2H ABAQUS Truss elements. The C1D2 series will only be output if pre-Version 5.4 Format is checked.

Note:
When performing an axisymmetric or plane stress/strain analysis, all beam orientation vectors will be written as (0, 0, -1), the negative z axis, as required by ABAQUS. You should take care to define your inertias based on this orientation.

Shell and Membrane Elements

These options allow you to choose the element formulation that will be used when FEMAP Planar/Shell (Membrane, Plate, Laminate,...) elements are written to your ABAQUS file. Each option has specific effects on the writing of certain elements. These options are each discussed briefly below. Linear triangular elements have the most available options due to the capability of ABAQUS to use numerous degenerate quadrilaterals as triangular elements. For this reason, a summary table is provided for the FEMAP triangular planar/shell element in the following table ABAQUS Element STRI35 STRI3 S3R S4R S4R5 S4RF Reduced Integration OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON Thick Shell OFF OFF ON N/A N/A N/A preFlat Version5.4 Triangles Format OFF ON N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A OFF N/A ON

5 DOF N/A N/A N/A OFF ON OFF

The Thick Shell Behavior Option has an effect on linear triangular, linear quadrilateral, and parabolic quadrilateral elements. If Reduced Integration is OFF and Thick Shell Behavior is ON, linear triangles will be written as S3R elements instead of STRI3 or STRI35. Quadrilateral linear elements will be written as S43 elements with Thick Shell ON, instead of S4R5 or S4RF elements, and parabolic quadrilateral elements will be written as S8R instead of S8R5 elements. Reduced Integration controls the writing of triangular elements as degenerate quadrilateral elements. It has no effect on true quadrilateral elements. If Reduced Integration is selected, all triangular elements will be written as degenerate quadrilaterals (S4R, S4R5, or S4RF, and S8R5). If this option is not selected, triangular elements will be written (S3R, STRI3, or STRI35, and STRI65). Choosing 5 DOF Elements enables you to choose S4R5 elements instead of S4R or S4RF elements, as well as S8R5 elements instead of S8R elements for parabolic quadrilaterals. The final option in this section, Flat Triangles, enables you to write linear triangular elements as STRI3 elements instead of STRI35 elements. This option has no impact unless neither Reduced Integration nor Thick Shell options are chosen.

Overrides/Group Contact



Note:
The S4RF elements were combined with the S4R Elements in ABAQUS v5.4. These elements are only written when pre-Version 5.4 Format is checked and neither 5-DOF nor Thick Shell options are selected. If neither of these options are chosen and pre-Version 5.4 Format is not checked, linear quadrilateral elements will be written as S4R elements. In addition to choosing the element formulations, you can also set the number of integration points to be used with planar elements. If you leave this value blank nothing is written and the defaults for each element type are used. If you specify a value, it is written to the *SHELL SECTION commands.

Solid Continuum Elements

Just like for Line and Shell elements, checking Hybrid tells FEMAP to select elements that use a hybrid formulation (CPxxH, CExxH, CAXxxH and C3DxxH). In addition, you can select from the Standard, Incompatible Modes and Reduced Integration formulations. Incompatible Modes chooses the I series (CPxxI, C3DxxI...) elements, when available. Reduced Integration chooses the R series (CPxxR, C3DxxR...) elements, when available. You may also choose special modified contact elements for parabolic triangular Plane Stress/Plane Strain elements (CPx6M...) and parabolic solid tetrahedral (C3D10M and C3D10MH) elements. These elements are only available in ABAQUS v5.6 and greater. Since FEMAP has no 2D Plane Stress element in its element library, you must use plane strain elements, even when trying to model plane stress problems. Then, to represent plane stress, simply check the Plane Strain as Plane Stress option, and FEMAP will use CPSxx elements instead of CPExx elements.

Pre-Version 5.4 Format

This option allows you to select a format for the input file that is compatible with versions prior to ABAQUS 5.4. This option generates changes involving S4RF elements, Truss Elements, Membrane Elements, Rigid Surfaces, and Rigid Bodies,. The element S4RF was combined with element S4R in version 5.4 and is only written if pre-Version 5.4 Format is checked. Truss elements (TnD2 series) now replace the C1D2 series linear link elements. Membrane elements now have their own *MEMBRANE property card for ABAQUS version 5.4. If pre-Version 5.4 is selected, *SOLID SECTION is used as the property option for membrane elements. If the Pre-Version 5.4 Format button is not checked, Rigid Surfaces and Rigid Bodies can be modeled with the ABAQUS *CONTACT PAIR approach. If this button is selected, Rigid Bodies and Contact Pairs should not be utilized, and special Interface Elements will be generated to model contact with Rigid Surfaces (see Defining a Rigid Surface.)

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Rigid Surfaces...
...simply lets you select a FEMAP group which will be translated as a rigid surface, and the associated slave surface, Contact Node Set, or interface elements. Refer to the following sections for information regarding how to define the group.



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Slide Lines...
...simply lets you select a FEMAP group which will be translated as a slide line, and the associated interface elements. Refer to the following sections for information regarding how to define the group.

Rigid Bodies...
...simply lets you select a FEMAP group which will be translated as a rigid body, and the associated slave surface or Contact Node Set. Refer to Defining a Rigid Body for more information regarding how to define the group.

Contact Pairs...
Pressing this button will allow you to utilize FEMAP groups to define a Contact Pair. Refer to Defining a Contact Pair for more information regarding how to define these groups.

Important Note Regarding Group Contact Modeling

You should review the restrictions concerning contact modeling in ABAQUS. FEMAP performs many checks in an attempt to prevent you from violating these rules. Even though these checks are quite extensive, they are not all inclusive. Therefore, the user should carefully define the elements in the surfaces of the Contact Pair. In addition, FEMAP has three restrictions in addition to those maintained by ABAQUS. The first is that structural and continuum elements may not be included in the same slave surface. If this type of contact is required, two separate contact situations must be created. Secondly, structural elements will automatically be written with their positive normal (SPOS or S1) as the contact side. The user must create the model in this manner, or reverse the normal direction using either Modify Update Element Reverse or Tools Check Normals commands. If contact must be maintained on both sides of these elements, the user must either create two sets of elements with opposite normals, or simply edit the input file, changing the appropriate SPOS (or S1) to SNEG (or S2). The final FEMAP restriction is that continuum elements must be a subset of the exposed surfaces of the model. FEMAP will also utilize the ABAQUS defaults for sliding type and trimming. Finite sliding will be used as the default, while Small Sliding will be chosen when Finite Sliding is not available (such as contact between 3-D deformable bodies). Automatic Trimming will also be utilized for slave surfaces containing continuum elements. Master surfaces with continuum elements will not be trimmed. The user must modify these options manually if different options are required.

Defining a Rigid Surface

Although FEMAP does not have the equivalent of an ABAQUS rigid surface, the translator can use a FEMAP group to create one. First, however, you must properly construct your model and the group that you will use. The entities of the group will differ based upon the Pre-Version 5.4 Format button.

ABAQUS v5.4 or Above (Contact Pair approach)

To successfully create a rigid surface, a FEMAP group must contain the following entities: m Either One or more Lines or Arcs, or a Surface.

Overrides/Group Contact m One Reference Node m One or more FEMAP elements or Nodes defining the slave surface. m Optionally, a single GAP Property.



If you select Lines and/or Arcs, they must form a continuous path. You must select the lines such that as you would walk along the lines, the contact is on your left. This can be accomplished by using View Options, Tools and View Style, Curve and Surface Accuracy to show the direction of the lines. The first line selected must be the start of the rigid surface, and it must be in the proper direction. FEMAP will automatically form the remaining lines in the appropriate direction. The lines and arcs will be converted to a Segment (if there are plane strain or axisymmetric elements in the model) or CYLINDER rigid surface. Splines may not be chosen, and if you choose arcs, they must always have an included angle less than 180 degrees. If you need larger arcs, simply break the arc into pieces before you export. If you select a FEMAP surface in the group, it will be converted to a rigid BEZIER surface. The number of surface divisions that are set for the display of the surface will be used to create the VERTEX and PATCH commands for the BEZIER surface. If you want a better surface definition, just increase the number of surface divisions. Although the BEZIER surface with VERTEX and PATCH options are no longer documented in ABAQUS v5.4 and higher, they are still available. However, for most contact problems, it is recommended that the RIGID BODY approach be utilized. You must also select a reference node for the rigid surface. This node can (and usually should) be constrained in your model. The motion, or lack thereof of this reference node will determine the motion of the rigid body. The final required contents of the group are either one or more elements or nodes defining the slave surface. If elements are present, FEMAP will attempt to write these elements as a slave surface. If no elements are in the group, FEMAP will assume that the slave surface is defined with a Contact Node Set. The first node selected in the group is always used as the reference node for the rigid surface. This node will not be written as part of the Contact Node Set. All nodes selected in this group after the first (reference) node will be written as part of the Contact Node Set. FEMAP will only write a Contact Node Set if there are no elements contained in the group. The GAP property is used to control the *SURFACE INTERACTION command. Out-ofplane thickness or cross-sectional area will be written on the *SURFACE INTERACTION card if specified in the selected GAP property. Friction properties can also be specified (including ANISOTROPIC) on the GAP property and will be written on the *FRICTION command. If you are performing 3-D contact with plates, you will also have to supply an Interface Normal on the GAP property so FEMAP can properly orient the 3-D surface.

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pre-ABAQUS v5.4 (Interface Element Approach)

To successfully create a rigid surface, a FEMAP group must contain the following entities: m Either a Surface, or one or more Lines and/or Arcs m One or more FEMAP Line or Plane Plot-Only Elements



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m One Reference Node m Optionally, a single GAP property. If you select a FEMAP surface in the group, it will be converted to a rigid BEZIER surface. The number of surface divisions that are set for the display of the surface will be used to create the VERTEX and PATCH commands for the BEZIER surface. If you want a better surface definition, just increase the number of surface divisions. If instead you choose Lines and/or Arcs, they must form a continuous path. They will be converted to a SEGMENT (if there are plane strain or axisymmetric elements in the model) or CYLINDER rigid surface. Splines may not be chosen, and if you choose arcs, they must always have an included angle less than 180 degrees. If you need larger arcs, simply break the arc into pieces before you translate. In addition to the geometry, you must create and select Plot-Only elements along the edge/ face where you want to check for contact. These are then translated to IRSxx interface elements. Next, you must select a reference node for the rigid surface. This node can (and usually should) be constrained in your model. It is referenced by all of the Interface elements. The GAP property is used to control the *INTERFACE command. If you specify a coefficient of friction (Y direction) on this GAP property, it will be written as a *FRICTION command.

Defining a Slide Line

The process to define a slide line is very similar to that for a rigid surface. In this case however the group must contain: m One or more Plot-Only Line Elements m An ordered series of nodes to represent the slide line m A GAP Property The Plot-Only Line Elements are converted to interface (ISLxx) elements, and the Nodes are written as the Slide Line. You must be careful to select these items into the Group in the proper order. FEMAP simply translates them in the order that you select them. Again, just as for rigid surfaces, the Gap Property is used for friction on the *INTERFACE command.

Note:
When selecting items into the group, you should always use the ID rules. Selections using other methods do not allow FEMAP to determine the proper ordering for the output and will be ignored.

Defining a Rigid Body

Similar to Rigid Surface contact, FEMAP will allow you to create ABAQUS rigid bodies by selecting a FEMAP group. The procedure is very similar to rigid surface definition, except

Performing an ABAQUS Analysis



one or more FEMAP Line or Plane Plot-Only Elements must be contained in the group to define the rigid body instead of lines and arcs. To successfully create a rigid body, a FEMAP group must contain m One or more FEMAP Line or Plane Plot-Only Elements m One Reference Node m One or more FEMAP Elements or Nodes defining the Slave Surface m Optionally, a single GAP property. The Plot-Only elements are utilized to define the rigid body. Either Line or Plane Plot-Only elements must be selected, but not both. Planar elements will be translated to R3D3 and R3D4 elements, while line elements will be translated to R2D2 (if plane strain elements are present), RAX2 (if axisymmetric elements are present), or RB3D2 elements. These elements must be created such that the positive faces of the element define the contact surface. FEMAP will automatically choose the positive normal to define the master contact surface. All Plot-Only elements contained in the group will be written as rigid elements, referencing the rigid body. The Reference Node, Slave Surface, and GAP property are all chosen similar to the Rigid Surface Definition. Please refer to the section above Defining a Rigid Surface, ABAQUS v5.4 and higher for information regarding selection of these entities. Rigid Elements can only be used in one Rigid Body definition. However, this rigid body can be put in contact with multiple surfaces. To create rigid body contact between several surfaces and the same rigid body, simply define a group for each contact pair, and select the same Reference Node and Plot-Only elements in each group. You must take care to select the same Plot Only elements because FEMAP will assume a new rigid body is being defined if the element selection is not identical, and errors will result. Once the Plot Only elements and Reference Node are appropriately selected, you may then select different elements or nodes in each group to define different slave surfaces. FEMAP will generate the slave surfaces and put them in contact with the Rigid Body.

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Defining a Contact Pair

FEMAP also has the capability to define contact pairs between deformable elements. To successfully create a Contact pair you must create: m One Group containing the elements of the master surface m A Second Group containing the elements or nodes of the slave surface m Optionally, a GAP Property containing width/area and/or friction information When you select the Contact Pair button, you will be prompted to input the group of the Master Surface, followed by a prompt for the Slave Surface, and finally the Property to define the *SURFACE INTERACTION and *FRICTION options.

7.2.1.4 Performing an ABAQUS Analysis

Once you have translated your model, you can analyze it with ABAQUS in the normal manner that you use with any other data file. Alternatively, if you are running both FEMAP and



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ABAQUS on Windows NT, you can have FEMAP automatically launch ABAQUS, run the solution, and recover the results. In this case, before you start FEMAP, you need to define an environment variable. This is normally done through the Windows NT Control Panel and the System option. When this option is displayed, you should define a variable named ABAQUS_EXE, that has a value equal to the complete file/path name of the ABAQUS executable. For example:
ABAQUS_EXE = c:\abaqus\v541\abaqus.exe

Once that variable is defined, FEMAP will automatically ask you if you want to start the analysis after each translation. Similarly, you will be able to use the File Analyze command. After your analysis is complete, FEMAP will automatically read the results back into your FEMAP model. You will not have to use the File Import Analysis Results command again to load the results.

7.2.1.5 Reading ABAQUS Models

In addition to the ability to write ABAQUS Models and Read Results, FEMAP can also read the nodal locations and element connectivity from the ABAQUS Results File. There are two ways to read this information. First, you can simply choose File Import Analysis Model, and then choose the output file that you want to read. In addition, if you start with an empty model, and directly select File Import Analysis Results, FEMAP can read both the model and results in one pass.

Note:
FEMAP can currently only read the nodes and element connectivity, and node and element sets (translated to FEMAP groups) because that is all that is contained in the results file.

7.2.1.6 Postprocessing ABAQUS Results

When you have completed your ABAQUS analysis, you can load results into FEMAP for postprocessing. You must also start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the ABAQUS analysis. FEMAP reads the ASCII formatted ABAQUS Post File (*.FIL). You must include a *FILE FORMAT, ASCII command, along with *NODE FILE, *EL FILE, and *CONTACT FILE commands in your model to produce this file. As long as you built your model in FEMAP, and choose the Post option when you translated, these commands will be added automatically.

Note:
If you have an ABAQUS EXPLICIT binary results file (*.res), you will need to run the ABAQUS convert utilities to convert it to a *.fil file. This, however, is still a binary file, which must then be converted to an ASCII file (which will have the extension *.fin) using utilities provided with ABAQUS.

ANSYS Interfaces



To load the results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select ABAQUS. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file that you want to read. Before reading data from a file, you will see a brief description of the file in the Messages window, and you will be asked to confirm that this is the file you want to read. FEMAP will then read the output data.

Output for Postprocessing

The formats and contents of the ABAQUS files are described in the ABAQUS Users Manual. From the Post file FEMAP will read Nodal Displacements, Velocities, Accelerations, Reaction Forces, and Loads. In addition, FEMAP reads Elemental Temperatures, Stress Components, Stress Invariants, Section Forces and Moments, Strain Energy and Total Strain Components. These output types are supported data. FEMAP also has the capability to read many ABAQUS output types under Unsupported Data, including Nodal Temperatures, Nodal Heat Fluxes, and Elemental Heat Fluxes. From the values that are read, FEMAP will also compute magnitudes of the nodal values (i.e. Total Translation, Total Rotation,...). Likewise, if they were not read from the file, FEMAP computes principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses whenever possible.

7.2.2 ANSYS Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the ANSYS PREP7 and postprocessing file formats. You can write a FEMAP model to the ANSYS PREP7 format for analysis, read an existing ANSYS model, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

7.2.2.1 Writing an ANSYS Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be read by ANSYS PREP7. This file contains PREP7 commands, just like the ones you would use if you were going to run ANSYS directly.

Starting to Export
After you choose File Export Analysis Model and select ANSYS, there are nine write options available: (1) Static, (2) Modes/Eigenvalues, (3) Transient Dynamic/Time History, (4) Frequency/Harmonic Response, (5) Random Response, (6) Buckling, (7) Nonlinear Static, (8) Nonlinear Transient Response, and (9) Steady State Heat Transfer. Press the button that corresponds to the type of analysis that you plan to perform. For all cases, you will see the ANSYS Model Write dialog box.

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Revision
It is very important that you set this option correctly for the version of ANSYS that you will be using. There are significant changes in commands and conventions between ANSYS Revisions 4.4 and 5.x. If you choose the incorrect version, your model will almost certainly fail to run. Revision 5 is the default. Furthermore, only Static and Modal Analysis are available for ANSYS Revision 4.4.


Title

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If you would like a title added to your model, simply type it here.

Commands for Automatic Solve

If you check this option, FEMAP will write additional commands to the end of your ANSYS file. These commands automatically perform the analysis when you load the file into ANSYS, or run the model in batch mode. This command is automatically selected for Transient, Frequency, Buckling, and Nonlinear Transient analyses. Do not select this option if you are running a Static, Modal, or Nonlinear Static analysis and want to load the model into ANSYS, and then review it in PREP7 before beginning your analysis.

Use Iterative Solver

This option invokes the ANSYS iterative solver, and is only applicable for ANSYS v5.3+.

Large Deformation Effects

For Nonlinear Analysis (both Static and Transient), you also have the option to choose Large Deformation Effects. Simply click on this option if you would like to include these effects. This option will not appear if you did not select a Nonlinear Analysis Type.

Specifying the File

When you press OK, you will see the standard file access dialog box. You must specify the name of the file that you want to create. The default file extension will be .ANS, but you can choose any filename.

Preparing for Static Analysis

After you choose a file, FEMAP will write your model geometry to the file, then ask for the Constraints and Loads that you want to translate. A series of dialog boxes will be displayed.
Choose the constraint set to translate for analysis, then

Choose one or more load sets to go with that constraint set, then

Choose Yes, if you want to create additional constraint and load combinations or Choose No to finish translating.

With these dialog boxes, you can combine multiple FEMAP constraint and load sets into any

Writing an ANSYS Model



number of ANSYS loading conditions. As shown in the diagram, each time the dialog boxes are displayed, you can choose one constraint and multiple load sets. As long as you choose Yes in the final dialog box you will be able to write additional sets. You may also define multiple load and constraint sets for Nonlinear Static analysis, however, the first load set chosen must have active Nonlinear Analysis options. If Nonlinear Analysis options are not defined, FEMAP cannot translate the load sets. If Nonlinear Analysis options are defined for the first load set, these options will be used for all following load sets since ANSYS does not allow modifications after entering the solution process.

Preparing for Modal Analysis

If you chose to translate for Modal Analysis, you will see an additional dialog box, prior to the constraint and load selection dialogs described above. This dialog controls the Master degrees of freedom that will be used in your modal analysis. If you have defined the master degrees of freedom that you want as a separate constraint set, just check Translate Constraint Set, and choose the set from the drop-down list. If not, you will probably want to check the Automatic DOF Selection Enable option. This will instruct ANSYS to automatically select the master degrees of freedom for you. Enter the number of degrees of freedom that you want ANSYS to select in the Number of DOF option. If you only want ANSYS to select translational degrees of freedom, check the Exclude Rotational DOF option. For Rev 5, you can also select the Number of Modes to extract, or limit modal extraction to a Min/Max Frequency range. If you want to calculate elemental results (forces, stresses...), check the Calculate Element Results option, otherwise, only nodal results (mode shapes...) will be computed. These options only apply if you are writing solution commands to the file. When you press the OK button, you will see the constraint and load selection dialogs described above.

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Preparing for Transient and Nonlinear Transient Analyses

Preparing for these types of analyses is very similar to preparing for Static and Modal Analysis except only one load set and one constraint set may be chosen. The load case selected must have the correct Dynamic Analysis Solution Option chosen to prevent translation errors. If Dynamic Analysis options are turned Off, or a mismatch occurs between solution and analysis type (i.e. you chose Transient Analysis but the Dynamic Analysis Solution Option for the chosen load set is Direct or Modal Frequency), an error message will appear and the load set will not be written. If the Analysis Type and the Dynamic Analysis option match, FEMAP will automatically determine whether to use a FULL (direct) or MODAL analysis method based upon the



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Dynamic Analysis Solution Option. If a direct method is active in the Dynamic Analysis Solution option, the Constraint Set dialog box appears and you can select the appropriate constraint set, after which the translation is completed. If a modal method is active, FEMAP will first write commands for the Modal solution and then the transient solution. The ANSYS Dynamic Analysis Options (see Preparing for Modal Analysis) dialog box appears to allow you to select information related to the initial Modal Analysis. Translating for Nonlinear Transient analysis is identical to Transient analysis except that the Modal Transient method is not available, Nonlinear Analysis options must be active, and the user can choose to activate Large Deformation Effects. If a Modal Transient Solution Method is selected, or Nonlinear Analysis options are not active, an error message appears and the load set is not written.

Preparing for Frequency/Harmonic Response Analysis

Preparing for Frequency analysis is identical to Transient Analysis except for an additional dialog box which appears at the end of translation. This dialog box is identical to the ANSYS Dynamic Analysis Options dialog box and is used to select the number of frequencies and the frequency range to be analyzed. If a Modal Frequency Solution Method is chosen, this dialog box will appear twice. The first time you must choose the options for the initial Modal Analysis, while the second time it appears you can only choose the Number of Frequencies, Min/Max Frequency, and whether to calculate Element results. All other options are disabled.

Preparing for Random Response Analysis

Preparing for Random analysis is identical to Transient Analysis except for three options: (1) the ANSYS Dynamic Analysis Options dialog box always appears because a modal analysis is required before every random analysis, and (2) multiple load sets can be chosen. All displacements values in the chosen load sets will be exported as base excitations (D), while all forces will be applied as Nodal Excitations (F). (3)Random Output for is requested through the ANSYS Output for Random Analysis Dialog box.

Preparing for Buckling Analysis

Buckling analysis simply requires the writing of a Static Solution followed by a Buckling Solution. Only one load set and one constraint set may be chosen for Buckling Analysis. The only other input required is the number of modes to be extracted and whether Elemental Results should be calculated. These are selected in the standard ANSYS Dynamic Analysis Options dialog box.

Notes on Dynamic Analyses

It is important to review the limitations on Transient and Frequency Response loading conditions in ANSYS. Loads on the same node or elemental face must have the same time history (Transient) or same phase (Frequency). If they do not, FEMAP will write the loading conditions assuming the last time history/phase, and you will most likely get results for a different loading condition than desired.

Writing an ANSYS Model



Also, with regard to rayleigh damping, you can define alpha and beta damping for frequency analysis by defining the Overall Structural Damping Coefficient (G) and in some cases, the frequencies for element and system damping. For frequency and random response analyses, FEMAP will automatically compute alpha and beta. If only one frequency is defined for the analysis, FEMAP assumes alpha is 0 and computes beta from G/wi where wi is the frequency. If a range of frequencies are specified, FEMAP will compute alpha and beta based on the equation
G = alpha/wi + beta*wi

by assuming G is constant over the frequency range. Two simultaneous equations are produced at the two frequencies which define the range. For rayleigh damping in transient analysis, FEMAP uses the Frequencies for System Damping (W3) and Element Damping (W4) input under Model Load Dynamic Analysis to compute alpha and beta damping values. Alpha is simply the product of the overall structural damping coefficient (G) and W3 (Frequency for System Damping). Beta is G divided by W4 (Frequency for Element Damping). If G is zero, Rayleigh damping is ignored. Also, if W3 or W4 is zero, alpha or beta, respectively, will not be written.

Preparing for Heat Transfer Analysis

Preparing for steady-state heat transfer analysis is just like preparing for static analysis described earlier, except that instead of defining nodal constraints, you define nodal temperatures (in a Load Set) for your boundary conditions.

Preparing for Nonlinear Contact Analysis

Surface-to-surface contact is defined in ANSYS using a combination of contact surface and target segment elements. ANSYS looks for contact only between contact surfaces and target segments which share the same real constant set. The real constant set is defined using the Model-Contact-Contact Property command. By pushing the ANSYS... button, the KEYOPTs can also be modified. The target segments (TARGE169 (2-D) and TARGE170 (3-D)) can be either rigid or deformable and are defined using the Model-Contact-Segment/Surface command. When defining a rigid target, only Line Elements OR Face 1 of a plate element can be used. The contact surfaces can be 2-D (CONTA171 and CONTA172) or 3-D (CONTA173 and CONTA174) and can be defined using the same command, but must be deformable. In order to model contact, a contact pair must be created using the Model-Contact-Contact Pair command. The dialog box asks for a Master (the Target Segment) and a Slave (the Contact Surface), as well as a Property (the shared real constants set). The time steps for a nonlinear analysis must be set up using the Model-Load-Nonlinear Analysis command HINT: If creating a rigid entity use line elements for 2-D Analysis and plate elements with the element normal direction facing the contact for 3-D Analysis.

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Special Cases
Depending on the contents of your model, you may see additional questions or warnings as the file is translated. For example, ANSYS requires certain IDs, especially for coordinate systems. If your model has entities which are outside of the allowable ID range, FEMAP



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will ask if you want to renumber prior to translating. Likewise, axisymmetric and other 2-D elements must lie in the global XY plane for ANSYS. If you have built your model in a different global plane, FEMAP will ask if you want to automatically realign it to the XY plane. FEMAP can only flip between global planes. You should never build an axisymmetric model in a skewed plane. For axisymmetric models, you will also have an opportunity to specify a scale factor for loads. This factor is normally 1.0, but can be adjusted depending on whether you specified loads on a per radian or per revolution (360 degrees) basis. This is especially important since the required conventions change between ANSYS Revision 4.4 and 5.0.

7.2.2.2 Performing an ANSYS Analysis

Depending on where you plan to run ANSYS, the preliminary steps can be somewhat different. For example, if you are not running ANSYS on the same computer as FEMAP, you will have to transfer the file to the computer where ANSYS resides. Once that has been done however, there are two basic approaches to running the file that you just created. To run interactively, simply startup ANSYS, and enter the command:
/INPUT, filename, ANS

where filename is the name of the file that you created. This assumes that the file is in the current directory and you used the default filename extension. To run in batch mode, you can specify the name of your model on the ANSYS command line, as follows:
ANSYS -I filename.ANS

You can also use the -O command line option to name the output file, and the -J option to name other files. If you are planning to run in batch mode, make certain you have FEMAP write the commands for automatic solution in your file.

7.2.2.3 Reading an ANSYS Model

Just as you can translate a FEMAP model to ANSYS, you can also read ANSYS models into FEMAP. Since FEMAP reads PREP7 commands, there are several possible files that can be read. If you built your model with PREP7, you should have an ANSYS log file that contains a list of all of your commands. If you only used commands that FEMAP supports, you can read your log file. In most cases however, this will not be possible. The log file will probably contain meshing or other model generation commands that cannot be read. In that case, load your model into ANSYS and use the CDWRIT command to produce an expanded file (normally FILE28). The CDWRIT command expands meshing and other generation commands into a format that FEMAP can read. Reading an expanded file does not guarantee that every command will be read, but it certainly increases the number of commands that are supported. When you begin to read a file, you will be asked for the ANSYS Revision level (4.4 or 5.0) of the file that you are going to read. Again, just like when you write a file for ANSYS, this is an important selection. Due to the differences in conventions, it is very unlikely that your model will translate correctly if you choose the wrong revision. The only other input required is to select the file that you want to read using the standard file access dialog box.

Reading ANSYS Analysis Results



7.2.2.4 Reading ANSYS Analysis Results

When you have completed your ANSYS analysis, you can load the results into FEMAP for postprocessing. You must always start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the ANSYS analysis. If you do not have one, or if you have changed the ANSYS files since you translated them from FEMAP, you must first start a new FEMAP model and read the ANSYS model, as described in the previous section.

Revision 4.4
For Rev 4.4 (and before), FEMAP can read two types of ANSYS output files - the binary output found in the standard ANSYS FILE12, or the formatted output produced by the BCDCNV command and typically written to FILE14. In either case, FEMAP assumes a default file extension of .DAT. You do not have to tell FEMAP which type of file you are reading. You simply specify the filename and FEMAP determines the type based on the contents of the file. If you are running ANSYS on the same computer as FEMAP, the binary FILE12 is usually the best approach. If you are running FEMAP on a different computer, or are having trouble reading the binary files, the formatted files can often provide a more reliable alternative.

Revision 5.x
For Rev 5, FEMAP reads the standard binary results file. This file is created automatically by ANSYS, and FEMAP assumes a default file extension of .RST for structural results and .RTH for thermal results. The results file is in ANSYS external file format and can be moved between computers so that FEMAP can read it. These files are binary and should be transferred between computers as binary files. To load your results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select ANSYS. After you select the ANSYS Revision, FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file that you want to read. Before reading data from a file, you will see a brief description of the file in the Messages window, and you will be asked to confirm that this is the file that you want to read.

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Output for Postprocessing

The format and contents of the ANSYS output files are described in the ANSYS Users Manual, Programmers Manual, and in the description of the ANSYS Element Library. As stated above, you must have a FEMAP model before reading the output file. FEMAP does not read the model information from your results file. FEMAP does read the displacements, elemental forces, stresses and strains, and reaction forces.

7.2.3 MSC/NASTRAN Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the NASTRAN model and output file formats. You can write models for Static, Modal, Transient Response (Direct and Modal), Frequency Response (Direct and Modal), Random Response, Buckling, Nonlinear Static, Nonlinear Transient, Steady-State Heat Transfer, and Transient Heat Transfer analysis, read existing models, and read the standard printed output file for postprocessing.



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NASTRAN from other Vendors

If you are using UAI/NASTRAN, ME/NASTRAN, CSA/NASTRAN, COSMIC NASTRAN or SSS/NASTRAN you should always use the FEMAP translators that are specifically for those versions. If you are using some other version, you may have to make slight changes to the files that FEMAP produces or requires to make them compatible. Depending on how closely your vendors NASTRAN output matches MSC/NASTRAN output, you may have to make more significant changes before you can postprocess. The NASCRUSH program, described later in this section, can help with some of these changes.

7.2.3.1 Writing a NASTRAN Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be read by NASTRAN. This file contains the three required sections: Executive Control, Case Control, and Bulk Data. As you begin to translate, you will see the standard file access dialog box, where you can choose the name of the file to create. The default filename extension is .NAS, but you can choose any filename. If you have axisymmetric elements in your model, FEMAP will ask a few other questions before the file dialog. These are described later in this section. After you choose the file, you will see the MSC/NASTRAN Analysis Control dialog box. Often, this single dialog box is all that is required to create a NASTRAN input file.

Analysis Type
This list specifies the type of analysis that you want to perform. It should always be set to the same type that you chose in the File Export Analysis Model dialog box, but this gives you an opportunity to change your mind.

Loads, Constraints and Initial Conditions

These lists are used to choose the load and constraint conditions that you want to analyze. Although most analyses require these conditions, if you want to skip them, you can simply turn off the check box to the left of the option that you wish to ignore. Otherwise, you must choose a set from the available lists. The default values will always be the active load/constraint set. For heat transfer analyses, you will notice that constraint sets are not used. Rather, loads and constraints are both selected from a load set. FEMAP translates nodal temperatures, in the same set as the other thermal loads, as thermal constraints (boundary conditions). In addition however, you can choose a constraint set if you have any constraint equations to be included in your model. Again however, this is only for constraint equations, not nodal constraints.

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Note:
If your analysis requires multiple constraint sets, you will have to press Advanced and go through a more detailed definition of the Case Control. This dialog box can only be used for a single constraint set analysis. This is also true for multiple load sets except for Static and Nonlinear Static Analysis Types. If multiple load sets are required for these two types, you can still go through Advanced, or press the Loads button at the bottom right portion of the box. This option allows you to select FEMAP Load Sets with the standard Entity Selection dialog box. The load sets will be written as separate subcases in the order in which they were chosen. Remember, if you use this option, each load set to be analyzed will have the same constraint set.

Output Types
This list allows you to request the type of output you want. The default - Standard Output varies depending on the type of analysis that you are performing. For example, for static analyses it includes Displacements, Constraint Forces, Applied Loads, Elemental Forces and Elemental Stresses, while for Modal Analysis it includes only Displacements and Constraint Forces. The list also includes other specific options (Displacements Only, Displacements and Stresses) and an All option. The All option does not necessarily request all output available in NASTRAN. It does request the same output as Standard plus some additional types like Elemental Strains and Constraint Equation Forces. If you need more control over Output Selection, you must press Advanced.

For Group
If you want to limit output to a subset of your model, you can define a group which contains the Nodes and Elements that you want. When you select that group from this list, all output requests, whether nodal or elemental, will be based on the entities in that group. If you need more control, such as multiple groups, or limiting only certain types of output, you will have to press Advanced.

Additional Info
Depending on the type of analysis you are performing, there may be one or more options available in this section that allow you to further control your analysis. For Static, Nonlinear Static, Nonlinear Transient Response, and Steady State Heat Transfer, no Additional Info is required or even available. For Modal or Buckling, you can specify the number of modes/eigenvalues that you want to recover and a frequency range of interest. This is also true for Modal Transient and Modal Frequency Response Analyses. Heat transfer analyses require control over the number of time steps and the time increment at the start of the analysis. In addition, you can specify an Output Step Interval to minimize the amount of output. For example, an output step interval of 3 means that output will only be written for every third step.

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Your choice of the time stepping and time increment are crucial to proper convergence to an accurate solution. To assist you in defining these values, the Estimate button can be used. When you press Estimate, it will examine the model that you have defined, including material properties, the duration of any functions, and your mesh, and make a guess at the values for the other options. Remember, this is just an educated guess based on your model. It may not be what you intended to analyze. It is ultimately up to you to set these values appropriately.

Run Analysis
This option is used by the version of FEMAP included in the MSC/NASTRAN for Windows product to automatically begin the analysis, otherwise it is not currently used.

Iterative Solver
When this option is checked, FEMAP will write the necessary commands to invoke the MSC/NASTRAN iterative solver.

Restarts...
... allows the user to specify whether they want to perform a Normal analysis (the default), Save Databases for a Restart (only currently available in the bundled MSC/NASTRAN for Windows Product), or to Restart from a Previous Analysis. If the user selects Restart Previous Analysis, the standard file selection dialog box will appear, and they will need to select the old NASTRAN database from which to restart.

Multiple Load Cases

As mentioned previously, this button is only available for Static and Nonlinear Static types and only if your model contains more than one load set. It is used to select multiple load sets to be written as separate subcases. Each subcase will have the same constraint set and print options. If different constraint sets are required, or different print options for subcases are needed, you must use Advanced.

Setting Advanced Options

As mentioned several times above, if your model is more complicated, or you need more control over the file that is produced, you will have to press the Advanced button. This will lead to a series of additional dialog boxes where you can control each step of the translation. The remainder of this section will tell you more about those dialog boxes.

Writing a NASTRAN Model



If you are translating for Normal Modes or Buckling Analysis, you will see the NASTRAN Dynamic Analysis dialog box. These parameters are used to define the EIGR (EIGRL) command that controls your modal analysis. A similar box will appear for Transient and Frequency Response Analysis, except you will have the option to select Direct or Modal Solution Type. If you choose Direct, no modal options are available. If you choose Modal, the same options are available as those shown above.

Note:
It is important to realize that when you pick either a Direct or Modal Solution Type, it must match the type that you specified in your Load Sets. When you get to the Case Control Definition, you will only be allowed to select Load Sets that match the type of analysis that you select here.

Solution Method
The Method ID specifies the ID of the EIGR command. It is also used in the Case Control section on the METHOD command to select the EIGR command. The other options in this section allow you to choose the method that will be used for modal extraction. Refer to your NASTRAN documentation for more information regarding which method will be best for your model. Depending on which solution method you choose, the various other options can be used in different combinations.

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Frequency Range of Interest

These options select the range of frequencies where eigenvectors will be computed.

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

The estimated number of roots is only used for the Inverse Power solution method (where it is required). The number of desired vectors is typically an alternative to the frequency range. Instead of specifying frequencies, you can choose to recover a number of eigenvectors with the lowest frequencies.

Normalization Method
These options choose the method for eigenvector normalization. Mass normalizes to the unit value of the generalized mass. Max normalizes to the largest component of mass in the analysis set, and Point normalizes to the mass at a specific nodal degree of freedom. If you choose Point normalization, you must also specify a node ID and degree of freedom.



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Executive Control
The next dialog is used to define the Executive Control commands for your NASTRAN model There are four executive control commands and two solution options supported in the standard Executive Control. The Problem ID is written as a title to the ID command. The Solution Number selects the DMAP solution sequence that will be executed. FEMAP will automatically define this as SESTATICS, SEMODES, SEDTRAN, SEMTRAN, SEDFREQ, SEMFREQ, SEBUCKL, NLSTATIC, NLTRAN, NLSCSH, or NLTCSH, but you can change it to any of the numerical sequences that you want to use. The Max Time option sets the maximum allowable CPU time for this analysis. Do not set this number too low, or your analysis will terminate prematurely. You can also specify andy diagnostic lines, and whether to use the iterative solver, and set the number of processors. If you simply press OK, this standard Executive Control, along with a CEND command will be written. The Direct Output To option is used by the version of FEMAP included in the MSC/NASTRAN for Windows product to specify a location for the NASTRAN output, otherwise it is not used. If you want further customization, the other push-buttons provide that control.

Restarts
When you hit this button, you will see the NASTRAN Restart Control dialog box (shown in NASTRAN Analysis Control dialog box option above). You can choose a (1) Normal Analysis, (2) Save Database for Restart, or (3) Restart Previous Analysis. The Save Database option is only available in MSC/NASTRAN for Windows product.

Include File
If you want to include another text file in the Executive Control section, just press this button. You will be able to select the file with the standard file access dialog box. This capability can be used to include standard DMAP alter sequences, Job Control (JCL) statements, or other standard modifications to the beginning of your NASTRAN file. Just save those standard changes in a file, and include them with this option.

Writing a NASTRAN Model



Type Input
If you want to make onetime changes, simply press Type Input and then input the line into the following dialog, and it will be added to the NASTRAN file. After you type your command, press OK, or press More if you want to continue typing additional commands.

Write Exec and CEND

This button writes the standard Executive Control, but stays in the dialog box so you can add additional commands (with Type or Include) following the standard commands. If you press this button, use the CEND button when you want to exit the dialog box. Once you press this button, it and the OK button will be disabled to prevent you from accidently writing a second copy of the Executive Control.

Skip
Press this button if you want to go on to the Case Control without writing any additional information.

Case Control
After you have finished the Executive Control, the following dialog box will appear if you are doing a structural analysis:

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Or if you are performing a heat transfer analysis, a similar, but slightly different dialog box is used:

While these dialog boxes appear complicated, they are divided into three readily understandable areas: (1) Set Definition, (2) Analysis Case Requests, and (3) Output Requests. For thermal analysis, both Analysis Case and Output Requests areas are combined in the Case Control Requests section.

Defining Sets
Usually you want to recover output for all nodes and/or elements, but if you do want to limit your analysis output, you must define a NASTRAN SET that selects the node or element IDs that you want. You can define these sets with the controls in the Set Definition section of the dialog box. First, specify a Set ID (which you will refer to later in the Output Requests section of the dialog box for output recovery), then push either the Write Node Set, or Write Element Set button. You will see the standard entity selection dialog box, where you choose the entities that you want in the set. The Set ID will automatically increment so you can define the next set.

Analysis Case Requests

The standard Case Control which is written if you simply press OK does not use subcases. All selections are written directly to the Master Case. To perform multiple analyses with different load and/or constraint sets, you can define multiple subcases. Subcases are available only for structural non-transient Analysis types (i.e. Static, Normal Modes, Buckling, and Nonlinear Static).

Defining Subcases
You can define multiple subcases by choosing a Subcase ID, setting the desired options, and pressing the Write Case button. The Subcase ID will automatically increment, and options

Writing a NASTRAN Model



for the next subcase can be defined. When you define your last case, press the OK button instead of Write Case to go to the Bulk Data dialog box. If you want some options to apply to all subcases, you can write them to the master case before defining your first subcase by simply pressing Write Case before you define a subcase ID.

SUBCASE ID
As stated above, this option should be set to the ID of the subcase you want to create. If it is blank (or 0), the Master Case will be created.

ECHO
This option determines how the model will be written in the standard output file. The default, SORT, will write your model in sorted alphabetical order. If you do not want the model to be listed in the output change this to NONE.

TITLE, SUBTITLE, and LABEL

These three options specify the titles that will be used at the top of every output page.

LOAD, SPC and MPC Sets and Initial Conditions.

These options choose the loads, constraints, and Initial Conditions for this case. FEMAP will write all available constraint sets in the Bulk Data portion of the file. FEMAP will also write all available load sets in the Bulk Data section except for Heat Transfer (Steady State and Transient), and Structural Transient Solution Types (Transient Response, Frequency Response, and Nonlinear Transient). Only load sets which are chosen in the Case Control will be written in the Bulk Data for these problems. You must choose the combination of sets that you want to analyze in the Case Control. This is a primary reason for using multiple subcases when this option is available. The LOAD option allows the selection of a load set to activate for this subcase. The SPC option chooses the constraint set for nodal constraints, and the MPC option chooses the constraint set for constraint equations. If you do not want any of these options, or if you have activated one for all subcases (in the Master Case), simply turn off the box at the left of these options. You can also specify Initial Conditions for the analysis by defining a separate load set which contains only initial conditions, such as Displacements or Velocities. Initial Conditions are only available for Transient and Heat Transfer analyses.

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Output Requests
This section controls what output will be calculated and written to the output files. The default output file for this information is the OP2 file, which is chosen with the PostProcess Only option. You may change this to the F06 Option for Print Only, or select both. If you do not want a certain type of output, switch it to None. If you only want output for a selected portion of your model, choose Set, and specify the Set ID. Remember, however, you must define the Set using the Set Definition options. If you are going to postprocess, you will probably want to choose All (or None, for those types of output that you do not want). For Frequency Response Analyses, you can also chose to recover output in either Magnitude/ Phase or Real/Imaginary format.



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Include File and Type Input

These buttons allow you to include additional commands in your Case Control. Refer back to the Executive Control section. These buttons work the same as they did in that section.

Write Case and BEGIN BULK

This button writes the selected options to the file and increments the Subcase ID. You can then write additional cases, or include custom commands, before proceeding. When you are finished with the Case Control, you must then press BEGIN BULK, to go on to the Bulk Data without writing additional cases. If you press OK, you will go on, but the options that you have set will be written as an additional case.

Skip
Press this button if you want to go to the Bulk Data without writing any additional information.

Random Response Analyses

For Random Response analyses, you must specify additional output requests. The version of MSC/NASTRAN you are running will determine what type of output you can obtain. If you have selected Random Analysis, FEMAP will ask you if it is OK to translate for Version 70.5 or later. Version 70.5 of MSC/NASTRAN changed the output format for random response results. Previously, all random results were output through the XY plotting routines. From version 70.5+, NASTRAN now has a separate output request for random response results which is similar to requests for stress, strain, etc. If you say YES to the 70.5+ question, you will see the NASTRAN Output for Random Analysis dialog box: You can select PSD Functions and/or Autocorrelation Functions for Nodal and Element Output. The Frequency vs. Response output will be read as a XY plot. The information you request will then be exported to Output 2 results file (op2). If you select pre v70.5 format, you will need to define each individual output for the Random XY plots. You should carefully define which output types are required for your analysis when using because large amounts of output will be obtained if all output types are requested for a significant portion of a large model.

Writing a NASTRAN Model



After selecting the type of output using the Output for Random Analysis Dialog box shown here, you will then select the nodes and elements for which this output is required through the standard FEMAP Entity Selection Box. Random XY Plot results will only be obtained for those nodes and elements you select.You may therefore limit the number and type of Random output required. You may also limit the output to Summary Data Only. Only the summary of the XY plots will be obtained. There will be no information concerning individual values vs. frequency. The Summary Data Only option is most useful when you need to recover RMS values for your entire model, but do not need the contributions from the individual frequencies.

Heat Transfer Analyses

For heat transfer analysis, you must specify additional iteration control and convergence information. For Transient Heat Transfer, you must input the desired number of time steps, initial time increments, frequency of output and the maximum number of iterations. You can also choose to require convergence on Temperature, Load, or Work criteria within specified values. For Steady State Heat Transfer, you also have the option of choosing the convergence tolerances, but not the step control.

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Bulk Data

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After the completing the Case Control, you will see the adjoining dialog box:

Format
These options determine the format that will be used to write your Bulk Data commands. By default, FEMAP uses small field format (8 character fields). If you want extra precision, for all, or some of your model, you can choose one of the large field formats (16 character fields). The large field formats obviously produce a large file and one that is harder to read. You should not choose that format unless it is necessary. The limited large field formats allow you to selectively write large field formats for certain entities and small field format for others. FEMAP does not write free field format.

Plate Type
MSC/NASTRAN supports two plate formulations. The main difference is that the CQUADR and CTRIAR elements have rotational stiffness in the direction normal to the plane of the element. By default however, CQUAD4 and CTRIA3 elements will be written. These do not have any rotational stiffness in the normal direction. If you are using a nonMSC version of NASTRAN, you may want to use the CQUAD4/CTRIA3 option because the CQUADR/CTRIAR elements may not be available.

PARAM
If you choose these options, FEMAP will write PARAM cards for those options selected. You can also control the format of the AUTOSPC command to the MSC/NASTRAN convention (PARAM, AUTOSPC, YES) or the Cosmic NASTRAN convention (PARAM, AUTOSPC, 1). If you want to use additional parameters besides those listed, they can be added with the Type Input or Include File buttons.

Analysis Sets
These options will write the various mutually exclusive analysis sets to your Bulk Data. Each of these options allows you to select a Constraint Set that will be translated to the appropriate format for that analysis set.

Writing a NASTRAN Model



Typically, for static analysis you will not want to choose any of these sets. For modal analysis however, you will often want to choose an ASET to reduce the number of analysis degrees of freedom. The other sets are rarely used.

Include File and Type Input

These buttons allow you to include additional commands in your Bulk Data. Refer back to the Executive Control section. These buttons work the same as they did in that section.

Write Bulk and ENDDATA

This button writes your model to the Bulk Data portion of the File. You can then use the Include File or Type Input buttons to include additional information after your model. When you are done, press ENDDATA to write the ENDDATA command and exit the translator. If you want to add data to the file after the end of your model, write the model with the Write Bulk button, then add the ENDDATA command manually using either Include File or Type Input. You can then add additional information with these same two buttons. When you are done, press Skip to leave the translator without writing an additional ENDDATA command.

Skip
Press this button if you want to leave the translator without writing any additional information (including the ENDDATA command).

Special Notes for Nonlinear, Creep, and Dynamic Analyses

When translating for these types of analysis, you must take to care to choose options in translation identical to the options set in the selected load sets. For both Transient and Frequency Response types, the selection on the Dynamic Analysis load for the selected load set must match the analysis type (Transient or Frequency) and solution type (Direct or Modal) Otherwise, FEMAP will not allow you to select that load case for translation. Similarly, the Nonlinear Analysis options for the selected load set must be set to either Static or Creep for Nonlinear Static Analysis, and to Transient for a Nonlinear Transient Analysis. Furthermore, Dynamic Analysis options must also be defined for Nonlinear Transient Analysis to provide structural damping information. To perform a creep analysis, two identical load sets, except for the Nonlinear Analysis Load information, must be created and run in separate subcases. The first subcase must have a Static Solution Type in the Nonlinear Analysis load definition, while the second subcase must have a Creep Solution Type. All other load conditions must be identical between the two subcases.

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Special Notes for Models with Axisymmetric Elements

Since NASTRAN has some very specific requirements for axisymmetric analyses, FEMAP must ask some additional questions as you translate your model.



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All axisymmetric elements must be located in the Global XZ plane (unless you are using Hyperelastic Elements - then the model must be in the XY plane). FEMAP allows you to build your model in any global plane, and will automatically flip your model to the XZ (or XY for Hyperelastic) plane when you answer Yes to the above question. You should never answer No, unless you already know your model is in the proper plane. Similarly, all axisymmetric element normals must be consistent. Pressing Yes here will automatically check and update your model to the proper conventions Some analysis programs require axisymmetric loads be applied as total loads (i.e. the total force on the full circumference), while others apply loads on a per radian basis, and still others on a per unit length basis. Depending on how you have defined your loads, this scale factor lets you translate them with the proper values for NASTRAN. Finally, because the preference in MSC/NASTRAN axisymmetric analyses is to use CTRIAX6 elements with midside nodes, FEMAP allows you to automatically convert any elements with no midside nodes to elements with midside nodes by answering Yes to this question. This also splits any quadrilateral elements into triangles since there are no quad axisymmetric elements in NASTRAN. You must therefore press Yes if you have quadrilateral elements. If you answer No, your elements are not updated. All triangles will still be translated as CTRIAX6 elements with missing midside nodes.

Note:
While this automatic update changes the element connectivity to add midside nodes, it cannot automatically update any loads or boundary conditions. This can result in elements that have corners restrained or loaded, but which have midside nodes that are unrestrained and unloaded. Depending on the conditions you are trying to model this may be incorrect. You

Performing a NASTRAN Analysis



should carefully check the modified model and decide whether any changes need to be made prior to completing your analysis. If you have made any of these changes to your model, you will also be asked to save it after the translation has been completed. To insure compatibility with the results of your analysis for postprocessing, you should always save the updated model.

Special Notes for Heat Transfer Analysis

If you are performing a heat transfer analysis, the translator not only produces the NASTRAN file, it also updates your FEMAP model to prepare it for postprocessing. Since NASTRAN uses surface elements (CHBDYi) to apply many thermal loads rather than applying them directly to the structural/conduction elements, most heat transfer analyses require some model modifications. To simplify load definition, FEMAP always allows you to define heat transfer loads directly on the faces of the structural/conduction elements. During the translation however, new surface elements are automatically created in your model as Plot-Only Plate elements. These represent the equivalent CHBYDi elements that were written to the NASTRAN model. If you want to successfully postprocess the results of your analysis, you MUST save this updated model, since many of the thermal results are reported on the CHBYDi elements. If you do not save these new elements, FEMAP will not be able to display those results.

7.2.3.2 Performing a NASTRAN Analysis

Depending on where you plan to run NASTRAN, the preliminary steps can be somewhat different. You may not be running NASTRAN on the same computer as FEMAP, so you may have to transfer the file to the computer where NASTRAN resides. In some cases, NASTRAN will also require that your NASTRAN filename has an extension of .DAT. In these cases, you will have to either rename the file, or choose a .DAT name when you translate (since the FEMAP convention is .NAS). Once these things have been completed however, the basic approach to running NASTRAN is usually the same, simply enter the command:
NASTRAN filename

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where filename is the name of the file you created. Again, this can vary depending on the type of computer system you are using. Refer to your NASTRAN documentation for more information.

7.2.3.3 Reading a NASTRAN Model

Just as you can translate a FEMAP model to NASTRAN, you can also read NASTRAN models into FEMAP. When you read a model, FEMAP does not look at the Executive or



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Case Control information. Only the Bulk Data is read. In the Bulk Data, FEMAP can read small field, large field, or free format commands.

Limitations
FEMAP cannot currently read any Heat Transfer specific loads or other commands. LSEQ, TLOAD, RLOAD, NOLINi, and many other nonlinear and dynamics commands are not read. As a result, each load in the BULK DATA for the dynamics model will be read as a separate load case. You can modify the bulk data so FEMAP will read all of these loads by changing the SID of each load to the same number. However, you will still have to modify these loads in FEMAP because their references to functions, contained on TLOAD and RLOAD cards, will be lost, although the functions themselves will be read. FEMAP can directly read most NASTRAN structural models, but the following conditions are not supported: m Duplicate Element and Property IDs cannot be read directly. Some versions of NASTRAN allow you to use the same element IDs for multiple elements, as long as the elements have different types. FEMAP will read the duplicate information and then ask you if you want to renumber elements, properties, etc. so all entities of a given type (i.e. elements, properties, etc.) have a unique ID. m MSGMESH commands m Data replication functions (=, ==, *x, =n, etc.) m Continuation cards that do not directly follow their parents. This also eliminates the possibility of having multiple parents referencing the same continuation. If you have any of these conditions in your model, FEMAP will issue errors when you read the file. You can use NASTRAN to write an expanded, sorted, punched data file (use ECHO=PUNCH) which can be read. In addition to the above limitations, the following conditions are also not supported, but you will have to remove them manually by editing your model. m Obsolete Elements. Refer to the table at the beginning of this chapter for more information on the commands that are supported. If you have other elements, you will have to change them to a supported type before they can be read.

Reading the Model

When you begin to read a file, you will see the standard file access dialog box. Simply choose the file you want and press OK. FEMAP will read the file without any further input.

7.2.3.4 Postprocessing NASTRAN Output

To postprocess NASTRAN analysis results, you can either read the Binary Output 2 results file (typically called OP2) or the standard printed output file in FEMAP (typically called the F06 file). There is no special setup, or DMAP, required. FEMAP simply reads the file. you would otherwise read manually or print. In general, you should use the OP2 reader. It is much faster, and less prone to errors than the F06 reader, although you may want to read the f06 file to obtain the warning and error messages.

Postprocessing NASTRAN Output



Transmitting the File

Since you may have performed the analysis on a different computer, you may have to first transfer the output file to the computer where FEMAP resides. Since this file can be rather large if it an F06 file, you may want to compress it first, using the NASCRUSH program (described later in this section). When you transmit the file, you must be certain your communications or networking software does not modify the file in any way. If you are having any problems reading output for postprocessing, the first thing to check is the settings in your communication program. If it is expanding carriage control, truncating lines, or modifying the file in any other way, you can have problems. The F06 file must be transmitted as an ASCII file, otherwise carriage returns may not be properly inserted. The OP2 file should be transferred as a binary file, and FEMAP will perform any byte-swapping that is required when reading the file.

Reading the File

After you run NASTRAN, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select MSC/NASTRAN. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box, and you can choose the output file you want to read. When you press OK, FEMAP will immediately open the file and display the first few lines in the Messages and Lists Window. FEMAP will then ask if you really want to read the file you selected. If you answer Yes, FEMAP will read your output. You must always read the NASTRAN output into your original FEMAP model. If you did not create your model in FEMAP, just use the File Import Analysis Model command to create a FEMAP model, then read the output into that model. FEMAP will read many types of NASTRAN output, including: DISPLACEMENT VELOCITY ACCELERATION MPCFORCES SPCFORCES OLOAD FORCE STRESS STRAIN ESE FLUX THERMAL ENTHALPY HDOT - Displacements/Eigenvectors - Velocities - Accelerations - Multipoint Constraint Forces - Constraint Forces - Applied Loads - Element Forces - Element Stresses (Linear and Nonlinear) - Element Strains (Linear and Nonlinear) - Element Strain Energy - Temperature Gradients and Fluxes - Temperatures, Heat Flow - Enthalpy - Enthalpy Change

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FEMAP will also read the Failure Indices for layered composite elements. In addition, FEMAP will also read Complex Output, in both Magnitude/Phase or Real/Imaginary format, for most of the above structural output types.



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In addition to the output in the file, FEMAP can optionally compute additional output during the translation. For example, FEMAP will always compute the magnitude of all displacements and rotations. Likewise, FEMAP will automatically compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses, if they were not read, but the data necessary to compute them is available. For large models with significant amounts of output, you may not want to automatically compute these values. You can skip this computation by turning it off with the File Preferences Interfaces command. The default is to compute these values.

Limitations
The following limitations and recommendations apply when you are trying to postprocess NASTRAN output with FEMAP. Most of these limitation apply strictly to the f06 reader, but a few also are pertinent to both readers. m Elemental corner forces, stresses, and strains are not read for axisymmetric elements. This data can be in your file, but it is skipped. m For Modal analysis, you must request the same output for all eigenvalues which are duplicates for the f06 reader. If you do not, FEMAP may associate output data with the wrong one of the duplicate eigenvalues. Since knowing which eigenvalues are duplicate before the performing the analysis is difficult, it is generally best to request the same output for all modes/eigenvalues. Although it is not required, it is best to always request DISPLACEMENT output in a modal analysis. If you have DISPLACEMENT output, FEMAP will label all of your output sets with the mode number and frequency. Otherwise, the output will be labeled with the eigenvalue. m For Nonlinear Static analysis with axisymmetric elements, only the last set of stresses will be read from the f06 file. Therefore, if intermediate step output is contained in your file, FEMAP will create Output Sets for the different steps, but will only postprocess stress results for the last output step. m Hyperelastic elements return stress and strain data at the Gauss points. FEMAP uses the data at the closest Gauss point as the data at the center or element corner. No interpolation is done. These are really Gauss point values. Corner data is not created for 6-Node CPENTA Hyperelastic element data. Gauss points for this element are at element midsides and are not mappable to corner values. m In general FEMAP requires SORT1 style output for the f06 reader. FEMAP can read some nodal results (Displacements, Velocities, Accelerations, Constraint Forces, Applied Loads, Temperatures and Other Heat Transfer Data) and elemental heat transfer results in SORT2 format if there are less than 2000 steps.

Postprocessing NASTRAN Output



Reviewing Messages and Errors

If you are reading the printed (F06) file, when FEMAP has finished reading the results, you will see the Message Review dialog box. This displays the number messages of each type found in the file. You will almost always see some Warning and Information Messages. If you want to review the messages (always recommended), press Show Details to display the Message Review Details dialog box.: The messages will be displayed at the top in the order they appeared in the file. Initially, the Details will be blank. Select a message by clicking on it in the top, and the Details section will be filled with the number of Detail Lines from your output file that follow the message.

Using NASCRUSH.FOR
The FEMAP postprocessor can read either the original ASCII output file from NASTRAN, or a file that has been compressed using the NASCRUSH program. The advantage of compressing is that the file will be smaller to transmit. The disadvantage is that it will no longer be as readable, or printable, as it was before. Although we say that NASCRUSH compresses files, all it really does is remove extra spaces which are not needed when the file is read by FEMAP. This approach makes the source file very simple, and fairly portable to any computer where you are using NASTRAN. We have found that it can typically reduce the output file size by 50 to 60%. Remember however, if you are using MSC/NASTRAN this step is entirely optional. FEMAP can read uncompressed files just as well as compressed ones.

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Note:
We have not thoroughly tested FEMAP with non-MSC versions of NASTRAN, except for the ones with dedicated translators, and make no claims that it will work correctly. If you are using one of these versions, it is up to you to check the results thoroughly before accepting them as correct. If you do experience any problems, please let us know.



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Using NASCRUSH
The file NASCRUSH.FOR (or the other variations) can be found in your FEMAP directory. It is a FORTRAN source file that you can compile with almost any FORTRAN compiler. Before using NASCRUSH the first time, follow these steps: 1. Transfer NASCRUSH.FOR to the computer where you are running NASTRAN. 2. Compile NASCRUSH with the FORTRAN compiler on that system. Link with the appropriate FORTRAN libraries. Resolve any compilation problems. 3. Place the NASCRUSH executable in a directory where it can be accessed and assign any necessary security permissions. The procedure to run NASCRUSH will vary significantly depending on what operating system you are using. Here are a few examples: For DOS or UNIX, type: nascrush <file.f06 >file2.f06 For VAX/VMS type ASSIGN file.f06 SYS$INPUT ASSIGN file2.f06 SYS$OUTPUT RUN NASCRUSH No matter what computer or operating system you use, NASCRUSH simply reads the original file from the standard input and writes the compressed file to the standard output.

7.2.4 CSA/NASTRAN Interfaces

In addition to the MSC/NASTRAN interfaces, FEMAP provides direct interfaces to CSA/ NASTRAN from Computerized Structural Analysis and Research Corp. Since the input and output formats for CSA/NASTRAN are essentially the same as MSC/NASTRAN, the FEMAP interfaces are also essentially identical. The description in this section will be limited to the differences between CSA/NASTRAN and MSC/NASTRAN. You should refer back to the previous sections which described the MSC/NASTRAN interfaces for more specific information.

7.2.4.1 Writing a CSA/NASTRAN Model

The process that you follow to write a CSA/NASTRAN model is just like the options used for MSC/NASTRAN. You simply use the File Export Analysis Model command, choose the CSA/NASTRAN format, and complete the same dialog boxes described above for MSC/ NASTRAN. You will notice that the CSA/NASTRAN files have a default filename extension of .dat.

Options that CSA/NASTRAN does not support

FEMAP will write your model to CSA/NASTRAN using similar formats that are used for MSC/NASTRAN. Certain options are not currently available for the CSA/NASTRAN translator, such as iterative solver, parallel processors, restarts, and OP2 output for random analysis. These options will be hidden in the dialog box so you will not be able to select them.

Performing a CSA/NASTRAN Analysis



7.2.4.2 Performing a CSA/NASTRAN Analysis

If you are running CSA/NASTRAN on a PC with FEMAP, you may have FEMAP automatically launch CSA/NASTRAN as well as recover results. You must define a Windows environment variable, NASTDIR, which must define the location of a csanast.bat file. This file should contain the commands necessary for running CSA/NASTRAN on the PC. If this environment variable is set, FEMAP will automatically ask you if you want to start the analysis after you export the file. If you start the analysis, FEMAP will monitor CSA/NASTRAN and then automatically recover results when it is finished (assuming you do not interfere with the FEMAP operation). If CSA/NASTRAN is on a different computer than FEMAP, you must first transfer the data file to the computer where CSA/NASTRAN resides. Then typically you will use the command:
csanast jid

to run the analysis, where jid is the first part of the filename (for example, jid.dat).

7.2.4.3 Reading a CSA/NASTRAN Model

Reading a CSA/NASTRAN model is just like reading an MSC/NASTRAN model. Refer back to that section for more information regarding limitations and possible solutions to problems.

7.2.4.4 Postprocessing CSA/NASTRAN Output

To postprocess CSA/NASTRAN analysis results, you must read the binary results file (typically *.f11) or standard printed output file (typically *.f06) into FEMAP. This file is typically called the .f06 file. There is no special setup or DMAP required. FEMAP simply reads the file that you would otherwise read manually or print.

Transmitting the File

Since you may have performed the analysis on a different computer, you may have to first transfer the output file to the computer where FEMAP resides. If you are using the f06 file, it can be rather large, therefore, you may want to compress it first, using the NASCRUSH program (described later in this section). When you transmit the file, you must be certain your communications or networking software does not modify the file in any way. If you are having any problems reading output for postprocessing, the first thing to check is the settings in your communication program. If it is expanding carriage control, truncating lines, or modifying the file in any other way, you can have problems. The F06 file must also be transmitted as an ASCII file, otherwise carriage returns may not be properly inserted. The F11 file should be transmitted as a binary file, and FEMAP will do all required byte swapping.

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Reading the File

After you run NASTRAN, choose the File Import Analysis Results command, and select CSA/NASTRAN. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box, and you can pick the output file that you want to read. When you press OK, FEMAP will immediately open the file and display the first few lines in the Messages and Lists Window. FEMAP will then



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ask if you really want to read the file you selected. If you answer Yes, FEMAP will read your output. You must always read the NASTRAN output into your original FEMAP model. If you did not create your model in FEMAP, just use the File Import Analysis Model command and select CSA/NASTRAN to create a FEMAP model, then read the output into that model. FEMAP will read many types of NASTRAN output, including: DISPLACEMENT SPCFORCES OLOAD FORCE STRESS STRAIN ESE - Displacements/Eigenvectors - Constraint Forces - Applied Loads - Element Forces - Element Stresses - Element Strains - Element Strain Energy

In addition to the output in the file, FEMAP can optionally compute additional output during the translation. For example, FEMAP will always compute the magnitude of all displacements and rotations. Likewise, FEMAP will automatically compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses, if they were not read, but the data necessary to compute them is available. For large models with significant amounts of output, you may not want to automatically compute these values. You can skip this computation by turning it off in the File Preferences Interfaces command. The default is to compute these values.

7.2.5 UAI/NASTRAN Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to UAI/NASTRAN from Universal Analytics, Inc. Since the input and output formats for UAI/NASTRAN are essentially the same as MSC/NASTRAN, the FEMAP interfaces are also essentially identical. The description in this section will be limited to the differences between UAI/NASTRAN and MSC/NASTRAN. You should refer back to the previous sections which described the MSC/NASTRAN interfaces for more specific information.

7.2.5.1 Writing a UAI/NASTRAN Model

The process to write a UAI/NASTRAN model is just like the Advanced options used for MSC/NASTRAN. The Analysis Control dialog box is not used. You simply use the File Import Analysis Results command, choose the UAI/NASTRAN format, and complete the same dialog boxes described above for MSC/NASTRAN. You will notice that the UAI/ NASTRAN files have a default filename extension of .d.

Bulk Data Differences

The only differences between the two programs arise in the Bulk Data portion of the model.

Entities that UAI/NASTRAN does not support

FEMAP will write your model to UAI/NASTRAN using the same formats that are used for MSC/NASTRAN. Certain element types that are supported in the MSC/NASTRAN translator are not supported for UAI/NASTRAN. These include: the curved beam, curved tube, plane strain, and parabolic axisymmetric types. If your model contains these elements, you

Performing a UAI/NASTRAN Analysis



will receive warning messages, and they will not be translated. You will then have to use the Modify Update Element Type command to change to types which are supported.

7.2.5.2 Performing a UAI/NASTRAN Analysis

Since UAI/NASTRAN may be on different computer than FEMAP, you may have to transfer the data file to the computer where UAI/NASTRAN resides. Then typically you will use the command:
uainast filename

to run the analysis.

7.2.5.3 Reading a UAI/NASTRAN Model

Reading a UAI/NASTRAN model is just like reading an MSC/NASTRAN model. Refer back to that section for more information regarding limitations and possible solutions to problems. In addition to the normal NASTRAN syntax, the UAI/NASTRAN read translator also supports the UAI Free-Field entry rules/enhancements.

7.2.5.4 Postprocessing UAI/NASTRAN Output

To postprocess UAI/NASTRAN analysis results, you must read the standard printed output file in FEMAP. This file is typically called the .prt file. There is no special setup or DMAP required. FEMAP simply reads the file that you would otherwise read manually or print.

Transmitting the File

Since you may have performed the analysis on a different computer, you may have to first transfer the output file to the computer where FEMAP resides. Since this file can be rather large, you may want to compress it first, using the NASCRUSH program (described later in this section). When you transmit the file, you must be certain your communications or networking software does not modify the file in any way. If you are having any problems reading output for postprocessing, the first thing to check is the settings in your communication program. If it is expanding carriage control, truncating lines, or modifying the file in any other way, you can have problems. The PRT file must also be transmitted as an ASCII file, otherwise carriage returns may not be properly inserted.

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Reading the File

After you run NASTRAN, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select UAI/NASTRAN. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box, and you can pick the output file that you want to read. When you press OK, FEMAP will immediately open the file and display the first few lines in the Messages and Lists Window. FEMAP will then ask if you really want to read the file that you selected. If you answer Yes, FEMAP will read your output. You must always read the NASTRAN output into your original FEMAP model. If you did not create your model in FEMAP, just use the File Import Analysis Model command and select UAI/NASTRAN to create a FEMAP model, then read the output into that model.



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FEMAP will read many types of NASTRAN output, including: DISPLACEMENT SPCFORCES OLOAD FORCE STRESS STRAIN ESE - Displacements/Eigenvectors - Constraint Forces - Applied Loads - Element Forces - Element Stresses - Element Strains - Element Strain Energy

In addition to the output in the file, FEMAP can optionally compute additional output during the translation. For example, FEMAP will always compute the magnitude of all displacements and rotations. Likewise, FEMAP will automatically compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses, if they were not read, but the data necessary to compute them is available. For large models with significant amounts of output, you may not want to automatically compute these values. You can skip this computation by turning it off using the File Preferences Interfaces command. The default is to compute these values.

7.2.6 Cosmic and ME/NASTRAN

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to Cosmic NASTRAN and ME/NASTRAN from Macro Engineering, Inc. ME/NASTRAN is a version of Cosmic NASTRAN that is available for the PC. All references to Cosmic NASTRAN apply equally to ME/NASTRAN since they use the same formats. Because these programs are so similar to MSC/NASTRAN, the description in this section will be limited to the differences between Cosmic NASTRAN and MSC/NASTRAN. You should refer back to the previous sections which described the MSC/ NASTRAN interfaces for more specific information. FEMAP only provides interfaces for Static, Modal and Buckling Analysis for Cosmic and ME/NASTRAN.

7.2.6.1 Writing a Cosmic NASTRAN Model

The process to write a Cosmic NASTRAN model is just like that used for the Advanced options for MSC/NASTRAN. The Analysis Control dialog box is not used. You simply use the File Export Analysis Model command, choose the Cosmic NASTRAN format, and complete the same dialog boxes described above for MSC/NASTRAN. You will notice that the Cosmic NASTRAN files have a default filename extension of .nid.

Bulk Data Differences

The only differences between the two programs arise in the Bulk Data portion of the model. For Cosmic NASTRAN you will see the COSMIC NASTRAN Bulk Data dialog box.

Performing a Cosmic NASTRAN Analysis



Solid Type:
The primary difference in this dialog box, compared to MSC/NASTRAN, is the ability to select the type of solid elements that will be written. You can choose from any of the available types.

Entities Cosmic NASTRAN does not support

FEMAP will write your model to Cosmic NASTRAN using the same formats that are used for MSC/NASTRAN. Certain element types that are supported in the MSC/NASTRAN translator are not supported for Cosmic NASTRAN. These include: the curved beam, curved tube, plane strain, and parabolic axisymmetric types. If your model contains these elements, you will receive warning messages, and they will not be translated. Refer to the table at the beginning of the chapter for more information.

7.2.6.2 Performing a Cosmic NASTRAN Analysis

Since Cosmic NASTRAN may be on a different computer than FEMAP, you may first have to transfer the data file to the computer where Cosmic NASTRAN resides. Then typically you will use the command:
cosmic

and then answer the questions regarding the file to analyze and other options.

7.2.6.3 Reading a Cosmic NASTRAN Model

Reading a Cosmic NASTRAN model is just like reading an MSC/NASTRAN model. Refer back to that section for more information regarding limitations and possible solutions to problems. In addition to the newer elements and properties that FEMAP writes, you can also read the older Cosmic elements like CQDPLT, CQDMEM, CQUAD1, CQUAD2, and the triangular equivalents.

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7.2.6.4 Postprocessing Cosmic NASTRAN

Postprocessing Cosmic NASTRAN output is identical to postprocessing MSC/NASTRAN output. Refer to Postprocessing NASTRAN Output earlier in this chapter (in the MSC/ NASTRAN section). For Cosmic NASTRAN the default output file extension is .lis.

7.2.7 SSS/NASTRAN Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to SSS/NASTRAN from Schaeffer Software Systems, Inc. Since SSS/NASTRAN has very similar formats to MSC/NASTRAN, the FEMAP inter-



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faces are also essentially identical. The description in this section will be limited to the differences between SSS/NASTRAN and MSC/NASTRAN. You should refer back to the previous sections which described the MSC/NASTRAN interfaces for more specific information. FEMAP only provides interfaces to SSS/NASTRAN for Static and Modal Analysis.

7.2.7.1 Writing a SSS/NASTRAN Model

The process to write a SSS/NASTRAN model is just like that used for MSC/NASTRAN. You simply use the File Export Analysis Model command, choose the SSS/NASTRAN format, and complete the same dialog boxes described above for MSC/NASTRAN.

Bulk Data Differences

The only differences between the two programs arise in the Bulk Data portion of the model.

Output Destination
SSS/NASTRAN translator contains two additional PARAM options. In SSS/NASTRAN, these options control where your output will be written. If you want to postprocess using FEMAP, you must always turn on the Write POST files option. This automatically produces the binary output files that FEMAP reads for postprocessing. If you also want output written to the standard print/F06 file, check the Write OUT files option as well. These options only control where the output goes, not what is written. You still have to request the output that you want through the Case Control requests.

Entities that SSS/NASTRAN does not support

FEMAP will write your model to SSS/NASTRAN using the same formats that are used for MSC/NASTRAN. This means however, that it might contain entities that are not currently supported in SSS/NASTRAN. For example, SSS/NASTRAN does not currently support CBEAM elements (or PBEAM properties). If you use Beam elements in your model, FEMAP will write them to your file, but SSS/NASTRAN will not accept them. You will then have to return to FEMAP and use the Modify Update Element Type command to change your Beams to Bars, which are supported. We have chosen to write these entities which are currently unsupported because many additions are being made to SSS/NASTRANs capabilities. By the time you use the program, many of these items may be added. For this reason, before you build a model, carefully review your latest SSS/NASTRAN documentation. It can tell you the elements, and other commands, that it will support.

7.2.7.2 Performing a SSS/NASTRAN Analysis

Running SSS/NASTRAN is just like running other versions of NASTRAN. You just use the command:
NASTRAN filename

Unlike many other versions of NASTRAN, SSS/NASTRAN will also directly accept FEMAP files with the .NAS filename extension.

Reading a SSS/NASTRAN Model



7.2.7.3 Reading a SSS/NASTRAN Model

Reading a SSS/NASTRAN model is just like reading an MSC/NASTRAN model. Refer back to that section for more information regarding limitations and possible solutions to problems.

7.2.7.4 Postprocessing SSS/NASTRAN Output

Unlike the model interfaces, the SSS/NASTRAN postprocessing interface is significantly different than the MSC/NASTRAN interface. Instead of reading the standard printed output file, FEMAP reads the special SSS/NASTRAN interface files. You can find more information on these files in Chapter 13 of your SSS/NASTRAN manual.

Preparing For Postprocessing

To produce the interface files that FEMAP reads, you must always include a PARAM,POST,1 command in your Bulk Data. As described above, FEMAP will do that automatically when you translate using the SSS/NASTRAN interfaces. Depending on the output that you requested in the Case Control, the following files can be produced, and postprocessed: model.DIS model.SPC model.LOD model.ELF model.STR - Displacements/Eigenvectors - Constraint Forces - Applied Loads - Element Forces - Element Stresses

Reading the Output

To read the output files into your FEMAP model, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select the SSS/NASTRAN format. You will see the standard file access dialog box. Since there can be up to five files to read, and since they always have the same name, this file access box asks you for the name of the model file instead of the name of the output files. When you choose the model that you want to postprocess, FEMAP will automatically look for output files with the same name, and the appropriate default extensions (.DIS, .SPC, .LOD, .ELF, and .STR). If they are found, you will be asked to confirm that you want to read the data from that file. You will see no confirmation request for files that do not exist. FEMAP supports all data that is found in these interface files including plate element corner forces and stresses which are not supported for other versions of NASTRAN. In addition to the output in the file however, FEMAP computes additional output during the translation. For example, FEMAP will always compute the magnitude of all displacements and rotations. Likewise, FEMAP will automatically compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses, if the data necessary to compute them is available, but they were not available in the files.

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7.2.8 LS-DYNA3D Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the LS-DYNA3D file formats. You can write a FEMAP model for analysis in LS-DYNA3D, or read analysis results for postprocessing.



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7.2.8.1 Writing an LS-DYNA3D Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be analyzed by LS-DYNA3D. Simply choose the File Export Analysis Model command, select LS-DYNA3D, and Explicit Transient Dynamics under Format. Once you make these selection, you will see the standard file access dialog box, where you can specify the name of the file to be created. The default filename extension for this file is .DYN, but you can choose any name. After choosing a filename, you will see the LS-DYNA3D Analysis Control dialog box below. This dialog box enables the user to specify a Title for the analysis, the load and constraint sets, specific export options, and time step values. The Title is simply exported as the content of the *TITLE command in the LSDYNA3D input file, while the remaining options are defined more fully below.

Analysis Conditions
The user will select what load and constraint set to chose for this analysis, as well as the Initial conditions. When a user selects a load set for initial conditions, only those load which are pertinent to initial conditions, such as velocities and temperatures, will be exported from this load set. Since velocities and temperatures can also be applied throughout the history in the load set chosen under Loads, it is best to define a load set specifically for initial conditions.

Mass Damping Value

This section also allows the user to specify a Mass Damping Value. If this option is on, FEMAP will export the value entered by the user to the *DAMPING_GLOBAL card. This will also override any material based mass damping associated with the model. If a mass damping value is not input, damping will not be considered in the model unless the user specifies either the Frequency for System Damping (W3) or the Frequency for Element Damping (W4) under Model Load Dynamic Analysis, and defines a damping value on the material records. If these values are specified, FEMAP will export damping values for each part that has a damping value on the material record. The mass damping value is simply the product of the damping value on the material card (2*C/Co) and W4. The results are exported to the *DAMPING_PART_MASS card. Stiffness damping is obtained by dividing the material damping value by W3. The result is then exported to the *DAMPING_PART_STIFFNESS card.

Writing an LS-DYNA3D Model



As mentioned above, an input a of a global mass damping value will prevent the export of the DAMPING_PART_MASS card. A*DAMPING_PART_STIFFNESS card, however, will be written for all materials with a damping value as long as W3 is not zero.

Export Options
This section controls two different export options, for the rigid body reference nodes, and for plate parts.

Rigid Reference Nodes

Rigid references nodes are used in FEMAP to define motion of a given rigid body, instead of requiring prescribed conditions on all nodes of the rigid body. Many times this Node will be a Node in the model that is free (i.e. massless) whose sole purpose is to describe the motion of the rigid body. By default, FEMAP will find these nodes and prevent them from being written to the LS-DYNA3D input file. The motion of the Node as well as any forces or moments will then be assigned to the rigid contact segment that references the node. There may be times, however, when you would like to export this Node. By clicking this option On, FEMAP will export these nodes just like any other nodes in the model.

Note:
Prescribed motion and forces are only assigned to the rigid body if you use a material Other Type 20, LS-DYNA3D Rigid material for the property associated with the Contact Segment.

Material Based Plate Parts

This option will cause FEMAP to write all parts based upon the materials that they reference, not the properties. It should be typically left off unless you have a variable thickness shell model. This option is very useful in this circumstance. Since FEMAP defines the plate thickness on the property card, there is one property for every thickness variation. FEMAP also typically exports each part based upon the property. If you have a large variable thickness plate model, there could be literally thousands of PARTs written by FEMAP, may accessing the same material. When this option is checked, however, FEMAP will build the parts based on the common materials, and the output will contain only as many Parts as there are materials. The user should be careful, however, to define different materials for each Part, even if they are the exact same material, because without reference to the Property record FEMAP will have no way of telling the difference between parts, except by Material ID.

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Analysis Info and Additional Output

These sections allow the user to define Termination Time, Output Time Interval, and additional output information. The Output Time Interval is used to generate the D3PLOT postprocessing file. Results for all nodes and elements are recovered at this time interval. Additional time intervals can be specified for time history (D3THDT), and ASCII (NODOUT and ELOUT) files. You may also limit output to these files to just nodes and elements contained in a FEMAP group. If no group is selected, results will be requested for all nodes and elements.



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Note:
A relatively large time step is typically chosen for the output interval in comparison to the ASCII and time history files. These outputs are typically used to obtain results at a very fine time step. Thus, output to these files are typically limited to a few key nodes and elements.

7.2.8.2 Reading an LS-DYNA3D Analysis Model

In addition to the ability to write LS-DYNA3D Models and Read Results, FEMAP can also read the nodal locations and element connectivity from the LS-DYNA3D binary postprocessing files (D3PLOT and D3THDT). There are two ways to read this information. First, you can simply choose File Import Analysis Model, and then choose the output file that you want to read. In addition, if you start with an empty model, and directly select File Import Analysis Results, FEMAP can read both the model and results in one pass.

Note:
FEMAP can currently only read nodes and element connectivity from the results file. The elements contain references to LS-DYNA3D properties and materials, so you can group the model by property or material, but actual records on the properties/materials will be all zero.

7.2.8.3 Postprocessing LS-DYNA3D Results

When you have completed your LS-DYNA3D analysis, you can load results into FEMAP for postprocessing. To load results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select LS-DYNA3D. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file you want to postprocess. FEMAP reads the binary D3PLOT and D3THDT files. Both D3PLOT and D3THDT files are a series of files which must be imported. Simply select the D3PLOT or D3THDT file, and FEMAP will automatically read the entire series. If you have not used the default names for these files, you will need to change the File of Type to DYNA State Database or DYNA Time History Database to identify the format. Once you select the file, the DYNA Results dialog box will appear. This dialog box allows you to specify the type of data that you want to recover, and the time steps to recover.

Data Recovery Options

There are three main sections under the type of output. Global variables such as Kinetic energy can be read and stored in FEMAP. These values are stored as Functions for plotting purposes. You can also specify the typical Nodal and Elemental results.

MARC Interfaces



Step Recovery Options

This section allows you to limit the amount of output sets. You can specify the time range (All, Before, After, Between, Final), as well as every Nth output set.

Note:
These options are very useful for quick check of an analysis to significantly reduce the import time and model size. You could quickly read in the last step, or only a few steps, check the contact conditions, and then either read in the full results for further postprocessing or modify the model and perform another analysis.

Note:
If you have beams in your model that have a Vector defined for the orientation instead of a 3rd Node, FEMAP automatically creates dummy nodes for the LS-DYNA3D input deck. These nodes do not exist in the FEMAP model, but results may be recovered for them. This will produce an error message when reading in LS-DYNA3D results. In this case, this error message (Output contains entities that do not exist in your model) can be ignored. The results should still be valid.

Time History Data

When importing time history data (D3THDT), you will also have the option to import all information as functions. You will typically want to keep this option on, since most history files contain large amounts of step data for a few nodes or elements. This type of output is handled much more efficiently as Functions than as standard output. The FEMAP model size could be orders of magnitude larger when you do not save as functions for a time history file with a large number of steps for only a few entities.

7.2.9 MARC Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the MARC file formats. You can write a FEMAP model for analysis in MARC, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

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7.2.9.1 Writing a MARC Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be analyzed by MARC. Simply choose the File Export Analysis Model command, select MARC, and choose either Static or Modes under format. Once you make these selection, you will see the standard file access dialog box, where you can specify the name of the file to be created. The default filename extension for this file is .dat, but you can choose any name. The export process can be separated into three areas: (1) Analysis Parameters, (2) Model Definition, and (3) History Definition. Each of these areas are discussed more completely below.



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Analysis Parameters
After choosing a filename, you will see the MARC Write Parameters dialog box. This dialog box controls the writing of all parameters to MARC. The specific options are described below.

Title
A title for the analysis, which will be written to both binary and ASCII output files can be input.

Sizing
This section determines the initial memory allocation (in thousands of Words kWords) for the overall model, as well as constraints. The constraint value is not necessary unless you will have a History Definition in your model which contains more constraints than the Model Definition.

Input
This section allows you to obtain an echo of the input in the output (*.out) file, write the Extended parameter for extended input, and to Write Groups as Sets. The Extended parameter will be necessary if any IDs in the model are above 5 digits. Without this parameter, all nodal, elemental, property, and material IDs must be under 100,000 or the analysis will fail due to input errors. You may also choose to write all FEMAP groups as sets. This is a convenient method to obtain sets which you can then easily apply loading or other conditions by directly manipulating the MARC input deck.

Shell Parameters
This section determines whether the Transverse Shear option is chosen for a plate/shell analysis. You may also specify the number of Integration layers through the thickness of plate elements. The default is 11 layers. Any input must be between 3 and 15, and be an odd number. If the model contains composites, this value is overridden by the number of composite layers.

Procedures and Parameters

This section enables you to select between many different parameters available in MARC.

Writing a MARC Model



Follower Force (Incremental Load)

This option controls whether follower forces are employed as well as whether loads applied on History Definitions are incremental or total. There are actually three different options involved with this one parameter. They are (1) Follower Force Stiffness On or Off, (2) Total or Incremental Loading, and if Follower Force is on, (3) Follower Force is based upon Displacement at last iteration or beginning of increment. The one selection will set all three options.

Plasticity
This parameter controls the plasticity procedure that is used in MARC. There are currently five options for this parameter. They involve use of either the Additive or Multiplicative Decomposition method. If Additive is desired, you can also choose from two other options (1) Mean Normal or Radial Return method, and (2) Small or Large Strain formulation. Multiplicative Decomposition requires radial return and large strain formulation. Multiplicative Decomposition is more accurate for large elastic and plastic strains, but it requires that all elasticity be isotropic. The default for this parameter if not set is Additive Decomposition using the mean normal method and small strain formulation.

Elasticity
This parameter controls the formulation for large strain elasticity. The default is a total Lagrange formulation. You may also select an updated Lagrange formulation. If you choose the total Lagrange formulation with Mooeny or Ogden material models, the hybrid element formulation (Herrmann) must be used while the Foam material can use the standard elements. For updated Lagrange formulation, the standard elements amy be used for all three material types. user will select what load and constraint set to chose for this analysis, as well as the Initial conditions. When a user selects a load set for initial conditions, only those load which are pertinent to initial conditions, such as velocities and temperatures, will be exported from this load set. Since velocities and temperatures can also be applied throughout the history in the load set chosen under Loads, it is best to define a load set specifically for initial conditions.

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Elastic
This option can be implemented for elastic analysis with multiple loads. It essentially builds the stiffness matrix once, and then repeatedly back substitutes the load vectors to obtain the results. This option should not be used in nonlinear analysis, and will not be written if the Large Displacement option is checked.

Note:
This option will also cause any constraint changes in the History Definition section to be ignored. Since the decomposition matrix is only formed once, at the end of the Model Definition stage (Increment 0), changes in constraints cannot be allowed.

Large Displacement, Update, Constant Dilation

These options invoke the Large Displacement option, the Updated Lagrange procedure (instead of Total), and constant dilation. Constant dilation is recommended for lower order



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elements in nearly incompressible analysis. This option can also be used for the individual elements by specifying a hybrid element formulation for the lower order standard element types (bricks, plane strain, and axisymmetric).

Max Storage Parameters

This section controls memory allocation for several different lists. Many of these parameters will only be required if a History Definition has a larger number of lists than the model definition.

Distributed Loads
This parameter controls the memory allocation for elemental and nodal loading. Again, this is only required if you will be applying more loads in a History definition than was originally on the Model Definition Inputs include the total number of lists for distributed loads, the maximum number of elements in a DIST LOADS list (Pressure, Distributed Load, Gravity), and the maximum number of nodes in a POINT LOAD list. FEMAP will export each load as its own list, therefore, the number of lists must be equal to or greater than the total number of loads. The number of nodes and elements in any specific list, however, will typically be 1 since each load has its own list containing one member. The one exception to this is FEMAP body loads (gravity and rotational velocity), which will contain the total number of elements in the model in one list.

TYING
This parameter allocates storage for tying data which includes FEMAP rigid elements (MARC Tying Constraints 1-6, 100) and constraint equations (MARC Servo Links). The maximum number of MARC constraint equations should be set equal to the number of FEMAP rigid elements in the model, and the number of different types can be safely set to 7 (only 1-6 and 100 are currently supported). The Servo Nodes should be set to the maximum number of nodes in any constraint equation (set to 2 if no FEMAP constraint equations), and the Servo Link should be set to the maximum number of FEMAP constraint equations.

Out of Core Storage

This option invokes the ELSTO parameter for large models. It will cause all elemental quantities to be stored in an auxiliary area (unit 3) to free core memory for calculations. The input for this option is in Words.

Processors
This option enables you to specify the number of CPUs, the vector length and whether the beta matrices are to be formed in parallel.

Model Definition
Once you hit OK the MARC Write parameters dialog box, the MARC Model Definition dialog box will appear. this dialog box (shown on the next page) is separated into four major sections: (1) Load Selection, (2) Control Definition, (3) Contact Property, and (4) Output Requests.

Writing a MARC Model



Load Selection
The Load Selection area allows you to select the Constraint Set, Load Set, and the Initial conditions Load Set for the Model Definition. Any constraints that are permanent in the model should be applied in a constraint set and chosen here. Often you may define only one constraint set for the analysis, but multiple loading conditions. If all loading conditions are to be specified in the History Definition, the Load Set would be left unchecked for the Model Definition (in which case you would have had to input values for the Distributed Loads parameter on the previous dialog box to prevent a fatal error). The loads typically defined in the Model Definition would be those that resulted in only linear displacements, and then incremental loading would be applied in the History Definition to obtain the nonlinear results. Initial conditions, such as initial displacement (INITIAL DISP), velocities (INITIAL VELO), and temperatures (INITIAL TEMP) should be created in their own load set and referenced in the Initial Conditions input box. The final option, All Load Sets as Individual Sets, will simply write every Load Step as an individual History Definition and will provide no opportunity to change any inputs for the History Definition. If a load set is chosen in the Model Definition, it will not be repeated in a History Definition.

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Control Definition
This section determines the type of solution method (including the convergence criteria), and the solver type.

Solution Method
For the solution method, you can simply select the Default, or choose from either Newton Raphson techniques (Full, Modified, or Strain Correction) or Secant Method. if you choose a method, you can then also specify bounding parameters for the number of recycles, as well as the maximum steps for a run. If no values are entered, the defaults will be used. You may also define the convergence criteria as well as choose the Nonpositive Definite option. You have six options in this box, which are really the combination of two outputs



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defining the basis of convergence: (1) Force, Displacement, or Strain Energy for either (2) Relative or Absolute values. The selection of the Nonpositive Definite option will force solutions of problems with a nonpositive definite matrix.

Solver Type
This option allows you to chose from several different Direct and Iterative Solvers. When this option is active, you can also select options for Nonpositive Definite and Nonsysmmetric matrices.

Contact Property
All contact segments in MARC are exported to the CONTACT option in MARC. This option includes contact property information for all contact entities contained in the table. To define these values, simply create a Contact Property in FEMAP, and then select this property under Contact Property. If there are contact segments in the model, FEMAP will use data from the selected contact property as input for the control and property information on the MARC CONTACT option.

Note:
You do not have to define contact pairs for MARC. If no contact pairs are present, FEMAP will export all contact segments to the CONTACT option, and all contact segments will be able to contact one another. If you want to limit contact between the contact segments, simply define contact pairs. FEMAP will export the contact pairs to a CONTACT TABLE. Once the CONTACT TABLE option is invoked in MARC, all contacts are removed, so only those segments placed in contact pairs will be checked for contact.

Output Destination and Requests

These options provide choices for the output files to request from MARC, as well as the type of output contained in the files. There are three choices, PostProcess Only, Print and PostProcess, and Print Only. Either PostProcess Only or Print and Postprocess must be selected to postprocess results of the analysis in FEMAP. If Postprocess Only is chosen, a NO PRINT statement will be included in the Model Definition to prevent output of results to the printed (*.out) file. You may also select what type of output to included in the files. If you select Postprocess Only, however, you will not be able to select any Nodal outputs. MARC does not allow the user to select the types of nodal output for the postprocessing file. It automatically writes nodal information to the post file (*.t16 typically), therefore, these options are not applicable to the Postprocess option. Also, the individual elemental output requests are only applicable to the postprocessing file. If a Print option is chosen, the default elemental values will be written to the print file.

Note:
Certain output requests such as Heat Flux and Elemental Temperature are not currently supported. These remain on the dialog box for future incorporation into the translator.

Writing a MARC Model



History Definition
Once the Model Definition has been written, a similar dialog box will appear for the History Definition. You can select different constraints and load sets for the History Definition, as well as change solution and solver options. Slightly different dialog boxes will appear based upon whether you are exporting for Static or Modal analysis.

Hint:
When performing a contact or highly nonlinear analysis, it is best to define the initial step size and maximum number of increments. This can be done in the Load step used for the History Definition under Model Load Nonlinear Analysis, Static type. Set the Number of Increments (FEMAP calculates the initial time step as the reciprocal of this number) and the Max Iterations/Step. If you have not defined these values, FEMAP will default to an initial step size of 0.1 and maximum increments of 100 for any analysis involving contact.

Static Analysis
When performing a static analysis, the identical dialog box used for the Model Definition is employed for the History Definition. If you do not need to define a History for your analysis, simply hit Cancel and FEMAP will close the file. This is useful in linear analysis when all constraints and loading conditions have been applied in the Model Definition section. The one major difference between the Model Definition and History Definition is that all options in the dialog box will not be available. Initial conditions and contact property information are unique to the Model Definition, therefore these options will be unavailable. Furthermore, the solution method, solver, and output options will default to No Change. Thus, if you want to keep the current options but want to change the constraints or loading conditions, simply select the constraint and load sets and hit OK. The loading conditions can be either incremental or total, based upon the Follower Force parameter input in the Parameters section (Default is Incremental). You can define multiple histories by selecting the desired options and then hitting OK. The same dialog box will reappear but the History Number in the Dialog box is incremented. When you have defined al the desired Histories, simply hit Cancel to end the translation.

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Note:
When selecting a new constraint set in the History Definition, the DISP CHANGE option will be written, removing all previous constraints in the model. Therefore, if you simply need to add constraints, the chosen constraint set must include all previous constraints, as well as new ones. This can be accomplished very easily in FEMAP by copying the Model Definition constraint set by using the Model Constraint Copy command, and then simply adding additional constraints to this set. Remember, however, if the total number of constraints is larger in a History Definition than in the Model Definition, you will need to specify the total number of constraints on the SIZING option contained earlier on the MARC Write Parameters dialog box.



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Modal Analysis
Modal analysis has a slightly different input than static. The Control Definition section is modified to include the Min and Max Frequencies, Number of Modes, and whether to perform Sturm Sequence Checking. All other inputs are similar to static analysis. When you hit OK for the first History, FEMAP will export this History, as well as create a second History which simply issues the Recover command to retrieve the Modes. You can export multiple histories for Modal Analysis, simply by continuing to specify conditions and hitting OK. Cancel will end the input.

7.2.9.2 Reading a MARC Analysis Model

In addition to the ability to write MARC Models and Read Results, FEMAP can also read the nodal locations and element connectivity from the MARC binary postprocessing files (typically *.t16). There are two ways to read this information. First, you can simply choose File Import Analysis Model, and then choose the output file that you want to read. In addition, if you start with an empty model, and directly select File Import Analysis Results, FEMAP can read both the model and results in one pass.

7.2.9.3 Postprocessing MARC Results

When you have completed your MARC analysis, you can load results into FEMAP for postprocessing. You should typically start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the MARC analysis, however FEMAP will read the nodes and elements form the postprocessing file if your model does not contain any nodes or elements. To load the results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select MARC. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file you want to postprocess. FEMAP reads the binary postprocessing file, typically *.t16. Once you select the file, FEMAP will automatically read and store the results. No further input is required.

Note:
If the postprocessing file contains information which FEMAP cannot process, such as Die information or NURB rigid surfaces, FEMAP will issue an error message and quit reading. In these cases, very little data may be recovered.

7.2.10 SINDA/G Interfaces

FEMAP also provides capability to export a FEMAP Neutral File for conversion to a SINDA/G format, as well as reading a SINDA/G postprocessing database (*.SDB). When you select the export option for this interface, you must choose between Steady State and Transient Heat Transfer. You will then need to select a file name. Depending upon your version of FEMAP, FEMAP will either simply write a neutral file, or provide additional dialog

FEMAP Neutral Files



boxes for more information to be output to a case control file along with the FEMAP neutral file.

7.2.11 FEMAP Neutral Files

FEMAP Neutral Files provide a way for you to access all of the data in your FEMAP model. If you are using your own analysis programs, or other programs that FEMAP does not directly support, you can write your own interfaces to, or from, the Neutral file formats. Neutral files are also used to transfer information from one version of FEMAP to another. The Neutral file format is described in a document contained on your FEMAP CD. The remainder of this section will concentrate on how to work with Neutral files in FEMAP.

7.2.11.1 Writing a FEMAP Neutral File

To create a FEMAP Neutral File, choose the File Export FEMAP Neutral command. You will see the standard file access dialog box, where you can choose the name of the file to create. The default extension is always .NEU. After you choose the file, you will see the Neutral File Write Options dialog box. Entity Options This group of options controls what data will be written to your Neutral File. By default, the first three options on the left are on, so your entire model will be written. You can selectively skip parts of your model by turning one or more of these options off. Additional Info will also write a list of the free faces, free edges and the views which are currently on your screen. This information will not be read by FEMAP if you read the Neutral File. It is only provided as information for some third-party applications that work with FEMAP. Also by default, the Full Model option is on. Again this indicates that the entire model will be written. If you just want to transfer a portion of your model to the neutral file, switch to Group Only, and select a group from the drop-down list. Only those entities that are selected in the group (and that are enabled by the options on the left) will be translated. To work properly, you must take some care in defining the group. For example, if you translate a group that just contains certain elements, only those elements will be written to the file. The materials, properties, and nodes that those elements reference will not be written. If you try to read the Neutral file into a new FEMAP model, you will get errors telling you that those entities are missing. To avoid this, you must include all of those entities in the group before you write the Neutral File. One good method of doing this is to use the Group Node, Property, and Material on Element commands to automatically group all entities referencing the chosen elements.

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File Format

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These options allow you to choose the format of the Neutral File that you will write. m Formatted files loose some precision, but are easily read, printed, and modified with any text editor. You can minimize the loss of precision by adjusting the number of significant digits. If you want to eliminate spaces between fields in a formatted file, just turn on the Minimize File Size option. Leaving this option off makes the files a bit easier to look at with a text editor or print. Formatted files are always written in comma-separated, free-format. Your interfaces should never assume any particular column sizes or alignment. m You should typically write the latest version of the Neutral File to save all the data contained in the model. The only time to write older versions are if you are using an analysis program that uses an older FEMAP Neutral file format, or you are transferring a model to someone who has an earlier version of FEMAP. For these cases, you should always write their specific neutral file version because it will guarantee proper reading of the file. However, model data which did not exist in the previous version will obviously be lost in the translation.

7.2.11.2 Reading a FEMAP Neutral File

To read a Neutral file, choose the File Import FEMAP Neutral command and choose the appropriate file from the file access dialog box. When you press OK, you will see the Neutral File Read Options dialog box.

Entity Options
These three options are identical to similar options when writing a Neutral file. They selectively allow you to skip over certain types of entities that are in the Neutral file. Obviously, if you did not write those entities, they will not be read, even if these options are on. But if they are in the file, you can still bypass them by turning these options off.

Model Merge Options

One popular use for Neutral files is to merge multiple components into a single model. Since FEMAP requires unique IDs, you could have problems merging models unless you planned ahead and built them all with unique IDs. To avoid any ID conflicts, you can specify a nonzero ID Offset that will be added to all IDs that are read from your model. The same number is applied to all entity types. For example, if the file you are reading has nodes and elements with IDs between 100 and 200, and you specify an ID Offset of 1000, the resulting FEMAP model will have nodes and elements with IDs between 1100 and 1200. By specifying a different ID Offset for each component model that you read, you can avoid any potential conflicts. If you are unsure of the ID ranges used by your models, the List Model Info command will provide the information that you need.

I-DEAS Interfaces



Note:
All of the FEMAP translators will autoscale your model when you read a file. This insures that you can see all entities that have been read. When you read a neutral file however, in addition to reading entities, you may be reading View information that you do not want to be Autoscaled. To prevent FEMAP from changing the scale of any views, simply close all of your graphics windows prior to reading a Neutral file. When the translation is complete, you can use View Activate to open the views that you need.

7.2.12 I-DEAS Interfaces

There are two direct interfaces between FEMAP and I-DEAS. You can either write a FEMAP model to the I-DEAS Universal File format, or read an existing I-DEAS model. Both of these interfaces use the DataSets that are used by the I-DEAS Master Series when you read or write a Simulation Universal File. These DataSets may not be compatible with other versions of I-DEAS or with Universal Files created in other applications. You cannot currently transfer geometry (points, curves, surfaces, or volumes) between FEMAP and I-DEAS using these interfaces.

7.2.12.1 Writing an I-DEAS Model

To translate your model to I-DEAS Universal format, just choose the File Export Analysis Model command, select the I-DEAS Master Series format, and press Write. You will see the standard file access dialog box, with the default extension set to .UNV. Simply select the filename that you want and press OK. You will then see the I-DEAS Master Series dialog box. Both of the options provided in this box are most important if you have coordinate systems in your model.

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Part Name:
Here you can specify the name of the part in I-DEAS to contain your coordinate systems. You can specify any name you want, up to 40 characters.

Units:
Since the I-DEAS Universal File is written in terms of specific systems of units, you must choose the system of units that you have used to define your FEMAP model. FEMAP will not convert your model during the translation (although you could use the Tools Convert Units command). Your model will not convert properly if you do not choose the proper system of units, especially if your model contains coordinate systems. There are no additional options. FEMAP will immediately write the I-DEAS file. You can read this file into I-DEAS using the File Import command.



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7.2.12.2 Reading an I-DEAS Model

Reading an I-DEAS Master Series Simulation Universal file is even easier than writing one. You will probably want to start a new model before beginning, but then just choose the File Import Analysis Model command and select the I-DEAS Master Series format. As before, you will see the standard file access dialog box, and you can choose the file that you want to read. There are no options when reading an I-DEAS file. FEMAP simply reads all of the DataSets that it can interpret from the file.

7.2.13 PATRAN Interfaces

There are three direct interfaces between FEMAP and PATRAN. You can write a FEMAP model to the PATRAN format for analysis, read an existing PATRAN model, or read analysis results for postprocessing. The model interfaces use the PATRAN Neutral File format. As you can see from the table at the beginning of this chapter, they only support the finite element entities in FEMAP. You cannot transfer geometry (points, curves, surfaces, or volumes) between FEMAP and PATRAN using these interfaces.

7.2.13.1 Writing a PATRAN Model

To translate your model to PATRAN Neutral format, just choose the File Import Analysis Model and select PATRAN format. You will see the standard file access dialog box with the default extension set to .PAT. Simply select the filename that you want and press OK. There are no additional options. FEMAP will immediately write the PATRAN file.

A Warning About Conventions

PATRAN Neutral files allow you to write information in tables that are later interpreted by the other PATRAN Neutral file translators. For example, section properties values can be written in any order, but must follow the order required by the Neutral file translator that you will select later. We have chosen to follow the conventions required by the PATRAN Neutral file translators for NASTRAN (NASPAT and PATNAS). This convention may, or may not, work with other Neutral file translators. Check your data carefully.

7.2.13.2 Reading a PATRAN Model

Reading a PATRAN file is just as simple as writing one. You will probably want to start a new model before beginning, but then just choose the File Import Analysis Model command and select PATRAN format. As before, you will see the standard file access dialog box. You can simply choose the file that you want to read. You must select a formatted PATRAN Neutral file. Binary files are not supported. The only option when reading a PATRAN model pertains to constraints. The PATRAN Neutral file format does not contain nodal constraints, rather they are written as enforced displacement loads with a zero displacement. As you read the model, if FEMAP encounters a zero enforced displacement, you will be asked whether to convert it (and all others) to nodal constraints. The same restrictions on conventions that were described above apply to models that you read. The file must conform to the NASPAT/PATNAS conventions.

Postprocessing PATRAN Output



7.2.13.3 Postprocessing PATRAN Output

FEMAP can read the PATRAN Displacement (.DIS), Element Results (.ELS), and Nodal Results (.NOD) files. These files could have come from any analysis program, but if you plan to display the results, you must read them into an equivalent FEMAP model. To begin reading files, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select PATRAN format. You will be asked whether you want to read each type of file. If you answer Yes, you will see the file access dialog box and you can choose the file that you want to read. Answer No to skip that file and proceed to the next type. Since PATRAN writes each output case to a separate file, FEMAP gives you the chance to read additional files after you have read (or skipped) the initial group.

Working with Output From PATRAN

Unlike output from other programs, the type of Nodal and Elemental results in each field of the PATRAN Neutral file are not defined. Just like the conventions in the model files, the order of output in the file depends on the translator that you used to create it. For this reason, FEMAP simply loads the Nodal and Elemental output into vectors that are labelled with the PATRAN Vector Numbers. You must refer to your PATRAN documentation for a description of the data in each vector. You can use the FEMAP Model Output Vector command to modify the titles after the output has been read. Since FEMAP does not know what data is contained in the individual vectors, no additional calculations of principal, Max Shear, or Von Mises stress are done when you read PATRAN output. Displacement magnitudes are calculated since displacement components are specifically defined in the .DIS file.

7.2.14 Comma-Separated Tables

FEMAP contains two translators which allow you to read and write output in a tabular format. This format is easily exchanged between FEMAP and various spreadsheet and database programs, and also provides a simple and fast way to load output into FEMAP from your own programs.

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7.2.14.1 Writing a Comma-Separated Table File

To create a Comma-Separated table, choose the File Export Analysis Model command, select the Comma-Separated format, and press Write. You will see the standard file access dialog box where you can choose the name of the file to create. The default extension is always .CSV. You will then see the Write Comma-Separated Table dialog box, which contains the following options:



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Set and Vector Options

These options allow you to choose the output data that will be written to the file. You can only write data from one output set at a time, and you should choose it first. Then choose the First and Last vectors to write. The only restriction is that all vectors that you write must be of the same type (i.e. they must all contain either Nodal or Elemental data). You cannot write both types to the same file.

Format Options
These options control how the selected output is formatted. If you choose First Row Contains Titles, the Output Vector titles are written at the beginning of the file, otherwise, no titles are given. If you choose First Column Contains IDs, the Node and Element IDs will be written along with the output data. It is usually best to write these IDs so you can relate the output back to the associated Nodes or Elements. You can also specify the number of significant digits that will be included in the output. While you can increase this number from the default, the data can only be as meaningful as the original data that you loaded into FEMAP. If you originally read output with only 6 significant digits, you can specify a larger number, but any additional digits are meaningless. Finally you will see the standard entity selection dialog box which will allow you to select the Nodes or Elements where output will be written.

7.2.14.2 Reading a Comma-Separated File

To read a Comma-Separated table, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select the Comma-Separated format. You will see the standard file access dialog box where you can choose the name of the file to read. As before, the default extension is always .CSV. You will then see the Read Comma-Separated Table dialog box which contains the following options:

Format Options
If the first row of your file contains vector titles, you must select the First Row Contains Titles option. The titles will be read from the file and added to the vectors that are created. If the file does not have titles, default titles will be assigned to each new vector. If the first column of your file contains Node or Element IDs, you must select the First Column Contains IDs option. The IDs will be read from the file and used to

The Comma-Separated Table Format



properly load the output data. If your file does not contain IDs, FEMAP will load the output data as if it matched the nodes/elements in your model (i.e. the first output value will be associated with the first node/element, the second with the second, and so on). You may not have any missing output values, and they must be in order. If your file contains both IDs and Titles, there must be an extra title (or simply a blank field, specified by a leading comma), for the ID column. The second title will be associated with the first output vector.

Output Type
These options specify whether the data in the file is Nodal or Elemental data. Since this file format is basically just a table of numbers, there is no way for FEMAP to determine what type of data you are loading. You must specify the correct option here.

Set and Vector Options

You can either read the output into a new output set, by choosing Create New Set, or add it to the active set, by choosing Add to Active Set. This second option will not be available if you do not have an active set. You must also specify the ID of the first vector to be created. Any additional vectors will be created with IDs greater than this number. The default will be the first available user-defined vector. If the file that you are reading contains 3 vectors which are the global X, Y and Z components of some output, or 6 vectors which are the global X, Y and Z components, and the associated X, Y, Z rotations of some output, you should choose the Vectors are XYZ Components option. When this option is checked FEMAP will automatically calculate a 4th (or 7th and 8th) vector which is the magnitude of the component data. In addition, FEMAP will make the appropriate modifications to the vectors so that you can choose the magnitude vector and use it for displaying three-dimensional deformations and animations. If you have component data, you should always load it in this manner. Do not calculate the magnitude yourself and include it in the file. The vectors will still not be setup properly to do the deformation.

7.2.14.3 The Comma-Separated Table Format

The comma-separated table format that is supported by FEMAP is very simple. The following sample shows the basic capability, including titles and ID numbers, for a file with three output vectors:
, "title 1", "title 2", "title 3" 1, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0 2, 2.2, 3.1, 4.0 5, 1.4E2, 2.3E2, 0.111 10, , , 0.5

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This file contains output for 4 entities (1, 2, 5 and 10). They could be either Nodes or Elements. There is no way to tell from the file. Note that since IDs are contained in the first column, the first record which contains the titles starts with a comma to skip the title for the IDs. You could also specify a title for the IDs, but it will be ignored. The titles in the first record are text and must be less than 25 characters long each. Typically you should enclose them in quotes, as shown, but this is not required as long as no commas



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are contained in the title. If you specify any titles in the file, you must specify a title for all vectors. Output data is specified in the remaining records. Each record corresponds to a node or element, and contains one output field for each vector that will be created. You can skip intermediate fields just by entering a series of commas (like entity 10 above, where the 0.5 is for the third vector). All skipped data will have the value of 0.0. If you do not specify titles in the file, the first record must contain output for all vectors. Later records can omit data for trailing output vectors if you want the values to be 0.0. The numeric values can be in floating point or exponential format. You can enclose the output values in quotes, if you want, but they are not required. If you do not include the ID column, data for all nodes/elements must be present, and must be in numerical order corresponding to the entities in your FEMAP model. If IDs are not present, the first title will correspond to the first output vector (the leading comma should not be present).

ALGOR Interfaces



7.2.15 ALGOR Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the ALGOR file formats. You can write a FEMAP model to the ALGOR format for analysis, read an existing ALGOR model, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

7.2.15.1 Writing an ALGOR Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be analyzed by the ALGOR processors. The format of this file is the native processor format described in your ALGOR manual. It is not the file format used by SuperDraw or SuperView. If you want to load your model into SuperView, you will have to convert it using the appropriate ALGOR utilities.

Starting to Export
Once you select ALGOR for the Analysis Format under File Export Analysis Model, you will see two options available, Static or Modal Analysis. Select the type of analysis you want to perform. In either case, you will then be asked for the name of the file that you want to create. You will notice that the default filename has no extension. This conforms with the ALGOR requirements that processor files must not have an extension. If you are translating for either Static or Modal Analysis, you will see the ALGOR Model Write dialog box. The options at the top of the dialog box apply to either type of analysis.

Gravitational Constants
The Mass and Weight constants are translated directly to the ALGOR solution file. The correct values depend on the units that you used when creating your model. If you defined all masses and densities in mass units, then the Mass constant should always be 1.0, and the Weight constant should be the value of the gravitational constant in your system of units (386.4 in

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the English system). If you have defined your model with some other convention, you must adjust the values appropriately.

Boundary Elements
FEMAP allows you to define enforced displacement loads, but ALGOR does not support them. Instead, ALGOR uses Boundary Elements to apply fixed displacements at a point. If you have enforced displacements in your model and want to convert them to ALGOR Boundary Elements, check this option and choose the load set that contains the displacements. You can only choose one load set. If you have multiple load sets which contain enforced displacements, you must translate them to separate files and run separate analyses.

DOF Sets
Check this option if you want to apply nodal constraints to your model and then select the appropriate constraint set from the drop-down list. Just like enforced displacements, you can only choose one set. If you have multiple constraint sets, you must translate them to separate files and run separate analyses. Unlike the enforced displacement option, you will want to use this option almost every time you translate a model to ALGOR.

Plate Options
ALGOR provides several different plate formulations which can simulate different structural behavior. These options allow you to choose the formulation that you want to use for this model. These options are only used if you have plate elements in your model. Choose this option carefully, since it can produce significantly different results.

Translating for Static Analysis

If you choose to translate your model for static analysis, the following options will also be available.

Pressure and Temperature Loads

ALGOR specifies pressure and temperature loads in a significantly different manner than that used by FEMAP (and most other programs). The loads are contained directly in the Element Group information, and then combined with a series of multipliers. For that reason, it is only possible to choose one load set for pressure and temperature loads. If you have these loads, and you want to analyze them, you must check the corresponding box and choose the load set from the drop-down list. If you do not, pressures and temperatures will be skipped even if you translate other nodal loads (forces, moments...).

All Other Loads

Check this dialog box whenever you want to translate loads other than pressures and temperatures. If this option is checked, after you press OK, you will see the standard entity selection dialog box. You can then select all of the load sets that you want to translate. Remember, this only applies to loads other than pressures and temperatures.

Writing an ALGOR Model



Translating for Modal Analysis

The bottom of the dialog box contains additional options that are only available when you translate for modal analysis. All of these options are simply translated to the Master Control Input Line and the modal analysis control commands described in Chapters 6 and 7 of the ALGOR manual.

# of Frequencies
Set this option to the number of natural frequencies that you want ALGOR to compute.

Cut-Off Frequency
If you want eigenvalues below a certain frequency, specify that frequency here. Otherwise, leave this option blank to compute the # of Frequencies that you chose.

Rigid Body Modes

Set this to the expected number of rigid body modes. Typically this will be zero (or blank) if you have applied constraints to your model.

Shift Frequency
If you want to apply a frequency shift during the modal solution, specify it here.

Max Iterations and Convergence Tol

The ALGOR Modal solution uses subspace iteration to compute the natural frequencies of your model. It will continue to iterate until it reaches convergence within the tolerance that you specify here, or until it reaches the maximum number of iterations that you permit.

STURM Sequence Check

If you choose this option, a Sturm Sequence Check will be performed to insure that the lowest eigenvalues have been obtained.

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Limitations
In addition to the notes and restrictions described at the beginning of this chapter, the following items also apply to models that you write from FEMAP. m FEMAP can handle any node numbers that you want to use, ALGOR cannot. You must have all nodes defined in sequence starting at 1 with no gaps. If you translate a model with node numbering gaps, FEMAP will ask you whether you want to automatically renumber the nodes, or translate dummy nodes to fill all of the gaps. Either method will be successful, but if you have large gaps, translating dummy nodes can result in an extremely large model.



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m The SSAP9 Mass and C.G. calculation routines seem to have problems getting correct estimates using the free-format model file that was generated by FEMAP. This is especially true for Type 2 (Beam) elements. If you are experiencing difficulties, read the model into ALGORs AEDIT program and using option 29, write a new, fixed-format file. Then use that file with SSAP9.

7.2.15.2 Performing an ALGOR Analysis

After you have written the ALGOR file, running an analysis is straightforward. Simply invoke the appropriate ALGOR solution processor. From the DOS prompt, this typically requires a command like:
SSAP0 modelname

for Static analysis, or substitute SSAP1 for modal analysis. The processor names also change slightly if you are using the ALGOR Hyper version (SSAP0H and SSAP1H) or the composite analysis versions (SSAP0C and SSAP1C). You do not have to run the ALGOR decoder or any other programs. FEMAP has already done the formatting. When the processor starts, just type RUN to execute the analysis.

7.2.15.3 Reading an ALGOR Model

Just as you can translate a FEMAP model to ALGOR, you can also read ALGOR models into FEMAP. Usually you will want to start a new FEMAP model before loading the ALGOR file. Then choose the File Import Analysis Model command and select ALGOR. You will see the standard file access dialog box where you can choose the ALGOR model that you want to read. The file must be a processor-format file, so if you have a model that you created with SuperDraw, you must use the ALGOR Decoder to create processor files before they can be read.

7.2.15.4 Reading ALGOR Analysis Results

When you have completed your ALGOR analysis, you can load the results into FEMAP for postprocessing. You must always start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the ALGOR analysis. If you do not have one, or if you have changed the ALGOR files since you translated them from FEMAP, you must first start a new FEMAP model and read the ALGOR model as described in the previous section. FEMAP can read two types of ALGOR output files: (1) the displacement output file (*.DO) and (2) the stress output file (*.NSO). Both of these should have been produced during your analysis. You should not need to perform any special setup or preparation. To load the results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select ALGOR. You will have the option of reading or skipping either output file. If you choose to read a file, FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file that you want to read. Before reading data from a file, you will see a brief description of the file in the Messages window, and you will be asked to confirm that this is the file you want to read.

Output for Postprocessing

The formats and contents of the ALGOR files are described in the ALGOR Advanced Programmers Manual. From the Displacement file, FEMAP will read the nodal translations and

CAEFEM Interfaces



rotations. FEMAP will also compute the displacement magnitudes, or Total Translation and Total Rotation. The Stress output file is significantly more complex. Each element type produces different output. FEMAP will read all of the output available for the supported element types, except Boundary Elements. Since FEMAP really does not support boundary elements (they are loads), that output cannot be postprocessed. In addition to the output in the file, FEMAP computes additional output during the translation. For example, plate elements only report corner stresses. FEMAP computes the centroidal stress by averaging the corner values for each element. Likewise, FEMAP computes principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses whenever possible.

7.2.16 CAEFEM Interfaces

CAEFEM is a general purpose Finite Element Code from Concurrent Analysis Corporation. CAEFEM uses the FEMAP Neutral File format for input and output. CAEFEM runs as a 32bit Windows Application. Since it is a true Windows program, you do not have to leave the Windows environment to perform an analysis.

7.2.16.1 Writing a CAEFEM Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write a file suitable for processing by CAEFEM. Since the CAEFEM input file is identical to the FEMAP Neutral File, the same options are presented when translating. Be certain to select formatted as the File Format. Since CAEFEM does not use existing FEMAP Geometry or Output, you can turn off translation of these entities to make the CAEFEM input file smaller and quicker to process.

7.2.16.2 Performing a CAEFEM Analysis

Since FEMAP and CAEFEM are both Windows applications, you have several options for actually running your analysis. You can exit or minimize FEMAP, and start CAEFEM separately, or you can have FEMAP automatically launch CAEFEM. If you are starting CAEFEM external to FEMAP, simply double-click on the CAEFEM icon in the CAEFEM group. Next, select READ FEMAP file from the translate menu and select the Neutral File name you created in FEMAP. CAEFEM will now prompt you for a database name for its own internal use. To accept the default, press OK, or you may assign any name you wish. The model will now be read into CAEFEM. The status of the translation is reported in the status bar at the bottom of the window. If CAEFEM encounters any errors in the model, they will be reported in the Messages Windows. You should correct any of these errors in FEMAP before proceeding with the analysis. Once the model has been successfully read, choose Run from the Analysis Menu. You will be prompted for the type of analysis, as well as any other pertinent data required for your specific analysis type. When you have finished setting up the analysis, press Run. When CAEFEM has finished running, you must write the results for postprocessing in FEMAP. Select Write FEMAP Results from the Translate Menu. If you select the same Neutral File that was used for importing the model, you can either overwrite the model, or append the results onto its end. Select an appropriate file name, and the results will be output in the FEMAP Neutral File format. You can now exit CAEFEM.

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7.2.16.3 Reading CAEFEM Analysis Results

If you have automatically launched CAEFEM, FEMAP will automatically recover the results. If you have run CAEFEM separately, you must restore or restart FEMAP. Depending on how you wrote the analysis results determines how you will import the data for post processing in FEMAP. The most important thing to remember is that FEMAP requires that the model information be loaded before the analysis results. If you wrote the analysis results into a new Neutral File, you will have to load the original model file first, either by reading the Neutral file that was input into CAEFEM, or reading in the FEMAP Model file. If you appended the results onto the original input file, you can load the model and the results at one time by reading this neutral file.

7.2.17 CDA/SPRINT Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the CDA/SPRINT format. Depending upon which version of CDA/SPRINT you are using, it will either operate like MSC/PAL (CDA/SPRINT 1) or CAEFFEM (CDA/SPRINT 2). For more information on these options, please see the appropriate interface information in this section.

7.2.17.1 Writing a CDA/SPRINT Model

When you choose the File Export Analysis Model command and select CDA/SPRINT, you will see the CDA/Sprint Model Write dialog box. Here you can specify a Title as well as which files to write. The most important choice on this dialog box however, is the Version. If you select Version 1, the translation will be identical to the MSC/PAL Interface (see later in this chapter for more on this Interface). If you select Version 2, the translation will operate like CAEFEM (see above).

7.2.17.2 Performing CDA/SPRINT Analysis

Please see the CAEFEM Interface description for CDA/SPRINT Version 2, and the MSC/ PAL description for CDA/SPRINT Version 1.

7.2.17.3 Reading a CDA/SPRINT Model

When you select the File Import Analysis Model option with the CDA/SPRINT format, you will see the standard Windows Open File dialog box. The default extensions will be *.neu, *.cae, and *.txt. The first two file extensions will denote the file as a FEMAP neutral file, the standard input for CDA/SPRINT 2. The *.txt default is the standard for CDA/SPRINT 1. Please see the FEMAP Neutral File description for reading CDA/SPRINT 2 files, and the MSC/PAL description for reading CDA/SPRINT 1 files.

Reading CDA/SPRINT Analysis Results



7.2.17.4 Reading CDA/SPRINT Analysis Results

Please see the CAEFEM Interface description for CDA/SPRINT Version 2, and the MSC/ PAL description for CDA/SPRINT Version 1.

7.2.18 CFDesign Interfaces

CFDesign is a computational fluid dynamics program by Blue Ridge Numerics. CFDesign uses the FEMAP Neutral File format for input and output. CFDESIGN runs as a 32-bit Windows Application, therefore, you do not have to leave the Windows environment to perform an analysis.

7.2.18.1 Writing a CFDesign Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write a file suitable for processing by CFDESIGN. There are no inputs required for this analysis. FEMAP simply writes a FEMAP neutral file which can be read by CFDesign.

7.2.18.2 Performing a CFDesign Analysis

You have several options for actually executing CFDesign. You can leave or minimize FEMAP and run CFDesign separately, or you can have FEMAP automatically launch and recover results from CFDesign. To have FEMAP launch CFDesign, you must create an environment variable in Windows, CFDESIGNDIR, which contains the path to the directory where the CFDesign executable resides. If this environment variable is set, FEMAP will automatically launch CFDesign, as well as monitor its execution and return results when it is finished.

7.2.18.3 Reading CFDesign Analysis Results

If you launched CFDesign from FEMAP, FEMAP will monitor CFDesign and automatically recover results (assuming you have not exited FEMAP). If you ran CFDesign separately, either restore the iconized FEMAP or restart FEMAP. Then recover the results from the FEMAP neutral file written by CFDesign. Please contact Blue Ridge Numerics for more information on the contents of this neutral file.

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7.2.19 COSMOS Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the COSMOS GEOSTAR file formats. You can write a FEMAP model to the COSMOS format for analysis, read an existing COSMOS model, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

7.2.19.1 Writing a COSMOS Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your FEMAP model into a file that can be analyzed by COSMOS. This file contains GEOSTAR commands, just like the ones you would use if you were running GEOSTAR directly.

Starting to Export
After you choose File Export Analysis Model and COSMOS format, there are five analysis types available: (1) Static, (2) Normal Modes, (3) Buckling, (4) Steady-State and (5) Transient Heat Transfer. Choose the type which corresponds to the analysis you plan to perform



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and press OK. In either case, you will then be asked for the name of the file that you want to create. You will notice that the default filename extension is .GFM. After you specify the filename, you will see the COSMOS Write dialog box. The General and other options at the top of the dialog box apply to either Static or Modal analyses.

Write ANALYSIS / RUN Commands

Check this option if you want FEMAP to include the necessary commands to automatically analyze your model when it is read into GEOSTAR. If you would rather load the model into GEOSTAR, and examine or modify it before continuing with your analysis, do not check this option.

In-Plane Stiffening and Soft Springs

These options control the associated fields on the A_STATIC or A_FREQUENCY commands. If you check Include InPlane Stiffening..., in-plane stiffness effects will be considered in your analysis. When you check the Add Soft Springs option, you must also specify a small, nonzero Soft Spring Constant. This value is added to the diagonal terms of the global stiffness matrix.

Use Thick Plate Formulation

Check this option if you want FEMAP to translate your plate elements to COSMOS Thick Plates (SHELL4T). If it is not checked, SHELL4 elements will be created.

Plane Strain as Plane Stress

If you want to perform a plane stress analysis, build your model with plane strain elements and check this option. The proper options will be set to analyze your model as plane stress.

Plane Element Stresses in Global Coordinates

When you analyze plate and other planar elements, it is important to remember in which coordinate systems the stresses will be reported. By turning on this option, all planar element stresses will be returned (and postprocessed) in a consistent set of global rectangular coordinates. If you leave this option unchecked, these stresses are recovered (and postprocessed) in elemental coordinates, which can be mixed between elements. It is usually best to turn on this option for plate models.

Writing a COSMOS Model



Constraint Set
The constraint set list allows you to choose a constraint set for your model. You can only choose one set for each file that you translate. If you want additional sets, you must translate several times. If you do not want any constraints on your model, just specify the constraint set ID as 0 (or blank).

Calculate Reaction Forces

If you choose to Calculate Reaction Forces, FEMAP will add RFND commands for your constrained degrees of freedom. When you analyze the model, COSMOS will calculate reaction forces for those degrees of freedom.

Preparing for Static Analysis

If you are translating for static analysis, you should also specify the Spring Constants for Constraints... option. This value is written to the A_STATIC command, and is used to impose boundary conditions in local coordinates.

Preparing for Modal Analysis

Several additional options are required to setup a modal analysis. All of your selections are translated directly to options on the A_FREQUENCY command You should always choose the desired analysis method from the list, and set the number of frequencies that you want to calculate. Refer to your GEOSTAR documentation for more information regarding proper values for the other options.

Preparing for Buckling Analysis

Setting up a buckling analysis is just like setting up a modal analysis. All of the same options shown above must also be specified for buckling. You will notice that the list of analysis methods is somewhat shorter for buckling, and instead of frequencies you are dealing with eigenvalues. Otherwise, the available options are very similar. For buckling however, it is very important to specify the loading conditions that you want to analyze. Therefore, after you choose the buckling options, you will see the standard entity selection dialog box where you can specify the load case to analyze. Refer to the COSMOS A_BUCKLING command for more information on setting the buckling options.

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Preparing for Heat Transfer Analysis

For both steady-state and transient heat transfer analysis, the dialog box that is displayed to specify the analysis options is shown here.This is obviously different than the dialog box required for the structural analysis types.

Specifying Initial Temperatures

If you want to assign an initial nodal temperature distribution, create a separate load set in your model that contains the desired temperatures. When you translate, choose that load set for the Initial Temperatures. Instead of writing these temperatures as thermal loads, they will be used as initial conditions.

Offset from Zero and Stefan Boltzmann Constant

These options must be specified if you are including radiation in your analysis, otherwise they can be ignored.

Specifying Times
The Start Time, Stop Time and Increment define the time range in which a transient heat transfer analysis will be performed. They are not required for steady state analysis.

Calc Gradient/Flux
Turn on this option to postprocess temperature gradients and heat fluxes. If you are only interested in looking at the temperature distributions, leave this option off to save time.

Other Solution Options

The remaining options correspond directly to options on the COSMOS HT_SOLN, HT_OUTPUT and A_THERMAL commands, and deal with the analysis methods and controls. Refer to the COSMOS documentation for more detailed descriptions of these options.

7.2.19.2 Performing a COSMOS Analysis

After you have written the COSMOS file, running an analysis is relatively straightforward. Simply start GEOSTAR with a new model. Then choose the FILE command (on the CONTROL UTILITY menu), and type the name of the file that FEMAP wrote. Be sure to include the .GFM filename extension. Optionally, you can type the entire command, as follows:
FILE,filename.GFM;

Reading a COSMOS Model



Or, if you do not want the model to be displayed, or the commands to be echoed, type:
FILE,filename.GFM,0,0,0;

If you told FEMAP to include the necessary commands to automatically analyze your model, no further input is required. GEOSTAR will load your model and call the appropriate COSMOS processors. If you did not include these commands, you will have to use the commands on the GEOSTAR ANALYSIS menu to begin the analysis. The advantage being that you can review your model in GEOSTAR before beginning the analysis.

7.2.19.3 Reading a COSMOS Model

Just as you can translate a FEMAP model to COSMOS, you can also read COSMOS models into FEMAP. Usually you will want to start a new FEMAP model before loading the COSMOS file. Choose the File Import Analysis Model command and select COSMOS. You will see the standard file access dialog box where you can choose the COSMOS model that you want to read.

Expanding a COSMOS Model

FEMAP does not support all GEOSTAR commands. Therefore, if you built your model using GEOSTAR, you probably used some unsupported commands. If you try to read the GEOSTAR session file, FEMAP may skip parts of your model. You can refer to the table at the beginning of this chapter to see which commands are supported, or simply try to read the file and see if your model translates successfully. If your session file contains unsupported commands, and parts of your model are lost in the translation, you should expand your COSMOS model using the GFORM_OUT command (found on the GEOSTAR CONTROL UTILITY menu). This command will produce a new session or command file that contains your entire model, but does not use any of the GEOSTAR generation commands. FEMAP will typically be able to read your entire model from this expanded file.

Working with MODSTAR Models

Since FEMAP can only read files that contain GEOSTAR commands, any models that you have which were built using MODSTAR must first be converted before they can be read. You can use the MOD2GEO command (in MODSTAR) to produce a GEOSTAR command file from these models.

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7.2.19.4 Reading COSMOS Analysis Results

When you have completed your COSMOS analysis, you can load the results into FEMAP for postprocessing. You must always start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the COSMOS analysis. If you do not have one, or if you have changed the COSMOS files (either manually or in GEOSTAR) since you translated them from FEMAP, you must first start a new FEMAP model and read the COSMOS model, as described in the previous section.



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FEMAP reads many of the COSMOS files, as shown in the following table: COSMOS File model.LCD model.LCM model.STE model.HTO model.OUT Description Binary (Static) Displacement file Binary Mode Shape file. Binary Stress/Strain file Binary Temperature file ASCII printed output file Comments Choose this file if you did a static analysis. Choose this file if you did a modal analysis. Automatically selected if it exists and you choose the .LCD or .LCM files. Choose this file if you did a heat transfer analysis Do not use this file unless the binary files do not exist - for example if you ran the analysis on a different type of computer.

To load the results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command, and select COSMOS. FEMAP will simply display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file to read. Before reading data from a file, you will see a brief description of the file in the Messages window, and you will be asked to confirm that this is the file you want to read. As shown in the table the preferred files to read are the binary files. Use the ASCII file only as a backup if the other files do not exist or were created on a different system.

Output for Postprocessing

The formats and contents of the COSMOS output files are described in the COSMOS manuals. From these files FEMAP can read displacements (or eigenvectors and frequencies from a modal analysis), reaction forces, error estimates and elemental forces, stresses, strains, strain energies, temperatures, heat fluxes and temperature gradients. Output can be read for SPRING, TRUSS3D, PIPE, BEAM3D, SHELL4, SHELL4T, SHELL9, SHELL4L, SHELL9L, TRIANG, PLANE2D and SOLID elements. In addition to the output found in the COSMOS output files, FEMAP will compute the displacement magnitudes, or Total Translation and Total Rotation. Likewise for stress output, if centroidal stresses are not reported in the output file, FEMAP will compute them as the average of elemental corner values. In addition, FEMAP will compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses whenever possible.

7.2.20 GENESIS Interfaces

FEMAP also provides interfaces to GENESIS. You can import, export, and postprocess GENESIS model information. Import and export of GENESIS models is very similar to NASTRAN procedures. Please see the MSC/NASTRAN Interface section of this chapter for more details.

MSC/PAL (CDA/SPRINT 1) Interfaces



The one major difference is in the Bulk Data. There are very few options available for GENESIS. You may also postprocess GENESIS by using the File Import Analysis Results command and selecting the appropriate GENESIS results file. The default extension for this file is*.PST.

7.2.21 MSC/PAL (CDA/SPRINT 1) Interfaces

FEMAP provides direct interfaces to MSC/pal (also CDA/Sprint 1) model and output file formats. You can write a FEMAP model to the System Definition, and Solution Command (formats for analysis), read existing model files, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

Note:
All references to MSC/pal and CDA/Sprint 1 in this section can be used interchangeably. Both programs use identical file formats. CDA/Sprint 1 is an enhanced version of MSC/pal that can support larger models and run with Windows.

7.2.21.1 Writing a Model

The File Export Analysis Model command allows you to write your model into two files that can be read by MSC/pal. The System Definition file contains the model commands (nodes, elements, properties, materials, etc.). The Solution Command file contains loads.

Choosing a Version of MSC/pal

FEMAP supports all versions of the MSC/pal 2 program, including Version 4. Each newer version, provides some additional capabilities that were not included in earlier versions. Prior to MSC/pal 2 Version 1.0, there was also an MSC/pal program. While we have not specifically tested FEMAP with that program, you should be able to use it. All references to MSC/pal in this manual refer to MSC/pal 2. When you choose the File Export Analysis Model command and select MSC/pal 2, you will see the MSC/pal 2 Model Write dialog box. Here you must choose the version of MSC/pal that you are using. You should always choose the version that you will use to run the analysis. If that is not possible however, choose the latest version (4). Parts of your model may be translated to the file using commands that your version will not support. This may result in an aborted analysis.

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Title
You can also enter a title for your analysis. The text that you type will be written to a TITLE command in the System Definition File.



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System Definition and Solution Command Files

If you want to skip writing either of these files, just turn off the appropriate option. Otherwise, leave both options on and FEMAP will write both files.

The System Definition File

If you chose to translate the System Definition file, you will see the standard file access dialog box after you press OK. The default file extension will be .TXT, but you can choose any name that you want for this file. Next, you will see the MSC/pal 2 System Definition dialog box. Depending on the version and the type of analysis you have chosen, some of these options may be disabled.

Plate Options
The six options in this group choose the membrane and bending formulations that will be used for plate elements. These options directly correspond to options on the QUADRILATERAL PLATE TYPE and TRIANGULAR PLATE TYPE commands. They are only used if you have Plate elements in your model. These settings do not apply to Membrane, Bending, Plane Strain, or other planar elements in your model. Those element types automatically choose the correct settings to emulate the appropriate behavior.

Scale Factor for Normal Stiffness

MSC/pal plates do not have any rotational stiffness in the direction that is normal to the plane of the element. In some cases, you will be able to constrain these degrees of freedom so that you have a stable, solvable model. In other cases, this may be impractical or impossible. To eliminate the need to constrain these degrees of freedom, specify a stiffness value here that will be used as the rotational stiffness. You should always specify a value that is small relative to your model stiffnesses.

Laminate Database
MSC/pal 2 Version 4 supports laminated plates, but does not allow you to define the laminates in your model. Instead, you must define the laminate in a laminate database and then refer to that database in your model. Using laminates with FEMAP is somewhat difficult due to the MSC/pal restrictions. You must follow these steps: 1. Define all of your laminate layups and materials in the MSC/pal laminate database. Give them descriptive titles of 25 characters or less. 2. Define your FEMAP model with laminate properties. You must define the FEMAP property titles to match the titles that you specified in the laminate database. The property IDs

Writing a Model



do not matter, just the titles. 3. When you translate, specify the filename of your laminate database in this option.

Constraint Set
If you want to constrain your model, simply choose the appropriate constraint set from the drop-down list. Turn off the box at the left if you do not want any constraints. When the box is not checked, you will not be able to select a constraint set.

Activate and Eliminate

You can choose an additional constraint set that will be used to activate or eliminate degrees of freedom from the analysis set. This capability is widely used for reduced dynamic analysis, but can be used in other situations. If you have a set that contains the degrees of freedom that you want, choose the Activate option, and the set. If your set contains the degrees of freedom that you do not want, choose Eliminate, and the set. If you want to automatically eliminate massless degrees of freedom, pick that option.

The Solution Command File

If you chose to write the solution command file, you will see an additional file dialog box. The default extension is .TXT so be certain not to overwrite your System Definition File! Depending on the type of analysis, the remaining dialogs, and hence the contents of the Solution Command file will be different. The following paragraphs describe these options.

Preparing for Static Analysis

If you are translating for Static Analysis, FEMAP will display the standard entity selection dialog box so you can choose the load sets that you want to translate. You can choose one or more sets for your analysis. Remember however, that you were only able to choose one constraint set in the System Definition file. If you want to analyze other combinations of loads and constraints, you must translate several times.

Preparing for Dynamic Analysis

If you chose to translate for Modal, Transient or Frequency Analysis, you will see the dialog box shown here. Depending on the solution type that you chose, various sections of this dialog box will be disabled.

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Load Set
If you want to apply loads to your model, check the box at the left, and choose the load set from the dropdown list. For MSC/pal



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dynamic analyses, you can only choose a single load set. Typically, you will not specify a load set if you are doing Modal Analysis.

Modal Solution
This group contains the primary options for modal analysis. The QR, Jacobi, and Subspace Iteration buttons choose the method that will be used to extract your eigenvalues. Refer to the MSC/pal documentation for more information on the characteristics of each of these methods. The Shift Value is used to specify shifting during eigenvalue extraction. It can be used to improve convergence or allow extraction of rigid body modes. In many cases, you will want to leave this value blank. The Eigenvector Print threshold is used with the ORTHOGONAL EIGENVECTOR CHECK command. It sets the limit where eigenvector cross products will be printed.

Proportional Damping
These two values are used to multiply the stiffness and mass matrices (C=C1K+C2M). Refer to the MSC/pal documentation for more information.

Transient Solution
This group of options is only required when you are translating for transient analysis. The Excitation Table defines the time history of the applied loads. If you press the Excitation Table button, simply enter a time and excitation coefficient and press Apply. The dialog box will then be displayed again. If you want to specify an additional time/coefficient entry, input the values and press Apply again. After you have applied the last entry, press Done to complete the table. The Final Time, Time Increment and Output Increment specify the options for the TIME RANGE command. The Final Time and Time Increment specify the time sweep, with output at each time increment. The Output Increment defines the number of solution time steps per output time period (the Time Increment). Rigid Body Modes should be set to the number of zero frequency modes. If you check the Use All Modes option, all natural frequencies will be used to compute the transient response. Otherwise, you can choose a range of modes to use by specifying the First and Last modes and an Increment. Damping % defines the damping level as a percent of critical modal damping ratios. The value you specify is translated to the DAMPING PERCENTAGES command.

Frequency Response
The options in this section are only available when you are translating for frequency response analysis.The First, Last, and Frequency Increment determine the frequencies that are used for the frequency sweep. They should be specified in cycles/sec.

Performing an Analysis



If you press the Modal Damping button, you can input a frequency and damping percentage. You can create a modal damping table which contains damping percentages as a function of frequency. You use this dialog just like the Excitation Definition dialog described above. Just enter the table values and press Apply. After you have entered all values press Done.

Special Cases
Depending on the contents of your model, you may see additional questions or warnings as the file is translated. For example, axisymmetric and other 2-D elements must lie in the global XZ plane for MSC/pal. If you have built your model in a different global plane, FEMAP will ask if you want to automatically realign it to the XZ plane. FEMAP can only flip between global planes. You should never build an axisymmetric model in a skewed plane. For axisymmetric models, you will also have an opportunity to specify a scale factor for loads. This factor is normally 1.0, but can be adjusted depending on whether you specified loads on a per radian or per revolution (360 degrees) basis.

7.2.21.2 Performing an Analysis

How you run MSC/pal differs depending on which version you want to run. MSC/pal 2 Version 4.0 provides a menu driven interface that did not exist in earlier versions. Ultimately however, the process involves the following steps: 1. Run the PAL2 program, and load the System Definition file. 2. Run either STAT2 (statics) or DYNA2 (dynamics), and load the Solution Command file. 3. When the analysis is complete, recover output to a file so that you will be able to postprocess using FEMAP. If you are using MSC/pal 2 Version 4, you can perform these steps from the PAL Menu rather than by executing separate programs.

7.2.21.3 Reading a Model

Just as you can translate a FEMAP model to MSC/pal, you can also read MSC/pal models into FEMAP. Usually you will want to start a new FEMAP model before loading the MSC/ pal file. Choose the File Import Analysis Model command and select MSC/PAL 2. You will see the standard file access dialog box where you can choose the MSC/pal model that you want to read. Since the MSC/pal model is partitioned into two files, you should always read the system definition file (the model) first. Then read the solution command file to add the loads to your model. In fact, you can read multiple solution command files if you have more than one load case.

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Expanding an MSC/pal Model

FEMAP does not support all of the MSC/pal commands. If your model contains some of the unsupported generation commands, you will have to expand it before it can be read into FEMAP. Use the ADCAP2 program (supplied with MSC/pal) to expand your file. ADCAP2 simply converts your model into the more basic node and element definition commands.



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Note:
ADCAP will discard any nodes that are located at the global origin (0.0,0.0,0.0). If your model contains one or more nodes at this location, and you expand it using ADCAP, FEMAP will warn you that some nodes do not exist. You can then use the Model Node command to recreate those nodes in FEMAP at the origin. After you have created all missing nodes, use the File Rebuild command to check your model to insure all nodes are present.

7.2.21.4 Reading MSC/pal Analysis Results

When you have completed your MSC/pal analysis, you should recover output to a file. FEMAP reads the normal output files from MSC/pal. There is no need to do any special setup or processing. You can choose any level of output that you want. Just be aware that if you do not recover the output to your file, FEMAP will not be able to postprocess it. For that reason, it is usually best to specify a fairly high level of output recovery. Likewise, you can limit output recovery to a selected group of nodes or elements, but it is usually best to recover output for all entities. If you only recover partial output, the resulting deformed and contour plots can be misleading. It is extremely important to start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the MSC/pal analysis. This is especially true because the MSC/pal System Definition file does not use element ID numbers even though the output file does. FEMAP must match-up the elemental output to the elements in your model. This matching is purely based on the ID order in your model. If you modified any of the elements in your System Definition file, FEMAP could mix-up the output and the elements. Therefore, if you have made any changes to the MSC/pal files, start a new FEMAP model and read those files before you read the analysis results. By default, FEMAP expects output to be in a file with a .PRT extension. To load the results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select MSC/PAL 2. FEMAP will simply display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file you want to read. Before reading data from a file, you will see a brief description of the file in the Messages window, and you will be asked to confirm that this is the file you want to read.

Output for Postprocessing

As we said above, you can recover any level of output. The output that you can postprocess is largely dependent on what you choose to recover. FEMAP can read essentially any of the MSC/pal output, including: APPLIED FORCES (Static Only), EXTERNAL FORCES, DISPLACEMENTS, EIGENVECTORS, VELOCITIES (Transient Only), ACCELERATIONS (Transient Only), ELEMENTAL FORCES, ELEMENTAL STRESSES, and NODAL STRESSES. Unlike the other analysis programs that FEMAP supports, MSC/pal does not write laminate output so you cannot postprocess it. You must use MSC/pal directly to work with laminate output. Frequency analysis output is written with both magnitude and phase information. Currently, FEMAP can only postprocess the magnitude. Phase information is simply discarded. In

mTAB*STRESS Interfaces



addition to the output found in the MSC/pal output file, FEMAP will compute the displacement magnitudes, or Total Translation and Total Rotation. Likewise for stress output, if centroidal stresses are not reported in the output file, FEMAP will compute them as the average of elemental corner values. In addition, FEMAP will compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses, whenever possible.

7.2.22 mTAB*STRESS Interfaces

Note:
Throughout this section, mTAB*STRESS may be referred to as STRESS for brevity. FEMAP provides direct interfaces to the mTAB*STRESS file formats. You can write a FEMAP model to mTAB*STRESS format for analysis, read an existing mTAB*STRESS model, or read analysis results for postprocessing. Since mTAB*STRESS uses the SAP IV model file format, these interfaces can be used to read and write SAP models as well. You cannot postprocess SAP IV results, however, because FEMAP reads mTAB*STRESS output from an mTAB-unique output file which SAP cannot produce.

7.2.22.1 Writing a Model

The File Export Analysis Model allows you to export an analysis model which can be read by STRESS. After you choose the File Export Analysis Model command, select and mTAB*STRESS format. Select the appropriate option and you will then be asked for the name of the file that you want to create. You will notice that the default filename has the extension .SAP. If you are translating for either Static or Modal Analysis, you will see the SAP Model Write dialog box. The options at the top of the dialog box apply to either type of analysis.

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Gravitational Constants
The Mass and Weight constants are translated directly to the STRESS solution file. The correct values depend on the units you used when creating your model. If you defined all masses and densities in mass units, then the Mass constant should



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always be 1.0, and the Weight constant should be the value of the gravitational constant in your system of units (386.4 in the English system). If you have defined your model with some other convention, you must adjust the values appropriately.

DOF Sets
Check this option if you want to apply nodal constraints to your model. Then select the appropriate constraint set from the drop-down list. You can only choose one set of constraints. If you have multiple constraint sets, you must translate them to separate files and run separate analyses.

Displacements (Boundary Elements)

FEMAP allows you to define enforced displacement loads, but STRESS does not support them as loads. Instead, STRESS uses Boundary Elements to apply fixed displacements at a point. If you have enforced displacements in your model, and you want to convert them to STRESS Boundary Elements, check this option, and choose the load set that contains the displacements. You can only choose one load set. If you have multiple load sets with enforced displacements, you must translate them to separate files and run separate analyses. Although this option is located in the Static Analysis group, Displacements can also be selected for Modal Analysis.

Corner Output, Type 5 Hex, Data Check

If this option is chosen, FEMAP will create input that request corner stresses (as well as centroidal stresses) for Type 8, Parabolic Solid, elements. FEMAP will also be able to read these corner stress results back into FEMAP from the output file. If the Type 5 Hex is not checked, FEMAP will write Type 8 elements even for Linear Solids, so you may recover corner stresses even for Linear Solids. The Data Check option allows the user to run the model through mTAB*STRESS just to determine that the file contains valid input data. This is a quick method of determining if there are any problems with your input file without running the full mTAB*STRESS program.

Optional Location for Temporary Scratch Files

This option allows you to specify a path where the scratch files generated during STRESS operation will be stored. This is only applicable when running STRESS directly from FEMAP. It gives you the flexibility to define a different storage area for these temporary files, thereby enabling you to utilize your available system space more efficiently.

Translating for Static Analysis

If you choose to translate your model for static analysis, the following options will also be available.

Pressure, Temperature and Acceleration Loads

STRESS specifies pressure, temperature and acceleration loads in a significantly different manner than that used by FEMAP. The loads are contained directly in the Element Group information and referenced in up to four element load cases. These element load cases are later combined with a series of multipliers into the structural load cases. For that reason, it is only possible to choose one load set for pressure and temperature loads. If you have these

Writing a Model



loads, and you want to analyze them, you must check the corresponding box, assign them to one of the element load cases, and choose the load set from the drop-down list. If you do not, pressures and temperatures will be skipped even if you later translate other nodal loads (forces, moments...). Choice of the appropriate element load cases depends upon your model and the analysis conditions that you want to consider. In general, each type of load should be put into a separate element load case so it can be turned on or off in analysis cases. However, there are only four available element load cases so that may not be possible depending on the types of loads that you are defining. In addition, there are several restrictions to consider: m Each acceleration load component MUST be in a unique element load case that is not shared with any other load type. m While you only choose one element load case for pressure loads, if you are defining pressures on multiple faces of solid elements, you MUST leave enough unused element load cases to have one for each additional face. You will be warned if you do not have enough cases for your pressures.

Defining Structural Load Cases

After you press OK, you will see the SAP Model Write Load Cases dialog box. You can then define the structural load cases that you want to analyze. For each load case, you can select a Load Set that contains Forces, Moments and Gravity Loads (applied to Masses). You can also turn on or off any combination of the Element Load Cases. Only the boxes for Element Load Cases that you defined will be visible. When you have defined a case press OK. The same box will be redisplayed and you can either define another case or press Cancel to finish the translation.

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Translating for Modal Analysis

The bottom of the initial dialog box contains additional options that are only available when you translate for modal analysis All of these options are simply translated to the Master Control Input Line and the modal analysis control commands described in Chapters 6 and 7 of the mTAB*STRESS manual.

# of Frequencies
Set this option to the number of natural frequencies that you want STRESS to compute.



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Cut-Off Frequency
If you want eigenvalues below a certain frequency, specify that frequency here. Otherwise, leave this option blank to compute the # of Frequencies that you chose.

Max Iterations and Convergence Tol

The STRESS Modal solution uses subspace iteration to compute the natural frequencies of your model. It will continue to iterate until it reaches convergence within the tolerance that you specify here, or until it reaches the maximum number of iterations that you permit.

STURM Sequence Check

If you choose this option, a Sturm Sequence Check will be performed to insure that the lowest eigenvalues have been obtained.

Limitations
In addition to the notes and restrictions described at the beginning of this chapter, the following items also apply to models that you write from FEMAP. m FEMAP can handle any node numbers that you want to use, STRESS cannot. You must have all nodes defined in sequence starting at 1 with no gaps. If you translate a model with node numbering gaps, FEMAP will ask you whether you want to automatically renumber the nodes, or translate dummy nodes to fill all of the gaps. Either method will be successful, but if you have large gaps, translating dummy nodes can result in an extremely large model. m STRESS does not automatically minimize the bandwidth of your model during an analysis. Prior to running the solution however, you can use the PreSAP preprocessor to do the bandwidth optimization. Just load the file that FEMAP writes, and pick the bandwidth optimization options. You should always choose the option to do the optimization transparently. If you do not, you will be unable to accurately read your analysis results back into FEMAP, unless you first read the renumbered model.

7.2.22.2 Performing an mTAB*STRESS Analysis

If you have the Windows-based mTAB*STRESS solver, FEMAP can launch your analysis automatically. Before starting Windows however, you must set a DOS environment variable that tells FEMAP where to find the solver. Typically in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file you should place a line such as:
WINTAB=C:\MTAB\WINTAB.EXE

where WINTAB.EXE is the name of the solver executable file along with the path where it is located. If this variable has been defined, FEMAP will automatically ask whether you want to begin the solution at the end of every time you export a model. Following an automatic solution, FEMAP will immediately load the results back into the database. You do not have to read them manually.

Reading an mTAB*STRESS Model



7.2.22.3 Reading an mTAB*STRESS Model

Just as you can translate a FEMAP model to STRESS, you can also read STRESS models into FEMAP. Usually you will want to start a new FEMAP model before loading the STRESS file. Then choose the File Import Analysis Model command and mTAB*STRESS format. You will see the standard file access dialog box where you can choose the STRESS model that you want to read.

7.2.22.4 Reading mTAB*STRESS Analysis Results

When you have completed your STRESS analysis, you can load the results into FEMAP for postprocessing. You must always start with a FEMAP model that corresponds to the STRESS analysis. If you do not have one, or if you have changed the STRESS files since you translated them from FEMAP, you must first start a new FEMAP model and read the STRESS model as described in the previous section. FEMAP reads all output from the STRESS .011 file. This file has been developed by Structural Analysis Inc. specifically for transferring output to FEMAP. It is not available if you are running some other version of SAP. The .011 file is produced automatically during your analysis. You should not have to do any special setup or preparation. To load the results, choose the File Import Analysis Results command, and select mTAB*STRESS. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can choose the file to read. Before reading data, FEMAP will show a brief description of the file in the Messages window, and will ask you to confirm that this is the file you want to read.

Output for Postprocessing

From the postprocessing file, FEMAP will read the nodal translations and rotations. FEMAP will also compute the displacement magnitudes, or Total Translation and Total Rotation. The stress output is significantly more complex. Each element type produces different output. FEMAP will read all of the output available for the supported element types. In addition to the output in the file, FEMAP computes additional output during the translation. For example, FEMAP computes principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses whenever possible. Output for Boundary Elements is read as Nodal Constraint Forces. Since FEMAP really does not support boundary elements (they are loads), FEMAP must convert the output to a type of output that is supported. Since Boundary Elements are typically used to impose constraints, this element type has been chosen.

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Calculating Output at Element Corners

When FEMAP has finished reading your output, you will be asked whether or not to compute element corner output. Since the STRESS output file contains only element centroidal results, corner stresses and other corner output are not available for postprocessing. Without corner values, contour plots and other postprocessing displays can sometimes underestimate the output values because FEMAP displays the values at the element center, not at the edge/ corner where peaks often occur.



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If you answer Yes to this question, FEMAP will automatically invoke the Create Output Extrapolate command which calculates the corner values. Here you will have the option of calculating corner values for all output, or you can select the output to calculate. You can also answer No. In this case, the translation will be complete, but no corner values will be calculated. You can always calculate them later using the Create Output Extrapolate command.

Note:
For Type 8 elements (Parabolic Solids) you should not compute output at the corners (even though you will be asked). Corner stresses are automatically recovered from MTAB for these elements.

Time History and Response Spectrum Analyses

Time History analyses produce one output set per time step. Response Spectrum analyses produce one output set per frequency, plus one for the RSS response. Be aware that these analyses, especially Time History, can produce very large output files.

7.2.23 STAAD/ISDS Interfaces

There are three direct interfaces between FEMAP and STAAD. You can write a FEMAP model to the STAAD format for analysis, read an existing STAAD model, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

7.2.23.1 Writing a STAAD Model

From the File Export Analysis Model dialog box, you can choose to write your model for either Static or Modal analysis in STAAD. In either case, FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can specify the file that will be created.

Hint:
Although for most other programs we recommend naming the translated file with the same name as your model, this is not a good idea with STAAD. In fact, it can be a very bad idea. Unfortunately, when you do modal analysis, STAAD names the mode shape postprocessing file filename.MOD. If you specify the same filename as your model, STAAD could overwrite your FEMAP model with the mode shape file. For this reason, it is best to get into the habit of picking a different name, even if you are doing static analysis. When you have chosen the file, press OK. You will then see the STAAD III Model Write dialog box.

Writing a STAAD Model



Structure Type:
Choose an option from the list that selects the type of structure that you are analyzing. The option that you choose is translated directly to the STAAD command.

Units:
Here you must specify the systems of units that you have used to define your model. Since FEMAP is independent of any specific set of units, you must manually define these options each time you translate. Normally FEMAP supports only one set of units in a model at a time. You can always use the Tools Convert Units command to change systems of units, but only one can be present at a time. Very typically however, STAAD models define the structure in one set of units and properties in another. FEMAP therefore allows you to choose a separate set of length units for your properties. If you use this option, and then later try to read the model into FEMAP, you will get a warning message telling you that multiple systems of units are not supported.

Print and Post Requests:

These options specify the output that will be calculated and written to the printed output file (PRINT) and to the postprocessing (POST) files. If you want to postprocess your output in FEMAP or STAAD, make certain you request POST output.

Modal Analysis:
You can choose one of two methods for performing a modal analysis. Refer to the STAAD documentation to determine which method (CALCULATE NATURAL FREQUENCY and MODAL CALCULATION) you need to use. The Cut Off Frequency and/or Cut Off Mode options allow you to limit mode extraction below a frequency, or to a selected number of modes.

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Selecting a Constraint Set

After you have specified all of the desired options, press OK. Next FEMAP will display a list of the available Constraint Sets so you can pick the one that you want to use for this analysis. Choose a set and press OK.

Selecting Load Sets

Finally, you will see the standard entity selection dialog box, where you can choose the load sets that you want to translate. You can choose one or more load sets for each analysis.

Limitations
FEMAP can write complete models for analysis in STAAD. FEMAP does not however support many of the advanced features of STAAD, like steel, concrete and footing design. Even



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if you want to use these STAAD features however, you can still use FEMAP to build and mesh your basic model, and postprocess the results, but you will have to edit the STAAD file to add the extra commands that are required for these other features.

7.2.23.2 Performing a STAAD Analysis

Typically to run a STAAD analysis, simply follow these steps. Starting at the DOS prompt, type:
ISDS

Then enter the name of the file that you just created by translating your FEMAP model. Finally, choose the STAAD-III option from the ISDS menu to perform the analysis.

7.2.23.3 Reading a STAAD Model

If you have STAAD models that you want to manipulate in FEMAP, you must first read them into a FEMAP database. There are no options to specify when you are reading. FEMAP simply displays the standard file access dialog box, and you select the STAAD format model file that you want to read. As FEMAP reads your STAAD file, you will see messages in the Messages and Lists Window to indicate any commands that are unsupported and have been skipped.

Limitations
If you are reading a STAAD model to convert it to a different analysis program the following limitations apply: m You must not use TABLE or UPTABLE member properties. There is no way for FEMAP to convert the properties to a different analysis program. Expand your model to use PRISMATIC properties only. m You should use a single, consistent set of units. FEMAP cannot handle conversion of models that use multiple sets of units. Neither of these limitations strictly apply if you are just working with STAAD. It is still a good idea to always use a single set of units, but FEMAP can handle the case of different length units for properties than for the rest of the model.

Note:
If you are having trouble reading commands in your STAAD model that should be supported by FEMAP (refer to table at beginning of chapter), check command names in your model. In most cases, FEMAP requires shortened command name conventions that are defined by the underlined letters in the STAAD manual. In some cases, other shorter combinations also work, and have implemented them, but you may be using still other combinations.

7.2.23.4 Postprocessing STAAD Output

To postprocess STAAD analysis results, STAAD must write your results to the postprocessing files. FEMAP automatically adds the proper commands (PLOT... FILE) to your model, as long as you request postprocessing output when you export.

STARDYNE Interfaces



After you run STAAD, choose the File Import Analysis Results command, and select STAAD. Since there are a number of postprocessing files that FEMAP must read, when you see the standard file access dialog box, you must pick the STAAD model file that corresponds to the output files. The output files always use the same name and directory, and FEMAP automatically changes the filename extensions to find all of the output. In addition, FEMAP actually reads the model file to determine the system of units used in the analysis. Again, you should always use a single system of units or postprocessing may get confused. You must always read the STAAD output into your original FEMAP model. If you did not create your model in FEMAP, just use the STAAD Model Read translator to create a FEMAP model, then read the output into that model. FEMAP will read the following output files: .DIS .MOD .BEN .STR - Displacements - Mode Shapes - Member Force and Bending Moments - Element Stress

if they are available. Before reading each of these files, FEMAP will ask you if you want to read this type of output. Since FEMAP reads the same output files that STAAD uses for postprocessing, the output is basically limited to the same types that you can display in the STAAD postprocessor.

7.2.24 STARDYNE Interfaces

There are three direct interfaces between FEMAP and STARDYNE. You can write a FEMAP model to the STARDYNE format for analysis, read an existing STARDYNE model, or read analysis results for postprocessing.

7.2.24.1 Writing a STARDYNE Model

From the File Export Analysis Model dialog box, choose STARDYNE and either Static or Modal analysis. In either case, FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box so you can specify the file that will be created.

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When you have chosen the file, press OK. FEMAP will then display the STARDYNE Model Write dialog box. You can customize the translation by choosing options from this box.

Hybrid Elements:
Check this box if you want FEMAP to translate your model using STARDYNE plate and solid hybrid elements (QUADH, CUBEH). If this option is not checked, FEMAP will write QUADB and CUBEG elements.

Gravitational Constant:
The value that you specify is written to the STARDYNE START Entry. You must make certain that you specify a value that is consistent with your other model units. You should always define masses and densities in mass units for FEMAP. Therefore, this value should always be set to the gravitational constant in the system of units that you are using (386.4 in English units).

Tri-Plate Option:
These buttons control how FEMAP translates triangular Plate elements to STARDYNE. By selecting Membrane, Bending, or Shear Only, you can limit the forces that your plate elements will resist. These options only apply to FEMAP plate elements. Other planar elements in FEMAP (like Membranes and Bending elements) automatically choose the appropriate settings. You cannot modify their behavior.

Quad-Plate Option:
Same as the Tri-Plate Option. This is used for FEMAP quadrilateral plate elements that are translated to STARDYNE QUADB (or QUADH) elements. Again, it does not apply to other planar, non-plate elements.

Thick Plate Option:

This option further controls your plate behavior. By choosing Off, you are choosing thin plate behavior with no transverse shear capability. If you only have triangular plates, or you only want to add transverse shear capability to your triangular plates (not your quads), then you can choose the Tri-Plate Only... option. The better approach, however, is the final QUADS option which will fully simulate thick plate behavior for quadrilateral or triangular plates.

Writing a STARDYNE Model



DOF Sets:
You can use these three options to specify Constraint, Boundary, and GUYAN sets for your analysis. To translate one of these sets, you must first check the option, and then select a set. You will not be allowed to select a set until the option is checked. For each DOF set, you may select any FEMAP constraint set that is in your model. All nodal constraints from that set will automatically be converted to the correct format for the DOF set that you selected. Constraint equations are not supported, and will be skipped. GUYAN sets are only available for Modal analyses.

Modal Solution:
These options allow you to choose the type of modal solution that STARDYNE will perform. Refer to your STARDYNE documentation for help in choosing the appropriate method for your model.

Output:
You can use these options to select the type of output that you want in your STARDYNE printed output file. All options that are checked will be printed. None of these options are required for postprocessing.

PostProcess:
You can use these options to select the type of output that STARDYNE will write to the postprocessing file. Whatever output you choose will be available for postprocessing in FEMAP. If you do not request a particular type of output, you will not be able to postprocess that data.

Note:
Due to limitations in the STARDYNE postprocessing files, you cannot simultaneously request Plate Element Forces and Plate Element Stresses. Only one can be recovered per analysis.

Output Options:
These options allow you to choose whether stresses or strains will be computed and whether corner stresses will be available (or just centroidal).

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Eigenvectors and Frequency Limit:

These options give you additional control of modal analyses. Not all options are available for all modal solution types. The following table defines their use: Householder, HQR # of eigenvectors Number of eigenvectors to compute Upper Freq Limit Highest frequency eigenvector to compute. Shift Freq N/A Lanczos Same as HQR Same as HQR Shift frequency

These options are written to the modal analysis control entries. Refer to the STARDYNE documentation for specific details about how STARDYNE resolves conflicts between the requested number of eigenvectors and the limit frequency.



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Selecting Loads for STARDYNE

After you complete the Model Write dialog box, FEMAP will begin to export your model. If you are exporting for static analysis, FEMAP will display the standard entity selection dialog box after your model has been written. This will allow you to specify the Load sets that you want included in the analysis. You can choose one or more load sets for each analysis.

7.2.25 Performing a STARDYNE Analysis

How you run the STARDYNE program depends on the type of computer and the version of STARDYNE that you are using. In many cases, batch files have been established and you can simply start the analysis by typing:
STAR <filename.SDN >filename.OUT

No matter how you start STARDYNE however, you must simply supply the file (filename.SDN) that you created with FEMAP to the STARDYNE solver. No additional input should be required.

7.2.25.1 Reading a STARDYNE Model

If you have STARDYNE models that you want to manipulate in FEMAP, you must first read them into a FEMAP database. There are no options to specify when you are reading. FEMAP simply displays the standard file access dialog box, and you select the STARDYNE format model file that you want to read. In general, you should start a new, empty FEMAP model (see File New in the Command References Manual) before you read your STARDYNE model file. The FEMAP model will then match the STARDYNE model. You can however, use this capability to merge several models. Simply read the files into the same FEMAP model. If you are going to do this, be certain the model IDs do not overlap. Every time you read a file, FEMAP will overwrite any existing model entities with the same IDs as those in the STARDYNE file. If your IDs do overlap, use FEMAP to renumber your models prior to merging.

Note:
If you are reading a model that contains multiple element types, the element tables must appear in the file in the same order as they are shown in the STARDYNE manual. That is, Beams first, then plates, then solids, and finally, matrix additions. You may be able to use other orders in certain cases, but you can experience problems as well. STARDYNE has the capability to use duplicate element numbers across different element types (i.e. plates, solids...). FEMAP does not support this capability, but can read existing STARDYNE models that contain duplicate IDs. If duplicate IDs are found, the STARDYNE Read translator automatically renumbers the model so that the ID ranges do not overlap. Messages are displayed to let you know that renumbering is occurring. You cannot read output from a model with duplicate IDs. You must first read the model, then use FEMAP to write a new, non-duplicate model before doing your analysis.

Postprocessing STARDYNE Output



STARDYNE File Formats

FEMAP writes all models using the STARDYNE free-field formats. This allows you to use large IDs (> 9999). FEMAP can read STARDYNE in either fixed-field, or comma-separated free field format. FEMAP can skip over same line comments which are preceded by a $, and comments which begin with /DESC. The STARDYNE replicator functions =, =*, R*n, and L*n are not supported. FEMAP cannot read a file that contains these functions. If you have a model that uses these commands, you can use STARDYNE to create a TAPE4 file. Then use the STARDYNE PSTAR program to load the TAPE4 File and convert it to an expanded model file that FEMAP can read. In addition to the commands that are written to a STARDYNE model, FEMAP can read additional commands and formats. Refer to the table and notes at the beginning of this chapter for a full listing of the supported commands.

7.2.25.2 Postprocessing STARDYNE Output

To postprocess STARDYNE analysis results, STARDYNE must write your results to the TAPE4 File 2. You can request this with the TAPE4G command in the OUTPUT CONTROLS section of the STARDYNE manual. By checking the postprocessing options in the STARDYNE Model Write dialog box, FEMAP will automatically define these requests for you. If you are not creating your model with FEMAP, you must define the TAPE4G command manually. After you run STARDYNE, choose the File Import Analysis Results command and select STARDYNE. FEMAP will display the standard file access dialog box, and you can pick the TAPE4 file. When you press OK, FEMAP will immediately open the file and display the first few lines in the Messages and Lists Window. FEMAP will then ask if you really want to read the file that you selected. If you answer Yes, FEMAP will read your output. You must always read the STARDYNE output into your original FEMAP model. If you did not create your model in FEMAP, just use the File Import Analysis Model command to create a FEMAP model, then read the output into that model. FEMAP will read the following types of output: ALOADS DISP BEAMLDS BEAMGLD BEAMSTS TPLTGLD TPLTSTS RPLTGLD RPLTSTS CUBEGLD CUBESTS - Applied Load Vector - Displacements/Eigenvectors - Beam Loads in Element System - Beam Loads in Nodal Coordinate System - Beam Stresses - Tri-Plate Corner Forces (Nodal CSys) - Tri-Plate Stresses or Forces in Elemental CSys - Quad-Plate Corner Forces (Nodal CSys) - Quad-Plate Stresses or Forces in Elemental CSys - Solids Corner Forces in Nodal CSys - Solids Average Stresses

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In addition to the output in the file, FEMAP computes additional output during the translation. For example, the TAPE4 file does not contain principal stresses. Based on the data in



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the file however, FEMAP will automatically compute principal, max shear, mean, and Von Mises stresses whenever possible. If you are using solid elements, you should be careful when using elemental corner output. The corner node IDs are different between FEMAP and STARDYNE. FEMAP automatically converts your elements when it reads or writes your model, and automatically reorders the output as it is read. Because the output is reordered, it can be difficult to compare the FEMAP output to the STARDYNE printed output.

7.2.25.3 Using STARCRSH.FOR

The FEMAP postprocessor does not require, nor read the TAPE4 File 1 data. Since this data is contained in the same physical file, you may delete it prior to reading the output (or even prior to transmitting the file to your PC). The STARCRSH.FOR program can do that automatically. Remember however, this step is entirely optional. FEMAP will automatically skip over the TAPE4 File 1 data if you do not delete it. The file STARCRSH.FOR can be found in your FEMAP directory. It is a FORTRAN source file that you can compile with almost any FORTRAN compiler. Before using STARCRSH the first time, follow these steps: 1. Transfer STARCRSH.FOR to the computer where you are running STARDYNE. 2. Compile STARCRSH with the FORTRAN compiler on that system. Link with the appropriate FORTRAN libraries. Resolve any compilation problems. 3. Place the STARCRSH executable in a directory where it can be accessed and assign any necessary security permissions. The procedure to run STARCRSH will vary significantly depending on what operating system you are using. Here are a few examples: For DOS or UNIX, type: starcrsh <file.04 >file2.04 For VAX/VMS type ASSIGN file.04 SYS$INPUT ASSIGN file2.04 SYS$OUTPUT RUN STARCRSH No matter what computer or operating system you use, STARCRSH simply reads the original file from the standard input and writes the compressed file to the standard output.

7.2.26 weCan Interfaces

There are two direct interfaces between FEMAP and weCan. You can write a FEMAP model to the weCan format for analysis, or read analysis results for postprocessing. In addition, FEMAP can automatically run your weCan analysis and read the postprocessing output.

Exporting a weCan Model



7.2.27 Exporting a weCan Model

From the File Export Analysis Model dialog box, select weCan and choose the appropriate analysis type. FEMAP will then display the standard file access dialog box so you can specify the file that will be created. When you have chosen the file, press OK. FEMAP will then display the weCan Model Write dialog box where you can specify options for your analysis. Press OK after you have selected the options for this analysis.

Title:
Here you can specify a title (up to 80 characters) that will be used during your analysis. It will appear in any printed output produced by weCan.

Constraint Set:
Choose the set of constraints that you wish to use for this analysis. Both nodal constraints and constraint equations will be selected from the set that you choose. The default will be the active FEMAP constraint set, but you can choose any set that is in your model.

Coincident Nodes:
This option is provided to automatically merge any nodes in your model that are within the specified tolerance of being coincident. This is identical to the Tools Check Coincident Nodes command. It is just invoked automatically. Be careful to turn this option off if you have properly defined coincident nodes in your model that are required for your analysis. You may also want to turn this option off to save time if you know that you do not have any coincident nodes.

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Element Options:
If you want Bar, Beam and Tube elements to support shear deformations, you must check the Include Shear Deformation option. Otherwise, shear deformations will be ignored for those elements. WeCan includes the ability to optimize the analysis wavefront during the solution. In most cases, wavefront optimization will significantly reduce your analysis time. If however, you have already numbered your model with an optimum wavefront, or you are having trouble with the optimizer, turn the Optimize Wavefront option off. If you want to do a plane stress analysis with weCan, you should build your model with plane strain elements, then check the Plane Strain as Plane Stress elements. FEMAP will automatically write your plane strain elements as weCan plane stress elements.



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Output Requests:
This set of options controls the printed output and postprocessing files. Model Information and Loads simply echo your input information to the printed output file. The other options request solution results. If you want to use FEMAP to postprocess your analysis results, you must leave Results for PostProcessing checked.

Pre-Buckling:
Check this option only if you intend to use the static analysis you are about to perform as the input to a buckling analysis.

Independent Loads:
By default, weCan considers multiple load cases as additive onto previous load cases (i.e. any loads that you apply in the first load case are carried over and added to the second). This can be useful if you have time dependent loading or additive loading, but it is not very helpful if need to analyze multiple independent loading conditions. In this case, check this option. WeCan will automatically delete all loads at the end of each load case.

Coupled Heat/Stress:
Check this option if you want to read the results of a previous thermal analysis from File 8, and use them in your current Static Analysis.

Preparing for a Static Analysis

If you are translating for a static analysis, after you choose the model options, FEMAP will display the standard entity selection dialog box. Here you can select the load sets that you want to analyze. You may select as many load sets as you want for this analysis.

Preparing for a Dynamic Analysis

If you are translating for a modal, buckling, or other dynamic, analysis, you will see the following dialog box: These options control various types of dynamic analysis. Typically, you will not use all of them at the same time. As you choose some options, FEMAP will automatically disable others that are not appropriate for that type of analysis.

Dynamic DOF Set:

For any type of reduced dynamic (modal or response spectrum) analysis, you must use this option to choose the dynamic, or active degrees of freedom. First, check the option. Then choose one of the available sets. To define the dynamic degrees of freedom, just create a separate Constraint Set, and use nodal constraints to select the degrees of freedom. Do not place any constraint equations in this Dynamic DOF set. They will be ignored.

Exporting a weCan Model



Number of Modes:
Allows you to select the number of dynamic modes that will be calculated during the analysis. If you simply want to count the number of frequencies, set this value to 0, and choose Subspace Iteration.

Subspace Iteration vs. Householder:

These options allow you to choose the method that will be used for your dynamic analysis. The choice of which method to use depends upon what type of analysis you are trying to perform, and your model. For example, you must choose Householder if you are going to do Response Spectrum analysis, or if you want to limit modal recovery to a certain frequency range. Refer to the weCan documentation for more information.

Shift Value:
Allows you to specify a frequency to shift by during eigenvalue extraction. It can be used to improve convergence or to handle rigid body modes. This is only available for the Subspace Iteration method.

Min and Max Freq:

For the Householder method, you can limit eigenvalue extraction to a specified frequency range. If you leave Min and Max blank, all frequencies will be considered, otherwise enter the range of interest.

Response Spectrum Analysis

The remaining options in this dialog box allow you to prepare for a single support response spectrum analysis. To perform this type of analysis, you must have chosen the Response Spectrum analysis type. This will enable the other options.

Accel XYZ:
Here you must specify the components of the acceleration vector for the response spectrum input.

Significant Spectral Criterion:

This number limits the modes which will be combined and printed by the square root of the sum of the squares (SRSS) rule. Only significant modes where the mode coefficient ratio is greater than this value are combined.

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Spectrum Table:
In addition to the acceleration vector, you must specify the frequency vs. acceleration table to be applied during the analysis. To do this, you must have created a vs. Frequency function that defined the acceleration values. You can then choose the function from the dropdown list.

Preparing for Buckling Analysis

Although buckling analysis is not specifically identified in the dialog boxes, it is available. To do a buckling analysis, follow these steps: 1. Setup and perform a static analysis. This phase identifies the buckling loads and calculates an initial stress matrix which will be considered during the next phase. During this



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analysis, make certain you turn on the Pre-buckling option, otherwise the necessary files will not be saved. 2. Translate again. This time for buckling analysis. In this run, you must choose the Subspace Iteration method. Make certain you do not change the model between the steps.

Preparing for a Heat Transfer Analysis

If you are translating for either a steady-state or transient heat transfer analysis, the model options dialog box is displayed just as it is for structural analyses. Steady-State heat transfer requires no additional input other than the selection of one or more load sets. Transient analysis only uses one load set, where the loads are linked to time-dependent functions. In addition, another time function must be selected during the translation.

Defining the Transient Time Function

Prior to translating for transient analysis, you must define a time-dependent function which will control the load/time steps to be used in the analysis. When you create this function, you must define a function data point to represent each of the load steps that you want to analyze. The X values of these data points are the values of time at that step. The Y values should be set to the number of iterations that you want to use during this step. If you set Y to a positive value, loads will be applied as a ramp. Set Y to a negative value for step loading. In either case, the absolute value of Y is the number of iterations. The time points in this transient time control function do not have to correspond in any way to the points in the functions that are used for the loads. FEMAP will automatically interpolate the loading functions at the time points in the control function based on linear interpolation between the points you specify. The interpolated function value is then multiplied by the load value and the loads are written at the time you selected.

Preparing for Nonlinear Analysis

Whenever you include gap elements in your model, or use temperature dependent materials in a steady-state heat transfer analysis, you are performing nonlinear analysis. This requires special control options which are specified in the Iterative Solution Control dialog box. You can choose to either apply loads as a Step function, or to apply them gradually as a Ramp. You must also specify the number of solution steps to be performed and a tolerance to indicate that the solution has converged. Steady State Heat Transfer also requires that you select a Node as a Control for Convergence.

7.2.28 Performing a weCan Analysis

After you have written the weCan file, FEMAP will display the following dialog box:

Reading weCan Analysis Results



If you are ready to begin the analysis, simply press Yes. FEMAP will automatically start the weCan analysis program for the model that you just translated. As weCan begins, another window will appear on your screen to show the progress of your analysis. If there are any errors, you will see them in this window, and you can also find them in the output files generated by weCan. A few seconds after the analysis has completed, the Analysis Complete dialog box will appear. If there were no errors, press Yes, and FEMAP will begin reading the output. If you press No, you can always read the output at a later time with the File Import Analysis Results command.

How it works
When you ask FEMAP to run weCan automatically, it must know how to locate the weCan executable, and must establish the proper environment in memory for the program to begin. This is accomplished with a Windows PIF file, WECAN.PIF, located in the FEMAP directory. In general, the default PIF settings should work on your system. If you are having problems, or would like to experiment with different options, you can examine and change this file with the Windows PIF editor.

7.2.29 Reading weCan Analysis Results

If you allow FEMAP to run the weCan analysis, it will automatically read the results so you can begin postprocessing. Alternatively, you can use the File Import Analysis Results command to read the file manually. Remember, you must always start with the FEMAP model that corresponds to the analysis. FEMAP reads weCan Neutral Results output file, not the printed output file. By default, FEMAP expects a filename with a .RES extension. This file should have been produced during your analysis if you selected the postprocessing option when you wrote the model for analysis.

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Output for Postprocessing

From the Neutral Results file, FEMAP can read Nodal Displacements and Mode Shapes, and Elemental Forces, Stresses, Strains and Temperatures. Each element type produces different types of output. Refer to your weCan documentation for further information regarding the types of output that are available for the elements that you are using. In addition to the output found in the weCan output file, FEMAP will compute the displacement magnitudes, or Total Translation and Total Rotation. Likewise for stress output, FEMAP computes centroidal stresses as the average of the elemental corner stresses which weCan produced. In addition, FEMAP will compute principal, max shear, mean and Von Mises stresses whenever possible.



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7.3 Geometry Interfaces

FEMAP also contains interfaces to many CAD packages through different geometry formats. These formats include ACIS Solid Model File Format (*.SAT File), Parasolid Solid Model Format (*.X_T File), STEP, IGES, Stereolithography, DXF, and VRML formats. Each of these formats is discussed in more detail below. FEMAP can import and export ACIS Solid Model Files as well as Parasolid Solid Model Files. It also has the capability to export a Parasolid file to STEP format. All other formats can only currently be imported.

7.3.1 ACIS Interfaces (*.SAT Format)

FEMAP can import and export ACIS Solid Model geometry via the ACIS *.SAT file format. Many popular CAD packages such as AutoCAD are currently ACIS-based. By reading the ACIS Solid Model File, FEMAP provides a simple method to import solid geometry from these popular CAD packages

7.3.1.1 Reading ACIS (SAT) Files

Reading an ACIS File is very straightforward. Simply select the File Import Geometry command, and choose the appropriate file from the Windows Open File Dialog box. After opening the file, you will see the Solid Model Read Options dialog box. This dialog box contains three main sections: (1) Title, (2) Entity Options, and (3) Assembly Options.

Title
FEMAP will read the Title of the Solid Model File from the SAT file, and display it. You can choose to keep this as the title of the solid, or input a new title.

Entity Options
These option affect the individual entities in the model. You can use the Geometry Scale Factor to change the units of the model. This can be extremely useful with some geometry packages that default to a standard for output units (such as meters) even though you may have used other units to model the part. You may also define the layer of the solid model, as well as to use the default colors or use a single color. If you choose a single color, you can choose this color from the Palette.

Assembly Options
FEMAP also has the capability to read ACIS Assembly files. You can choose to have each solid from the assembly on a different layer, as well as a different color. Once you select OK, FEMAP will load the ACIS Solid Modeling Engine (if it has not been previously loaded) and read the file. No other user action is required.

Writing ACIS (SAT) Files



7.3.1.2 Writing ACIS (SAT) Files

FEMAP can also export an ACIS Solid Model File. Simply select the File Export Geometry command and you will see the Translate dialog box. Choose ACIS SAT file and the appropriate version. You should always use the latest version of ACIS unless you plan to import the file to a CAD package which only supports an earlier version of ACIS. You will then be prompted for the solids to export and the file name.

Note:
The ACIS format option will only be available if you have imported an ACIS Solid CAD model, or used the ACIS Modeler in FEMAP to create a solid.

7.3.2 Parasolid Interfaces (*.X_T Format)

FEMAP can import and export Parasolid Solid Model geometry via the Parasolid transmit file (*.X_T) format. Many popular CAD packages such as SolidWorks and Unigraphics are Parasolid-based. By reading the Parasolid Solid Model File, FEMAP provides a simple method to import solid geometry from these popular CAD packages

7.3.2.1 Reading Parasolid (X_T) Files

Reading a Parasolids File is identical to reading an ACIS file, except you must choose the Parasolids Transmit (X_T) file. For more information on the options available, please see the Reading ACIS Files section above.

7.3.2.2 Writing Parasolid (X_T) Files

FEMAP can also export a Parasolids Solid Model File via the X_T (Transmit) format. Simply select the File Export Geometry command and select Parasolid XMT file and the appropriate version. You should always use the latest version of Parasolids unless you plan to import the file to a CAD package which only supports an earlier version. You will then be prompted for the solids to export and the file name.

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Note:
The Parasolid format option will only be available if you have imported a Parasolid CAD model, or used the Parasolid Modeler in FEMAP to create a solid

7.3.3 STEP Interface (*.STP files)

FEMAP can import and export STEP AP203 Solid Entities and STEP AP214 Class II, III, IV, V, and VI entities. This provides a convenient method of interfacing with CAD packages that are not ACIS or Parasolid based.



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7.3.3.1 Reading STEP (*.STP) Files

Reading a STEP file is procedurally identical to reading an ACIS or Parasolid file, except you must choose the STEP (*.STP) file. For more information on the options available, please see the Reading ACIS Files section above. FEMAP automatically creates a Parasolid solid from the solid STEP file.

Advanced Options are available to control how the translations of specific STEP entities are controlled. You should not modify the default options unless you know what specific STEP entities are used in the file. The default options work the best and should be used for most applications.

7.3.3.2 Writing STEP (*.STP) Files

FEMAP can also export a STEP file. The STEP file translator converts a Parasolid solid into a STEP format. Simply select the File Export Geometry command, choose a file, and pick STEP. You will then be prompted for the solids to export and the file name.

Note:
The STEP option, which converts between a Parasolid solid to a STEP format, will only be available if you have imported a Parasolid CAD model, or used the Parasolid modeling engine in FEMAP to create a solid.

7.3.4 IGES File Format

FEMAP can import IGES files. It cannot currently export them. Although the Parasolids and ACIS import options are the preferred method of importing complex solid and surface geometry into FEMAP, the FEMAP IGES interface provides a robust capability to import complex geometry from non-ACIS and non-Parasolid based CAD packages. FEMAP will convert the IGES information into Parasolid format. FEMAP Basic can read simple IGES curves and surfaces, but the FEMAP Professional packages is required to read trimmed surface data. In general, when working with solid models from CAD systems, or complex surfaces models, the Professional package will be required.

IGES File Format



To read an IGES file, select the File Import Geometry command and choose the appropriate file. You will then see the IGES Read Options dialog box. This dialog box is partitioned into three major sections:

Entity Options
These options allow you to read (or omit) colors and layers from the IGES file. If you do not read the color and layer information from the IGES file, FEMAP will assign default values to each entity. You may also select the Read Geometry Only option to simplify the model. This can be a convenient method of removing much of the construction lines and other non-geometry information that may interfere with the viewing of the model

Surface Options
These option provide control over reading of surfaces. In general you will want to read surfaces and choose Default Trim Curves. If FEMAP is encountering problems with the trimming, you may want to choose 2-D Trim Curves or 3-D Trim Curves. Each trimmed surface in the IGES file has both 2-D (curves in surface space) and 3-D (curves in 3-D space) trimming curves, as well as a suggestion on which curve to use. If you select Default Trim Curves, FEMAP will use those suggested by the IGES file. The other options will use all 2D Surface or 3-D space curves for trimming. The Trim Curves section is grayed if you choose not to read surfaces. The Internal Scale Factor is used to reduce the size of the part in the FEMAP database. The internal engine of Parasolid requires all positions be in a box of +/- 500. If you have entities outside of this box, Parasolid cannot perform operations on them. By using an internal scale factor, you can have FEMAP scale the part internally to prevent the part from extending beyond this box. The dimensions of the part will remain unchanged to the user since FEMAP will do all scaling internally. This option allows the input of very large dimensions for the model, without exceeding the limits of the Parasolid geometry engine.

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Hint:
If FEMAP cannot trim some of your surfaces, it may be advantageous to read the IGES file a second time, selecting Read Geometry Only and deselecting Read Surfaces. FEMAP will import the original curves, and you can then use these curves in FEMAP to modify (or trim) the surfaces which were not trimmed in the importing process.

Processing Options
When merge Coincident Points is on, FEMAP will eliminate points that are within the Minimum Distance from each other after the model has been translated. If you leave this option off, you can still merge the points later with the Tools Check Coincident Points command.



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The default minimum distance is loaded from the IGES file that you are reading, but you may modify this value.

7.3.4.1 Supported IGES Entities

An IGES file is divided into the following sections:

Start Section
This section contains text describing the model. FEMAP reads it and simply echoes it to the messages window to verify the file being read.

Global Section
This section contains information about the program that wrote the file and information needed now to read the file. In addition to reading values needed to properly interpret the model, FEMAP reads the Filename and System ID fields and echoes them to the messages window.

Directory Entry Section

This section contains one, 2-record entry for each entity in the file. These are as follows: Record 1: Entity Type Number: Parameter Data: Structure: Line Font Pattern: Level: View: Transformation Matrix: Label Display Assoc.: Status Number: Sequence Number: read read skipped read read skipped read skipped skipped read Record 2: Entity Type Number: Line Weight Number: Color Number: Parameter Line Count: Form Number: Reserved 1: Reserved 2: Entity Label: Entity Subscript: Sequence Number: skipped, but must match Record 1 read read read read N/A N/A skipped skipped read

Supported IGES Entities



Each of the fields that are marked as read must be properly defined for the entity to be properly imported. The Entity Type Number, Transformation Matrix, Parameter Line Count and Sequence Number fields are especially critical.

Line Font Pattern

FEMAP only supports the standard (positive value) line fonts. Line Font Definition Entities (Type 304) are not supported.

Level
Either a positive level number, or a negative number which references a Property Entity (Type 406, Form 1) can be used. If you do reference a Property Entity however, only the first layer defined on that property will be used. FEMAP does not support multiple layers for a single entity.

Line Weight Number

This field is read, but has minimal functionality. If defined, FEMAP attempts to match to one of the available line thicknesses, but FEMAP only has a few thicknesses to choose from.

Color Number
Color numbers can either directly reference one of the 8 predefined colors, or reference a Color Definition Entity (Type 314). If this field is 0, colors are assigned based on the current FEMAP defaults.

Parameter Data Section

This section contains the parameters associated with each entity. The following entities are supported:

Type 100 - Circular Arc

Circular Arcs are translated directly to either FEMAP Circles or Arcs.

Type 108 - Plane

Planes are translated to a series of FEMAP lines, only if they are unbounded (Form 0). Bounded planes are skipped since they just reference other curves.

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Type 110 - Line

Lines are translated directly to FEMAP lines.

Type 112 - Parametric Spline Curve

Parametric spline curves are translated into a series of FEMAP Bezier splines which match the polynomial coefficients in each segment of the original curve. If your original curve had many defining segments, you will get a large number of curves!

Type 116 - Point

Points are translated directly to FEMAP Points. FEMAP can only display points as a plus sign (+), so the PTR option is ignored.

Type 118 - Ruled Surface

Ruled surfaces are translated to FEMAP ruled surfaces if both of the defining curves are supported (i.e. lines, arcs, circles, etc.), otherwise the surface is skipped.



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Type 120 - Surface of Revolution

Surfaces of revolution are translated to FEMAP surfaces of revolution if the generatrix is supported (i.e. lines, arcs, circles, etc.), otherwise the surface is skipped.

Type 122 - Tabulated Cylinder

Tabulated Cylinder Surfaces are converted to FEMAP (Parasolid) cylindrical surfaces.

Type 124 - Transformation Matrix

Transformation matrices are converted to FEMAP coordinate systems. Only Forms 0 and 1 are read, and only Form 0 is really supported. Form 1 is a left-handed coordinate transformation. If you have these, FEMAP creates a right-handed transformation, and that portion of your model will appear reflected. Rather than just using the transformation matrices to orient the geometry, FEMAP creates a coordinate system for each matrix, then defines the geometry relative to that system. This maintains the original hierarchy, and allows you to manipulate the geometry by moving the defining coordinate systems. If your IGES file contains a large number of transformation matrices, you may want to eliminate all of the coordinate systems. Just use the Modify Update Others Point Definition Coordinate System command to set all point coordinate systems to Global Rectangular (CSys 0). Then use the Delete Model Coord Sys command to delete the unwanted coordinate systems.

Type 126 - B-Spline Curve

IGES B-Spline curves are converted to FEMAP curves. Typically, they are converted to either B-Spline or NURB curves. In many cases, however, if the B-Spline represents a line, arc or circle, FEMAP will be able to convert the B-Spline to one of these analytic types during translation.

Type 128 - B-Spline Surfaces

IGES B-Spline Surfaces are converted to general FEMAP surfaces using B-Splines to define the surface. These surfaces typically represent analytical surfaces and do not involve trimming.

Type 142 - Curve on Parametric Surface

These curves are used by type 144 (Trimmed Surfaces) to trim the 144 surface.

Type 144 - Trimmed Surface

Type 144 are converted to Parasolid surfaces in FEMAP. These entities can be used in conjunction with the Geometry Solid Stitch command to generate a solid model from the original surfaces provided in FEMAP.

Type 314 - Color

Red/Green/Blue color combinations are read and used to assign color numbers to the entities that reference them. FEMAP matches the color combination to the closest available color in the default palette. No attempt is made to exactly match the colors, or to match to the current palette.

Stereolithography Interface



Type 406 - Layer

Only Form 1 is supported to define the layer number for entities that reference this property. FEMAP entities cannot reference multiple layers so any additional layers are ignored.

Terminate Section
The terminate section is not read by FEMAP.

7.3.5 Stereolithography Interface

In addition to traditional CAD data, FEMAP can also read files that were generated for StereoLithography production. These files are usually text files, but can be binary as well. FEMAP can read all text versions, and binary files if they were generated on a PC. The facets in the StereoLithography file are converted to triangular surface elements during the translation. When you select the File Import Geometry command and select a Stereolithography file, you will see the Read Stereo Lithography dialog box. In addition to just translating the triangular facets however, FEMAP can automatically merge all coincident points and split any facets that are necessary to eliminate free edges in the mesh. The options on this dialog box control merging, definition of short edges, as well as closing of gaps. This results in a valid finite element mesh, although typically with very bad aspect ratio elements. The facets can be remeshed with the Mesh Remesh Commands.

Writing Stereolithography Files

FEMAP can also write Stereolithography files as well. FEMAP will ask you to select the elements to be translated. You will usually want to pick Plane Element types for this command. If you have Quadrilateral Plane Elements, FEMAP will still write the triangular facets by first splitting these Quads. This splitting procedure does not modify the elements themselves. FEMAP simply writes the triangular results to the STL file. If you choose Solid Elements, FEMAP will write each face as a triangular facet, splitting quadrilateral faces when required. Any Line Elements that are chosen in this procedure are simply ignored.

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7.3.6 DXF Interfaces

FEMAP can also import geometry (points, curves...) from most popular CAD systems via a DXF formatted file. Although the DXF format originated in AutoCAD, most CAD systems can export data in this format. FEMAP cannot currently export a DXF file.



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Reading the File

Choose the File Import Geometry command and select the desired DXF file.You will then see the DXF Read Options dialog box. The entity options allow you to selectively read, or skip, certain entities that are in the DXF file.

Read Text
If you turn this option on, any text or notes that are in your DXF file will be read and converted to text in your FEMAP model.

Read 3Dfaces as Elements

3Dfaces are used to represent triangular or quadrilateral polygons. If you turn this option on, FEMAP will read the faces and convert them to plate elements. If the option is off, FEMAP simply creates the lines that define the edges of the face.

Read Polygon Meshes as Elements

This is similar to the previous option except it applies to polygon/polyface meshes that are in the file.

Read Blocked Entity References

If your DXF file contains blocked entities, FEMAP will only read them if this option is on. Normally, you will want to read the entire model so leave this option on. If you want to skip blocked entities however, you can turn this off. You can then control what will be read by selectively exploding block references before you create the DXF file. FEMAP cannot read arrays of inserted blocks. In this case you will have to explode at least those references. Similarly, blocks that are inserted with different scale factors in different directions cannot be read. If possible, you can try exploding them (AutoCAD cannot explode this type of block reference).

Read Trace Boundaries

Traces are lines that have a width defined, and therefore are represented by a rectangular boundary. If you turn this option on, four lines are created to represent the edges of the trace. If you turn it off, you can still get the centerline of the trace with the next option.

Create Trace Centerlines

If you turn this option on, lines are created to represent the centerlines of all traces.

Read Colors and Layers

If you want FEMAP to assign colors and layers to the geometry and text that it reads based on the information in the DXF file, turn this option on. When it is off, colors and layers will be assigned using FEMAPs defaults. Since DXF layers can have any name, and FEMAP layers are purely numbers, FEMAP will create a unique number for each unique layer name.

DXF Interfaces



The first layer name will be assigned to the layer number that you choose in the First Layer Number option.

Merge Coincident Points

When FEMAP reads geometry from your file, each curve will have unique endpoints, even if they are coincident with the end of another curve. To use the geometry in FEMAP, you will probably want to join curves that have coincident ends to the same point. If you turn on this option, FEMAP will do this for you. In addition, you can define the Maximum Distance that points can be apart and still be considered as coincident.

Supported DXF Entities

The following entities are supported by the DXF Read Translator: Entity POINT Group Codes Description

LINE

CIRCLE

6 Linetype 8 Layer 10,20,30 Point 38 Elevation 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction 6 Linetype 8 Layer 10,20,30 Start Point 11,21,31 End Point 38 Thickness 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction Lines are always translated to FEMAP lines. If a thickness is specified, a single DXF line creates 4 FEMAP lines which represent the original thick line. 6 Linetype 8 Layer 10,20,30 Center Point 40 Radius 38 Elevation 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction Circles translate to FEMAP circles. Additional points are created as required to define the FEMAP circle.

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Entity ARC

Group Codes

Description

TRACE

TEXT

6 Linetype 8 Layer 10,20,30 Center Point 40 Radius 50 Start Angle 51 End Angle 38 Elevation 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction Arcs translate to FEMAP arcs. Additional points are created as required to define the FEMAP arc. 6 Linetype 8 Layer Corner Points 10,20,30 11,21,31 12,22,32 13,23,33 38 Elevation 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction Traces are read as FEMAP lines. Options are available to create the outline and/or the centerline of the trace, as specified by the four corners. 1 Text Value 6 Linetype 8 Layer 10,20,30 Insertion Points 38 Elevation 62 Color 72,73 Horizontal and Vertical Justification 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction Text can be read as FEMAP text entities. It is usually best to skip text however, since font and orientation information can not be translated.

DXF Interfaces



Entity SOLID

Group Codes

Description

3DFACE

POLYLINE

6 Linetype 8 Layer Corner Points 10,20,30 11,21,31 12,22,32 13,23,33 38 Elevation 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction Solids are read just like 3DFACEs. 6 Linetype 8 Layer Corner Points 10,20,30 11,21,31 12,22,32 13,23,33 38 Elevation 62 Color 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction 3DFACES can either be translated to lines which define the outline of the face, or directly to Plate elements. 6 Linetype 8 Layer 38 Elevation 62 Color 70 Polyline Flag 71, 72 Polygon Mesh M and N Vertex Counts 73, 74 Smooth Surface M and N Densities 75 Smooth Surface Type 210,220,230 Extrusion Direction

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Entity POLYLINE VERTICES

Group Codes

Description

8 Layer 10,20,30 Point 38 Elevation 62 Color 70 Vertex Flag 71,72,73,74 Vertex Indices for Polyface Mesh DXF Polylines represent a variety of curve and surface types. FEMAP converts all polylines which represent curves to a series of line segments (either lines or plotonly elements). FEMAP converts polygon and polyface meshes into lines or plate elements (depending on your selection for the Read Polygon Meshes as Elements option). FEMAP does not create spline curves, or surfaces from polylines.

In addition to the above entities, the LAYER table is read if it is present. This enables FEMAP to translate from the DXF layer names into FEMAP layer numbers and supports reading the Group Code 8 blocks defined above.

Exploding DXF Blocked Entities

Other than the LAYER table, FEMAP only reads the ENTITIES section of the DXF file. The BLOCKS section is skipped. If you have blocked data, you should use the EXPLODE command prior to writing the DXF file for FEMAP. If you read a DXF file, and portions of the geometry are missing, go back to AutoCAD, EXPLODE that portion of your model, and write a new DXF file. You may have to use EXPLODE several times if you have nested BLOCKS (if you have a solid model in AutoCAD you will have to use EXPLODE at least twice to obtain the points and curves). You can also use this process in reverse. If there are portions of your model that you want to ignore as you translate to FEMAP, simply BLOCK them before you write the DXF file.

DXF Paper Space and Viewports

FEMAP does not support AutoCAD Paper Space, but will read all entities as if they were defined in model space. If you have Paper Space geometry, it will probably be positioned incorrectly relative to your model. In general, Paper Space geometry should not be included in the DXF file since it is usually not part of the defining model geometry. Likewise, FEMAP ignores Viewport information since it is trying to transfer the model rather than the correct drawing.

VRML Interfaces



7.3.7 VRML Interfaces

FEMAP also provides export of VRML format for solid models as well as meshes. When you select File Export Geometry, simply select VRML format. You will then see the VRML Export dialog box. There are two major sections to this dialog box: Export and Color.

Export
This section controls what is exported. You may either export the Solid Model or the Mesh. If you decide to export the Mesh, you can also choose to export the Deformed and Contour information as well so you may have a Deformed Contour VRML file.

Color
You may export the information using Model Colors or a Single Color. You can select a Single Color from the Palette. You may also define the Background color in a similar manner.

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Customization

This chapter contains information on customizing FEMAP. There are four basic sections to this chapter. The first section of this chapter describes the use of shortcut keys in FEMAP. You can define any letter (capital or small) as a FEMAP function. This option enables you to quickly access your most commonly used commands from your keyboard. The second section describes the FEMAP Scripting Language. You can use this scripting language to obtain access directly to the FEMAP database. The scripting language is currently most useful for manipulating and importing/exporting output results. The third section of this chapter describes functions for the FEMAP Programming Language. You can build macros with the programming language. This language essentially works on a Windows level, and mimics keyboard input. Since it does mimic keyboard input and does not directly affect the FEMAP database, it tends to be somewhat slower and more easily broken than the Scripting Language. The Programming Language, however, is more versatile than the scripting language because it provides access to all FEMAP commands. The last section of this chapter describes creating your own toolboxes. Since the Toolbox is programmable, it provides the capability for the user to truly customize commands in FEMAP. A description of each of these customizable options is provided below.

8.1 FEMAP Shortcut Keys

FEMAP has both certain keys defined as commands for quick implementation as well as providing you the capability to define your own shortcut keys. Commands which can be accessed through standard shortcut keys have the shortcut key listed next to their name. Some of the most commonly used shortcut keys include F5 for View Select, F6 for View Options, and Ctrl+Q for View Quick Options. These shortcut keys enable you to access these commands without going through the menu substructure. A list of the standard shortcut keys are provided in Appendix A. In addition to the standard shortcut keys, FEMAP also allows you to define your own shortcut keys. Any letter of the alphabet may be defined as a command. It is also case sensitive so you may define up to 52 commands for the 26 capital and 26 small letters of the alphabet. You can



Customization

define these keys through File Preferences Shortcut Keys. When you select this command, FEMAP will display the Shortcut Key Definition dialog box.

Different commands can be chosen for both capital and small letters, thereby enabling you to define up to 52 different commands on these keys. The Add command allows you to define a key as a command, while Delete will remove the command definition from the chosen key. By defining shortcut keys for your most used commands, you can save time moving through the FEMAP menu structure. Shortcut Keys are only available from the FEMAP menu level. If you are already in another command or dialog box, pressing these keys will not have the desired effect. In most cases it will simply result in typing the letter that you pressed. You may also save these values by saying Yes to Permanent when you exit Preferences, or you may simply change them for the active session.

Hint:
Below is a list of hints for using the Shortcut Key Definition dialog box. m You can quickly assign commands to keys by clicking on the appropriate letter in the Shortcut Key list and then double-clicking in the Menu list. m You can quickly delete shortcut key assignments by double clicking in the Shortcut Key list. m These Shortcut Keys are not eliminated by the Reset ALL option.

8.2 Scripting Language

The FEMAP BASIC Script Language provides direct access to the FEMAP Database Engine through the BASIC Interpreter built into FEMAP.

The Mechanism



8.2.1 The Mechanism

The FEMAP BASIC Script Language is based on Cypress Enable BASIC Scripting for Applications. Cypress Enable provides a complete array of BASIC programming functionality. Wherever possible, Cypress Enables implementation of BASIC follows the Microsoft Visual Basic syntax and semantics. The Cypress Enable portion of the BASIC Scripting Language handles all flow of control, subroutines, and functions created in your script. Enterprise Software has added FEMAP specific commands available to your BASIC program that make the customization of FEMAP possible. The FEMAP toolbox has also been extended to include the capability to launch and run BASIC scripts from your own userdefined toolbox buttons. Details regarding the general elements of the Cypress Enable BASIC Scripting Language are included in a word file titled lang_ref.doc, which is installed in the same directory as you installed FEMAP. This section covers variables, constants, control structures, subroutines and functions, file input/output, arrays, dialog support, etc. that will help you craft your BASIC Scripts. Details regarding the FEMAP specific functions, data types and constants are included in a word file titled lang_ref.doc, which is installed in the same directory as you installed FEMAP.

8.2.2 Creating and Executing BASIC Scripts

For information on the specifics of the FEMAP BASIC Scripting language, including a list of functions and their descriptions, please see the api_ref document installed in the smae directory as the executable. If you are on a PC platform, this file will be an MS Word document (api_ref.doc).

8.3 Program Files

In their simplest form, FEMAP program files provide an alternative to manually typing data from the keyboard. They are much more powerful than that however. You can add logic commands, define and manipulate variables, stop and prompt a user for input, or send messages to the screen. Program files take some effort to create, but they can save a lot of time by eliminating repetitive tasks. By coupling them to the toolbox, you can customize FEMAP for your own needs.

8.3.1 Program File Format

Program files can be created with any ASCII text editor or word processor. There are two basic types of data that you will place in a program file. The first is keystroke information that mimics what you would type from the keyboard if you were performing the operation manually. When you run a program file, this text essentially "pushes the keys" for you to run FEMAP commands. You may also want to add other program file commands. These commands do not execute FEMAP commands, rather they are commands themselves which control the flow of the program file, work with variables, print messages, or ask for input.

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8.3.2 Program File Keystrokes

You can use a program file to mimic most of the keystrokes on your keyboard. This allows you to execute FEMAP commands and fill in dialog boxes automatically, just as if you had typed the input. The program file syntax provides several alternatives to reproduce various keystrokes.

Normal Keystrokes
For keystrokes such as letters (A..Z, a..z), numbers (0..9), and other symbols (!@$,.:...) you can type the characters directly into the program file. As FEMAP reads the file, those keystrokes will be executed. Some characters need special treatment if you want to include them in a text string. These include, #, < and {. FEMAP normally uses these characters as delimiters in a program file. To enter them simply as text, you must precede them with a backslash (\). For example, you should enter "50\# Pressure", not "50# Pressure". Similarly, if you want to include a backslash (like in a file path name), you must precede it with a backslash also. For example, "c:\\FEMAP3\\myfile.mod".

Special Keystrokes
For other keystrokes like function keys and multiple key combinations (like Alt-A), program files use a slightly different approach. The syntax is as follows: <[A-][C-][S-]key_name> where: ACSkeyname means to simultaneously press the Alt key. means to simultaneously press the Ctrl key. means to simultaneously press the Shift key. is either a single character that was one of the normal keystrokes described above, or the name of a special key.

A-, C-, and S- are obviously optional. Do not include them if you do not want a combination keystroke. Here are some examples: <A-C> <C-B> <F7> <LEFT> <C-LEFT> press Alt-C press Ctrl-B press F7 key press left arrow key press Ctrl-left arrow key

Program File Keystrokes



The special keynames are defined in the following table, along with their keys. Program File <F1> ... <F12> <Left> <Right> <Up> <Down> <TAB> <BkSp> <Prt> <PgUp> <PgDn> Key F1 ... F12 Left Arrow Right Arrow Up Arrow Down Arrow Tab Backspace Print Screen Page Up Page Down Program File <Ins> Insert Key

<Del> <Home> <End> <Esc> <CR> <Enter> <Return> <Space> <Sp>

Delete Home End Escape Carriage Return

Space Bar

There are also other special keynames which do not really match a key, but which you will find very useful when you are writing program files. They are: Other Special Program File Keystrokes Program File <PUSH> <ON> <OFF> <OK> <USER> Key Space Bar, but makes sure that you are "pushing" a button. Turns current button on, error if not on a button. Turns current button off, error if not on a button. Pushes the dialog box OK button, actually just presses Alt-O Pauses the program file so a user can manually complete the next dialog box. If the user cancels the dialog box, the program file will be aborted also. If the user completes the dialog box, and presses OK, the program file will resume. Special Keystrokes in Recorded Program Files <@...> Jump directly to a specified control/field. The ... is actually replaced by a number representing the control ID to jump into. While you could use this technique yourself, there is no easy way to find the control ID. It is typically easier to use <TAB> or <A-letter> combinations. Selects an item from a listbox or combobox. The ... is replaced by a number representing the index of the item to be selected in the list. To select the first item in a list use <~0>. Use <~1> for the second, and so on.

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Menu Keystrokes
In addition to these keystrokes, program files provide an additional shortcut syntax for accessing the FEMAP menus. You should always use this shortcut method because in addition to being simpler, it does additional checking to be certain your program is not in a command while you are trying to access the menu. In addition, it will be easier to distinguish them from dialog box data when you look at your program file. To use this shortcut, you simply enclose the FEMAP menu command in braces. For example: {CN} would access the Create Node command. In the normal keystroke syntax, this would require: <A-C>N You can enter as many characters as necessary between the braces to execute the command. Currently this is two or three, depending on the command.

8.3.3 Program File Commands

Program file commands provide additional capabilities. They do not mimic keystrokes, but rather perform some function. All program file commands have a similar syntax: #command( arguments... ) The following paragraphs define each of the commands. The commands are presented in alphabetical order.

#ASK( )
Syntax: #ASK( variable_name, "question_title" ) where: variable_name is any valid FEMAP variable name. The variable does not have to exist already. Do not specify the ! or @ delimiters for this command, just the variable name. "question_title" is the title that will be displayed in the dialog box when the user is asked to define the variable. The title should tell the user what is being defined. The length is really limited by the size of the dialog box. You must always enclose this title in quotes. This command is used to prompt a user for numeric input. It temporarily pauses the program file and displays a dialog box. You must specify the name of the variable which will be defined, and the title that will be used to tell the user what to do. If you specify the name of an existing variable, the dialog box will contain its current value when it is displayed. If the user presses OK, the variable will be defined and the program will proceed. If the user presses Cancel, the program file will stop.

Program File Commands



#BEEP( )
Syntax: #BEEP( ) This command simply sounds a beep and continues. There are no arguments.

#DEF( )
Syntax: #DEF( variable_name, expression ) where: variable_name is any valid FEMAP variable name. The variable does not have to exist already. Do not specify the ! or @ delimiters for this parameter, just the variable name. expression is a numeric value, other variable, or FEMAP equation which can contain the FEMAP functions described in Appendix C. Any variables must contain the ! or @ delimeters since this parameter is an equation, just like any other that you write for FEMAP. This command defines variables under program file control. You can use it to write equations simply by setting variable_name to the name of the variable that you want to receive the result of the equation. Then define expression as the equation. For example, #DEF(radius,!radius+0.5) will add 0.5 to the current value of the variable "radius". Or #DEF(diameter,!radius*2) will define "diameter" as twice the value of "radius" As an alternative to using #DEF( ), you can use the FEMAP Create Variable command. That approach however, will make your program files larger and they will run more slowly.

#DELAY( )
Syntax: #DELAY( number ) where: number is the number of milliseconds between simulated keystrokes or commands as the program is running. Smaller numbers make the program run faster, larger numbers make it run slower. The default value if you do not use the #DELAY( ) command is 25.

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#DELAY( ) is used to control the speed of a program file as it replays. If you are debugging a program file, add a #DELAY( ) with a large value, so that the program runs slower. Multiple #DELAY( ) commands, with different values can be used to make some sections run quickly and others run slowly.

#ECHO( ), #ECHOE( ) and #ECHOH( )

Syntax: #ECHO( "string" ) #ECHOE( "string" ) #ECHOH( "string" ) where: "string" is the text to echo to the Messages and Lists Window. You must always enclose it in quotes. Each of these commands simply writes the quoted argument to a new line in the Messages and Lists Window. The only difference between them is the color of the string. #ECHO( ) writes the string as normal text, usually black. #ECHOE( ) writes the string as error text, usually red. #ECHOH( ) writes the string as highlighted text, usually blue. The actual colors depend on the users File Preferences settings.

#ECHOV( ), #ECHOVE( ) and #ECHOVH( )

Syntax: #ECHOV( variable_name, "string" ) #ECHOVE( variable_name, "string" ) #ECHOVH( variable_name, "string" ) where: variable_name is any valid FEMAP variable name. The variable does not have to exist already. Do not specify the ! or @ delimiters for this command, just the variable name. "string" is the text to echo to the Messages and Lists Window. You must always enclose it in quotes. It is actually a C- language format string. It should contain a format identifier for the variable. Since all variables are double precision real numbers, the format must be included appropriately. These commands are similar to the #ECHO( ), #ECHOE( ) and #ECHOH( ) commands, except that they use the string argument as a format to write a variable. It is up to you to properly specify the format string. If you do not, it can cause problems for Windows and FEMAP. The following examples illustrate some proper commands: #ECHOV( radius, "The radius is %g." )

Program File Commands



#ECHOV( a, "A = %12.5f" ) #ECHOV( nodecount, "We have %g Nodes." ) You must always have one (and only one) format code in the string. It must be a valid C-language format code, with the following syntax: %[width].[precision]prefix where width is the number of characters to be written precision is the number of significant digits prefix is either "f" (floating point), "e" (exponential), or "g" (like e or f)

#EXEC( )
Syntax: #EXEC( "string" ) where: "string" is the text that will be used as the command line to execute another program. It must always be enclosed in quotes. "string" must be less than 160 characters. #EXEC( ) is used to launch another program from FEMAP. The string argument must contain the complete command line that is required to launch the program, including any diskname, pathname or command line arguments. FEMAP does not modify the string, it simply removes the quotes and passes it to the WinExec function.

#EXIT( )
Syntax: #EXIT( ) Immediately terminates the program file. There are no arguments or questions.

#GOTO( ) and #(label)

Syntax: #GOTO( label_expression ) . . #( label_expression ) where label_expression

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is a numeric value, variable, or FEMAP equation which can contain the FEMAP functions described in Appendix C. If you use a variable or equation, FEMAP will round the value to the nearest integer. In the simplest form, you can define the label_expression as a constant. In this case, when FEMAP gets to #GOTO(1), program file execution will immediately jump to the location of the #(1) command. This can be forward or backward in the program file, relative to the location of the #GOTO( ) statement. You must always define a label that corresponds the GOTO expression, or the program file will abort. In a more complex example, you could use #GOTO(!i) to jump to a different position depending on the value of the variable !i. If !i was 1, the program file would jump to #(1), if !i was 99, it would jump to #(99). An error will occur, and the program file will stop if the label can not be found. In an even more complex fashion, you can define both the #GOTO( ) and the #( ) label_expressions as variables or equations. In all but the simplest cases, this should be done with care since it is very easy to be searching for a label that will not exist.

#IF( ) and #ENDIF( )

Syntax: #IF( expression1 operator expression2 ) . . . #ENDIF( ) where expression1 and expression2 are numeric values, variables, or FEMAP equations which can contain the FEMAP functions described in Appendix C. operator is one of the six available operators:
== != < <= > >= equal to, not equal to less than, less than or equal to, greater than, or greater than or equal to

FEMAP evaluates the two expressions and then compares the results using the specified operator. If the resulting comparison is true, the program file continues from the position

Program File Commands



immediately after the #IF( ) statement. If it is false, FEMAP skips to the position after the #ENDIF( ) statement. You must always have a matching #ENDIF( ) for each #IF( ) command. You can nest #IF( ) statements inside each other.

#MSG( )
Syntax: #MSG( "string" ) where: "string" is the text that will be displayed in the message box. It must always be enclosed in quotes. "string" must be less than 160 characters. #MSG( ) is used to display message text in a dialog box, and pause the program file. The dialog box contains an OK button that you must press before the program file will continue.

#OPT( )
Syntax: #OPT( keystroke ) where: keystroke is the keystroke to simulate. It can be a single letter, or any of the special keystrokes which are nomally enclosed in angle brackets ( i.e. < > ). If you use a special keystroke with this command, do not include the angle brackets. For example, use #OPT(Esc), not #OPT(<Esc>). #OPT( ) is used to optionally add a keystroke. If a FEMAP error or question dialog box is displayed, #OPT( ) will push the button in that dialog box which corresponds to the keystroke you specify. In any other situation (i.e at the FEMAP Menu level, or in any other normal dialog box), #OPT( ) does nothing. The keystroke is simply skipped. You can identify FEMAP error or question dialogs by the fact that they always have between 1 and 3 buttons, centered at the bottom of the dialog box, and no other options (except for the question or message text). A typical place where you will want to use the #OPT( ) command is following the standard file access dialog box. If you specify an already existing file, and FEMAP wants to write to that file, a question will be displayed to overwrite or append to the file. Since the message is only displayed when an existing file is chosen, you can not just code a Yes/No response, you must code #OPT(Y) for Yes, or #OPT(N) for No. The Y or N keystroke will only be issued if the message is displayed.

#OPTGO( )
Syntax: #OPTGO( label_expression ) where:

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label_expression is a numeric value, variable, or FEMAP equation which can contain the FEMAP functions described in Appendix C. If you use a variable or equation, FEMAP will round the value to the nearest integer. #OPTGO( ) is really just an alternative to the #GOTO( ) command. In this case however, the jump to the label is only taken if a message or question dialog box is currently displayed just like the #OPT( ) command. You can use this command to insert special error handling code into your program file. #OPTGO( ) just jumps to the specified label, it does not complete the message/questiondialog box. You must add those keystrokes immediately after the label - potentially using the #OPT( ) command.

#RUN( )
Syntax: #RUN( "filename" ) where: "filename" is the filename of a BASIC Script that will be executed. #RUN( ) is used to launch a BASIC Script FEMAP. The filename can either be a fully path and filename or just the filename, in which case FEMAP will search for the file along the path and in the executable directory. Refer to the documentation for the BASIC Scriping language for more information.

#SILENT( )
Syntax: #SILENT( expression ) where: expression is a numeric value, variable, or FEMAP equation which can contain the FEMAP functions described in Appendix C. If you use a variable or equation, FEMAP will round the value to the nearest integer. #SILENT( ) allows your program file to run without displaying all of the FEMAP dialog boxes. If the value of expression is 0, all dialog boxes will be displayed. Any other value causes the program file to run without displaying the dialog boxes. By using multiple #SILENT( ) commands, you can turn the dialog boxes on and off whenever you want in a program file.

Other Program File Notes

Program files must be less than 65535 characters in length. This is the largest buffer that FEMAP can allocate for a program file. If you need larger files, you can create multiple pro-

Toolbox Reference



gram files and chain them together by including commands that run the next program file into the previous file. Spaces and carriage returns (newlines) are typically ignored in program files. You have to use the special keystrokes ( like <SPACE> or <CR> ) to enter these characters. The only exception to this rule is when you are entering text into a dialog box. In this case, for convenience, spaces are read and written to the dialog box. You can also add comments to program files. A comment starts with a $ and ends at the end of a line. Comments can appear anywhere, but can not be included inside of other commands. All program file commands must be completed on a single line. The special characters that delimit keystrokes and commands, #, <, and {, must be used with care in a program file. If you need to use them as part of a text string, you must precede them with a \character. The \ will not show up as text. If you need to enter a \ (like in a directory name, enter \\. This will echo as one \. When executing FEMAP commands, you should always use the shortcut syntax, {command_characters}. You can also now use the various accelerator keys. For example, Ctrl-N, executes the Create Node command. Upper, and lower, case does not matter except for text that is typed into a control. In that case the only difference is if you are entering a title. The title will contain the upper and lower case letters that you enter. FEMAP simply ignores case for all commands.

8.4 Toolbox Reference

FEMAP comes with a standard toolbox for many common commands, but you can customize it to suit your needs. You may want to change the pictures in the toolbox, add your own commands, delete some commands, change the help messages, or even define new toolboxes. All of these things can be done with the Windows tools that you have and the tools included with FEMAP.

8.4.1 Building a Toolbox

When you want to update or create a new toolbox, you will need to follow these steps: 1. Update the toolbox definition file. You can update this file with any text editor or word processor that works with standard ASCII files. It will be much easier if the editor can handle long lines (longer than the width of your screen). Unless you are creating a very large definition file, you can use the Windows Notepad. The definition file contains the names of the bitmap files that are drawn onto the buttons, the help information, and the commands that are executed when you press the buttons. The format is described in the next section. 2. Compile the definition file. This step takes the ASCII definition file and creates the binary file that FEMAP actually uses to display the toolbox. The binary file also contains the actual bitmap information for the buttons (not just the bitmap filenames). To compile the definition file, you must use the Toolbox Compiler. This is a standard

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Customization

DOS program and can be run from either Windows or DOS. You invoke the compiler with the following manner: tbx [definition_filename] [toolbox_filename]
or, for example:

tbx toolbox.tbx toolbox.esp The filenames are optional. The compiler will prompt you for the names that you did not supply. Be careful though, the binary file that the compiler produces (toolbox.esp, in the example) will overwrite any file of the same name. All of the bitmap files that you specify in your definition file must be available on your disk when you compile. If they are not, you will see an error message and the compile will fail. Since the bitmaps are transferred into the compiled file however, you can delete the bitmaps from your disk after you compile. This will save space, but you will have to restore them if you want to recompile at a later time. If you receive any other error messages, they must be fixed, and you must recompile before you can use the toolbox in FEMAP. 3. Choose the toolbox in FEMAP. If you compile your toolbox to a new filename, you must use the File Preferences Libraries command to tell FEMAP the name of the toolbox file that you want to use.

8.4.2 The Toolbox Definition File

The format of the toolbox definition file is fairly straightforward. The first ten lines of the file must contain the filenames of the bitmaps which are used for the button borders and the "previous menu" button. They must be given in order, as follows: Button Border (button is up) Button Border (button is down) Button Border (button is up, and has the input focus) Button Border (button is down, and has the input focus) Previous Menu Border (button is up) Previous Menu Border (button is down) Previous Menu Border (button is up, with the input focus) Previous Menu Border (button is down, with input focus) Previous Menu Picture (standard is <<Menu) Blank Button Picture (used when a button is not defined)

Note:
These filenames must each be on a separate line. The remainder of the file, defines the actual toolbox menus. It consists of MENU commands which use the following syntax: MENU menu_id "menu_title" button_number bitmap_name "help_text" button_command

The Toolbox Definition File



. . . button_number bitmap_name "help_text" END where:

button_command

m menu_id is an integer identifier for the menu that you are defining. menu_id must be greater than or equal to 0. The first or top-level menu must always be menu_id = 0. For best efficiency, you should always try to keep menu_ids consecutive (0,1...N). m menu_title defines the title for the menu. This string must be enclosed in quotes and must be less than 25 characters. The menu_title is displayed in the title bar of the toolbox. m button_number is an integer between 0 and 35. It identifies the button that you are defining. Button 0 is in the upper left corner of the toolbox. Numbering goes left to right, so Button 1 is in the middle of the top row. You can define as many buttons in a single menu as you need. Buttons that are not defined will not be visible in the toolbox. m bitmap_name is the name of the bitmap that will be drawn in the button. It must exist. The name should not be enclosed in quotes. m help_text is the single line of description that is displayed in the main window title bar whenever you point at a button with your cursor. You must enclose this text in quotes. It must be less than 40 characters long. m button_command can be either a single number or a macro. When you want a button to display another toolbox menu, just define the button_command as the menu_id of the menu that you want to display. Make sure that the menu exists. Do not enclose the number in quotes. A macro is really just a program file that you write into the toolbox definition file. The only restriction is that it must be less than 160 characters long. You can use any of the FEMAP or program file commands, including the logic commands, to create the macro. You must always enclose a macro in quotes. When you press the button, FEMAP will execute the macro just as it would execute a program file. If you need to execute a series of commands that results in a macro that is longer than 160 characters, just store the commands in a program file. Then define the macro as: {fmr}program_filename<OK> where you would replace program_filename with the name of your program file. This will automatically run the program file that you created, and it can be any length. This approach has the additional advantage that you do not have to recompile the toolbox every time you want to change the program file. You will have to recompile if you rename the file however.

Creating Bitmaps for your Toolbox

The pictures that FEMAP draws in the toolbox buttons are merely Windows device-independent bitmaps. You can use any drawing program (like Windows Paintbrush) to create or modify them. You must be certain to save the pictures in bitmap format. You cannot use a

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Customization

program that creates Windows Icons (icons are not bitmaps), unless that program can save the graphics as a bitmap. Windows bitmaps can be any size, and FEMAP will shrink (or stretch) them to fit inside the available size of the button. When a bitmap is shrunken however, the results are usually not very attractive. It will usually give the best results if you create your bitmaps at the same size as the buttons, and the same size that they are defined in the default toolbox. The following sizes are recommended: Bitmap Type
Button Borders Button Pictures Previous Menu Border Previous Menu Picture

Horizontal Pixels
43 37 129 123 40 34 20 16

Vertical Pixels

Unless you actually want to make the buttons themselves look different, the only bitmaps you will probably ever define are the Button Pictures (37x34).

Using the Keyboard

Command Keys

These keys provide shortcut methods for accessing the FEMAP commands. In addition to the keys described here, menu commands can also be activated by using the Alt key in combination with the underlined letter in the command (or by selecting them with the mouse). Many of these shortcuts are shown on the right side of the menus. Key(s) Ctrl+A Ctrl+Shift+A Ctrl+B Ctrl+C Ctrl+Shift+C Ctrl+D Ctrl+E Ctrl+F Ctrl+G Ctrl+H Ctrl+I Ctrl+J Ctrl+K Ctrl+L Ctrl+M Ctrl+N Ctrl+O Ctrl+P Ctrl+Q Ctrl+R Ctrl+S Ctrl+T Ctrl+Shift+T Ctrl+U Ctrl+Shift+U Ctrl+Y Ctrl+W Ctrl+Z Command View Autoscale View Autoscale Full Mesh Between File Picture Copy File Message Copy View Redraw Model Element Modify Fillet View Regenerate Help Conventions Modify Trim Modify Join Modify Break Tools Variable View Magnify Model Node View Options View Pan View Quick Options View Rotate View Select File Export Analysis Model File Import Analysis Model Open/Close Messages and Lists Window Open/Close Graphics Window Last Menu Command Tools Workplane Tools Undo

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Using the Keyboard

Key(s) Ctrl+Shift+Z Ctrl+Ins Ctrl+Alt+Ins Alt+Backspace Alt+Shift+Backspace

Command Tools Redo File Picture Copy File Message Copy Tools Undo Tools Redo

Function Keys
These keys provide additional shortcut methods for accessing the FEMAP commands. In addition to the keys described here, menu commands can also be activated by using the Alt key in combination with the underlined letter in the command (or by selecting them with the mouse), or through various Ctrl-key combinations. Key(s) F1 F2 Ctrl+F2 Shift+F2 Alt+F2 F3 Ctrl+F3 Shift+F3 Alt+F3 F4 Ctrl+F4 Shift+F4 Alt+F4 F5 Ctrl+F5 Shift+F5 Alt+F5 F6 Ctrl+F6 Shift+F6 Alt+F6 Ctrl+Shift+F6 Alt+Shift+F6 F7 Ctrl+F7 Shift+F7 Alt+F7 F8 Command Help Workplane Model Load Set Model Constraint Set Group Set Print Save Picture Page Setup Replay Picture File Save Close View File Open File Exit View Select View Model Data View Post Data View XY Data View Options Top View to Bottom View Quick Options Swap Window Bottom View to Top Next Window View Zoom View Magnify View Autoscale View All Views View Rotate

Using the Keyboard

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Key(s) Ctrl+F8 Shift+F8 Alt+F8 F9 Ctrl+F9 Shift+F9 Alt+F9 F10 Ctrl+F10 Shift+F10 Alt+F10 F11 Ctrl+F11 Shift+F11 Alt+F11 F12 Ctrl+F12 Shift+F12 Alt+F12

Command View Align by Vector View Center View Pan Model Line Coordinates Model Arc Points Model Surface Edge Curves Model Volume Surfaces View Menu Bar Last Menu Mesh Size Along Curve Last Menu Command Mesh Between Mesh Transition Mesh Geometry Surface Geometry Boundary Surface View Redraw View Regenerate View Show Mesh Geometry Solid

Dialog Box Keys

The following Keys are implemented by Windows and are typical for most "well-behaved" Windows applications. They allow you to move around the dialog box, select options, enter and modify data, and execute additional commands. Movement Key(s) Tab Function Moves to next list box, text box, check box, command button, or group of option buttons. Moves from field to field (left to right and top to bottom). Moves from field to field in reverse order. Moves to the option or group whose underlined letter matches the one you type. Moves to next item beginning with that letter in an active list or drop-down list box. Moves from option to option within a group of check boxes, command buttons, or option buttons. Also moves selection in a normal or drop-down list box.

Shift+Tab Alt+letter Letter key DIRECTION key (Up, Down, Right, Left)

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Using the Keyboard

Selection or Operation Key(s) Enter Function Executes the currently active command button. This is typically the OK button when the dialog box is first displayed. The currently active command button has a wider, darker border than the other buttons. Closes a dialog box without completing the command. (Same as clicking the Cancel button.) Opens a drop-down list box. Turns on or off active check box or option button, or chooses the active command button. Editing Key(s) Left or Right Home End Ins Shift+DIRECTION key Shift+Home Shift+End Alt+Backspace Function Moves one character. Moves to beginning of line. Moves to end of line. Turns on/off overtype. Extends selection in a text box. Extends selection to first character in a text box. Extends selection to last character in a text box. Single Level Undo/Redo of the changes made to the active text box or drop-down list box. Add a new line in a multi-line text entry control. Function Deletes character to right of insertion point. Deletes to end of line. Cuts to end of line. Cuts character to right. Deletes character to left of insertion point. Pastes Clipboard data.

Esc

Alt+Down Space (SpaceBar)

Ctrl+Enter

Editing with no characters selected Key(s) Del Ctrl+Del Ctrl+Shift+Del Shift+Del Backspace Shift+Ins

Using the Keyboard

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Editing with characters selected Key(s) Del Ctrl+Del Ctrl+Shift+Del Shift+Del Backspace Ctrl+Ins Shift+Ins Function Deletes selection. Deletes from beginning of selection to end of line. Cuts from beginning of selection to end of line Cuts selection to Clipboard. Deletes selection. Copies selection to Clipboard. Replaces selection with Clipboard data.

Special Dialog Keys

The following keys work within text or drop-down list boxes in FEMAP. They do not apply to other Windows applications except for Cntr+X, Cntrl+C, and Cntrl+V... Key(s) Ctrl+A Ctrl+C Ctrl+D Ctrl+E Function Measure an Angle Copy (Windows Command) Measure a Distance Display FEMAP Equation Editor for interactive definition of variables and equations. List Functions Snap Cursor Selections to Snap Grid. Display a list of the existing entities of the desired type. Snap cursor selections to nearest Node. Snap cursor selections to nearest Point. Snap cursor selections to screen (snap off). Redefine Snap Grid. Paste (Windows Command) Redefine Workplane. Cut (Windows Command) Use Standard Coordinate Selection Dialog Box to define location

Ctrl+F Ctrl+G Ctrl+L Ctrl+N Ctrl+P Ctrl+S Ctrl+T Ctrl+V Ctrl+W Ctrl+X Ctrl+Z

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Using the Keyboard

Menu Keys
The following keys allow you to access and move within the FEMAP menus. You can also access the menus using the mouse. Key(s) Alt or F10 Esc Space (SpaceBar) Underlined letter Left or Right Key(s) Underlined letter Enter Esc Up Down Left or Right Function Activates menu bar. Cancels menu. Following Alt (or F10) displays window Control menu. Displays menu. Highlights the menu to the left or right. With menu displayed Function Chooses command or sub-menu. Chooses highlighted command. Cancels menu. Highlights previous command. Highlights next command. Displays the menu to the left or right.

Selection Keys
The following keys are used in FEMAP to assist in selection of multiple entities. They are used in combination with pressing the left mouse button and dragging the mouse. Key(s) Ctrl Shift Function Select all entities within a circular area. Select all entities within a square/rectangular area.

Windows Keys
The following keys allow you to switch between applications, or between windows within a single application, and to scroll data within a window with scroll bars, such as the FEMAP Messages and Lists window. Key(s) Alt+Esc Alt+Shift+Esc Alt+Tab Alt+Shift+Tab Ctrl+Esc Function Next application Previous application Next windowed application Previous windowed application Display the Windows Task List

Using the Keyboard

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Alt+F6

Alt+Shift+F6

Within an application this alternately activates the last 2 active child windows. For example, within FEMAP, between 2 graphics windows. Next Window. Advances activation to the next or parent window. In FEMAP you can use this to cycle activation thru all windows (main,graphics,messages and lists). If a graphics window or the messages and lists window is active, pressing this will activate the FEMAP main window. Pressing it again will activate the next graphics window or the messages and lists window. In FEMAP Messages and Lists Window Function Scroll in appropriate direction. Scroll Window Up/Down one screen. Scroll Window Left one screen. Scroll Window Right one screen Beginning of Line. End of Line. Scroll to Top Scroll to Bottom

Key(s) DIRECTION Keys PgUp and PgDn Ctrl+PgUp Ctrl+PgDn Home End Ctrl+Home Ctrl+End

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Using the Keyboard

Using the Mouse

At the FEMAP Menu Level

While FEMAP is waiting for you to choose a command, you can perform certain "FEMAPspecific" functions with the mouse. These are in addition to the normal Windows functions that you can perform by clicking and dragging the mouse in the window borders and menus. Action Click button in window Result Activate that window. If you have multiple graphics windows on the screen the one you click on will become active. All View changes will be made to that window. Redraws that window.

Double click left mouse button in graphics window. Click right mouse button in graphics window. Click left mouse button in Messages and Lists Window. Press and drag left mouse button in Messages and Lists Window. Click right mouse button in Messages and Lists Window. Press Shift key, then click the right mouse button in a graphics window, or the Messages and Lists window. Click ,Hold and Drag Left Mouse Button in Graphics Window while in Render Mode

Display quick access menu. Select the line that you were pointing at for transfer via File Messages Copy or File Messages Save. Select all lines between where you press and release the mouse button. Deselect lines. Actually selects all lines in the buffer. Alternately turns the window title bar on and off.

Dynamic Rotate, Pan and Zoom. Works identical to View Align by Dynamic and the Dynamic Rotate, Pan, and Zoom View Toolbar command, except you do not have to enter a command to do it.

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Using the Mouse

During a Command
When a command dialog box is displayed, the mouse can perform the following functions. These are also in addition to the normal Windows functions which allow you to move between dialog controls, and manage your windows. Action Result

Click right mouse button Display quick access menu. in graphics window. Click left mouse button in Graphically select the closest entity or locagraphics window. tion. This only works when you would normally be typing in a text, list or combo box which references a selectable entity. Press Shift key, then press Select all entities inside the square (rectanand drag left mouse but- gle) that is formed as you drag the mouse. ton in a graphics window. This only works in the standard entity selection dialog box. Press Ctrl key, then press Select all entities inside the circle that is and drag left mouse but- formed as you drag the mouse. This only ton in a graphics window. works in the standard entity selection dialog box.

When Replaying an Animation

You can replay both static pictures and animations using the File Picture Replay command, or by running the Replay program from outside of FEMAP. You can use the mouse buttons to quickly stop and start animations that you replay in this manner. Action Result

Click left mouse button in Temporarily pause the animation. replay window. Click right mouse button Restart a paused animation. in replay window.

Function Reference

This appendix defines the predefined FEMAP functions which can be used to create equations for any numeric input. The functions are listed in alphabetical order. All function arguments are always required. Multiple arguments must be separated by a semi-colon ( ; ), not a comma ( , ).

ABS(x)
returns the absolute value of the argument x. If x was positive, ABS(x) = x.

ACOS(x)
returns the inverse cosine (arc cosine) of x. The inverse cosine is the angle, between 0 and 180 degrees, which has a cosine equal to x.

ACTID(type)
returns the active Set or ID for the selected entity type. The argument, type, must be one of the predefined entity types (any other value of type returns an undefined result): Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Entity Coordinate System Point Curve Surface Volume Text Boundary Node Type 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Entity Element Material Property Load Set Constraint Set View Output Set Report Format

ASIN(x)
returns the inverse sine (arc sine) of x. The inverse sine is the angle, between -90 and 90 degrees, which has a sine equal to x.

ATAN(x)
returns the inverse tangent (arc tangent) of x. The inverse tangent is the angle, between 0 and 180 degrees, which has a tangent equal to x.

COS(theta)
returns the cosine of the angle theta. Theta must be specified in degrees.

COUNT(type)
returns the number of entities of the selected type in the current model. Type must be one of the predefined entity types (see ACTID( ) function).

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Function Reference

ELND(index;elemID)
returns a nodeID which is referenced by an element. The first argument, index, selects which node on the element to report. The second argument, elemID, selects which element to report. For example ELND(3,45) returns the ID of the third node on element 45. If either the element does not exist, or the index is too large an error message will be given and the return will be undefined.

EXP(x)
returns the value of the exponential function, ex.

INT(x)
returns the closest integer value (whole number) which is lower than the real number argument, x.

LN(x)
returns the natural logarithm of x.

LOG(x)
returns the base 10 logarithm of x.

MAT( matlID; index )

returns a material value from material "matlID". The value of "index" determines the material value that will be returned. Unlike the PROP( ) function, the values of "index" in this case are the same, no matter what type of material is being referenced. You should use the following values for "index". Index Value 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 Returns Ex Gx NUxy G_3D[1,1] G_3D[1,4] G_3D[2,2] G_3D[2,5] G_3D[3,4] G_3D[4,4] G_3D[5,5] G_2D[1,1] G_2D[2,2] alpha[1,1] alpha[2,2] k[1,1] k[2,2] Index Value 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 Returns Ey Gy NUyz G_3D[1,2] G_3D[1,5] G_3D[2,3] G_3D[2,6] G_3D[3,5] G_3D[4,5] G_3D[5,6] G_2D[1,2] G_2D[2,3] alpha[1,2] alpha[2,3] k[1,2] k[2,3] Index Value 2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44 47 Returns Ez Gz NUzx G_3D[1,3] G_3D[1,6] G_3D[2,4] G_3D[3,3] G_3D[3,6] G_3D[4,6] G_3D[6,6] G_2D[1,3] G_2D[3,3] alpha[1,3] alpha[3,3] k[1,3] k[3,3]

Function Reference

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Returns

Index Value 48 51 54

Returns thermal cap ref Temp compression limit[1]

Index Value 49 52 55

Returns density tension limit[1] compression limit[2]

Index Value 50 53 56

damping tension limit[2] shear limit

MAX(x;y)
returns either x or y, whichever is larger. Positive numbers are always larger than negative numbers. If you want to compare in an absolute sense use MAX(ABS(x);ABS(y)).

MAXID(type)
returns the maximum ID in the current model of the selected entity type. Type must be one of the predefined entity types (see ACTID( ) function).

MID( propID )
returns the ID of the material that is referenced by property "propID". This function should not be used with laminate properties which can reference multiple materials - use MLAM( ) instead.

MIN(x;y)
returns either x or y, whichever is smaller. Negative numbers are always smaller than positive numbers. If you want to compare in an absolute sense use MIN(ABS(x);ABS(y)).

MINID(type)
returns the minimum ID in the current model of the selected entity type. Type must be one of the predefined entity types (see ACTID( ) function).

MLAM( propID; ply )

returns the ID of the material that is referenced by layer "ply" of property "propID". This function can only be used if "propID" selects a laminate property. "ply" must be between 1 and the maximum number of allowable plies for a laminate, however the return will be 0 if you choose a ply that is not defined for the selected property.

NEXTID(type)
returns the ID of the next entity to be created of the selected type. Type must be one of the predefined entity types (see ACTID( ) function).

PID( elemID )
returns the ID of the property that is referenced by element "elemID". The return will always be 0, if the element does not reference a property.

POW( x; y )
returns the value of x to the y power, xy

PROP( propID; index )

returns a property value from property "propID". The value of "index" determines the property value that will be returned. Refer to the table of Property Values in Data Block 402 of

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Function Reference

the FEMAP Neutral File documentation (Appendix G) for proper values of "index". As you can see from this table, the "index" values differ depending on the type of property that you are using. For example, if propID selects a Bar property, setting index = 0 will return Area, index = 4 will return J, the torsional constant. For a plate, index = 0 will return the thickness.

RND(x)
returns the closest integer value (whole number) which is either lower or higher than the real number argument, x.

SIN(theta)
returns the sine of the angle theta. Theta must be specified in degrees.

SQR(x)
returns the square of x. SQR(x) = x * x

SQRT(x)
returns the square root of x.

TAN(theta)
returns the tangent of the angle theta. Theta must be specified in degrees.

VEC(setID;vectorID;entityID)
returns an output data value. SetID defines the output set to be selected. VectorID selects an output vector in that set. EntityID is either the element ID or node ID (depending on the vector type) of the data to be selected. For example, VEC(2,1,33) returns the output value for node 33, in Output Set 2, Output Vector 1 (Total Translation).

XEF(elemID;faceID)
returns the X coordinate of the centroid of the selected element face. The X coordinate is always returned in the active coordinate system. In a cylindrical or spherical system, this is the radial value. The available values for faceID depend on the element type. Refer to the Element Library for more information on face numbers for each element type.

XEL(elemID)
returns the X coordinate of the centroid of the selected element, in the active coordinate system. In a cylindrical or spherical system this is the radial value.

XND(nodeID)
returns the X coordinate of the selected node, in the active coordinate system. In a cylindrical or spherical system this is the radial value. If you specify a negative nodeID, FEMAP selects the node with an ID equal to the next node to be created minus the value you specified. For example, if you specify XND(-1), and the next node to be created is 43, you will get the X coordinate of node 42, if node 42 exists.

XPT(pointID)
same as XND( ), only returns the coordinates of a point.

Function Reference

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YEF(elemID;faceID)
same as XEF( ), only returns the Y coordinate.

YEL(elemID)
same as XEL( ), only returns the Y coordinate.

YND(nodeID)
returns the Y coordinate of the selected node, in the active coordinate system. In a cylindrical system this is the angular value theta, in degrees. See XND( ) for additional information.

YPT(pointID)
same as YND( ), only returns the coordinates of a point.

ZEF(elemID;faceID)
same as XEF( ), only returns the Z coordinate.

ZEL(elemID)
same as XEL( ), only returns the Z coordinate.

ZND(nodeID)
returns the Z coordinate of the selected node, in the active coordinate system. See XND( ) for additional information.

ZPT(pointID)
same as ZND( ), only returns the coordinates of a point.

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Function Reference

Converting Old Models

Conversion from v4.4 and Later

FEMAP binary database (.MOD) files from previous versions of FEMAP are not compatible with this version. The current version of FEMAP, however, can automatically translate model files from FEMAP v4.4 and later to the current version. No action is required by the user. FEMAP will automatically read the database, translate to a FEMAP neutral file, and then convert the neutral file to the latest database format.

Conversion of v4 files - Prior to v4.4

If you have been using a version of FEMAP prior to v4.4, you will probably have existing models that you want to use with this new version. Your old model (.MOD) files are not compatible with this version of FEMAP and cannot be read by the latest version of FEMAP. You can convert your models to FEMAP Neutral Files, however, so they can be used with this system. The best approach to doing the conversion is to do the following: 1. Using your old version of FEMAP, open the model that you want to convert. 2. Use the File Translate command (pre Version 5), or the File Export FEMAP Neutral command, to write a FEMAP Neutral file. You can choose any filename for this command. If your model contains output for postprocessing you can also write that to the neutral file for automatic conversion. 3. Exit your old version of FEMAP. 4. Start the new version of FEMAP with a new, empty model. 5. Choose the File Import FEMAP Neutral command. 6. When the list of files is displayed, enter the name of the neutral file that you just created. You can set any of the other translation options that you want, but usually you will just want to press OK and accept the defaults. FEMAP will now read the neutral file and build your converted model. 7. Before you exit FEMAP remember to Save your model. Either use the File Save As command or just respond Yes to the question about saving your model as you exit FEMAP.

Other Methods to Convert Models

The above approach used a FEMAP Neutral File to convert your model. You can follow the same steps using any of the other translator formats that are supported in your earlier version of FEMAP. If you use one of these alternate formats however, no colors, groups, or other FEMAP-specific data will be converted.

Converting from Version 3 and Before

If you still have the output files from your analysis program, it will probably be better to skip writing the output to the neutral file. Due to the large number of changes in this version of the program, output that is translated from neutral files that were written by earlier versions of FEMAP will be moved to output vectors that it would not otherwise occupy. You will still be

'

Converting Old Databases

able to postprocess this output, but if you later read additional analysis output into new output sets, it will not be in the same vectors as the output converted via the neutral file. For maximum compatibility, it is therefore best to skip writing output to the neutral file and reread your analysis output directly into this version of FEMAP. If you do this, you will have to use File Import Analysis Results to read the output files into the newly converted model. Due to the extensive enhancements that were made between Version 3 and 4 of FEMAP, significant changes had to be made to the Neutral file format. Therefore, even though you follow the procedure defined above, your complete model cannot be converted exactly. Again, these limitations only apply if you are converting a Neutral File from Version 3 or before not a Version 4 Neutral file. The following items will either not be converted, or will be modified during the conversion: m As noted above, all output will be moved to new output vectors. The new vectors will all have IDs above 300000, just like user-defined output. m Display, Window, and Post Options will be skipped. The new Views, which combine all of these features and many more, are so different that it is impossible to convert these old options. You must define new Views. m Postprocessing Report Formats will be skipped. Again, these have changed so much that they can not be converted. Either select new standard formats or redefine them in your new model. m Groups will be converted, but the format has changed dramatically. Some types of Group definition, like Constraints by DOF can not be converted because they are no longer supported. If you see any messages when reading the neutral file, you should check your groups carefully.

1Index
Symbols
! 4-58 @ 4-58 bisect 4-44, 4-49 boundary surface 5-6 break 5-4 brick 6-17 Bulk Data 7-74, 7-82, 7-84, 7-86, 7-88

A
ABAQUS 7-2, 7-24, 7-42 import model 7-56 postprocessing 7-56 rigid surface 7-44 slide line 7-54 steps 7-45 ABS( ) C-1 ACIS 2-1, 7-146 ACOS( ) C-1 ACTID( ) C-1 ADCAP2 7-125 ALGOR 7-2, 7-25, 7-109 align 4-50 animation B-2 ANSYS 7-2, 7-27, 7-57 dynamic and nonlinear 7-59 heat transfer 7-61 import model 7-62 modal analysis 7-59 model write 7-57 postprocessing 7-63 static analysis 7-58 ASIN( ) C-1 ASK( ) 8-6 ATAN( ) C-1 axial spring 6-7 axis vector 4-45 axisymmetric 6-15

C
cache pages 3-15 CAEFEM 7-113 calculator 4-57, C-1 Case Control 7-69 CDA/SPRINT 7-114, 7-121 center 4-9 CFDesign 7-115 chamfer 5-4, 5-7 clipboard 4-9 color 4-50 command keys A-1 command line options 3-10 Command Toolbars 4-53 Arc/Circle 4-12 Constraint 4-14 Curve 4-11 Curve from Surface 4-12 Edit Curve 4-13 Line 4-11 Load 4-15 Main 4-10 Mesh 4-14 Postprocessing 4-15 Solid 4-14 Spline 4-12 Surface 4-13 comma-separated table 7-105 constraint 5-22, 5-28 contact element 6-21 continuation 7-78 contour 5-33 data conversion 5-36 elemental 5-37 options 5-35 view options 5-39 conversion table 7-1 converting old models 7-101, D-1 coordinate selection 4-56 coordinates 4-32

B
bar 6-3 BASIC scripting 8-2 BCDCNV 7-63 beam 6-4 section properties 6-4 beam diagram 5-33 BEEP( ) 8-7 bend 6-2, 6-6 bending element 6-10

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copy picture 4-9 COS( ) C-1 Cosmic NASTRAN 7-36, 7-64, 7-86 COSMOS 7-2, 7-31, 7-115 COUNT( ) C-1 creating elements 5-10 criteria 5-33 CSA/NASTRAN 7-64, 7-82 cursor B-1 cursor position 4-54 curve 5-3 from surface 5-4 intersection 4-40 modify 5-4 curved beam 6-2, 6-6 customizing FEMAP program files 8-3 scripting language 8-2 shortcut keys 8-1 toolbox 8-13 editing keys A-4 elbow 6-2, 6-6 element contact 6-21 creation 5-10 distortion 5-13 line 5-8, 6-1 others 5-9, 6-18 plane 5-9, 6-9 volume 5-9, 6-14 element library 6-1 ELND( ) C-2 ENDIF( ) 8-10 entity selection 4-22, A-6, B-2 by titles 4-57 equation editor 4-59 equations 4-58, C-1 errors starting 3-14 EXEC( ) 8-9 Executive Control 7-68 EXIT( ) 8-9 EXP( ) C-2 export output 7-105 exporting pictures 7-159 extend 5-4

D
damping element 6-7 DEF( ) 8-7 deformed view options 5-38 DELAY( ) 8-7 dialog boxes 4-50 coordinates 4-32 entity selection 4-22 graphical selection 4-30 keys A-3 library 4-52 method 4-26, 5-1 plane definition 4-47 special keys A-5 vector definition 4-42 display 5-26 DOF spring 6-7 draw constraint set 5-28 group 5-28 load set 5-28 DXF 7-153 DYNA2 7-125 dynamic query 4-21, 5-43 dynamic rotation 4-7

F
FEMAP neutral file 7-101 FILE12 7-63 FILE14 7-63 fillet 5-4, 5-7 free edge 5-26 free face 5-26 freebody display 5-39 function 5-23 function keys A-2 functions for calculator C-1

G
gap 6-8 GENESIS 7-120 GEOSTAR 7-115 GFORM_OUT 7-119 global plane 4-49 GOTO( ) 8-9 graphical selection 4-9, 4-30, 4-31, A-6, B-2 box,circle,polygon,freehand 4-24 graphics boards 3-3 graphics window 4-5 group 5-24, 5-28, 5-29

E
ECHO( ) 8-8 ECHOV( ) 8-8

, H
hardware requirements 3-1 hexa 6-17 hidden line 5-26 hyperelastic 5-19

K
keyboard A-1 keys A-1 keystrokes 8-4

I
icon menu 8-13 IDEAS 7-2, 7-103 IF( ) 8-10 IGES 2-1, 7-148 Installation PC Network 3-6 PC Stand Alone 3-3 INT( ) C-2 Interfaces ABAQUS 7-42 ACIS 7-146 ALGOR 7-109 CAEFEM 7-113 CDA/SPRINT 7-114 CFDesign 7-115 comma-separated table 7-105 Cosmis NASTRAN 7-86 CSA/NASTRAN 7-82 DXF 7-153 FEMAP neutral file 7-101 GENESIS 7-120 I-DEAS Master Series 7-103 IGES 7-148 LS-DYNA3D 7-89 MARC 7-93 ME/NASTRAN 7-86 MSC/NASTRAN 7-63 mTAB*STRESS 7-127 Parasolid 7-147 PATRAN 7-104 SSS/NASTRAN 7-88 STAAD 7-132 STARDYNE 7-135 STEP 7-147 stereolithography 7-153 UAI/NASTRAN 7-84 VRML 7-159 weCan 7-140 intersecting curves 4-40 IsoSurface 5-33 isotropic,anisotropic 5-19

L
laminate 6-12 layer 4-9, 5-24, 5-29 library palette 4-52 selection 4-52 license file 3-6 line 5-3 line elements 6-1 link 6-5 LN( ) C-2 load 5-20, 5-28 LOG( ) C-2 LS-DYNA3D 7-3, 7-33, 7-89

1 ' ( ;

M
magnify 4-8 Main Menu 4-6 Main Window 4-1, 4-20 MARC 7-3, 7-35, 7-93 mass element 6-18 mass matrix 6-19 Master Series 7-2, 7-103 MAT( ) C-2 material 5-19 MAX( ) C-3 MAXID( ) C-3 ME/NASTRAN 7-64, 7-86 membrane 6-10 memory 3-1 menu keys A-6 merging models 7-102 mesh 5-10 control 5-10 solid 5-13 surface 5-12 mesh locations 4-39 mesh sizing 5-10 Messages and Lists Window 4-4 method 4-26, 5-1 MID( ) C-3 midpoint 4-39 MIN( ) C-3 MINID( ) C-3 MLAM( ) C-3

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MOD2GEO 7-119 MODSTAR 7-119 mouse B-1, B-2 MSC/NASTRAN 7-36 bulk data 7-74 case control 7-69 executive control 7-68 export model 7-63 import model 7-77 postprocessing 7-78 MSC/pal 7-121 MSG( ) 8-11 MSGMESH 7-78 mTAB*STRESS 7-2, 7-34, 7-127 PID( ) C-3 planar elements 6-9 plane definition 4-47 plane strain 6-13 plane stress 6-13 plate 6-11 plot only element 6-8, 6-14 plot style 5-26 plys 6-12 point 5-3 postprocessing data selection 5-34 display options 5-38 graphical 5-32 reporting 5-42 POW( ) C-3 PREP7 7-57 previous zoom 4-9 print 4-9, 5-30 program files 8-3, C-1 commands 8-6 keystrokes 8-4 project onto curve 4-37 onto surface 4-41 PROP( ) C-3 property 5-19, 5-20

N
NASCRUSH 7-79, 7-81, 7-83, 7-85 NASPAT 7-104 NASTRAN 7-3, 7-36, 7-63, 7-82, 7-84, 7-86, 7-88 bulk data 7-74 case control 7-69 executive control 7-68 network licensing 3-6 neutral file 7-101, D-1 NEXTID( ) C-3 nonlinear gap 6-8 normal 4-44, 4-48 numerical input 4-57

Q
quick access menu 4-17, 4-53, 4-54 quick options 4-9

O
offset coordinates 4-36 old models D-1 OPT( ) 8-11 OPTGO( ) 8-11 orthotropic 5-19 output export 7-105

R
RAM Management 3-15 recursive equations 4-58 render mode 5-26, 5-33 replaying pictures B-2 replication 7-78 reports 5-42 right mouse button 4-17, 4-53, 4-54 rigid element 6-19 RND( ) C-4 rod 6-1 rotate 4-7, 4-8 RUN( ) 8-12

P
page setup 5-31 PAL 7-121 palette 4-50 pan 4-7 Parasolid 2-1, 7-147 PATNAS 7-104 PATRAN 7-3, 7-38, 7-104 penta 6-17 pick all inside 4-9 picking 4-30, 4-31, A-6, B-2 box,circle,polygon,freehand 4-24 picture copy 4-9

S
SAP IV 7-2, 7-127 SAP386 7-2, 7-127 SAP86 7-2, 7-127

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screen area selection 4-9 scripting language 8-2 SDRC 7-103 section cut 5-33 section property generator 6-4 security device 3-3, 3-13 upgrading 3-5 select 4-9 selection keys A-6 shear panel 6-9 shell 6-11 shortcut keys 4-19, 8-1, A-1 shortcuts equation editor 4-59 SILENT( ) 8-12 SIN( ) C-4 SINDA/G 7-100 SLA 7-153 slide line 6-21 Snap To 4-9, 4-54, 5-2 coordinate selection 4-56 solid 2-1, 5-7 ACIS 7-146 create 5-7 modify 5-7 Parasolid 7-147 solid elements 6-17 spline 5-3 spring 6-7 SPRINT 7-114, 7-121 SQR( ) C-4 SQRT( ) C-4 SSS/NASTRAN 7-36, 7-64, 7-88 STAAD 7-132 standard dialog boxes color palette 4-50 coordinate definition 4-32 entity selection 4-22 library 4-52 plane definition 4-47 vector definition 4-42 STARCRSH 7-140 STARDYNE 7-3, 7-38, 7-135 Starting FEMAP 3-10, 3-14 STAT2 7-125 status bar 4-20, 5-43 STEP 7-147 stereolithography 7-153 stiffness matrix 6-21 STL 7-153 SuperDraw 7-109 SuperView 7-109 surface 5-5 boundary 5-6 trimmed 2-1

T
table 7-105 TAN( ) C-4 tangent 4-45 tbx 8-14 tetra 6-17 toolbars commands 4-10 view 4-6 toolbox 4-16, 8-3, 8-13 torsional spring 6-7 transferring models 7-101 translation table 7-1 tray 5-43 trim 5-4 trimmed surfaces 2-1 tube 6-2

1 ' ( ;

U
UAI/NASTRAN 7-36, 7-64, 7-84 unzoom 4-9 using old models D-1

V
VEC( ) C-4 vector 4-42 vector plot 5-33 view center 4-9 layers 4-9 options 4-9, 5-24, 5-29, 5-38, 5-42 quick options 4-9 rotate 4-8 select 4-9, 5-24, 5-32 View Toolbar 4-6, 4-54 volume 5-6 volume elements 6-14 VRML 7-159

W
weCan 7-3, 7-41, 7-140 wedge 6-17 window B-1 windows keys A-6 working with old models D-1

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workplane 4-53, 5-2

Y
YEF( ) C-5 YEL( ) C-5 YND( ) C-5 YPT( ) C-5

X
XEF( ) C-4 XEL( ) C-4 XND( ) C-4 XPT( ) C-4 XY Plot 5-41 data selection 5-41 display options 5-42

Z
ZEF( ) C-5 ZEL( ) C-5 ZND( ) C-5 zoom 4-7, 4-8 ZPT( ) C-5