Advanced FEMAP Programming with Applications to Structural Analysis

William L. McGill
wmcgill@swales.com

FEMCI Workshop 2002

Typical Analysis Process ?Six Easy Steps

Pre-Processors - FEMAP - PATRAN - Algor - etc. 1 Design Structure 2 Design Tools - Pro/Engineer - CATIA - AutoCAD - etc. Solvers - NASTRAN - ABAQUS - ANSYS - etc. Mesh Geometry 3 Run Analysis 4 Observe Performance Post-Processors - FEMAP - Notepad - PATRAN - etc. 5 Compute Margins 6 Document Results Word Processors - WORD - Anything else - etc.

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Simplified Analysis Process ?Now only FOUR steps

?Use FEMAP to Control External Software
Pre-Processors - FEMAP - PATRAN - Algor - etc. 1 Design Structure 2 Design Tools - Pro/Engineer - CATIA - AutoCAD - etc. Solvers - NASTRAN - ABAQUS - ANSYS - etc. Document Results 4 Mesh Geometry 3 Run Analysis Compute Margins Post-Processors - FEMAP Observe Performance

FEMCI Workshop 2002

FEMAPs Programming Capabilities ?Old Versions of FEMAP

?Advanced Programming Interface (API)
?Add more functionality to FEMAP ?Interface with other VB driven programs
? But NOT vice-versa

?New to FEMAP v8.1

?Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
?Objects that define FEMAP processes ?Two-way communication with OLE programs
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Example 1: Organizing a FEMAP Model ?Use EXCEL to Control FEMAP

?Renumber Entities
?Nodes, Elements, Properties, Materials, etc.
? By layer, color, group, etc.

?Extract Model Information

? Mass, Volume, CG, Layer/Group/Color Name, etc.

?Output Model Information

?All Information Displayed in a Formatted Table ?Can Be Easily Transferred to a Stress Report
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Example 1: Organizing a FEMAP Model

+
FEA Model
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Example 1: Sample EXCEL Output

Model File Information Renumbers Node, Elements
FEM Model Details, Page 1 Model File: Z:\wmcgill\ST5\2113-187\ST5_Models\st5_machine_r1\st5_machine_finalmodels\st5_machine_allup_spacecraft_GSE2.MOD Table 1: Node, Element, Mass, and CG Information
Description DS Honeycomb Facesheet DS Honeycomb Core DS Stanchion Inserts DS Brace Inserts DS Interface Inserts DS Potting Material DS Stanchions DS Braces DS Fasteners DS Mechanisms Layer ID 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 1 1 12 Node Range 1 4000 8000 11000 12000 13000 14000 18000 21000 22000 3937 7366 8669 11304 12504 12504 17700 20760 20760 23636 Element Range 1 4000 8000 11000 12000 13000 14000 18000 21000 22000 3707 7916 10200 11792 12432 13904 17761 20672 21063 23548 Nodes 3936 3366 669 304 504 0 3700 2760 0 1636 Elements 3706 3916 2200 792 432 904 3761 2672 63 1548 S Mass (pounds) 4.23 2.23 2.40 0.76 1.63 1.22 5.60 1.64 0.00 2.22 NSM (pounds) 0.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.14 Total Mass (pounds) 4.44 2.23 2.40 0.76 1.63 1.22 5.60 1.64 0.00 2.36 Volume (in^3) 43.08 884.22 24.51 7.76 16.60 52.68 57.09 16.75 0.00 15.59 XCG (in) -0.31 -0.45 0.76 1.13 -0.31 -0.17 2.65 2.42 0.00 -0.06 YCG (in) -9.52 -9.53 -9.15 -9.38 -9.53 -9.53 -3.94 -5.11 0.00 1.23 ZCG (in) -0.51 -0.61 0.37 0.22 -0.51 -0.46 1.78 1.51 0.00 3.56

Includes Layer Names

Sorts by Layer ID

Reports CG Information

GSE Spider

36

78000

80066

78000 Totals

79332

2066 56580

1332 56470

9.59 90.03

0.00 16.65

9.59 106.68

97.77 1798.39

-0.33 -0.06

3.65 1.38

-0.51 -0.20

Provides Model Summary (# Nodes, Elements, Total Mass, etc.)

FEMCI Workshop 2002

Post-Processing Tasks
-MS EXCEL -MATLAB -MathCAD -TK Solver -C++, VB, etc.

Analysis Tools
Via OLE

Solver
(a.k.a. Black Box)

FEMAP Database
Via OLE

Via OLE

Word Processing
-MS Word -Word Perfect -MS EXCEL -etc.

-MS VISIO -Photoshop -Illustrator -etc.

Graphics Package
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The FEMAP Database ?Can store any form of information

?This includes analysis results from external software ?Results can be retrieved and formatted as a MS Word document

?Database can be manipulated by external software

?So long as it is OLE compatible ?Demonstrated in the previous example
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Example 2: Fastener Analysis

?Analyze Fasteners for Tension Failure
Select Fastener Elements Select Output Data to Process Specify Fastener Parameters

Display Results in FEMAP

(calculate)

Save Results in Database

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Example 2: Screen Shots

?Step 1: Select Fastener Elements
900 pounds

UNC 10-32 Fasteners (x 4)

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Example 2: Screen Shots (contd)

?Step 2: Select Output Set

?Step 3: Specify Fastener Options

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Example 2: Crunch Numbers in EXCEL

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Example 2: Display Analysis Output

Process Can Be Extended to Virtually any Analysis Task

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How Can I Do These Cool Things?

IF (you are a FEMAP User) IS TRUE THEN
? Step 1: Upgrade to FEMAP v8.1 ? Step 2: Play Around with Visual Basic for Applications
? Very, Very Simple Compared to C++, FORTRAN

? Step 3: Review the FEMAP Programmers Manual

? Copy from FEMAP Install CD or Download from EDS

? Step 4: Use the Help Files of OLE Compatible Software

? Here is where you can find examples on how to use the specific OLE interface objects for each program

? Step 5: Come up with Cool Ideas

? R.O.T.: There is ALWAYS something that needs to be simpler

ELSE
? Become a FEMAP User (LOOP)

END IF
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Future Possibilities
? Buckling Analysis according to Bruhn
? Algorithm to Identify a Representative Stress to Compare to Buckling Allowables

? Store Element Information within FEMAP Database

? Examples
?Fastener sizes represented by springs ?Idealized BC information for QUADs that make up a panel

? Recover This Information As Needed for Analysis

? Automated Documentation of Model with Screen Shots according to Layer or Group ? Expand Element, Property, and Material Database
? Add Unsupported/Custom Element and Property Types

? Anything Else
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