1

AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Advanced Femap Modeling

AdvancedFemapModeling

AtwodayclassforexistingusersofFemapwhowanttoadvancetheirmodelingskills
tothenextlevel.TheclassexploresthemoresophisticatedusesofFemapforcreating
surfaceandsolidmodels.AnoverviewofFemapsApplicationProgrammingInterface
(API)isgivenwithseveralhandsonexamples.
evised 2010
Re
 CourseOutline:
I.IntroductiontoFiniteElementAnalysis
a.)Theconceptoffiniteelementanalysis nodes,DOF,elements
b.)Basicelementtypes aquickoverview

II.IntroductiontoPlateModeling
a.)ImportingGeometry
b.)CreatingSheetSolidsfromBodySolids
c.)StitchingSurfacesintoSingleSolid
d.)MeshingSurfaces
e.)CreatingMassandRigidElements
f.)ApplyingLoadsandConstraintstoMesh

III.AdvancedPlateMeshingTechniques
a.)GeometryCleanup(RemoveHole,Trimw/Curve,SolidCleanup)
) g p g
b.)NonManifoldAddingMultipleSolidsintoSingleSolid
c.)CurvesonSurfaces(CurveSurfaceSlice,CurvePad,CurveWasher)
d.)MappingMesh(FourandThreeCornerSurfaces)
e.)MeshingToolbox(SizingMeshw/AutoRemesh,CombinedCompositeCurves,CombinedBoundary
Surfaces)
f.)ApplyingLoadsandConstraintstoGeometry

IV.IntroductiontoSolidModeling
a.)Panes,ToolbarsandSavingLayout
evised 2010

b.)BuildingCustomToolbars
c.)SolidGeometryManipulation(Slice,Intersect)
d.)MeshSizeonSolids,SlavedSurfaces
e ) View Options and Saving Views
e.)ViewOptionsandSavingViews
Re
 CourseOutline(continued):

V.GluedConnections
a.)HexMeshingSolids
b.)AutomaticGluedConnections
c.)UsingtheSelector

VI.ApplyingLoadsfromExcelUsingtheFemapAPI
a.)MacroEnabledExcelFiles
b.)ConnectingtoFemap
) j
c.)NodeObject
d.)SetObject
e.)EntitySelectionDialogueBox
f.)ExportingDatatoExcel
g.)LoadSetObject
h.)LoadMeshobject
i ) Linking to Data in Excel
i.)LinkingtoDatainExcel

VII.EventCallbackandModifyingtheModelwiththeAPI
a.)ConnectingtoFemap
b.)PropertyObject
c.)SetObject
d ) Variable Object
d.)VariableObject
e.)EntitySelectID DialogueBox
f.)UserDialogueBox
evised 2010

g.)feAppEventCallback
h.)AnalysisObject
i.)MaterialObject
Re
 CourseOutline(continued):
VIII.LinearSurfacetoSurfaceContact
a.)Connection/LinearContactEntities(Properties,RegionsandConnections)
b.)ElementNormals
c.)HighlighterTool
) hl h l

IX.GroupingTechniquesandtheDataTable
a.)GroupOperations
b.)DataTable
c.)ExportingDatatoExcel
evised 2010
Re
 5
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

FiniteElementAnalysis:
Anumericalanalysistechniqueforobtainingapproximatesolutionstomanytypesofengineering
problems.Theneedfornumericalmethodsarisesfromthefactthatformostpracticalengineering
problemsanalyticalsolutionsdonotexist.Whilethegoverningequationsandboundaryconditionscan
usuallybewrittenfortheseproblems,difficultiesintroducedbyeitherirregulargeometryorother
discontinuitiesrendertheproblemsintractableanalytically.Toobtainasolution,theengineermust
makesimplifyingassumptions,reducingtheproblemtoonethatcanbesolved,oranumerical
proceduremustbeused.Inananalyticsolution,theunknownquantityisgivenbyamathematical
functionvalidataninfinitenumberoflocationsintheregionunderstudy,whilenumericalmethods
provideapproximatevaluesoftheunknownquantityonlyatdiscretepointsintheregion.Inthefinite
elementmethod,theregionofinterestisdividedupintonumerousconnectedsubregions orelements
withinwhichapproximatefunctions(usuallypolynomials)areusedtorepresenttheunknownquantity.
ithi hi h i t f ti ( ll l i l) dt t th k tit
Thephysicalconceptonwhichthefiniteelementmethodisbasedhasitsoriginsinthetheoryof
structures.Theideaofbuildingupastructurebyfittingtogetheranumberofstructuralelements(see
illustration)wasusedintheearlytrussandframeworkanalysisapproachesemployedinthedesignof
bridgesandbuildingsintheearly1900s.Byknowingthecharacteristicsofindividualstructuralelements
andcombiningthem,thegoverningequationsfortheentirestructurecouldbeobtained.Thisprocess
producesasetofsimultaneousalgebraicequations.Thelimitationonthenumberofequationsthat
d t f i lt l b i ti Th li it ti th b f ti th t
couldbesolvedposedasevererestrictionontheanalysis.Theintroductionofthedigitalcomputerhas
madepossiblethesolutionofthelargeordersystemsofequations.
Thefiniteelementmethodisoneofthemostpowerfulapproachesforapproximatesolutionstoawide
rangeofproblemsinmathematicalphysics.Themethodhasachievedacceptanceinnearlyevery
branchofengineeringandisthepreferredapproachinstructuralmechanicsandheattransfer.Its
applicationhasextendedtosoilmechanics,heattransfer,fluidflow,magneticfieldcalculations,and
l h d d l h h f fl d fl f ld l l d St t
Structuresmodeledbyfittingtogetherstructural
d l d b fitti t th t t l
otherareas. elements:(a)trussstructure;(b)two
dimensionalplanarstructure.
evised 2010

FromMcGrawHillScienceandTechnologyEncyclopedia,5thEd.
Re
 6
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

FourthingstoknowaboutFEA:
IdealizationofGeometryintoanumericalModel
EngineeringassessmentofLoads.
Engineering assessment of Loads
VisualizationofstructuralconstraintsintomodelingConstraints.
DiscretizationofcontinuaintoafiniteelementanalysisMesh(meshing).
evised 2010
Re
 7
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

FiniteElementAnalysisConcepts:
Nodesareusedtodefinethegeometryofthefiniteelement(thatistosayitsspatialcharacteristics).Nodeshave
degreesoffreedomandcantranslate(3DOF(TX,TY,&TZ))androtate(3DOF(RX,RY,&RZ))inspace.
Finiteelementscanbeclassedaspoint,line,surfaceandsolidelements.Anotherwaytothinkoftheseelementsis
Finite elements can be classed as point line surface and solid elements Another way to think of these elements is
ashaving0D,1D,2Dand3Dcharacteristics(D=dimensional).
0Delementsarecreatedononenodeandcanbemeshedongeometricpoints.
1Delementsarecreatedontwonodesandcanbemeshedongeometriclines.
2Delementsarecreatedonthreeorfournodes(triangularorquad)andcanbemeshedongeometric
surfaces.
3Delementsarecreatedonaminimumoffournodes(tetrahedral)oreightnodes(brickorhexahedral)and
can be meshed on geometric solids
canbemeshedongeometricsolids.
Examplesofvariouselementtypesare:
0Delementsaremasselementsusedtosimulateconcentratedweightwithoutstiffness.
1
1D
Delementsarebeamelementsusedtomodelspace
elements are beam elements used to model spaceframe
framestructures(e.g.,busframes).
structures (e g bus frames)
2Delementsareplateelementsusedtomodelthinwalledstructures(e.g.,pressurevessels,airplaneskins,
evised 2010

sheetmetal,shipsorstructuralsteelframing).
3Delementsaresolidelementsusedtomodelthick,contouredobjects(e.g.,castings).
Re
 8
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial1 PlateModelingI MotorMountwMotor.STP

ImportingGeometry
CreatingSheetSolidsfromBodySolids
StitchingSurfacesintoSingleSolid
MeshingSurfaces
CreatingMassandRigidElements
ApplyingLoadsandConstraintstoMesh
evised 2010
Re
 9
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Import>Geometry>MotorMountw
Motor.STP
Forthis andfollowingtutorials,youwillbeaskedtoimport
geometry,importFemapneutralfiles,openmodelfiles,
document files and AVI files These files are located in the FEA
documentfilesand.AVIfiles.ThesefilesarelocatedintheFEA
CourseNotesdirectoryundertutorialsforthecorresponding
tutorialfile.Forexample,youcanfindtheMotorMountw
Motor.STPgeometryunderFEACourseNotes\Tutorials\Plate
Modeling I.

ModifyingToolbars
LocatedatthetopoftheFemapinterface,belowthedropdownmenus,are
thetoolbars.Thesetoolbarscanbeturnedonandoffbyrightclickinginthe
toolbarareaandselectingthedesired/unwantedtoolbars.Fornewusers,it
isbesttoturnmostofthesetoolbarsoff.
evised 2010

Model>Node,atCenter
Beforewedeletethisunnecessarysolid,weneedtoplaceanodeatthe
centertobeusedlaterforamasselement.Usethemethodsbuttononthe
entity selection dialogue box to make this process easier
entityselectiondialogueboxtomakethisprocesseasier.
Re
 10
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Geometry>Midsurface >Automatic
Tocreateourmidsurface geometryforplatemeshing,wewillusethis
automaticoptiontoexpeditetheprocess.Notice:TheMeasureDistance icon
buttonorCtrlD commandletsyoudeterminedistanceforthetarget
thickness.Thesoftwareusesthisvaluetodeterminewhichsurfacestoplace
a midsurface between.Thetargetthicknessshouldbeslightlylargerthanthe
amidsurface between The target thickness should be slightly larger than the
largestdistancebetweentheplanesonthesolidsthatyouwantmidsurfaced.
Ifthetargetthicknessistoolow,themidsurfaces willnotbecreated.Ifthe
targetthicknessistoohigh,somemidsurfaces willbecreatedbetweenthe
wrongsurfaces.
evised 2010
Re
 11
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Delete>Geometry>Solids
Nowthatweveplacedanodeatthecenterofthesphereandcreatedamidsurface ofthemotormount,wecandeletetheoriginalsolids.Rather
thanusingthedeletefilemenu,usethemodeltreeandthehighlighter.Youllnoticethatwhenyouclickonthevarioussolids inthemodeltree,
theyarehighlightedinthemainwindow.Whenyourightclickonthedesiredsolid,thereareseveralcommandsthatcanbeperformedonthatsolid.

Needtoquicklyisolateasolidina
group?Thegroupcommandcreatesa
evised 2010

newgroupwiththeselectedsolidand
allsurfaces,curves,pointsandmesh
associatedwiththatsolid!
Re
 12
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Mesh>MeshControl>SizeonSurface
Selectallandusethedefaultsizing.Youllnoticethemeshsizingappearsonthecurves.Thenjustpick1surfaceandusethedefaultsizing

Mesh>Geometry>Surface
Select all and Yes
Selectalland Yes ,itisOKtomeshwithPlotonlyelements.
it is OK to mesh with Plot only elements

Visibility(CtrlQ) TurnoffEverything,TurnonElements
Thiswillmakethemesheasiertoseebecauseallotherentitieswillbeinvisible.Ifyoulookattheedgesofthesurfaceweresized,youwillnoticethat
themeshdoesnotlineupwithadjacentsurfaces.

ViewSelect(F5)FreeEdge
Tomakethismeshdiscontinuityeasiertosee,viewthefreeedges.Theoutlinestheedgesoftheplateelementsthatarenot connectedtootherplate
elements.Switchbacktotheregularviewsoyoucanfixthemeshproblem.IntheViewSelectdialoguebox,selectQuickHiddenLine.
evised 2010
Re
 13
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Delete>Model>Mesh
Sincethismeshhasproblems,deleteit.Wearegoingtofixthegeometryandcreatenewmesh.

Geometry>Solid>Stitch
Thiscommandwilltakealloftheindividualsheetsolidscreatedbytheautomaticmidsurface
commandandcreateasinglesheetsolidcomprisedofmultiplesurfaces.Thinkofasheetsolidas
oneormorelinkedsolidswithzerovolume.Whenthiscommandiscompleted,itwillshowyouthe
freeedgesofthegeometry.

Mesh>SizeonSurface
Select all, use default sizing.
Selectall,usedefaultsizing.

Mesh>Geometry>Surface
Thistimewearenotgoingtouseplotelements.Goaheadandcreateamaterialandaplate
propertytomeshwith.Usetheshortcutbuttonsprovided.
evised 2010

These buttons will jump directly to Property and

ThesebuttonswilljumpdirectlytoPropertyand
Re

MaterialDefinitiondialogueboxes.
 14
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Model>Element,Mass
Tosimulatethemotorseffectonthestructure,amasselementwillbeused.
Createamasselementpropertyandcreatetheelementatthenodeatthe
centerofthesphere.

Model>Element,Rigid
Toconnectthemasselementtothemotormount,usearigidlink.Themass
elementwillbetheindependentnode,thenodesalongtheedgeofthemounting
l t ill b th i d d t d th d l th d f th ti
holeswillbethedependentnodes.

Model>Constraint>Nodal
Thelastnecessarystepbeforerunninganormalmodesanalysisisto
constrainthemodel.Fixthenodesalongtheedgeoftheboltholes.
i h d l Fi h d l h d f h b l h l
Ratherthanselectingonebyone,usetheOnCurvetechnique
undermethods
evised 2010
Re
 15
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Model>Analysis
ClicktheNewbuttonandselect2..NormalModes/Eigenvaluefortheanalysistype.Youarenowreadytoanalyze.Rightclickonthefirstoutputset
inthemodeltreeandselectdeformandcountour.
evised 2010
Re
 16
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial2 PlateModelingII ELECTICALBOX.X_T

GeometryCleanup(RemoveHole,Trimw/Curve,
SolidCleanup)
NonManifoldAddingMultipleSolidsintoSingle
Solid
CurvesonSurfaces(CurveSurfaceSlice,Curve
Pad,CurveWasher)
MappingMesh(FourandThreeCornerSurfaces)
Meshing Toolbox (Sizing Mesh w/ Auto Remesh
MeshingToolbox(SizingMeshw/AutoRemesh,
CombinedCompositeCurves,CombinedBoundary
Surfaces)
ApplyingLoadsandConstraintstoGeometry
evised 2010
Re
 17
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Import>Geometry>ELECTRICALBOX.X_T
YoucanfindtheELECTIRCALBOX.X_T geometryunderFEACourseNotes\Tutorials\PlateModelingII.

Geometry>Surface>
Geometry > Surface >
RemoveHole
Aquickandeasywaytocleanup
unnecessarygeometryandremove
featuresthatwilldisruptaclean
mesh.

Geometry>Midsurface >TrimwithCurve
Again,quickandeasygeometrycleanup.SelectagussetastheSolidtoTrim.SelectthediagonaledgeofthegussetastheCurve(s)toTrim
With.Oncethisiscompletedforallgussets,deletethetrimmedsurfaces.
evised 2010
Re
 18
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Geometry>Solid>Cleanup
Thiswillremovethesplitinthegussetwheretheextrasurfaceusedtobe.

Geometry > Surface > Non Manifold Add

Geometry>Surface>NonManifoldAdd
Previouslyweused Solid>Stitchtocreateasinglesolidbutthatwontwork
forthisgeometry.WhenyouhaveTintersections,likethegussettowall
junction,useNonManifoldAdd

Mesh > Size on Surface

Mesh>SizeonSurface
Selectall,usedefaultsizing.

Mesh>Geometry>Surface
Thistimewearenotgoingtouseplotelements.Goaheadandcreatea
materialandaplatepropertytomeshwith.Usetheshortcutbuttons
provided.

Visibility(CtrlQ) TurnoffEverything,TurnonElements
evised 2010

Delete>Model>Mesh
Sincethismeshcanbeimproved,deleteit.Wearegoingtofixthe
geometryandcreatenewmesh.
Re
 19
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Geometry>CurveFromSurface>Slice
Wewillbeusingthefunctionsfromthismenuthroughoutthistutorialsogoaheadandactivatethe
toolbar.ChoosetheCurveSurfaceSlicecommandandslicetheelectricalboxdownthemiddleon
theYZplaneusingtheGlobalPlanemethod.

Wewanttoslicethesoliddownthe
middle,cuttingthebigholesinhalf,but
thereisnogeometricpointstolocate
the cutting plane Use Ctrl Z then select
thecuttingplane.UseCtrlZthenselect
theBetweenoptionunderMethods.

Geometry>CurveFromSurface>CurveWasher,CurvePad
Thesearegreattoolsformodifyingholegeometrytoproduceacleanermesh.Forthisparticularmodel,a4mmwasheror2.5size
These are great tools for modifying hole geometry to produce a cleaner mesh For this particular model a 4mm washer or 2 5 size factorcurvepad
factor curve pad
workquitewell.
evised 2010
Re
 20
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Mesh>MeshControl>ApproachonSurface,Mapped4
Corner
Wheneveryouseeaholeinasquaresurface,youcanproduceaclean
mesh.Usethefourpointsalongthesplitlineforthecontrolpointsor
p improvedsystempickthegoodpoints
leavethemblankandletFemaps p y p g p
automatically.

Mesh>SizeonSurface
Selectall,usedefaultsizing.

Mesh>Geometry>Surface
SelectAll,useexistingproperty.

MeshingToolbox
Setthetoolboxtoautomaticallyremesh (Remesh
Modes)andturnontheselector(SelectEntity).
MeshSizing
Add,subtractorsetmeshsizingoncurvesin
incrementsthatyouselect.Tryaddingand/or
evised 2010

subracting nodestothecurvesaroundthelargehole.
Re
 21
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

MeshingToolbox
CombinedCompositeCurves
Aquickfixformergingunwantedsplits
incurvesorsimplifyinggeometric
shapes.Turnthegussetintotrue
trianglebymergingbythepointatthe
bottomofthediagonaledge.

MeshingToolbox
CombinedBoundarySurfaces
Noticehowoneof theboltholeshas
p y
splitsurfaces?Usetheaddbycurve
methodtocreateasinglesurface
aroundthishole.
evised 2010
Re
 22
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Mesh>MeshControl>ApproachonSurface,Map4Corner
Usethistechniqueontherectangularsurfacesnearthelargehole.

MeshingToolbox>MeshSizing
Resizethecurvesalongthelargehole.Watchhowmeshsizeupdateisnowcarriedthoughto
neighboringsurfaces.

Mesh>MeshControl>ApproachonSurface,Map3Corner
Applythismeshingtechniquetothegussetsorother3cornersurfacestoproduceahigherquality
mesh.
mesh
evised 2010
Re
 23
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Model>Constraint>OnCurve
Fixthenodesalongtheedgeoftheboltholes.Usegeometricconstraintsandthe(e.g.OnCurve,On
Surface)andtheconstraintdefinitionwontbelostwhenyouremesh ordeletemesh.

Model>Loads>On Surface
Apply aloadtothemiddlewalloftheelectricalboxandthemodelisreadyforastaticanalysis.

Model>Analysis
ClicktheNewbuttonandselect1..Staticfortheanalysistype.Youarenowreadytoanalyze.

Lookingtofindandselectentities
evised 2010

easier?RightclickandtryPick
NormalorPickFront.Oncethe
desiredentityishighlighted,double
Re

click
li k ratherthatsingleclickingand
th th t i l li ki d
hittingOK.
 24
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial3 SolidModelingI SOLIDANVIL.X_T

Toolbars and Saving Layout

Panes,ToolbarsandSavingLayout
Panes
BuildingCustomToolbars
SolidGeometryManipulation(Slice,Intersect)
MeshSizeonSolids,SlavedSurfaces
View Options and Saving Views
ViewOptionsandSavingViews
evised 2010
Re
 25
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Panes
FEMAPcontainsseveral"Dockable Panes"thatoffer
differenttoolsusedtocreateandmodifymodels,
evaluateandsortdata,createreports,andviewinfoof
specificentities.

File>Preferences>UserInterface
ItispossibletosaveyourUserInterfacelayouttoa*.LAYOUTfileinadirectoryofyour
choice.Youwillbepromptedtochoosewhichportionsofthecurrentinstallation'sUser
Interface(MenuandToolbars,Panes,ShortcutKeys,andUserCommands)tosavetothe
* LAYOUT file The * LAYOUT file can be used to bring a specific User Interface layout to a
*.LAYOUTfile.The*.LAYOUTfilecanbeusedtobringaspecificUserInterfacelayouttoa
differentinstallationofFEMAP.
evised 2010

Tools>Toolbars>Customize
Alongwith thedefaulttoolbarsforFemap,youcanbuildyourowncustomtoolbars.Since
, g , ,
thistutorialworks withsolids,buildatoolbarcontainingtheSolidSlice,SolidIntersect,
Re

MeshSizeonSolidand(Tet)MeshSolidcommands bydraggingtheiconsfromthe
CommandsTabofthecustomizedialoguebox.
 26
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Import>Geometry>SOLIDANVIL.X_T
YoucanfindtheSOLIDANVIL.X_T geometryunderFEA
Course Notes\Tutorials \Solid Modeling I
CourseNotes\Tutorials\SolidModelingI.

Geometry>Solid>Slice
SlicetheanvilintheglobalYZplane.

G
Group>Operations>GenerateSolids
O ti G t S lid
SelectbothsolidsandclicktheCreateMultipleGroups
option.

Geometry>Solid>Intersect
Thiscommandwillmodifytheadjacentsurfacesofthe
This command will modify the adjacent surfaces of the
solidssuchthatthemeshwillalign.
evised 2010
Re
 27
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Mesh>SizeonSolid
Notethatoncethiscommandiscompleted,the geometrychanges
color The opaque surfaces indicate that the mesh approach is
color.Theopaquesurfacesindicatethatthemeshapproachis
linked.

Mesh>(Tet)Solids
Selectall,createamaterialwiththeshortcutbuttons.

MeshingToolbox
Themeshingtoolboxworkswithsolidmodelsaswell.
Increasethemeshsizingonthecurvesatthehookofthe
anvil.

Tools>Check>CoincidentNodes
evised 2010

Selectallnodes.SelecttheMergeCoincidentEntitiesand
PreviewCoincidentoptions.
Re
 28
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Model>Constraint>OnSurface
Fixtheflatsurfaceontheendoftheanvil.

Model>Load>OnSurface
Applyaloadtotheinsidesurfaceofthehookneartheoppositeend
Apply a load to the inside surface of the hook near the opposite end
oftheanvil.

Model>Analysis
ClicktheNewbuttonandselect1..Staticfortheanalysistype.
Youarenowreadytoanalyze.Rightclickontheoutputsetinthe
modeltreeandselectdeformandcontour.

Visibility(CtrlQ) TurnoffEverything,Turnon
Elements
evised 2010
Re
 29
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

ViewOptions(F6)
PostProcessing Contour/CriteriaStyle
MaxMin
PostProcessing Contour/CriteriaLevels
SetLevels,ChangeColors
PostProcessing Contour/CriteriaLegend
ViewColor
Labels,EntitiesandColor LabelParameters
18ptMSSansSerif.
evised 2010
Re
 30
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

View>Background
SelecttheSolidoptionsandtypein124
(white)for theTopColor.Thiswillgivea
cleanwhitebackgroundforprintingand
reports.

Visibility(CtrlQ)
SSaveView.Nexttimeyouhaveamodelthatis
Vi N i h d l h i
readyforpostprocessing,youcanloadthe
viewyoujustcreatedandskipallthehassleof
changingsettings.
evised 2010
Re
 31
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial4 GluedContact FITTING.X_T

HexMeshingSolids
AutomaticGluedConnections
Using the Selector
UsingtheSelector
evised 2010
Re
 32
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Import>Geometry>FITTING.X_T
YoucanfindtheFITTING.X_T geometryunderFEA
CourseNotes\Tutorials\GluedContact.

Mesh>SizeonSolid
Selecttheupperportionofthefittingandselectthe
Hexmeshoption.Thesolidturnsredbecauseitis
toocomplexforahexmesh.Youwillneedtousetet
elements

Mesh>(Tet)Solids
Selecttheupperportionofthefitting,updatethe
meshsizingto0.2andcreateamaterialwiththe
shortcutbuttons.
evised 2010
Re
 33
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Delete>Model>Mesh
Thegeometryhassomesmallfeaturesthatcannotbemeshedatthespecifiedmeshsizing.Deletethemeshandcleanupthegeometry.

Geometry>Solid>RemoveFace
Usethiscommandtoremovethesliversurfacesfromthecenterholeinthefitting.

Mesh>(Tet)Solids
Againmeshtheupperportionofthefittingwiththeacoursetetrahedralmesh.
evised 2010
Re
 34
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Mesh>SizeonSolid(Hex)
Setthemeshsizingontheothersolidsofthefitting.Usehexelements,defaultsizing,minimumof4elementsoncurves.

Mesh>HexMesh Solids
Hex mesh the previous solids Rather that repicking
Hexmeshtheprevioussolids.Ratherthatre pickingthesolidswiththeentityselectiondialoguebox,justhitthe
the solids with the entity selection dialogue box just hit the Previous
Previous button.
button
evised 2010

Connect>Automatic
Fromthemodeltree,usethehighlighterandselecttheupperportionofthefitting(meshedwithtet elements)andtheadjacent(hex
meshed)solid.RightclickandselecttheAutomaticConnectioncommand.Whentheoptiondialogueboxcomesup,selecttheGlued
Re

option.
 35
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Selector
Theselectorisausefultoolthatcanexpeditemany
modelingtaskswithinFemap.SettheSelectorEntity
MenutoSurfacesandSelectorModesMenutoSelect
M lti l
Multiple.

Selector
Model>Constraint>OnSurface
Fixtheinsidesurfacesoftheboltholes.

Selector
Model>Load>OnSurface
Applyaloadtotheinsidesurfacesoftheholesofthe
fitting.

Model>Analysis
ClicktheNewbuttonandselect1..Staticforthe
evised 2010

analysistype.Youarenowreadytoanalyze.Rightclickon
theoutputsetinthemodeltreeandselectdeformand
contour.
Re
 36
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial5 APII,ApplyingLoadsfromExcelUsingtheFemapAPI HLPVSL00028

OverblowExample.MOD,OverblowPrograms.txt,PJMOverflowForceCalculatorwAPI
REV7.xlsm

MacroEnabledExcelFiles
Connecting to Femap
ConnectingtoFemap
NodeObject
SetObject
EntitySelectionDialogueBox
Exporting Data to Excel
ExportingDatatoExcel
LoadSetObject
LoadMeshobject
LinkingtoDatainExcel
evised 2010
Re
 37
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Open>Model>HLPVSL
00028OverblowExample.MOD
YoucanfindtheHLPVSL00028Overblow
Example.MODunderFEACourse
Notes\Tutorials\APII LoadsfromExcel.
Usingthemodeltree,activateoneofthepiping
groupsandviewtheactivegroup.Openthe
textfileandtheExcelfilefromthesame
directory.Althoughyouwillbemodifyinga
Femapmodel,mostofthecommandsofthis
tutorialwilltakeplaceinMicrosoftExcel.
evised 2010
Re
 38
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Excel>Developer>VisualBasic>Insert>Module
FromtheDevelopertabofExcel,clickontheVisualBasicicon.Once
theVisualBasicwindowopens,clickInsert>Module.Copythefirst
p g
programandpasteitintotheModule.YoucannowcloseVisual
p
Basic.
evised 2010
Re
 39
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Excel > Developer > Insert > Form Controls

Excel>Developer>Insert>FormControls
Insertabuttonintothespreadsheet.Clickanddragtosetthebuttonsize.
Whenyouletgoofthemousebutton,aAssignMacrodialogueboxwill
appear.SelecttheGet_Nodal_CoodsMOB thatyoujustcreatedinVisual
Basic.Thebuttonisnowlinkedtotheprogramandisfullyfunctional.
Renamethebuttonbyrightclickingonthebuttonandmodifyingthetext.
evised 2010
Re
 40
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

ClicktheButton,SwitchtotheFemapWindow
WhenyouswitchtotheFemapwindow,youwillseeanodalentityselectiondialogue
boxwaitingforyou.Selectsomeofthepinknodesonthebeamelements.Thecolorof
pp
thenodescenteredbetweensupportshasbeenmodifiedtomakethemeasiertofind.To
selectallofthepinknodes,usetheColorselectionmethod.

SwitchtotheExcelSpreadsheet
DatahasbeenwrittenintothespreadsheetforthenodesyouselectedinFemap.

EnterAdditionalDataintoExcel
Thespreadsheetrequiresapipelengthandpipediametertocalculateloads.Forthisparticularmodel,thepipeis170by2.2.Now
The spread sheet requires a pipe length and pipe diameter to calculate loads. For this particular model, the pipe is 70 by . . Now
thatthespreadsheethascreatedloadswewilluseanotherprogramtoapplythemtotheFEAmodel.
evised 2010
Re
 41
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Excel>Developer>VisualBasic>Insert>Module
FromtheDevelopertabofExcel,clickontheVisualBasicicon.Oncethe
VisualBasicwindowopens,clickInsert>Module.Copythesecondprogram
andpasteitintotheModule.YoucannowcloseVisualBasic.
d t it i t th M d l Y l Vi l B i

Excel>Developer>Insert>FormControls
Insertabuttonintothespreadsheet.Selectthe
PJM1_Overblow_Load_Case_Creatormacrofromthelist.Renamethe
button.
evised 2010
Re
 42
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

ClicktheButton,SwitchtotheFemapWindow
TheAPIhasupdatedtheFemapdatabasewiththeloadsfromExcelbuttheymightnotshowupinthemodeltree.Regeneratingtheimage
(Window>Regenerate,CtrlG)willupdatethemodeltreewiththenewloads.

Youwillneedtoactivatethenewloadsetbeforeyoucanviewit.Additionally,iftheloadisnotinthegroupyouareviewing,youwillnotbeable
toviewit.Group>Load>Nodal,selectallandhitok.
i i G L d N d l l ll d hi k
evised 2010
Re
 43
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial6 APIII,EventCallbackandModifyingtheModelwiththeAPI
EventCallback.MOD,Startloop.BAS,callback.BAS

ConnectingtoFemap
Property Object
PropertyObject
SetObject
VariableObject
EntitySelectID DialogueBox
User Dialogue Box
UserDialogueBox
feAppEventCallback
AnalysisObject
MaterialObject
evised 2010
Re
 44
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Open>Model>EventCallback.MOD
YoucanfindtheEventCallback.MOD underFEACourseNotes\Tutorials\APIII
EventCallback.

Tools>Programming>APIProgramming
FromtheAPIProgrammingwindow,openStartloop.BASandopencallback.BAS.
Theseprogramsarelocatedinthesamedirectoryasthemodelfile.Run
Startllop.BASandfollowtheprogramprompts.

Th k
Thekeycomponentsoftheprogramaremodelmodificationandtheevent
t f th d l difi ti d th t
callbackcommand.Theeventcallbackcommandactivatesaspecifiedcommand
whenaneventoccurs.Inthecaseofthisprogram,thecommandisanalysisand
theeventistheloadingofanoutputset.
evised 2010
Re
 45
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

OnYourOwn..
UsetheexistingprogramsandtheFemaphelpfiletocreatenewprograms.Ratherthanmodifyingthethicknessoftheproperty andperforminga
staticanalysis,yournewprogramswillmodifytheelasticmodulusofthematerialandperformamodalanalysis.

HelpfulToolsandHints:
ReadthroughtheprogramfileandwhereverthereisapieceofcodespecifictothePropertyentity(FT_PROP),duplicatethecode,updatethe
duplicatefortheMaterialentity(FT_MATL)andcommentouttheoriginalsectionofcode.

p
Example:

'Create Property Object

'Dim pr As femap.Prop
'Set pr = App.feProp

Create Material Object

'Create
Dim mt As femap.Matl
Set mt = App.feMatl

Bycoincidence,thePropertyArrayIndexValue(thickness)andtheMaterialArrayIndexValue(modulus)arethesame(0).Toviewother
potentialcomponentsofmaterialsandpropertiestomodify,readthefollowingsectionsofthehelpfile:

5.40.2.1PropertyArrayIndexValues(PlateThickness,PVAL(0))
5.34.1.2MaterialArrayIndexValues(MaterialElasticModulus,MVAL(0))
evised 2010

Whenyougetstuck,checkoutthecompleteandupdatedprogramsfoundinthetutorialdirectory.
Re
 46
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial7 LinearSurfacetoSurfaceContact LinearContactSimpleSquareTube

Start.MOD

Connection/LinearContactEntities
(Properties,RegionsandConnections)
ElementNormals
HighlighterTool
evised 2010
Re
 47
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Open>Model>LinearContactSimpleSquare
T b St t MOD
TubeStart.MOD
YoucanfindtheLinearContactSimpleSquareTubeStart.MOD
underFEACourseNotes\Tutorials\LinearSurfaceContact.

Connect>ConnectionProperty
Click the Default
Clickthe Default button.Usethedefaultssettingsbutsetthe
button. Use the defaults settings but set the
MaximumContactSearchDistto1andunchecktheAuto
PenaltyFactorbox.
evised 2010
Re
 48
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Connect>ConnectionContactRegion
Youwillneedtocreatetwocontactregions,one
g
foruppertubeandoneforthebottomtube.To
maketheselectionprocesseseasier,usethe
Property/PartContactoption.

Connect>Connector
Thisiswhatwillenforcecontactbetweenthe
This is what will enforce contact between the
tworegions.UsetheConnectionPropertyyou
createdandselectthetoptubeandbottomtube
forTargetandSourcerespectively.
evised 2010
Re
 49
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Analyze
Thelinearstaticanalysisisalreadysetup.You
just need to click analyze
justneedtoclickanalyze.

FatalErrors?Lookatthef06
Theuppertubeisunconstrained.Theonly
thingthatkeepsthattubeinplaceisthe
connectiontothebottomtube.Tokeepthe
tubefromslidingintheZdirection,add
frictiontoContactProperty(avalueof0.1
willwork).
evised 2010
Re
 50
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

A l
Analyze
Deformandcontourthenewoutputset.
Obviouslysomethingiswrong.Forlinearplate
contacttoworkproperly,theplatenormals
mustfaceeachother.
evised 2010
Re
 51
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

TransparentHighlight,ShowPlateNormals
Turn on the highlighter in the model tree and make sure the Show
Turnonthehighlighterinthemodeltreeandmakesurethe ShowNormals
Normals
optionison.Whenyouclickonthepropertiesinthemodeltree,itwillshow
thedirectionofthenormal.

Modify>UpdateElements>ReverseNormal
Usethiscommandtoupdatethemodelforpropercontactanalysis.
evised 2010
Re
 52
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Analyze
Deformandcontourthenewoutputset.
evised 2010
Re
 53
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Tutorial8GroupingTechniquesandtheDataTable Wing.MOD

GroupOperations
DataTable
Exporting Data to Excel
ExportingDatatoExcel
evised 2010
Re
 54
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

File>Open>Model>Wing.MOD
YoucanfindtheWing.MODunderFEACourseNotes\Tutorials\GroupingTechniquesand
DataTable.

Group>Operations>GenerateMaterials
Group > Operations > Generate Materials
Group>Operations>GenerateProperties
Group>Operations>GenerateElemType
Thesecommandsareallquickandeasywaystoorganizeyourmodel.Theywill
automaticallycreateanewgroupandaddallelementsofthespecifiedProperty,Material
yp p gg p
orType.UseallthreecommandsandSelectAllwhendevelopinggroupswitheach.
evised 2010

Whenselectingmultipleitems,holdtheCtrlkey
ortheShiftkeyandclickanddrag.Theholding
thesekeyswillallowyoutoselectentitieswitha
Re

circleorrectanglerespectively.
 55
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

Group>Operations>AutomaticAdd
ItisimportanttosetuptheAutomaticAddfunctionsothatyoucandeterminewhichgroup
e y c eated e t t es be p aced Ge e a y, t e ct e opt o s t e ost use u but e
newlycreatedentitieswillbeplaced.Generally,theActiveoptionisthemostusefulbutwhen
youwanttoviewonegroupandaddentitiestoanother,usetheSelectoption.

Selector
SettheSelectorEntityMenutoElementsand
SelectorModesMenutoSelectMultiple.

Tools>DataTable
UnlockDataTableandselectelementsfrom
themodel.Besuretograbelementsofall
materials,propertiesandtypes.
evised 2010
Re
 56
AdvancedFemap Modeling:BeyondTipsandTricks

DataTable
ShowHideColumns
UsetheUpdateMultipleColumnsoptiontobring
upadialogueboxfromwhichyoucanselectthedata
youwanttheDataTabletodisplay.
t th D t T bl t di l

AddOutputColumns
Usethiscommandtoincorporateoutputdatainto
theDataTable.Selecttheoutputsetandoutput
y
vectorsyouwant.

Show/HideGroupHeader
Thisoptionallowsyoutocreateamoreorganized
structureforthedatatable.Thiswillallowyouto
grouptheentitiesintheDataTablewithsame
techniques as Group > Generate
techniquesasGroup>Generate.

Collapse/ExpandGroups
Sometimesthevariouslevelsoforganizationinthe
DataTablecangetoverwhelming.Thiscommandis
useful;itwillcollapseallofthegroupsandyouwill
haveacleanstarttoreorganizethedata.

CopytoClipboard
evised 2010

Once thedataintheDataTableisorganizedtheway
youwouldlike,clicktheCopytoClipboardcommand
and then open up and Excel spreadsheet and paste
andthenopenupandExcelspreadsheetandpaste
Re

thedata.