A12-001

Product(s): Feature(s): Directory: Files:

Adams ViewFlex Geometry Method

Adams/View, Adams/ViewFlex MNF creation via Adams/ViewFlex geometry method Landing_Gear_ViewFlex.zip Landing_Gear_1_start.cmd /CAD

Problem Statement Adams/ViewFlex is a new module which enables users to create flexible bodies without leaving the Adams environment and without requiring any external finite element modeling (FEM) or analysis (FEA) software. The flexible bodies created by Adams/ViewFlex are the same format as traditional flexible bodies in Adams via Adams/Flex; that is, they are based on a modal neutral file (MNF). A key beneficial feature of the ViewFlex process is that the finite element meshing and solving required to produce an MNF are performed directly from the Adams pre-processor Adams/View or Adams/Car. The necessary FEA is powered by embedded MSC Nastran technology and run wholly in the background of the Adams session. This example shows how Adams/ViewFlex can be used to create an MNF-based flexible body directly from the Adams/View environment. A simple landing gear model is provided. In this example you will replace one of the rigid-body links with a newly created flexible body representation. Model Description

A landing gear has been modeled. It uses various joints to connect the parts comprising the retract mechanism. A motion acting on a translational joints degree of freedom is used to actuate the retraction. Gravity is on in the y direction. The rigid part named upper_link (shown here in yellow) is the one which will be replaced with a flexible body created from within the Adams/View environment via Adams/ViewFlex.

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Steps for Running Example 1. Start Adams/View 2012 2. From the welcome screen click Existing Model 3. Double-click the File Name field (or single-click the icon next to it), navigate to the directory where you unzipped Landing_Gear_ViewFlex.zip and open Landing_Gear_1_start.cmd 4. Find the part named upper_link and, from either the Model Browser or the Graphics Window, right-click it and select Make Flexible 5. From the next dialog click Create New 6. Select the Advanced Settings checkbox and complete the dialog as shown below:

7. Click Mesh Preview and within a minute or so you should see a preview of the meshed part in the graphics window. Ensure your views render mode is set to wireframe to best visualize the mesh (View-Render Mode-Wireframe)

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8. Click Attachments and then Find Attachments to display a table showing the 3 attachment points for the upper link. 9. A master node will be created at each of the attachment points, and you now need to specify what slave nodes near each they will connect to. In the Attachment Points Definition Table, click on the cell .landing_gear.RB8_WING_6.hp_btwn to make that row active 10. Set Selection Type to Spherical 11. Click Transfer IDs and you should see 11 nodes were selected:

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12. Repeat steps 9-11 for attachment point hp_wing using a radius of 22mm (8 nodes should be selected) 13. Repeat steps 9-11 for attachment point GRD_MK_Piston using a radius of 14mm (5 nodes should be selected) 14. To create and connect the new flexible body click OK and within a minute or so you should see that the flexible body in the graphics window. 15. Inspect the flexible body by right-clicking on it from the Graphics Window or Model Browser and selecting Modify 16. Use the Flexible Body Modify dialog to inspect the mode shapes and natural frequencies of the flexible body. While in this dialog press the F1 key on your keyboard to launch help on this dialog box if you are unfamiliar with it.

Remarks If you are new to using to flexible bodies in your Adams models, it is recommended that you review the Adams/Flex documentation. From the Help menu (question mark icon in top-right of Adams/View), select Adams Help and see Getting Started with Adams/Flex (under Getting Started) and Adams/Flex (under Adams Advanced Package) Known Issues: o When specifying attachment points, use of the Solid Feature method from the Selection Type menu is nonfunctional and will report an error in the Adams/View Message Window. The contents of the FlexBody Name field are currently ignored. Regardless of user entries here, the default contents will be used. -4September 2011

Adams 2012 Beta