<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  FEA Compliant Modeler > FEA Interface > Load FEA Data

The purpose of the Load FEA Data move is to associate the FEA files with compliant parts. These files will provide the necessary information for part's deformation based on its material properties, type of mesh, loads and constraints applied to it during the build process.

 

These are the FEA files, generated with StiffGen based on the original mesh, that can be loaded:

 

1. Stiffness Matrix - the material stiffness properties of elements representing a part, through matrix mathematics, compiled into a single matrix equation, govern the behavior of the entire idealized structure. The structure's unknown displacements and forces can then be determined by solving this equation.

 3DCS will load the Reduced Stiffness Matrix which is generated for a reduced set of nodes, based on their proximity with the modeling points already created in the 3DCS model. The Reduced Stiffness Matrix analysis set is identified by a set of keywords, specific to the type of solver used:

•For files generated with Abaqus solver the keyword used is: *Nset, nset=nset-DCSSET, or DcsAsetSet.

•For files generated with Nastran solver the keyword used is: ASET 6836123, where

 

2. Mesh File - identifies the individual elements that make up the structure. A meshing procedure is used to define and break the model up into small elements. Mesh file includes nodes, elements and material properties.

 

3. Mass Matrix - similar in structure to Stiffness Matrix and used to apply gravity on the part.

 

 

Load FEA Data dialog

 

 

•Parts with Stiffness Matrix and Mesh allows selecting the compliant parts, one at the time. Use the 'plus' and 'minus' buttons to add or remove parts from the list.

•FEA Files: The buttons named Stiffness Matrix, Mesh File and Mass Matrix allow user to load the files. After selection, the name and file path will appear in each field. If a part has no FEA files loaded, the fields will be empty and can be populated later.

•Refresh ASET links when loading: Will break the links between modeling points and previously loaded mesh file ASETs, when activated.

 

 

Process

oSelect the Load FEA Data icon to open the Load FEA Data Move dialog box.

oSelect the parts modeled as compliant.

oSelect Stiffness Matrix and Mesh File for each part. Mass Matrix is necessary only if gravity is applied to the part.

oClose the dialog and click Nominal Build to complete the association process and to link the modeling points with mesh nodes. See FEA Point Linking for more information.

 

 

Using multiple Load FEA Data moves per part

If multiple Load FEA Data Moves are created consecutive to each other and active, the last move will be used. If the moves are not consecutive then each of them will be used for the compliant moves that follows it.