femap tips and tricks

8/12/2019 FEMAP Tips and Tricks

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Unrestric ted Siemens AG 2013 All r ights reserved.

Andy Haines Senior Applications Engineer

FEMAP Tips and Tricks


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Page 2 Siemens PLM Software


Preferences


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Preferences

Results New for FEMAP 11

Automatically Attach to OP2 Files When this option ison, OP2 results files will be attached instead of

internalized when results are loaded from the Analysis

Monitor automatically or when using the Load Results

button

Use Memory Mapped OP2 Files When this option is

on, the Memory Mapped File option will be onautomatically when the File, Attach To Results

command is used. If both this option and the option above

are on, then any automatically attached OP2 file will also

be Memory Mapped (until RAM is no longer available for

memory mapping)

General Solver Options and Auto Answer PostQuestions Moved to this tab from Interfaces tab as

these options all had to do with results


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Preferences

Database

New for FEMAP 11.0. Performs the

cleanup portion of File, Rebuild when

the model is saved, so you dont have to

do it manually to make model files smaller

after deleting results

Usually, it is probably best to leave this

setting alone, and remember, sometimes

it might be better to go lower, this isFEMAPs Memory Cache

Critical for Maximum Performance Set

to a number higher than your highest

Node or Element ID

File Open/Save significantly faster. Use

the Read/Write Test button to determine

proper setting for each machine

Can be used as a final option to recoverdata if FEMAP has exited unexpectedly

during certain operations. Partial data

recovery is sometimes possible


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Preferences

Graphics Options that Effect Graphics Performance

Vertex Buf fer Objects Only turn this option on if youhave a graphics card which supports OpenGL 2.0 or

above. It has been observed that using VBOs can greatly

improve performance of dynamic rotation

Max VBO MB FEMAP will determine how much RAM is

available on the graphics card, then allow you to choose

how much you want to allow FEMAP to use. Typically,half of available is a safe value, but using more may

improve performance without causing any issues.

Min VBO B By default, this value is set to 1024. This

value should work for a large majority of models. That

said, increasing or decreasing the value may benefit

certain graphics cards and/or models


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Preferences

Graphics Options that Effect Graphics

Performance (continued)

Include in Dynamic Rotation options - switching

off any these options should improve

performance.

Some key options:

Element Symbols - if you have a lot of

lumped masses and springs

Mesh Size - if you have a large number of

curves with mesh sizes on

Labels; and Undeformed - switching these

off helps performance.

Elements as Free Edges this has a slight

delay in starting and finishing dynamic rotation

but dynamic rotation is much quicker. For

some models e.g. a mesh on a sphere, there

is no free edge and you will see nothing as the

model rotates.


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Preferences

Example Render Setting Recommendation


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Preferences

Interfaces

In case you need to get to COSMOS,ALGOR, STARDYNE, etc.

Depending on how you title your

Subcases, this can make sure that

Output Sets get the correct names

Make sure you know where your

analysis jobs are going to, especially

with Windows 7

Creates an individual group containing

entities for each INCLUDE file.

Nested INCLUDE files will create

Referenced Groups

New for FEMAP 11.0. Allows you to

retain all INCLUDE files as INCLUDEStatements instead of internalizing the

entities in the INCLUDE file


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Preferences

Views Resolution Options

Accessed via the Resolution button on the Views tab Allows you set up default options for Printing Resolution and Copy/Save

Resolution

Additional options for Pen Width and Logo and Background Bitmap Scaling


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User Interface


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FEMAP Interface

Model Info Pane Expanding and Collapsing Trees

To quickly Expand/Collapse all

sub-branches under a given

branch in the tree, hold down the

Alt key while clicking the +/- box

Also works when clicking a sub-branch such as Loads orConstraints or individual Load andConstraint Sets


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FEMAP Interface

Model Info Tree Auto Create Load Definitions

To quickly create Load Definitions which only contain loads

with the same values, components, applied faces, etc. from

imported models use the Auto Create Definition command

from the context-sensitive menu


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FEMAP Interface

Using the Model Info Pane to Populate Data Table

Send to Data Table icon (Only available when Data Table is

open in FEMAP and unlocked)

Useful for sending multiple entities of one type to the Data

Table for comparison purposes.

Great way to get elements of one shape or one type to the Data

Table.

Once in the Data Table use Add Element Checks or Add

Mass Properties for Pre-processing or Add Output Columns

for Post-Processing.


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FEMAP Interface

Model Info Pane Activating the Layup Viewer

Fastest way to bring up the Layup Viewer for Laminates is to

use the Show option on the Layupcontext-sensitive menu


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FEMAP Interface

Model Info Pane Entity Visibility

Visibility Check boxes for Geometry, Elements(By Type and By

Shape), Materials, and Properties

Mimics the capability of various tabs in the View, Visibility command

without having to have the large dialog box open and covering a

portion of the screen

In some cases, decreases the number of groups which might have

been needed in the past for complicated entity selection, as screen

picking (including box, circle, polygon, and freehand) now only picks

from visible entities.

The context-sensitive menu is differentwhen the mouse is positioned over thevisibility check boxes and provides someuseful options. Additional Options exist forMaterial/Property to show elements which donot reference a material or property (i.e.,rigid)


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FEMAP Interface

Model Info Pane Reset All Visibility Options

TheReset All Visibili ty Options icon in Model

Info tree sets all Visibility options and check

boxes back to default for new model.


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FEMAP Interface

Model Info Pane Tree Scrolling New for FEMAP 11

If the number of entities of a particular entity type

exceeds the value specified for Max Entities

preference on the User Interface tab, the Next and

Previous markers will appear in the Model Info Tree

If the cursor is placed over the Visibility Check Boxes

and the mouse wheel is scrolled up or down, the list of

entities in the Model Info tree will change dynamically

Holding certain keys down changes behavior (Max

Entities = 10):

Ctrl Scrolls to the next set based on the Max

Entities value (i.e., 1-10 to 11-19 to 20-28, etc)

Shift Scrolls by number of entities currently shown

in Model Info Tree (i.e., 1-10 to 10-18 to 18-26, etc)

Ctrl+Shift Scrolls to the last set of entities based

on Max Entities (would show last 10)

Will also work during a command for FEMAP 11.1!


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FEMAP Interface

Select Toolbar Entity Visibility

Visibility options on bottom of context-sensitive menu forseveral entity types in the Select Toolbar.

Graphical selection offers a more interactive method for

selecting which entities should be Shown or Hidden

Available when Solid, Region, Connector, Material, or

Propertyis the Active Entity Type in the Selector

Holding Shiftkey down while one of the above entity

types is active in the Select Toolbar will bring up only the

commands on the Visibility sub menu which


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FEMAP Interface

Select Toolbar Accessing the Quick Access Menu

Typically, when an entity type is active in the Select toolbar, acontext-sensitive menu for that entity type will appear when the right

mouse button is clicked.

While this is often helpful, sometimes you may need to access the

normal Quick Access Menu (aka, Right Mouse Menu) while using

the Select Toolbar.

This can be achieved by simply holding the Alt key down while

clicking the right mouse button.


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FEMAP Interface

Selection Method Shortcuts

When using the selector dialog, keyboard shortcuts are availablefor several selection methods

SHIFT-LMB: Box select

CTRL-LMB: Circle select

CTRL-SHIFT-LMB: Polygon select


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FEMAP Interface

Selection Method Shortcuts

While the Query option on the Pick^ menu in the standard entity selectiondialog can be very useful when trying to select the desired entity from a list, it

can also be cumbersome when selection is more straight-forward

To do a one-time Query pick, simply change the Pick^ method to Normal

and hold down Alt while clicking on a particular entity. This will bring up the

Select dialog box with entities available for selection

*When the Select dialog box appears, you can either select an ID from the list

or use the mouse wheel to scroll up and down in the list until the desired entity

is highlighted in the graphics window


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FEMAP Interface

Advanced Picking Filters

Several advanced picking filters have been

added to the entity selection dialog in the

past few versions

Model Data Value

Color (Select Color from Palette)

Add Connected Fillets Add Tangent Surfaces

Add Connected Elements


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FEMAP Interface

Entity Editor

A Nodemay be sent to the Entity Editor using theSelect Toolbar or by selecting an individual row when

nodes are in the Data Table

View Nodal Coordinates in the models Active

Coordinate System (set easily by double-clicking a

Coordinate System in the Model Info tree).


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FEMAP Interface

Entity Editor

View nodal deformations in any Coordinate System byselecting a Coordinate System from Csys for Output List

in the Entity Editor

Output Value at Node also

shown when displaying

Contour (Nodal Contour)


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FEMAP Interface

Entity Info

When open, very helpful during selection as it dynamically updates as themouse is moved over the model (i.e., Tooltips without the wait)

Works when graphically selecting entities using the Entity Selection dialog

box, Select Toolbar, or Select icon in the Meshing Toolbox

In addition to showing the ID, great for determining:

Mesh Size on a Curves

# Nodes/Elements attached to Geometric entities Materials with certain values

Properties with certain characteristics

Formulation and Nodes used by Elements

Definition Csys, Output Csys, and Coordinates of Nodes


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FEMAP Interface

Entity Info

For Post-processing, bring back Dynamic Query functionalityfrom Pre-V9 FEMAPonly better, by choosing Nodes or

Elements from the Select Toolbar

With Nodal Contour displayed:

Nodes list the plotted output value at the node and

deformation values, if the model is currently deformed Elements list the plotted output value at each node on the

element

With Elemental Contour displayed:

Elements list the plotted output value on the element and the

values at the elements corner nodes

Will list both Top and Bottom values when using Double-

Sided Planar Contours option (Contour Options dialog box)


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FEMAP Interface

Entity Info Layup Editor

Laminate Equivalent Properties dynamically update in EntityInfo as plies are added/removed from the Layup Editor


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FEMAP Interface

Entity Info and Tooltips Version 11.1 Preview

The Layers/Groups in Tooltips option can be turned on via the Select Toolbar andthen Group and Layer information will be shown in the Entity Info window or the

Tooltip


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FEMAP Interface

Data Table

Automatically add Tet Collapse and Jacobian element quality checks to the Data

Table for all tetrahedral elements created during tet meshing with the Mesh,

Geometry, Solidscommand that exceed currently specified quality limits

Click Options button, then select Update Data Table with Mesh Quality


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FEMAP Interface

Data Table

Sort by Tet Collapse or Jacobian, turn on the Show WhenSelected, then choose rows to highlight elements of poor quality

in the mesh


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FEMAP Interface

Named Entity Filters

Also, the Filter method replaces the Search functionality in allSelect From Library dialog boxes

Version 10.1 and before Version 10.1.1 and after


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Unrestric ted Siemens AG 2013 All r ights reserved.Page 32 Siemens PLM Software


Geometry


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Geometry

Parasolid Box

FEMAP geometry uses the Parasolid kernel Entities are contained within a Parasolid box

1000 x 1000 x 1000 box centered at the origin

(+- 500 in x, y, z)

Coincident point tolerance: 1.0e-8

Parallel tolerance: 1.0e-11 radians Anything outside the Parasolid box may run into

precision issues

From the Parasolid documentation:

To allow precision to be handled correctly, all

parts of a body must be within this box.

It is highly recommended to set the default unit

in your application code to one meter.


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Geometry

Parasolid Box

Inches Scale Factor 39.97 Everything entered is divided by 39.37 and stored

inside of Parasolid at 1/39.37thscale

This stores inch dimensioned parts in meters as

recommended

When using inches, this gives an effective boxsize of +- 20,000 in

Millimeters Scale Factor 1000.0

Everything you enter gets divided by 1000.0 and

stored inside of Parasolid at 1/1000.0thscale

This stores millimeter dimensioned parts in meters

as recommended

When using inches, this gives an effective box

size of +- 500,000 mm


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Geometry

Parasolid Box

Scale factor is set: When reading in a Parasolid file

In Preferences -> Geometry/Model

Note that units used for the Parasolid box

are exactly that units

This only affects geometric tolerancing This does not establish a default unit in

your model

This does nothave any effect on units in

material properties

This does not have any effect on units in

properties


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Geometry

Non-Manifold Geometry Support

Non-manifold geometry instances where three ormore surfaces share the same curve, e.g. T-junctions

Mesh will connect and match on all surfaces

Previously a limitation in Parasolid

Non-Manifold Tolerance (added for FEMAP 11.0)

Enhanced by Parasolid development team to behavemore like stitch for FEMAP 11.1


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Geometry

Non-Manifold Add

Non-Manifold Add Not as tolerant as Geometry, Solid,

Stitch

Things still have to be close to 100%

coincident, only now within specified

tolerance


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Geometry

Non-Manifold Add

Extend Past, and use Geometry,Surface, Delete to get rid of outsides


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Geometry

Mixed Surface and Solid Modeling

Non-manifold Add


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Geometry

Mixed Surface and Solid Modeling

Subtract Surfaces from a Solid tosplit solid along the surface using

Geometry, Solid, Remove command

Choose Solid to Split as Base

Solid, then choose surface as the

Solid to Remove

Something to remember is that that

the surface should at least extend to

the extents of the solid to be split,

otherwise it may not divide the solid

Helpful command when sub-dividing

for Hex Meshing, especially geometry

has some revolved features


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Geometry

Geometry Cleanup

Parasolid BodyShop Fully Automatic Geometry Cleanup Written/Maintained by the Parasolid Team

Data Cleaning

Detect and resolve topological problems

Invalid sense, missing topology, bad loop and region structure

Detect and resolve geometric problems Zero length curves, short edges, coincident geometries, unwanted gaps &

spikes, sliver faces, illegal curve and surface intersections

Model Optimization

Optimize models for performance and reliability in downstream use

Convert geometry to simpler forms

Recompute tolerant edges to greater accuracy

Remove small entities


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Geometry

Geometry Cleanup

Automatic


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Geometry

Geometry Cleanup

Automatic Spike Removal


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Geometry

Geometry Cleanup

Resulting Mesh Before/After


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Modeling / FEA


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Modeling / FEA

Helpful for Solid Laminates

AutoCreateoption in Layup Editor When On, automatically creates a new GlobalPly as each ply is added to the Layup, which is very useful for Solid Laminates, as

Global Plies are needed for proper post-processing


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Modeling / FEA

Helpful for Solid Laminates

Ply/Bond Failure tab in Isotropic,Orthotropic (3D), and Anisotropic

(3D) dialog boxes is used to choose

a Ply Failure Theory and/or and

Bond Failure Theory and enter

specific values for each based on

the selected theory

Only used by the Solid Laminate

Property, which was added for

FEMAP 11.0


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Modeling / FEA

Edge-to-Edge Contact

Edge-to-Edge contact for NX Nastran Added for FEMAP 11.0 (Undocumented)

Uses the BEDGE Nastran entry and element edges or curves may be

selected when creating connection regions

Glue written for all SOLs in FEMAP (think we may not want to write it for 144-

146, 601, and 701, as those appear to not be currently supported) Supported Element Types are CQUAD4, CQUADR, CQUAD8, CTRIA3,

CTRIAR, CTRIA6, CPLSTS3, CPLSTS4, CPLSTS6, CPLSTS8, CPLSTN3,

CPLSTN4, CPLSTN6, CPLSTN8

Contact available in SOLs 101, 103, 105, 111, 112 (XZ or XY Plane) and 601

(XZ plane only)

Supported Element Types are CPLSTS3, CPLSTS4, CPLSTS6, CPLSTS8,

CPLSTN3, CPLSTN4, CPLSTN6, CPLSTN8

Support for Axisymmetric elements for Glue and Contact coming in 11.1


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Modeling / FEA

Edge-to-Edge Contact

Examples of Edge-to-Edge Glued Contact with Plate Elements (Statics Left,

Modes Right)


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Modeling / FEA

Contour Model Data

Contour Model Data allows you to

create a contour/criteria plot or beam

diagram on the displayed elements

based on any material or property

value currently in your model

For example, visualize different

thicknesses in a shell model via acriteria plot


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Analysis


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Analysis

Setting up Bundled / Standalone NX Nastran

FEMAP can launch bundled or standalone (enterprise) NX Nastran Initial setup based on installation options

To set up FEMAP for bundled NX Nastran

In config.ini, located in the FEMAP root directory, set

IsNX4FEMAP=1

NX Nastran installation must be in ~\\nastranTo set up FEMAP for standalone NX Nastran

Remove the IsNX4FEMAP string from config.ini

Usually its easiest to simply rename config.ini

Set the environment variable NXNAST_EXE to the Nastran executable location

Both of these setups will launch NX Nastran from FEMAP and will work with the

Analysis Monitor


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Post-Processing


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FEMAP Interface

New Output Selection dialog boxes for FEMAP 11.0

Output Set dialog box

Optionally Filter Output Sets shown

in dialog box using Title Filter

Only items found in the list after

being filtered will be selected with

the All On option

Use Clear Filter button to reset list

Highlight any number of Output Sets

then click icon buttons to (from left):

All On

All Off Selected On

Selected Off


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FEMAP Interface



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FEMAP Interface


Output Set and Output Vector dialog box

Output Set selection is the same as the stand-alone Output Set dialog box

Output Vectors displayed in the dialog box are based on output vectors found in the

Output Set selected using the From Output Set drop-down

Choose All Output Vectors option to select all output vectors in selected Output Sets

The Quick Filter can be used to quickly reduce the number of Output Vectors

displayed in the dialog box (None-Ignore, Selected Only, Node, Element, Element

Centroid, Displacement, Velocity/Accel, Force, Stress, Strain, or Thermal)

For more detailed filtering use the Filter button (next slide)

Highlight any number of Output Vectors then click Icon buttons to (from left):

All On

All Off

Selected On

Selected Off

The Add Similar Layer/Ply Results and Add Component/Corner Results buttons are

used to select additional Output Vectors after at least one Output Vector has already

been selected in the Output Vectors Section


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FEMAP Interface


f


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FEMAP Interface


Output Set and Output Vector dialog box (Cont)

Optionally Filter Output Vectors by:

Title

Output Type (Displacement, Velocity/Accel, Force, Stress, Strain, or Thermal)

Output On (Any Output, Nodes, Elements, Line Elements, Planar Elements, Solid

Elements, or User Output)

Complex Type (Any Output, Magnitude, Phase, Real, or Imaginary)

Options to include Nodal Component Output and/or Element Corner Data

Only items found in the list after being filtered will be selected with the All On option

Use Clear Filter button to reset list

FEMAP I t f


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FEMAP Interface

Select PostProcessing Data dialog - New for FEMAP 11

Select PostProcessing Data

Same Filters used in version 11 Output Selection dialog boxes can be used to reduce

the Output Sets and Output Vectors shown in the drop-down lists.

Vector Info can be used to view Max/Min values, Max/Min values for associated

Component/Corner Output Vectors, Vector Statistics, or Max/Min values of any

additional output vector(s)

Section Cut added to access options for Section Cut and Dynamic Cutting Plane

FEMAP I t f


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FEMAP Interface

Select PostProcessing Data dialog - New for FEMAP 11

Dynamic Max/Min dynamically shows Max/Min Values with entity ID for each in the

dialog box as different output vectors are selected using the drop-downs Multiple Contour Vectors allows viewing of three different output vectors at once

(i.e., Solid Stresses, Plate Stresses, Line Element Stresses in a criteria plot)

Double-Sided Planar Contours moved from Contour Options dialog box for easier

access

P t P i


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Post-Processing

Crows Foot Plots

2D-tensor plots, also known as Crows Foot plots (added in FEMAP 10.1) Allow for quick assessment of direction of in-plane loads

Primarily used on shell elements with in-plane loads (Nxx, Nyy, Nxy)

Used most often in the aircraft industry

Main advantage is to show direction of positiveshear flow; sign determines actual

direction

From NASTRAN:

Nxx: 500 lb/inNyy: -250 lb/in

Nxy: -125 lb/in

500 lb/in

250 lb/in

125 lb/in

Conventional freebody

on quad element

Crows foot plot

on quad element

- 125

500

-250

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Post-Processing

Crows Foot Plots

Set up as a vector plot In contour vector options

Vector Type: 2D Tensor Plot

Output Vectors

1: 7206.. Plate X Membrane Force

2: 7207.. Plate Y Membrane Force3: 7208.. Plate XY Membrane Force

Other view options to consider

Adjusting the arrow length to

de-clutter the screen

Set vector label digits to 1

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Post-Processing

Crows Foot Plots

Post Processing


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Post-Processing

Solid Non-Linear Stresses

Care needs to be taken when reviewing nonlinearsolid stresses from NX Nastran

For linear static runs (101), solid stresses are output

in the material coordinate system

For non-linear static runs (106), solid stresses are

output in the element coordinate system Output orientation needs to be specified in FEMAP

101: 0..Material Direction

106: 0..Element

Post Processing


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Post-Processing

Solid Non-Linear Stresses

Incorrect Correct


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Charting Pane


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The Charting dockable panewas added to modernize and improve XY Plotting

within FEMAP for version 11.0

Topics:

XY Plotting Overview

Charting Pane Overview

Chart Management Data Series Management

Chart Display Control

Chart Output

XY Plotting with the Charting Pane

Ch ti P


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Prior to Femap v11, XY plots were created using the View Selectdialog box. The Charting

pane has been added to Femap v11 to manage XY plots.

Charting Pane

XY Plotting Overview

Note: XY plot creation using the View Select tools are available in Femap v11 by

enabling the option for Enable Legacy XY Plottingunder the User Interfacetab inFemaps Preferencesdialog box. This functionality will be removed in a near

future Femap release.

XY plots created in Femap prior to v11 and

stored as Views are automatically converted

to Chartsin Femap v11.

A Femap model file can contain multiple XYplots as Chartsand Data Series

Charts are defined by Data Series. Data Series

are defined by Output Vectors or Functions

Ch ti P


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Display of the Charting pane is controlled by the Panestoolbar

The Tools, Chartingcommand also toggles the Charting

pane

The Chartingpanes toolbar has icons for

managing Charts, DataSeries, display of charts

and outputting data from charts. These controls

will be described in detail later in this lesson.

Charting Pane

Overview

Ch ti P


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Clicking theChart Managericon on the Charting

panes toolbar activates the Chart Managerdialogbox. With this dialog box, you can:

Create a New Chart makes the new chart

the active chart

Edit a selected chart with Edit Selected

Activate and display a chart with Preview

Selected

Deletea selected chart

Delete Allcharts in the active Femap model

Copya selected chart

Renumbera selected chart

Deactivate the active chart with None Active /

New

Charting Pane

Chart Manager Dialog Box

Ch ti P


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When either a new chart is created using the Charting Managerdialog box, or a chart is

edited, the Chartingdialog box is opened. This dialog box has four (4) tabs:

At the lower left corner of this dialog box, there are three (3) icons:

Redraw Chart Load Chart from Library Save Chart to Library

Charting Pane

ChartingDialog Box

Chart Settings Chart xes Chart Title Labels and Markers

Charting Pane


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The Chart Settingstab is used for setting a charts

display and data options:

Line Style

Chart Data

Select Data Series

Legend

Legend Direction

Vertical Location

Horizontal Location

Colors

Specify the color Palette

Enable a Dark Background

Chart Font Font Face

Charting Pane

Charting Dialog Box Chart Settings

Charting Pane


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The Chart Axestab is used for setting a charts X

Axisand Y Axisoptions:

Toggle Displayof the axis

Range and Style

Autoscalethe axis range based on the min

and max of the displayed Data Series or

manually set the Range Display the axis as a Logarithm Scale

Al low Zooming

Show Major Grid Linesand Show Minor

Grid Lines

Set the IntervalandCount

Toggle Tick Marks

Title

Toggle Display Titleand title string

Set Font Size, alignment, Justificationand

Color

Charting Pane

Charting Dialog Box Chart Axes

Charting Pane


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The Chart Titletab is used for setting a charts title

options:

Toggle Displayof the title

Title Options

Set the Title

Set Location and Justification

Set Font Size, Font Colorand Font Style

Charting Pane

Charting Dialog Box Chart Title

Charting Pane


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The Labels and Markers tab contains options for the

display of a charts title

Labels

Toggle Display Labels

Show X Value

Show Y Value

You can also toggle on max/min values with

the Show Max/MinOnlycheck box

Markers

Toggle Display Markers

Set Size

Select Shape

Charting Pane

Charting Dialog Box Labels and Markers

Charting Pane


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Clicking theData Series icon on the Charting

panes toolbar activates the Chart Data Series

Managerdialog box. With this dialog box, you

can:

Create a New Data Series

Edit a selected Data Series with Edit

Selected Remove from Chartremoves the selected

Data Series from the active chart

Deletea selected Data Series

Delete Al lData Series in the active Femap

model

Copya selected Data Series

Renumbera selected Data Series

Enable Highl ightinghighlights the selected

Data Series in the active chart

Charting Pane

Data Series Manager DialogBox

Charting Pane


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A charts data for XY curves are defined by Data

Series. TheChart Data Seriesdialog box is used to

define the data for a single Data Seriesi.

The Datagroup defines the following:

Type one of the following:

XY vs. ID

XY vs. Set and XY vs. Set Value - select the

Locationor ID of a node or element.

Multipleallows the selection of multiple

nodes or elements.

XY vs. Position

XY of Function- select a Function

Scalefactor for the xy data

Groupfor limiting the data

Charting Pane

Chart Data Series Dialog Box

Charting Pane


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Output DataGroup:

Startoutput set.

When 2..XY vs. Set Valueis selected, the End

output set is also selected and the Interval

between output sets

Use All Output Setscan also be selected

Output Datasets the Output Vector

When XY vs. Set Valueis selected, the End

output set is also selected and the Interval

between output sets

When Type is set to 3..XY vs. Position, Position

transforms the X value of the Data Series to theX, Y, or Zcoordinate of the selected Coordinate

Sys tem. This does NOT transform the Y value of

the Data Series.

Charting Pane

Chart Data Series Dialog Box (continued)

Charting Pane


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Style Group - Labels:

Inherent label styles from the chart with Use

Chart Settings

Show Labelsallows the display of X Value

and/or the Y Valueof the data. Enable the

Max/Minoption to show only those values.

Set the Colorof the curve

Style Group Markers:

Inherent label styles from the chart with Use

Chart Settings

Show Markersdisplays markers for each data

point on the curve Set Sizeand Shapeof the markers

Charting Pane

Chart Data Series Dialog Box (continued)

Charting Pane


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Chart Options Chart xes

In addition to the Chart Managerand Data Series Manager, the Charting panes toolbar has

additional tools for modifying Charts and Data Series

Charting Pane

Charting PaneToolbar

Charting Pane


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Chart Title Chart Legend Data Series Markers Data Series Labels

Chart Colors

Charting Pane

Charting PaneToolbar (continued)

Charting Pane


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Show Tooltips when enabled,

hovering the cursor over a point

on a curve will display the X and Y

values of that curve and highlight

the curve legend

Charting Pane


Charting Pane


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Charting Pane


Load Chart from Library Save Chart to Library

Charting Pane


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On the Charting panes toolbar, click the Copy Chart to

Clipboardicon. This copies all Data Series to the clipboard in

tab-delimited format.

To list the active charts Data Series, select the command,

List, Output, Data Series

Charting Pane

Chart Output Commands


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Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous


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Tips on Recovering Crashed Models

In the (hopefully rare) instance of a

FEMAP crash, it may be possible torecover all or parts of your model

Tips

Try to avoid this situation by saving

your model often or using autosave

Set up a scratch directory in FEMAPpreferences

Things to try

Use the Recover Scratch Directory

button in preferences

Use the Recover _DBData File button

to possibly recover partial data

Database and Parasolid files in the

scratch directories

These tips may not always work but they do provide a last ditch option

Miscellaneous


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Neutral Files

Neutral files can be used to import data in a format not natively supported byFEMAP

Easy to create .neu formatted files in Excel or another program

Neutral file reference is located in ~\\pdf\neutral.pdf

Info

Neutral files are text files containing data block and record data

Neutral files are comprised of data blocks, each starting and ending with a line

containing only -1

Neutral files are free-formatted files

Data blocks contain lines of records that are delimited with spaces or commas

(commas are preferred)

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Neutral Files

Sample neutral file creating points-1

570

1,0,0,0,1,24,0.,0,0,0,

1.1,0.1,-1,

2,0,0,0,1,24,0.,0,0,0,

2.2,0.2,-2,3,0,0,0,1,24,0.,0,0,0,

3.3,0.3,-3,

4,0,0,0,1,24,0.,0,0,0,

4.4,0.4,-4,

5,0,0,0,1,24,0.,0,0,0,

5.5,0.5,-5,-1

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Reducing Model File Size

Whenever an entity is created in FEMAP, it is stored in the database

Entities are stored in the database in groups of like entities

When entities are deleted from the model:

The space occupied in the database by these entities is flagged as usable again

The database is not truncated to reclaim that space

Reclaim this space using the File -> Rebuildcommand

Commit by saving the model

Can now be done automatically during save by using Cleanup During Save

option found on the Database tab of File, Preferences

Nodes Elements Properties Results

Nodes Elements Properties Results

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More Info

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FEMAP-USERS/
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FEMAP-USERS/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FEMAP-USERS/

femap tips and tricks

Documents