Setting up folders and files for NVH Composer

In addition to your input in the NVH Composer application, NVH Composer uses several files to quickly set connection element properties, add hard points, identify materials, and so on. Some of these files are generated by NVH Composer, and some of them you create.

To use these files and to generate output, NVH Composer relies on a basic directory structure with a main folder that contains an Input folder, an Output folder, and supporting files.

Folder structure

For each assembly FEM that you want to generate using NVH Composer, you need a main folder that contains an Input folder and an Output folder. NVH Composer expects to read files from and write files to these folders.

• The main (root) folder contains the connection database and the mass (also called lumped mass) file. After you create and save the project, the root folder also contains a project definition file and a layout definition file. Sample folder structure with main folder (1), Input and Output folders (2), and project files (3)

• The Input folder contains subfolders for each assembly component (Pre/Post FEM or AFM file or Nastran input file), a material file for the assembly, and optionally part files for weather strip and seam weld connections.Each Input subfolder contains the hard point file for that component. Each component must have its own hard point file.**Input folder with component folders (1) and materials file for the entire assembly (2)**Sample component folder with a component file (3), hard point file (4), and lumped mass connections file (5)

• The Output folder is empty when you first start NVH Composer. After NVH Composer generates an assembly FEM file, the Output folder is updated with the assembly FEM file, log file, assembly checks file, and a copy of the files from the Input folder such as the materials file and the component folders. When you add components from Nastran input files, NVH Composer creates a new FEM file and places it in the same component folder as the Nastran input file.Component folders (1), assembly checks file (2), new assembly FEM file (3), and log file of the assembly FEM generation process (4)

Project files

The following table summarizes the files that NVH Composer uses.

When you save an NVH Composer project, NVH Composer uses that file name to generate the names of the layout and lumped mass connections files, as follows:

• The project layout file is named _Layout

• The lumped mass connections file is named _Mass

File	Format	Created by	Description
Component files	various	You	The component files are the FEM components that you want to add to your NVH assembly FEM file. The components can be Pre/Post FEM (.fem) or assembly FEM (.afm) files or Nastran files (such as .dat or .bdf). In the Input folder, each FEM component must reside in its own subfolder, which is relative to the Input Folder directory that you define in the Project view. After you define the input file directory and save your project, you can change the locations of the components in the FEM/AFM or MESH columns in the project definition file. For meshes from Nastran input files, the subfolder name becomes the name of the FEM component in the generated assembly FEM.
Connections database file	XLS, XLSX, or XML	You	The connections database sets the connection element properties that you want to use for your universal connections when the assembly FEM is generated and each universal connection is realized (meshed). When you save your NVH Composer project, the location of the connections database is saved to the layout definition file. When NVH Composer generates the assembly FEM file, the contents of the connections database are saved to the project definition file. To make changes to the connection database, you must update the spreadsheet or XML file. You cannot update the connection database in the NVH Composer application.For information on creating the connections database file, see NVH Composer connections database.
Hard point file	XML	You	The hard point file contains the names of hard points as exported from selection recipes. The hard points represent the target locations that are used to create bushing, spring, and kinematic universal connections.For example, when you create universal connections in Pre/Post, you can select the target nodes in the Simulation Navigator or graphics window. When you create a universal connection in NVH Composer, you specify the name of the hard point of those target nodes in the Definition tab. You can use hard points with all of the universal connections that NVH Composer supports except for the Seam Weld and Weather Strip (Sealing) connections.Create a hard point file for each component you plan to add to your assembly. Store the hard point file in the same folder as the component that it refers to.To create a hard point file, create a selection recipe that contains the points or nodes that you need, and then export it. For more information, see Exporting selection recipes as hard points.An alternative to using hard points is to type the coordinates of the target nodes in the Definition tab.
Material file	XML	You	The material file contains all of the materials that are used in the components of your assembly. The materials must be in the MatML format.To create a material XML file, export the materials that you need from Pre/Post using the Material Library Manager . For more information, see Export a material to a custom material libraryAn alternative is to use the physicalmateriallibrary.xml located in C:\Program Files\Siemens<version_number>\UGII\materials. It contains the standard Pre/Post materials and any materials that you added.
Lumped mass file	XLS, XLSX, or XML	You	This file contains the lumped masses that you want to add to your assembly. The lumped mass file should be named the same as your assembly project definition file with _Mass appended. For example, if your project definition file is named NVH_Assembly_Definition, name your lumped mass connections file NVH_Assembly_Definition_Mass. If you import a lumped mass connections file with a different file name, NVH Composer creates a new file with the _Mass file name after the assembly FEM file is generated.You can create one file for all or part of the entire assembly, or you can create individual files for components.To make changes to the lumped mass file, you can update the spreadsheet or XML file, or you can make updates on the Mass List tab in the NVH Composer application.To create this file, export the lumped mass connections you created in Pre/Post. For more information, see Export and import lumped mass connections
Part files	PRT	You	For weather strip (sealing) and seam weld connections, you can add the part files that contain the geometrical line. The weather strip (sealing) and seam weld connections are created at the AFM level and they are defined using CAD curves as locations. During the assembly generation, the part files are converted to FEM files, and the curves are promoted into the FEM. Those curves are then used as the locations for defining weather strip (sealing) or seam weld connections.An alternative to adding the part file is to add a selection recipe that defines the edges of the curve.
Project definition	XLS, XLSX, or XML	NVH Composer	NVH Composer creates this file when you create a project from scratch and save it. This file contains the locations of your Input and Output folders, material file, project definition settings, components and their corresponding hard point files, and all of the connections that you added.This file consists of four main sections:Global section, which sets the name of the assembly, and which identifies the locations of the Input and Output folders, and the name of the material library.Numbering section, which sets the starting numbers for nodes/elements, properties, and coordinate systems in the generated assembly. Entering starting numbers helps to ensure that the labels for the elements that are created for the connections are unique in the assembly.Component section, which sets the names of the FEM components, and which identifies the location and name of the source of the components and their corresponding hard point file.Connections section, which has one section for each connection type, such as bolt, sealing, seam weld, and so on. Each connection section sets the following:Name of the folder in the Universal Connections folder in the Simulation Navigator.Name of the connection and its corresponding connection database item, which points to the properties to use when the universal connection is created.Components that are connected by the connection, and the component properties (hard point name or coordinates, PID, and so on).Note: Do not change the names of any of the column headings in this file. The names of the column headings are in bold type face.
Layout definition file	XML	NVH Composer	NVH Composer creates this file when you create and save a project. This file stores the visual layout of your assembly and all of the components and connections you add. Do not change this file directly. NVH Composer updates this files when you save the project.
Assembly checks file	XLSX	NVH Composer	NVH Composer creates the AssemblyChecks.xlsx file in the Output folder after generating an assembly FEM file. This file contains a tab for assembly ID checks and a tab for connection checks. The connection checks correspond to the checks that you can run manually in the Quality Audit tool. The tab lists which connection checks were run followed by the connections that were out of tolerance and need to be checked.For more information, see Quality audits for connections.

How do I

Create an NVH Composer project

Open an assembly FEM file and NVH Composer project files

Check and fix your NVH assembly

Synchronize assembly connection updates

Learn more

NVH Composer

NVH Composer workspace

NVH Composer workflow

NVH Composer connections database

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Setting up folders and files for NVH Composer, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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