Exporting a model to a hierarchical list of input files (Simcenter Samcef)

In the Advanced Solver Options dialog box, on the General tab, you can select the Export Model Using FEM Hierarchy Format check box and/or the Export Model Grouping Materials in a File check box to split the Simcenter Samcef input file into several hierarchically nested files.

Export a model using a FEM Hierarchy Format

When you select the Export Model Using FEM Hierarchy Format check box, the Simcenter Samcef input file is split in several child files:

Part type	Generic name of the exported file
Simulation file	xxx.dat
Assembly file	A[ID]_yyy.dat
FEM file	F[ID]_yyy.dat

where:

xxx

The Output File Name as defined in the General tab of the Advanced Solver Options dialog box.

The xxx.dat file is the main parent Simcenter Samcef input file that will load all the child files.

ID

The FEM ID. For more information, see Append FEM dialog box.

yyy

The generic name of the assembly file or FEM files in the Simulation Navigator.

A[ID]_yyy.data , F[ID]_yyy.dat

The output child files.

A stands for assembly file, and F stands for FEM file.

The parent xxx.dat input file will contain several Samcef INPUT commands to load all the Simcenter Samcef input files related to its FEM files and/or assembly file child parts.

Each input file related to an assembly file part will also contain Samcef INPUT commands to load the Simcenter Samcef input files of the child parts of that assembly file.

These child files are stored in A[ID]-zzz sub folders where zzz stands for the assembly file name.

The following example illustrates this workflow.

Example of a hierarchical list of Simcenter Samcef input files

In the Simulation Navigator, a model has the following hierarchical structure of parts:

• Model_sim1.sim Body_afem1.afm Mount-base_fem1.fem Mount-side_fem1.fem Extra_afem1.afm Mirror1_fem1.fem Mirror2_fem1.fem

Using the File→Export→Simulation command, if you select the Export Model Using FEM Hierarchy Format check box, and export the model in the E:\Tmp local folder, the following hierarchical list of nested files and folders is created:

• E:\Tmp Model_sim1-Modal.dat A2_Body_afem1.dat A2-Body_afem1 F3_Mount-base_fem1.dat F4_Mount-side_fem1.dat A5_Extra_afem1.dat A5-Extra_afem1 F6_Mirror1_fem1.dat F7_Mirror2_fem1.dat

The Simcenter Samcef solver loads this list of files as follows:

1. is output in the target folder as the main parent Model_sim1-Modal.datSimcenter Samcef input file. As the Simulation file contains a Body_afem1 assembly file node, the Model_sim1-Modal.dat input file loads the A2_Body_afem1.dat related Simcenter Samcef input file with the following Samcef command:INPUT "A2_Body_afem1.dat"

2. The A2_Body_afem1.dat Simcenter Samcef input file loads all the files related to the parts that the Body_afem1 assembly file node contains. These files are located in the A2-Body_afem1 sub folder. The following Samcef commands are issued:INPUT "A2-Body_afem1\F3_Mount-base_fem1.dat" INPUT "A2-Body_afem1\F4_Mount-side_fem1.dat" INPUT "A2-Body_afem1\A5_Extra_afem1.dat" Note: The A2-Body_afem1\ indicates a relative path.

3. The same workflow is repeated for each nested assembly file node in the model.Here, the A5_Extra_afem1.dat Simcenter Samcef file (from the Extra_afem1 assembly file node) contains the calls to the Simcenter Samcef input files of the two last FEM file nodes:INPUT "A2-Body_afem1\A5-Extra_afem1\F6_Mirror1_fem1.dat" INPUT "A2-Body_afem1\A5-Extra_afem1\F7_Mirror2_fem1.dat"

Export a model with all materials data grouped in one single file

In the Advanced Solver Options dialog box, on the General tab, if you select the Export Model Grouping Materials in a File check box, you will export all the materials of the model into one single FileName_mat.dat Simcenter Samcef input file, where FileName is the name of the Simcenter Samcef input file that you define in the export dialog box. This file is located in the same directory as the main Simcenter Samcef input file.

It is loaded once by the main Simcenter Samcef input file.

Remarks

• Before you export the model into a hierarchical list of files, you should use the Assembly Label Manager to resolve label conflicts. For more information, see Resolve label conflicts in your assembly FEM files.

• The Simcenter Samcef solvers limit the full path name size of any file to a 248 characters limit. If that path name exceeds this limit, the input file name is automatically truncated by the software.Note: The A[ID]_yyy.data and F[ID]_yyy.dat file naming convention ensures that the final path name is unique.If the software cannot truncate the input file name, an error is issued and the export stops.

• At the beginning of each Simcenter Samcef input file, a header details all the information about the output part such as the part file name, the units, the node and element numbers range, the time stamp, and so on.

• You cannot change the Materials file name.

• You can globally set the Export Model Using FEM Hierarchy Format and the Export Model Grouping Materials in a File options in the Customer Defaults.

• Only the loaded FEMs or Assembly files will be proceeded.Note: Nevertheless, if a not loaded FEM contains a Simcenter Samcef superelement, this FEM will be proceeded.

Where do I find it?

Exporting a simulation

Application	Simcenter 3D
Prerequisite	A Simulation file or a FEM file as the work part and displayed partSimcenter Samcef as the specified solver
Command Finder	Export Simulation
Location in dialog box	Advanced Solver Options dialog box→General tab
Location in Customer Defaults	File→Utilities→Customer Defaults→Simulation→Pre/Post→Simcenter Samcef→Advanced Solver Options

Setting customer defaults

Menu	File→Utilities→Customer Defaults
Location in dialog box	Simulation→Pre/Post→Simcenter Samcef→Advanced Solver Options

Look up more details

Advanced Solver Options dialog box (Simcenter Samcef)

Append FEM dialog box

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

Exporting a model to a hierarchical list of input files (Simcenter Samcef), Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

© 2020 Siemens

window.mainLanguage="en_US"

window.delivId=""

window.projectId=""

MathJax.Hub.Config({ TeX: { extensions: ["autoload-all.js"] }, tex2jax: { displayMath: [ ] }, "SVG": { scale: 125 } });