Types of Interfacing in Engineering Solutions

Engineering Solutions uses three types of external interfacing.

These include:
  • Importing CAD-generated geometry or finite element model information
  • Exporting CAD geometry or finite element information for specific analysis codes
  • Translating analysis results information to Engineering Solutions BINARY results format

CAD-generated geometry and finite element model information are input using the Import tab. Engineering Solutions internally supports PDGS and DXF formats. External interfaces are supplied for finite element analysis codes (OptiStruct, Radioss, LS-DYNA KEY, MADYMO, Nastran, PAM-CRASH, Samcef, Fluent, STAR CD, CFD++, CGNS, SC/Tetra, Open Foam), as well as for CAD codes, (CATIA, DXF, IGES, PDGS, PRO/E, STEP and UG). There is an external interface for the universal IGES format as well.

The Export tab allows you to write information from the HM database to finite element formats supported for the respective Engineering Solutions profiles. The finite element format for export from any Engineering Solutions profile can be set using the Template or Solver Type field in the Export tab. Geometry data can be written in IGES format.

Engineering Solutions uses templates to create the analysis input decks for finite element solvers. You can modify the existing templates to support a desired feature or create a new template to support another analysis code. The templates can be used to create model summaries and perform some analysis calculations, such as center of gravity. You can also use the templates to perform complex editing or data manipulation tasks.

Engineering Solutions provides external translators that convert analysis-specific results into the results format. The results subpanel allows you to specify the results files for use in post-processing.

Note: For more information, refer to the individual translators on the Results Translation page. Engineering Solutions uses both internal and external translators. You can write new external translators to support CAD or FEA formats by using the functions provided in HMINLIB.
Note:

The HyperMesh Reference Guide provides information about working with hmlib, hminlib, hmreslib and hmmodlib.

See Custom Import Readers for more information about writing your own translators.

When you open the Export tab, Engineering Solutions sets the Template field to the default analysis template directory and the first template selected is designated the global template.

Export Options

There are several options available for exporting model data, depending on the user profile loaded. For example, the all/displayed option allows you to export files based on a subset of the existing database. If you select all, the entire model is written, regardless of the current display settings. When you select displayed in the Export tab, only a portion of the model displayed on the screen is exported. See Export Displayed for rules that determine which entities will be exported.

Additional information about export options for geometry and solvers is included in the section that pertains to the specific format.