Simcenter 3D Solutions Importing Simcenter Nastran Sets
Summary
Details
Importing Simcenter Nastran Sets:
Sets (or Groups in Simcenter Pre/Post) are important for define boundary conditions, output requests, panel contribution analysis… There are three ways to import Simcenter Nastran Sets (formerly called NX Nastran) into Simcenter 3D:
1. The sets are associated to the output requests
In this example, SET 1, 2 are referred in the output requests, therefore these two sets can be imported into Simcenter Pre/post. SET 3 is not associated to any output request, therefore it is not imported.
The contents of the groups are decided by the associated output requests. SET 1 is associated to Displacement output request, therefore this group contains the nodes (No Displayable Entities in Group). SET2 contains elements because it is associated to Strain output request.
2. Pre/Post comment that identifies the SET as either a node or element SET
SET 3 is allowed to import into Simcenter Pre/post If we add a comment line $* Group (elements): 3 Name: Panel1 before SET 3.
The comment indicates SET 3 is an Element Set with a group name Panel1.
Comment lines for Sets must start with $* and follow by two spaces and then Keywork Group (elements) or Group (nodes). The keywords Group, elements and nodes are case sensitive.
3. In the Bulk Data section, define a PARAM, Gx,y,z parameter
Simcenter 3D creates a group in Pre/Post with an ID (label) of x that contains all the nodes specified by SET y and the elements specified by SET z. Please note that y and z must be defined in real numbers.
Note that Group 1 (i.e. SET 1) contains both nodes and elements.
You can combine the PARAM, Gx,y,z and comment lines to define groups with specified names.
In this case both SET 1 and SET 3 share the same group ID (label 1) and group Name (Panel1).
Append the sets:
If the mesh already imported, users can append the sets alone. This can be done by selecting File -> Append. Make sure the option Append Merge is used for Import Behavior. Again, comment lines and/or PARAM, Gx,y,z parameter must be defined in the file.
Questions? Contact Siemens GTAC support.