SimLab Basic Training v14.2c PDF

Altair SimLab 14.
2
Basic Training
Altair Engineering
June 30th, 2016
© 2016 Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential.
Altair SimLab All rights reserved.
2 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

Why SimLab?
• SimLab objectives:
• Reduce the CAD to Solver time without compromising the quality
• Easy automation of the CAE Process
•  PROVIDE BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT
• SimLab strengths:
• Intuitive, Easy to learn and use
• Robust Tet-Meshing also for complex geometries
• No CAD cleanup or defeaturing needed.
• Efficient control over model size and element quality.
• Repeatability: Feature-based, Template-based
• Function level (Templates for Meshing, Props, Contacts, Excite modeling …)
• Process level (CAD to Deck)
• Complete solution: Pre, Solver (OptiStruct integrated), Post, Optimization
• Solver Neutral
• Physical-Entity Based Modeling: knowledge of solver card details is not needed.
• Solver interfaces: OptiStruct, Abaqus, ANSYS, Nastran, Permas, ADVC …
• Advanced tools for specific application (Powertrain)

Modeling Process
1. Import CAD/FEM
2.1 2D Mesh
3. Modify 4. Assembly
2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup
8. Post Processing A1. Automation

Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
2.1 2D Mesh
DAY 1
DAY 2
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup
8. Post Processing

Getting Started All rights reserved.
Agenda
• 0. Getting Started
• SimLab installation
• Initial settings
• SimLab GUI

SimLab Installation – CAD Access

• In order to handle CAD files in the native formats ProE/Creo, CATIA and UG,
SimLab must have access to a working installation of the CAD Software in the
machine.
• Please specify the installation path of the CAD Software. The path can be edited
manually later in the file [Install_Dir]\bin\win64\vp_init.bat.
• Note: An additional reader must be purchased in order to access CATIA files.
Otherwise the option “CAD through translation” can be used.

SimLab Installation – Solver Access

• SimLab can invoke the solver directly and visualize the results after computing.
• Please specify the installation path of the Solver executable. The path can be
manually edited at any time in the file: [Install_Dir]\bin\win64\STS_solver_setup.bat.
• SimLab comes with its own solver – OptiStruct, part of the HyperWorks platform.
The default path to access an existing HyperWorks installation is:
[HW_Install_Dir]\hwsolvers\scripts.

SimLab Installation – Temp Folders

• While using SimLab, a temporary file is created in a designated directory to handle user editing
and allow session recovery whenever the software is shut down irregularly (e.g. system crash).
• Please make sure that you have a writing permission on the designated path and enough
free disk space.
• The temporary folder’s directory can be manually edited at any time in the file:
[Install_Dir]\bin\win64\vp_init.bat.

Initial Settings – View
The first time you open SimLab after its installation or

an application reset, make sure that both Selection
List and Output Window are turned on.
• All the selected (checked) entities will appear in
the Selection List. This will help users find the
selected entities and correct them before using
them as inputs in any dialog box or applications.
• The Output Window is used to display error
messages and information (which can be copied
and pasted whenever needed).

Initial Settings – Autosave
Under File | Preferences | Application you can access and edit

various options including Auto save and Assign Shortcut Key.
Specify the Auto

save file location
and the number of
files to back up.

Initial Settings – File | Preferences
Depending on the model size and your graphics If you are planning on using an
card, consider decreasing the tessellation Ansys Solver, please turn on Use
angle for Parasolid and Step files under File | Ansys element types in File |
Preferences | Geometry. This will give a Preferences | Analysis.
smoother representation of the CAD geometry.

Initial Settings – File | Preferences | System
File | Preferences | System: choose Set the number of cores to generate

your preferred mouse settings. a mesh (1 body for each core).

SimLab GUI – Default Mouse Buttons

Left Button Click
• Select/deselect a geometry, elements and nodes
• Hold the Control key (CTRL) and drag to zoom in and
out
Middle Button
• Scrolling the mouse wheel: Zoom in and out
• Middle button click: Model rotation
Right Button Click

• Panning
Space Mouse is supported

SimLab GUI
Menu Bar
Model Browser
• Assembly Ribbon Area
• Mesh Control
• Loads and Vertical Tool List
Constraints
• Picking mode
• Property
• Entity filter
• Groups
• Results
• Parameters
Graphics Area
Selection List
View Toolbar
Output Window

SimLab GUI – Ribbons

SimLab GUI – Icons
Single-selection icon
Multiple-choice icon
Multiple-selection icon

SimLab GUI – Additional Menues
Additional functions

SimLab GUI – Panels
The panels will remember any selections

or entered values after clicking the Apply
or OK buttons. Right clicking on the
dotted area allows to reset all fields to
default.

SimLab GUI – Customizing the GUI
Custom Toolbar(s):
• Click on the “+” icon in the Menu Bar to add a
custom toolbar.
• Drag and drop icons from the standard ribbons into
the custom toolbar.
• Right click the ribbon area to customize new
toolbars (Import ribbons/Export custom pages).
• Right click the toolbar name to Export, Rename or
Delete the toolbar.
Window Repositioning:
• Browsers can be (un)docked, resized
and repositioned.
• Drag them into the desired position.
• Browsers can be overlaid to be viewed
as tabs.

SimLab GUI – Model Browser

• The Model Browser lists the entities of the current database.
• Hide/show and other operations can be performed (right click menu).
• Different types of entities are grouped into 7 tabs.
Loads and Property

Assembly Mesh Control Constraints
Tree view
Groups Results Parameters

SimLab GUI – Entity Selection
Selection
Toolbar
Right-click
Menu
Selection
List

SimLab GUI – Default Shortcut Keys
Ctrl + R - Remove last picked entity F - Fit view
Ctrl + A - Select all entities Z - Rectangle zoom
Ctrl + Z - Undo Shift + Z - Scribble zoom
Ctrl + Y - Redo F1 - Help
Ctrl + N - New tab F5 - Redisplay
Ctrl + O - Open file F12 - Save as
Ctrl + S - Save file

SimLab GUI – Additional Shortcut Keys
Head to File | Preferences | Application to edit and review the available

keyboard shortcuts with the option Assign Shortcut Key.
• Double click the field you

wish to change and enter the
Shortcut key of your
preference.
• Click on Reset to restore the
default settings.

SimLab GUI – Help
• File | Help | SimLab Help… opens the software’s

help window in a dedicated browser.
• Press the F1 key from an active panel to open
the Help topic associated with it.
Help

SimLab GUI – Reset Application
Help

SimLab GUI – Exercise

Open SimLab and perform the following operations on the GUI:
1. Activate the Output Window and the Custom Toolbar and drag some icons into
Selection List (when required). it.
2. Move the browsers to a different position 6. Import one of the predefined Process
(drag and drop). Toolbars located in:
3. Go to File | Preferences and choose your …\Models\0_GUI\*.xml.
desired Mouse Settings. 5. Delete the custom toolbars, except for one
4. In File | Preferences, change the «personal» toolbar where you will pin the
tessellation angle to improve the Display functions which you consider particulary
Quality. useful.
5. Explore the SimLab Ribbons. Create a
Now you are ready to import your first model and begin working with SimLab.

01 – Importing CAD and FEM
All rights reserved.
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 1. Importing CAD
and FEM:
2.1 2D Mesh
• Reading Files
• CAD Geometry 3. Modify 4. Assembly
• Models
• Entities
• Selection 2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
• Display
• Groups
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

Reading Files
There are several options available to import an external CAD or

FEM Geometry.
• SimLab Data: a previously saved SimLab database file (*.slb
and *.slb.X) can be opened or merged into the current session.
GDA format (graphics data), also written by SimLab, is similar
to the SLB format, but it contains only elements and topology
information.
• CAD: direct access to CAD native formats such as Parasolid,
Step, CATIA, ProE, JT, UGNX.
• CAD: Through Translation: to convert (and automatically
import) native CAD formats into Step or Parasolid files whenever
no direct access is available.
• Discrete Models: Facet Geometry formats such as STL, VRML,
I-Deas.
• Solver Input File: import solver files from a variety of solvers:
OptiStruct | Abaqus | Nastran | Permas | Patran | Ansys |
ADVENTURECluster | Marc | Fluent | nFX

Reading Files – Recent Files
• Previously opened documents can be viewed under

the Recent Files list.
• You can pin your frequently used files to the list to

have them always available.

CAD Geometry – CAD Access
SimLab does not actually import CAD Geometry
• Traditional preprocessors manipulate CAD geometry, which has to be

imported, i.e. converted into an internal format. This causes problems
very often, because a “clean” CAD geometry may get corrupted during
the conversion.
• SimLab does not manipulate CAD geometry: all the work is done directly
on the mesh. Therefore, there is no need to convert a file into an internal
format: CAD geometry is read as it is, in its original format.
• SimLab creates a graphic representation of the geometry
(“tessellation”) but the CAD information is not saved into the SLB
database.

• Instead of importing CAD, SimLab creates a

graphic representation of it (“tessellation”).
• Geometry information remains stored in the
original CAD file.
• Therefore, in order to be able to access the CAD for

a new meshing, the CAD geometry file needs to be
copied along with the *.slb file when the database is
being transfered.
You have to transfer both SLB

and CAD files for later access to
CAD features!

• Since it is not an actual CAD Import,

in SimLab we prefer to call it CAD
access.
• The access to CAD is made possible

by CAD readers which are invoked
every time information from the CAD
is required (typically, when meshing).

CAD Geometry – Exchange formats
• For the exchange formats:

• Parasolid (*.x_t, *.xmt_txt, *.x_b)
• Step (*.stp, *.step)
• JT (*.jt)
• SimLab has its own readers – i.e., no additional tools are required.
• Preferably, the Parasolid format should be used whenever available.
• Only when exporting from CATIA (and from HyperMesh) the STEP format is preferred.
If some Parasolid bodies are not imported, it could

be because the geometry is somehow “broken” and
a solid’s definition got lost. Try selecting the Sheet
option to bypass this issue.
Imprint solid bodies will speed up the

assembly through coincident nodes.
Maintain the subassembly structure

to better handle big models.

CAD Geometry – Native Formats – Direct Access

For the native CAD formats: CATIA (*.CATPart and *CATAssembly) │ ProE / CREO (*.prt and
*.asm) │ UG NX (*.prt),
SimLab doesn’t have an internal reader, therefore it will use the native “reader” from the CAD software
itself (direct access).
• Therefore SimLab must have access to a working installation of CATIA, ProE/CREO or UG NX.
This can be linked during the installation of SimLab, or can be manually entered later in:
[Install_Dir]\bin\win64\vp_init.bat.
• The licenses of the CAD system will be used by SimLab only when the “reader” is needed, i.e.
during the meshing process.
• Only for a CATIA direct access, an additional reader (CADNexus) is required.

CAD Geometry – Native Formats – Direct Access
• Direct access for native CAD, when available, is the most

complete way of handling CAD Geometry, since it allows to
access all model data and metadata, including:
• Design parameters - model regeneration is allowed
directly in SimLab
• Color and Publications - important for automation
purposes
• Attributes, Assembly structure, Part Instances, …
CAD Regeneration
(CREO Parameters)

CAD Geometry – Native Formats – Translation
• If no installation of CATIA, ProE/Creo or UG/NX is

available, it is always possible to translate the native
formats into exchange formats (Parasolid, Step) before
importing.
• Available options are:
• CAD native to Parasolid (recommended)
• CAD native to Step
• Step to Parasolid.
• A Step or Parasolid file containing the translated geometry
information will be written by SimLab into the original folder
and subsequently imported.
• For this process, no other installation besides SimLab is
required.
• This doesn’t allow to use the parametrization of the
geometry eventually implemented in the CAD environment
for regeneration.

CAD Geometry – SimLab Philosophy

SimLab is designed to handle complex CAD Geometry, in which cleanup and de-featuring operations
would take too long.
Therefore, CAD cleanup and de-featuring in SimLab are unnecessary and most of the time not
even possible.
• SimLab does not allow to operate on native CAD geometry (CATIA, Pro-E).
• Some operations are supported only for Step geometry (body rename, repositioning) and
especially for Parasolid geometry (fillets/holes removal, subassembly, imprinting, boolean
operation, repositioning, partitioning, break body…)
Following the SimLab-Philosophy, CAD geometry remains almost untouched. It is only imported and
meshed. Cleanup, de-featuring and repairing are performed either automatically during the
meshing process, or manually on the meshed bodies.
The word “Geometry” in SimLab is not meant to be used as a synonym of “CAD”, rather as: Shape
or topology of the meshed bodies, since most geometry operations can be performed only on
meshed bodies.

Model Structure
Model • Any CAD (or FEM) file read into SimLab will be referred
to as a Model.
Bodies • If the CAD or the FEM file has multiple parts, each part
will be referred to as a Body.

Model Structure
FEM Model (*.gda)

• Generated as a result of meshing. Contains:
• Shell Mesh Bodies
• Volume Mesh Bodies
• Different kinds of 1D Mesh Bodies
• NO CAD Body!
• Reorganizing is allowed (Rename, Move,
Merge, Sub Model creation…)
CAD Model (same extension of the CAD file)

• Generated as result of importing a CAD file or
assembly, it contains ONLY CAD Bodies - NO FEM
Body!
• Sub Models may follow the structure of the CAD Assembly
• Few operations allowed (delete bodies, regenerate
parametric CAD…)
• Reorganizing only partially allowed:
• Renaming only for Parasolid and Step
• NO Body Transfer between CAD Models
• NO Model Merge, Sub Model creation…)

Model Structure
Volume Mesh Body
Surface Mesh Body
CAD body

Model Structure
• In case of Multiple Models, each model has its own

numbering (“beginning from zero”).
• For this reason, many interactions among FE bodies are
only possible after the bodies have been moved into the
same model.
• On the other side, it is possible to keep different
versions of the same mesh, as long as they are in a
different model.
• Within a model:
• Geometry IDs are unique (a face cannot have the
same ID as a body or a vertex)
• Nodes' IDs are unique
• Element IDs are unique
• Remember:
• CAD Bodies cannot be moved between models
• Mesh Bodies can be moved between Mesh models
• Mesh bodies can be renamed while CAD bodies
cannot (with the exceptions of Parasolid and Step)

Model Structure – Sub Models
Create Sub Models to manage assemblies with a large number of bodies.

A Model or Sub Assembly can be sent to a Sub Model and back again
into the Root Model.
• Select the bodies.
• Use the Right Click Menu to move bodies in or out of the Sub Model.

Entities – Topology Entities
• SimLab is an Entity Based Tool.

• Entities are organized hierarchically, have an own ID and can be grouped
together.
• Geometry Entities, also known as Topology Entities, can be selected on
both CAD and FEM. These are:
BODY FACE
VERTEX
EDGE

Entities – FEM Entities

• FEM entities can be selected only on FEM Bodies. They are:
• Elements
• Element edges
• Nodes
• Loads
• It can be said that on FEM Bodies, Topology Entities consist of FEM

Entities, since:
• Faces consist of Elements
• Edges are particular cases of Element Edges
• Vertices are particular cases of Nodes
• A mesh in .slb or .gda format contains the definition of both FEM and
Topology Entities.
• A Solver Input File contains only the definition of FEM entities. Topology
Entities must be additionally generated.

Entity Selection
Selection Right Mouse Button

Toolbar (RMB) Menu
• Quick selection of entities is a fundamental aspect of SimLab.

• The selected entities are shown in the Selection List (when active).
Once an operation is confirmed, it is applied to all entities currently in
the Selection List.
• The entity selection is done according to the active Picking Method
and Entity Filter.
Selection
• These options can be selected in the Selection Toolbar, in the
List
Selection List and through the RMB Menu in the graphics area.

Entity Selection – Picking Method
• The list of Picking Methods, which can be used to select entities, is accessible
through the Selection Toolbar and the RMB Menu in the Graphics Area.
• Available Picking Methods are: Single, Polygon, Intersection, DeSelect, Enclose,
Visible, and Transparency.

Entity Selection – Entity Filter
• The Entity Filters define which kind of entities will be highlighted and
selected.
• Only one filter at the time is active.
• Many filters apply on both CAD and FE entities.
• SimLab tries to activate these filters automatically depending on the context
of the operations and functions used at a particular time. In this case, the
active filter is highlighted in the Selection Toolbar.

Entity Selection – Topology Entities
• Geometry Filters can refer to both CAD and FE:

• Vertex
• Edge
• Circle
• Edge Loop
• Free Edge Loop
• Edge Path
• Face
• Cylinder
• Fillet
• Body
• Note: the selection mode Edge Path works differently

from the others:
• Select the guide-edges to define the path:
• A preview of the path is shown.
• Right click to Confirm or Reject the selection.

Entity Selection – FEM Entities
• FEM Filters can refer to FE only:

• Node
• RBE Node
• Element Edge
• Bar Element
• Element
• Loads
• RBE
• Coordinates
• RBAR

Entity Selection
The following options are available in the

Selection List and through the RMB Menu:
• Deselect All
Deselect Geometry
Deselect FEM to clear the selection list
(eventually only Geometry/FEM filters)
• Previous Selection to recall the last selected

items, for example when the selection has been
cleared.
• The Keyboard Shortcut CTRL+R will remove the
last selected entity from the list.

Entity Display – Right Click Options
• Isolating and hiding entities is an efficient way of selecting entities.

• Most options to Show/Hide entities are accessible through context-
sensitive menus (RMB click in the Graphics Area).
The standard options, also available when no entity is selected, are:

• Redisplay Body: stops the process of hiding faces and edited entities and displays
the active bodies.
• Reset Model: brings the model its original position as well as the view angle.
• Invert Model: displays all the entities that are not currently shown and hides all the
entities that are shown.

Entity Display – Right Click Options
The following right click options are the most commonly

used when selecting geometry entities (Body, Face, and
Edge):
• Hide: hide the selected entities.
• Reverse Hide: hide the non-selected entities (i.e. isolate
selection).
• Select Features: opens a dialog to identify/group features
like fillets, cylinders, discs a. s. o. (more info in the meshing
chapter).
• Select Adjacent: selects faces adjacent to the ones
selected.
• Select Adjacent Layers: opens a dialog to break-angle
based face selection.
• Invert Transparency / Reset Transparency: switches /
resets the transparency of the selected entities.

Entity Display – View Toolbar
View Toolbar | Views is used to: View Toolbar | Render Mode: controls how
• Align the view to one of the global axes the model is displayed in the 3D graphics
(additional custom views can be defined in the area. Rendering and coloring options are
drop down menu View | Views | Create View) available for both CAD and FEM models.
• Rotate the current view in the Counter
Clockwise or Clockwise direction by a fixed
angle.

Entity Display – View Toolbar
View Toolbar | Visibility: View Toolbar | Add/Remove Layer:

• used to hide/show categories of expands/reduces the current selection by
objects in the graphics area: selecting/de-selecting entity layers.
• Loads
• Mesh Controls
• Results
• All CAD bodies
• All FEM bodies
• Can also activate an Exploded View
Add
Remove

Entity Display – View Toolbar | Cutting Plane

View Toolbar | Cutting Plane:
• Activates / deactivates the Cutting Plane tool, which is used to cut
through a 3D solid model to view the interior.
• The Cutting Plane can be manipulated as follows:
• Use the sphere handles to rotate and orient the planes.
• Grab and move the square of the 3D tool to shift the planes to the
desired position.
• More options are available in the RMB menu when Cutting Plane is
activated.

Entity Display – Display Only
Lock the display of one or more bodies within an assembly.

• After selecting the bodies, RMB Menu | Display Only, either from
the Model Browser or the Graphics Area.
• Right click the Model, Sub-Model or the Graphics Area, and select
Display All to unlock the display.

Entity Selection – Inspect
• Advanced tools for the

selection of entities are
available under the
Inspect tab.

Groups
• A very common way of managing entities in SimLab is

to use the Group function.
• Groups are available for following entities:
• Face
• Edge
• Vertex
• Element
• Element edge
• Node
• Each group can only contain entities of a unique type
(e.g. Face, Edge or Element).
• One entity can belong to different groups.
• Several options such as show, hide and rename are
available when right clicking a name in the Group tab
of the Model Browser.
• Many panels accept Groups to be entered as inputs
instead of entities.

Groups
• Groups can be created and modified directly in the graphics area.

Select the element(s) that you want to group and right click to view the
available options.
• To modify a group, double click it in the Group Tree.
• Right clicking Group in the Model Browser will show additional
options.
• Transfer is an advanced option that allows the automatic creation of
groups in a FE Model based on existing groups of a CAD model.

Exercises
Import: Or Open
…\Models\1_Import_Models\D_wheelasy.gda …\Models\1_Import_Models\D_wheelasy.slb
…\Models\1_Import_Models\D_wheelasy.xmt_txt
…\Models\1_Import_Models\D_wheelasy.fem
Please perform the following tasks:
1. Familiarize with the SimLab GUI:

• Turn on/off components from the Assembly Tree.
• Pan / Zoom the component.
• Try different View modes and the Cutting Plane.
2. Familiarize with the SimLab Entities:

• Select different types of entities by exploring different selection modes.
• Create Groups out of the selected entities.
• Edit the groups using the Group Tree in the Model Browser.
• Inspect the Size of the model.

Exercises – Complete Workflow

Import Parasolid Geometry:
…\Models\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A_transmissional_housing_v2.xmt_txt
1. Make sure you import the groups defined on the CAD geometry.
2. Explore the defined group.
You can use this model to work your way through the complete workflow in the
upcoming chapters.

02 – Meshing Tools
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 2. Meshing Tools
• Meshing
Fundamentals 2.1 2D Mesh
• Mesh Controls
• Preserve Entities
• Mesh Pattern
• Mesh 2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
Specification
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

Overview
Mesh | 2D Create Mesh | 3D Create

Shows the commands used to Shows the commands used to
create Shell Mesh Bodies create Volume Mesh Bodies
(typically from CAD bodies, (typically from Shell Mesh
but also from Shell Mesh Bodies, but also from CAD
Bodies). Bodies).

Meshing Fundamentals – 2D Mesh
Mesh | 2D Create | Mesh

• Meshes selected Bodies or Faces (CAD or
FEM) with 2D Elems (Tri/Quad)
• A new Model (Assembly) will be created,

containing the meshed bodies.

Meshing Fundamentals – Element Type
Mesh | 2D Create | Mesh

Select Element Type:
• „Tri6 with straight edges“ available under
Advanced Options (or via Body Mesh
Control)
• Even a Tri3 mesh can be used later to
generate a second order Tet10 Volume
Mesh.
• SimLab allows to hide the Mid Nodes

to simplify the work with second order
elements. Please check the setting
under Render Mode | FEM Model |
Quadratic Element Display

Meshing Fundamentals – Element Size
Avg / Max Mesh Size
Minimum element size
Mesh growth
• 1.5 means that an element can be
50% bigger than its neighbor

Meshing Fundamentals – Element Size
Minimum element size:

• SimLab doesn’t require geometry cleanup.
• CAD Edges are automatically “removed” whenever
they would develop elements smaller than the
minimum size.
• Instead, it is possible to specify which entities shall
NOT be suppressed (see Preserve Mesh Control).

Meshing Fundamentals – Curvature
Geometry Approximation:
• The mesh approximates the geometry by varying the
mesh size with respect to the curvature (for curved
surfaces).
• Such a geometry approximation can’t result in a mesh
size smaller than Curvature minimum element size.
45° maximum angle 30° maximum angle

• 8 elements around holes. 12 elements around holes.
• 2 elements across 90° fillets. 3 elements across 90° fillets.

Meshing Fundamentals – Curvature
Example of Geometry Approximation for fillets:

• Min element size: 0.45
• Max angle per element: 30°
• Curvature min size: 1.5
3 element rows 2 element rows 1 element row Fillets with

• Size ≥ 4.5 (=3x1.5) • 3 ≤ Size ≤ 4.5 • 0.45 ≤ Size < 3 Size<0.45 are
• Angle ≥ 60° • 30°≤ Angle ≤ 60° • Angle < 30° de-featured

Meshing Fundamentals – Mesh vs Re-mesh

Meshing Fundamentals – Volume Mesh
Mesh | 3D Create | Volume Mesh

• Fills the water-tight mesh of an empty Shell Body
with Tet elements.
• Inputs:
• Element Type
• Element Size
• Internal Grading (Growth Rate)
• 2 qualities
• Volume Mesh Bodies are represented by the
icon in the Model Browser.

Meshing Fundamentals – Volume Mesh – Options
• Select the checkbox to generate a solid

mesh in a new model or in the same
Shell Mesh Body.
• Leaving it unchecked will generate the
mesh in the same Shell Mesh Body.
• Generally, Volume Mesh does not modify

the mesh on the outer surface, but in
certain cases it is possible for some nodes to
be moved to improve the element quality.
• Activate this option to preserve all Tri-
elements on the surface without exceptions.

Meshing Fundamentals – Volume Mesh – Remarks
REMINDER: a body never contains both shell and solid elements at the
same time. Therefore:
• Once a Volume Mesh is created, the surface elements continue to exist
as faces of the solid elements, but they will not be exported. In other
words: there is no need to delete any Tri-elements once Tets are
created.
• If membrane elements are required on the surface, they can be created
in a new (shell) body using Geometry | Body | Create | From Faces |
Duplicate and make shared faces.
• To delete the solid mesh, keeping the shell mesh:
Select the body, open the Right Mouse Button (RMB) Menu from the
graphics area and click on Delete Solid Elements.

Exercise – Complete Workflow – Quick Mesh

Continue with the model used in the last chapter or,
Or
Import the geometry without the logo from the folder A1_QuickMesh.

1. Inspect the model size to determine a suitable mesh size.
• Use the tools in the menu Inspect |Distance
or
• Select an edge and read its length in the Output Window.
2. Mesh the surface of the parts with Mesh | 2D Create | Mesh.
• Use second order (Tri6) elements.
• Choose adequate parameters.
3. Make sure that Render Mode | FEM Model | Quadratic Element Display is turned on, to be able
to view mid nodes.
4. Create Tet10 elements with Mesh | 3D Create | Volume Mesh.
5. Enable the Cutting Plane to view the internal elements of the body.
6. If needed, use Delete Solid Elements (from the RMB menu) to return to the shell mesh.

Mesh Controls
Mesh Controls (MC)

• The density, the quality and the structure of the mesh can be
controlled by defining Mesh Controls for the geometry.
• Mesh Controls are assigned to topology entities (Body, Face, and
Edge) and can refer to particular features (Fillets, Cylinders) or
Regions in space.
• Mesh Controls can be assigned to both CAD and FE bodies.
• When a body is meshed (2D or 3D), all Mesh Controls defined
on its entities (not on the entities of its CAD-parent or its FE-
children!) will be considered.

Mesh Controls – Browser
Mesh Controls (MCs) are listed in a dedicated

page (2nd tab) of the Model Browser.
• Double click on a MC to Edit it.
• Empty MCs are marked with the Ø symbol.
• Hide/Show the MCs by clicking on the icons.
• Further options are available through the RMB menu.

Mesh Controls – Local MCs
• Define new Local Mesh Controls from the MCs panel or through
the RMB menu after selecting the entities.
• Edit existing Mesh Controls by double clicking them in the Model
Browser or through the RMB menu.

Mesh Controls | Body
• Body Mesh Control is defined on CAE / FE bodies

only.
• It defines locally – for each body – the same
parameters which are otherwise defined globally in
the 2D Mesh and in the Volume Mesh panels, such
as:
• Mesh Size
• Geometry Approximation (curvature)
• Mesh Growth
• …

Mesh Controls | Body – Naming
Attention! Characters like spaces, points and commas are not

allowed when naming Mesh Controls!

Mesh Controls | Face
• The Face Mesh Control can be defined on Face

entities to refine or coarsen the mesh locally.
• Merge selected faces joins the selected faces

by suppressing the edges between them.

Mesh Controls | Face – Layers
• Use the Layers option of the Face Mesh Control to

specify the minimum number of layers required
along the thickness of the surface.
No Layers
4 Layers + Iso Mesh Pattern

4 Layers (Requires two different Mesh Controls)

Mesh Controls | Face – Selection Tips
• Use the Select Adjacent Layers option (also available in

the RMB menu) to select the whole water jacket at once.

Mesh Controls | Edge
• Edge Mesh Control controls the size, the density

and the biasing of the mesh directly on edges.

Mesh Controls | Edge – Selection Tips
• Use the Edge Path selection filter

to select edges along a path.

Mesh Controls | Fillet
• Fillet Mesh Control is used to control the mesh over selected fillets,
along the fillet’s length and the curve’s direction.
• Typically, the number of element rows and the length of the
elements along the fillet are entered.
• Use this option on bodies to apply the MC to all fillets within a

radius range.
• Attention! Using this option together with the option Number of
elements for uniform curvature rarely gives good results!
• It is preferable to use Geometry Approximation or to control the
global definition of fillets using the parameters of the Body MC.

Mesh Controls | Fillet

Mesh Controls | Fillet – Selection Tips
• Use Select Features | Fillets (RMB Menu) to identify

convex / concave fillets within a radius range.
Surfs to search in (with Fillet Mesh Control

Select Adjacent Layers)

Mesh Controls | Cylinder
• Cylinder Mesh Control is used to control the mesh both axially and radially on any
selected cylindrical surface.
• Element size in the axial direction: typically in mm. (Use the Isoline MC to request a
given number of elements)
• Elements in circular direction: it is recommended to use a multiple of 4 (8, 12, 16, 20…)
• Use this option on bodies to apply the MC to all

cylinders within a radius range.

Mesh Controls | Cylinder – Selection Tips
• Use Select Features | Cylinder (RMB Menu), either on bodies or

faces, to identify cylindrical faces within a radius range.
To isolate the holes in the model, it is recommended to

use the options Full and Closed partial (but NOT the
option Open partial).
Check this option to simultaneously create a group

containing the cylinders.

Mesh Controls | Washer
• The Washer Mesh Control is used to create rings around a circle.

• It is typically used to form the imprint of a bolt head on a surface.
• Select circular edges, then use one of the three methods to define the washer
radius.
Specifies the number of “element rings”

around the hole.

Mesh Controls | Washer – Selection Tips
• Use Select Features | Circles (RMB Menu) to identify,

isolate or group circular edges on selected faces.

Mesh Controls | Isoline – for Cones / Cylinders
• Isoline is an advanced MC to place a mapped mesh on:

• Full or Partial Cylindrical faces
• Full or Partial Conical faces
• Hollow Discs
• Isoline is used instead of Cylinder MC in case of:

• Open/Partial Cylinders
• Conical Holes
• A given number of elements required in the axial direction
• Re-meshing (since Cylinder MC only works on CAD)

Mesh Controls | Isoline – for Hollow Discs
• Isoline can be used to replace the Washer MC on existing hollow disc faces,
although Washer MC still remains as the preferred option in many cases.

Mesh Controls | Include Mesh
• Include Mesh allows an existing mesh to be used over a portion of

the body being meshed.

Mesh Controls | Region – Refinement
The Region MC is used to apply a local refinement within a defined shape (cuboid /
cylinder / sphere) of a region, whenever the Break Option is set as none.

Mesh Controls | Region – Break
If a Break Option is selected, the Region MC is used to break the face/body

along the boundary of the chosen region (cuboid/cylinder/plane/cone)
Note: bodies can be also broken after

meshing using Geometry | Body | Break

Mesh Controls | Other Mesh Controls
Please consult SimLab Help (F1) for information regarding additional Local MCs.
Hard Points Symmetry

Mesh
Valve Seat
Pocket
Imprint Circle

Mesh Controls | Volume Layer
• The Volume Layer MC generates layers of Tet elements along thin regions.
• It can be applied to entire bodies or locally to faces.
• Important: Volume Layer MC is applied on the surface of meshed bodies before
a volume mesh is done, NOT on the CAD geometry!

Preserve Entities
• The automated meshing process can collapse sliver edges and faces which
would disregard the minimum element size.
• The mesher will decide which ones to preserve and which ones to collapse.
• Using the Preserve Entities MC, the user can control which features will be
preserved when meshing.
?
Preserve Entities | Face shape
• Mesh Control | Preserve Entity | Face shape retains the shape of the face
(typically planarity / cylindricity).
• The nodes will not get moved out of the face, although this will not prevent
narrow faces and edges from collapsing.
• Preserve Entity | Face shape is used on assembly faces (contact faces,
assembly faces).

Preserve Entities | (Face) Edges
• Mesh Control | Preserve Entity | Face edges (or Edges) is used to keep all the
edges of a face (or selected edges).
• Tiny edges and faces will be preserved and will not collapse. This will not prevent
internal nodes to be moved out of the face though.
• For example, Preserve Entity | Face edges can be used to keep the edges of a
logo (to be removed) apart from the geometry edges.
Without Preserve Edges With Preserve Edges

Preserve Entities | Mesh
• Mesh Control | Preserve Entity | Mesh is used to

maintain the existing mesh in the face/ topological
edge during the local re-mesh.
• It has to be applied on FE-Bodies, not on CAD.

Mesh Patterns
• Mesh Control | Mesh Patterns defines the manner in which elements are
arranged in a face.
• Available patterns are: Iso mesh, Free mesh, Union jack and Aligned mesh.
Noteworthy is the use of Iso Mesh on a four-sided face to obtain a mapped

mesh (90 degree triangulation).

Priorities
Different Mesh Controls can sometimes refer to

the same geometry entity at the same time.
As a general rule, the more specific/local is the
MC, the higher priority it has (i.e. for example:
Face MC has got a higher priority than a Body
MC).
For each geometry type (edge, face and body)
SimLab follows a set order of priorities which you
can view the priority order in the Mesh Control’s
help page (F1).
Help

Mesh Specification
• A set of Mesh controls can be saved in an external

file, called Mesh Specification, which can then be
imported in other SimLab sessions.
• Right clicking Mesh Control in the model browser
or going to File | Export | Specifications, will let
you export the Mesh Control.
• Templates are very useful when working on similar
models, to re-use the same Mesh Controls.

Mesh Specification – Mesh Templates
4 different types of Mesh Specification are available:
• Template: Mesh Controls are exported without any

information about the entities they refer to. After
importing into a new file, the Mesh Control Tree will be
populated by empty Mesh Controls (marked with the Ø
icon).
• Geom ID: entity IDs are exported for each MC. Can be
automatically applied to the same Model, or to other
versions having the same IDs.
• Face color: can apply automatically to other models
with the same color convention. Colors can be read
together with the CAD or assigned in SimLab.
• Body/Group Name: can be used in automations which
use a name convention. MCs are automatically applied
to bodies or to face/edge groups with the same name.

Exercise – Complete Workflow – MCs (1/2)

Continue with the model from the last chapter or,

1. Import the empty Mesh Specification: ..\A2_Meshing\A_Mesh_Template.xml
2. Assign the Body Mesh Controls (Carrier: coarsen; Cover: fine).
3. Assign the Cylinder Mesh Control to the holes of the bolt connection on both Cover and Carrier.
Use Select Feature to identify the cylinders.
4. Assign the Washer Mesh Control (representing the imprinting of the bolt heads) to the circles on
the upper side of the Cover. Use Select Feature to identify the circles.

Exercise – Complete Workflow – MCs (2/2)

5. Assign the Fillet Mesh Control to designed fillets in the pockets of the Carrier.
Use Select adjacent layers and Select features to select the fillets.
6. Assign the Preserve Mesh Controls to the Faces with the Logo and to the faces which have to
remain planar (contacts).
7. Shell Mesh both components.

8. Add a Volume Layer Mesh Control to (some faces of the) Cover.
9. Volume Mesh the Cover only.
Save the model to be able to keep working with it in the next chapter.

Exercises
Open the file:
Altair-SimLab_training_V12\Exercises\Exercise_3_Meshing_Tools\Ex_3d_Cylinderhead.slb

1. Check groups
2. Create Mesh Control for each
Body mesh control: average size: 4
Fillet mesh control: (Face_Group1) length along fillet: 1
Face mesh control: (Face_Group3) average Elem. Size: 3; Use global: on; Merge: on
Valve Seat Pocket: (Face_Group4) cylinder Axis:2; Disc Radial: 1; Angular Division: 48
Fillet mesh control: (Face_Group5) length along fillet: 1,5
3. Surface/ Curve Mesh
4. Export Mesh Template based on Group/Names.

03 – Modify Geometry
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
3. Modify Geometry:
• Create/modify
geometry 2.1 2D Mesh
• Remove/modify
features
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

Meaning of Geometry in SimLab

• SimLab doesn’t actually have an own geometry (CAD) kernel: the editing
of the body structure is done mainly after meshing, directly on the FE
bodies. That’s why in SimLab the word Geometry is meant as “topology”
or “shape” of the FE Bodies and not as a synonym of CAD.
• A SimLab model consists of FE entities (typically nodes, element edges and
triangular elements) which are grouped into Bodies, Faces, Edges and
Vertices - which are the basic building blocks of the SimLab Geometry.
• When a CAD model is meshed, it is converted into a SimLab Geometry in
which (FE-) Bodies, (FE-) Faces, (FE-) Edges and (FE-) Vertices are mapped
with the same ID of the corresponding CAD entities (Volumes, Surfaces, Lines
and Points).
• SimLab expects most of the geometry to be imported from a CAD system, but
allows the creation of simple FE-geometry entities, in addition to the possibility
of editing, morphing and de-featuring the existing mesh.

Overview
Commands allowing the modification / editing of existing FE-geometry are spread

among different SimLab ribbons, namely Geometry, Features and Assembly.

Geometry
The Geometry ribbon and each of the submenus Edge | Create,

Face | Create, Face | Modify and Body | Create contain
commands to create, combine and modify geometric entities
such as:
• Edges
• Faces
• Bodies

Geometry | Edge | Create
Edge | Create | Edge offset

• Creates edges inside a face by
offsetting the boundary edges.
Edge | Create | Element Edge • Can be used to trim washer or
• Converts Element Edges (“black edges”) welding faces.
into Geometry Edges (“white edges”).
• Can be used to split Faces.
Face1 Face2

Geometry | Edge
Edge | Split Edge | Merge

• Splits an edge into two or more • Merges two or more edges into a
edges by adding vertices. single edge by removing vertices.

Geometry | Edge | Chain
Edge | Chain
Used to split faces by creating a
Topo-Edge on a chain of Element
Edges.
With the option Create face it is
possible to introduce a pretension
surface for a solid bolt
With the option

Create face it is
possible to introduce
a pretension surface
for a solid bolt

Geometry | Face | Create
New face – from existing

elements
New face - • Converts Element Edges
primitives: into Geometry Edges,
• Rectangle trimming a new face.
• Cylinder
New face – from existing edges

• Use Edges for most cases
• In case of Planar Faces consider using

Mesh|Modify|Fill Holes|Edge|Single Face New face – from
existing nodes
• 4 Nodes
(Rectangle)
• N Nodes (Polygon)

Geometry | Face | Merge
Merge Faces:
• Face merging suppresses all edges between two or more faces merging them.
• The options Merge, Preserve and Split by angle determine what happens with the
boundary edges of the merged face (i.e. the external edges which are not suppressed).

Geometry | Face | Split
Split Faces:
• This panel is used to automatically divide one or more faces into more faces by
creating edges based on an angle (By an angle) or on the face shape (By feature).
• Split Faces can be used every time a definition for certain edges/faces is missing,
for instance, when a mesh is imported from a solver deck.
• By an angle: this option is used to break faces using a specified feature angle, i.e.
the angle between adjacent elements. You can choose to create only closed edge
loops, or to accept floating edges as well (i.e. open loops internal to a face).
• By feature: this option is used to extract planar and cylindrical faces. It can be
used only on whole bodies in which a certain feature is already present.
By angle By
45° feature

Geometry | Face | Break
Break Faces:
• Allows to split one face into two faces by drawing a new edge between two
nodes (or vertices) or between an edge and a node (or vertex).
• A re-mesh is required after splitting to improve the mesh’s quality.
• As an alternative one could also use Geometry | Body | Break on faces.

Geometry | Face | Replace
Replace Face:
• Replaces a face or set of faces in
a body (even in a solid body) with
new faces.
• The option Free edge boundary
allows to replace missing or deleted
faces.
• Three nodes must be specified on
both the new and the old geometry
to define the transformation.
• Boundary edges between current
and new faces must match. Even
though, the mesh on the boundary
between the new and current faces
can be similar or dissimilar.

Geometry | Face | Modify
Face | Modify:
• Advanced tools to edit surfaces.
• Some of them are useful for shell
modeling.
• See Help for further information. Flatten is used to align and remove tiny
faces adjacent to a base face. It can be
used to remove features such as fillets and
chamfers (see section about de-featuring).
Two tools are used to remove thin faces:
• Collapse elements of a thin face to its
midline or to a selected edge (for example,
it can be used for thin faces on top of ribs).
• Merge tiny FEM faces, which have a width
below the value specified by the user.

Geometry | Body | Create – Primitives
Coordinate-based tools to create shell bodies for geometric primitives such as:
• Blocks (cubes)
• Cylinders
• Spheres (also Hex solid body)
• Cones

Geometry | Body | Create – Extrude and Revolve
Entity-based tools to extrude, revolve and sweep both faces and edges in order to create:
• Solid (Hex/Wedge) Bodies (from faces or a polygon when using profile)
• Shell Bodies (from edges)
• Edges (from vertices)
It is possible to choose from different methods, each one has multiple options to choose from
as seen in the pictures below.

Geometry | Body | Create – Extrude and Revolve
Extrude Revolve Sweep

Geometry | Body | Create – From Existing Entity
Entity-based tools which create bodies from existing entities (shell |

body elements, faces)
• Entities are copied to a new body or simply moved.
• Use Create | From Faces | Duplicate and make shared faces to obtain a shell
body containing membrane elements from the outer surface of a solid body.
Membrane Elements

Geometry | Body | (Un)Merge
• Merge/Unmerge: merge two or more bodies into a single body, and vice versa.
• Equivalent to the Merge/Unmerge options accessible through the RMB Menu
when bodies are selected.
Merged
Un-
merged

Geometry | Body | Break – Plane
• Bodies or sets of faces can be broken apart using a plane, cylinder, box,
polygon or cone as the separation boundary.
• It works for shell bodies as well as for Parasolid CAD bodies.
• Options allow to create internal faces and to organize the entities into bodies.
• Similar results are obtained by using the Region Mesh Control while meshing.
Break | Plane

Geometry | Body | Break – Cylinder
Break | Cylinder

Features
The Features ribbon contains commands to:

• Create
• Remove (de-feature)
• Modify
geometrical features such as:
• Logos
• Holes/Cylinders
• Fillets
• Ribs/Thickness
• Circle/Radius
along with others.

Features | Create Rib
Create Rib
• Tool to create 2D or 3D ribs in order
to bolster the structure (Tri3 only).

Features | Modify FIllet
Features | Modify Fillet will let you modify an existing fillet by

changing its radius and the number of layers.
Use the Fillet ribbon from

the vertical selection list!

Features | Transform | Translate / Rotate
Features |Transform | Translate and Rotate are used to move a

group of faces without breaking their connectivity with adjacent
faces. Local re-mesh may be useful in case of big displacements.

Features | Transform | ChangeRadius /
ChangeThickness
Features |Transform |Change Radius and Change Thickness are

used to change the radius of a hole (or cylinder) or the thickness of
a rib without breaking their connectivity to the adjacent faces.
Local re-mesh may be necessary when there are big displacements

Features | Remove Fillet
Features | Remove Fillet removes fillet

faces de-featuring the geometry.
Use the Fillet ribbon from

the vertical selection list!

Features – Defeaturing Fillets
Features | Remove Fillet is not always the most efficient tool for de-featuring.
• For some cases more robust solutions such as Geometry | Face | Modify |
Flatten Face should be used.
• When dealing with planes, Assembly | Align | Plane should be used.
Moreover, an appropriate selection of the Mesh Control parameters could allow the de-featuring of
some small fillets directly by meshing:
• All fillets smaller than Minimum element size (Body Mesh Control) will be removed.
• Setting the angle per element = 90° in the Fillet Mesh Control may help remove fillets in particular cases.

Features | Remove Chamfer
Chamfers can be removed and projected onto adjacent (planar) faces.
• Select a chamfer loop with one click using the fillet selection mode.
• Select many chamfers at once using Select Features | Cones from the RMB Menu.

Features | Remove Logo
Tool used primarily to remove logos, part numbers and part names in a model.
The Logos’ faces can be preserved with a Preserve Entities | Face Edges mesh control.
Remove Logo can also remove

effectively blind holes, sockets
and all kind of “obstructions” on the
surfaces.

Features | Remove Hole
This tool removes solid holes from a body. (Not to be confused with Mesh | Fill Holes, tool for surface holes!)
• It removes both blind and through holes, and their chamfers (Remove cones).
• It is possible to select a body and a radius range, or the hole faces (1 face for each hole).

Features | Attribute
Useful when importing geometry to SimLab, since certain attributes might not be
recognized or are missing, specially circular and cylindrical attributes.
• Validate attributes of FEM bodies. Check if the Feature data is valid for all of the bodies.
• Remove (invalid) attributes from a Body or Face.
• Update missing attributes of CAD / FEM bodies.
Features with missing / Features after

removed attributes Update Attributes

Assembly | Align
• Use the Assembly | Align feature to move nodes by

projecting (“aligning”) faces or edges to shapes such as
planes, cylinders, spheres, circles, straight lines and
so on.
• The Assembly | Align operation is especially useful
before assembly operations, which are usually based on
feature shapes (such as plane, cylinder, disc, etc.) to
make the faces conform to these shapes, if some of the
nodes are slightly offset.
Notes:
• Similar functions can be found in the panel FEM | Node | Move.
The main difference between them is that Align modifies the mesh by reshaping features
such as faces and edges, unlike Move Node which operates directly on single nodes, even
when they are not grouped in faces.
• The tools in the panel Features | Modify should be considered in certain cases, such as
changing a hole radius, thickness or, if needed, to translate/rotate faces within a body.

Assembly | Align | Cylinder
Assembly | Align | Cylinder

• Reshape oval or polygonal faces into cylindrical faces.
• Change radius (on-screen manipulation of the cylinder
tool by dragging the transparent faces).

Geometry Assembly | Align | Plane
Assembly | Align | Plane
Planar, not aligned
Not planar
Planar, aligned

Assembly | Align | Line / Circle
Assembly | Align | Circle
Assembly | Align | Line

Exercise – Complete Workflow – Modify (1/2)

You can use the previous model,
or open the file:

…\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A3_Modify\A3_Housing_2DMesh.slb
Modify the geometry of the 2D Mesh performing each of the following operations at least one time:
1. Remove the part number with Features | Remove | Logo.

2. Remove some chamfers using Features | Remove | Chamfer or Geometry | Face | Modify |
Flatten Face.
3. Change the diameter of a hole or cylinder (no bolts) using Features| Change Radius (or Assembly
| Align | Cylinder).
Continue on the next slide
1. 2. 3.

Exercise – Complete Workflow – Modify (2/2)
4. Remove a small hole (2.5<radius<2.6) using Features | Remove | Hole.

5. Align a contact face plane at its base using Assembly | Align | Plane.
6. Optional: Remove some fillets using either Features | Remove | Fillets or Geometry | Face |
Modify | Flatten Face.
7. Optional: Create a washer face around a hole using Geometry | Edge | Create | Edge Offset
(consider re-meshing).
8. Volume Mesh the Carrier part of the assembly.
7.
4. 5.

04 – Assembly
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 4. Assembly:
• Modify
Intersections 2.1 2D Mesh
• Connect Bodies
• Imprint Entities
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

04 – Assembly
Overview
• Assembly | Modify: tools to prepare the geometry for the assembly process.
• Assembly | Imprint: tools for the local, entity based development of a
congruent mesh between entities.
• Assembly | Connect: automated creation of matching (shared) nodes
between components.
• Assembly operations are generally supported only for mesh bodies (with a
few exceptions for Parasolids, such as Boolean and Imprint).

04 – Assembly
Modify | Intersections
Assembly | Modify | Intersections: tool to check and resolve overlaps

and intersections between bodies, before they are assembled.
The featured operations are:
• Show intersection
• Delete intersection
• Convert overlap to penetration (useful before Boolean operations)

04 – Assembly
Modify | Align
Different components are usually assembled through feature shapes such as: plane,
cylinder, disc, etc. So, if the faces of a mesh body do not conform to these shapes, due to
few of the nodes being slightly offset, then they can be aligned properly before calling the
Assembly functions.
• Since the Assembly | Align functions are mainly used to modify geometries, the description
of this tool was already given in the Modify Geometry chapter.

04 – Assembly
Connect – Matching Mesh
The Assembly | Connect ribbon contains tools to connect FE-Bodies by creating

matching nodes – i.e. shared faces and edges.
• Join – automatically creates a matching mesh (shared entities) between selected
bodies.
• Features (Semi-Auto): allows to select faces or bodies, and to specify the face type
• All Features (Auto): automatically identifies joining and overlapping faces
• Separate – converts shared entities into pairs of identical entities with a
congruent mesh.
• Shared – displays shared entities (Faces/Edges) between the selected bodies.

04 – Assembly
Connect | Join | Cylindrical faces
Join | Cylindrical Faces – identifies and automatically joins matching

pairs of cylindrical faces within a tolerance.
• After joining, the faces will preserve the cylindrical mesh pattern.
• Mesh size or the number of mesh divisions can be specified.
Show Join

04 – Assembly
Connect | Join | Planar faces
Join | Planar Faces – identifies and joins pairs of planar faces.

• Shape: this option will modify the mesh on both sides.
• Mesh: Entities selected under Preserve faces will be preserved
as much as possible. This is important in case of slightly different
non-aligned borders, to decide which edge should be preserved
upon collapsing.
Show Join

04 – Assembly
Connect | Join
• Join | General Faces: is used to identify and join overlapping

faces which are not included in the main options (cylinders, hollow
discs, matching, planar and partial). However, a cylindrical face
pair joined with General could lose the cylindrical mesh pattern.
• Join | All features: fully automatic way of identifying and joining
overlapping faces. (The output will be presented in a new model).
In case of complex geometry, for instance in Molded parts, it could be

quite difficult to obtain a good match with Join | General. A
recommended process would be to:
• Create a congruent mesh on the sides you want to join using
Geometry | Face | Replace.
• Create the shared faces using Join | Matching Faces.

04 – Assembly
Connect | Re-meshing Shared Faces
Re-meshing Shared Faces:

• After joining, re-meshing the shared faces can be quickly done in the Mesh | Re-mesh panel
by selecting the whole bodies. Only the shared faces will be re-meshed.
• If you used the option Preserve Mesh in the Assembly | Join panel, you may have to provide
the faces with a Preserve MC to avoid the collapse of small edges while re-meshing. This is
important in case of slightly different faces with non-aligned borders.

04 – Assembly
Connect | Separate
Assembly | Separate: is a tool used to separate shared entities (Faces, Edges, Vertices)
between bodies.
• After separating the entities each body will have its own entities. Nodes will be coincident,
i.e., different nodes with different IDs will occupy the same place.
• Using Separate after Join is a quick way to obtain a congruent not-shared mesh.

04 – Assembly
Connect | Shared Entities
• Assembly | Shared: review shared faces of a body or

between selected bodies.

04 – Assembly
Connect | Boolean and Fusion
Assembly | Connect | Boolean allows to perform Boolean operations between bodies with
intersections.
• Combine – join bodies preserving (or not) internal faces.
• Remove – subtract bodies.
• To obtain an intersection, choose the Combine option while preserving internal faces in all
bodies and proceed to delete the external parts.
• Three options are available for Parasolid CAD bodies: Union, Intersection and Subtraction.
• Use Align | Intersection to manage / convert, overlapping and penetration between bodies.
Assembly | Connect | Fuse is used to fuse bodies, that intersect or go through each other, into
a single volume by closing the gaps between them.

04 – Assembly
Imprint
The Assembly | Imprint ribbon provides tools to imprint single or

multiple entities on other faces or edges in order to obtain a
coincident mesh (as shared faces or as a pair of congruent entities).

04 – Assembly
Imprint | Face on Face / Gasket
• Assembly | Imprint | Face on Face and Assembly | Imprint | Gasket create a

congruent mesh on overlapping faces within a tolerance.
• If the faces are not overlapping, and the gap between them must be preserved, you
can first project a copy of the reference face on the target face, for example using
Geometry | Transform | Translate or Offset.

04 – Assembly
Imprint – Edges
• Different tools in Assembly | Imprint allow the creation

of new edges on faces or to imprint existing ones.

04 – Assembly
Exercise – Assembly
Import one of following geometries:
.. \Models\4_Assembly\A_engine_model1.xmt_txt
.. \Models\4_Assembly\ B_block_hole_with_clearance.xmt_txt
.. \Models\4_Assembly\ C_Assy_2bodys.xmt_txt
Complete the following operations:

1. 2D Surface mesh
2. Join
3. Merge
4. Geometry | Body | Show internal faces
5. Show adjacent face
6. Local Re-mesh
7. Unmerge
A_engine_model1.xmt_txt B_block_hole_with_clearance.xmt_txt C_Assy_2bodys.xmt_txt

05 – Cleanup and Repair
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 5. Cleanup and
Repair:
2.1 2D Mesh
• Local Remeshing
• Topology 3. Modify 4. Assembly
Verification
• Topology Repair
• Manual Cleanup 2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
• Element Quality
Cleanup
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

Overview
The ribbons Mesh and FEM contain tools to repair topology and fix the
quality of the elements. The following operations can be performed:
• Quality improvement through local re-mesh
• Verification and correction of the mesh topology
• free edges,
• non-manifold edges,
• intersections
• Element/Node based local mesh modification
• Element quality check and cleanup

Local Remeshing – Re-mesh
• Local remeshing through Mesh | Re-mesh is mainly used:

• for cleanup after operations such as: de-featuring, body
joining, face merging, body/face breaking and so on;
• to refine/coarsen the mesh locally.
• Preserve boundary edges determines whether adjacent
faces will be affected or not.
• Note: Re-mesh works only on a Surface Mesh. If there
are solid bodies and you wish to re-mesh, select the body
then Delete Solid Elements from the RMB menu.
Preserve boundary edges: ON Preserve boundary edges: OFF

Local Remeshing doesn’t need to be performed always on entires surfaces:
On Edges:
ideal for the clean up after
assembly operations or
for local refinement.
On Elements

Re-mesh – Additional remarks:

• The local re-mesh won’t consider any Mesh Control defined on the CAD
bodies! Only MCs assigned to the FE Bodies will take effect. You can:
• add the selected faces to the MC you wish to use;
• use Transfer from the Mesh Control Panel to re-create the MCs on the mesh.
• Re-mesh cylindrical holes, using the Isoline Mesh Control (instead of the
Cylinder Mesh Control) and turn off Preserve boundary edges.
• To re-mesh shared faces after using Assembly | Join, just select the bodies and
SimLab will re-mesh only the faces shared between them.
• If you used the Preserve Mesh option in the Assembly | Join panel, you may
have to use a Preserve MC to avoid small edge collapse when remeshing.

Local Remeshing – Grid Mesh (MxN Meshing)
Mesh | Grid Mesh is an important remeshing tool to obtain a mapped mesh (90 degree triangulation) with
a given number of elements (“MxN”).
• The surface doesn’t need to be a 4-sided face. If the face can’t be reduced explicitly into a 4-sided shape, the
input of 4 nodes will be requested to establish the direction.
• Grid Mesh requires only one face as input. Use Merge Faces to apply the Grid Mesh on several faces.
• Use Project to the input face to make a finer approximation of the shape belonging to the original face. It can be
used on curved faces to preserve the geometry (nodes will be projected along the face).
• Note: the MCs to acquire the “MxN”-structure straight from the CAD are: Mesh Pattern | Iso Mesh, IsoLine and, of
course, Fillet and Cylinder.
Merge Grid

Local Remeshing – Layers
Use Mesh | Layers to change the number of layers for elements present in iso-meshed
faces such as cylinders and hollow discs (and also in 2.5D solid map meshed bodies).
Cylinder
Hollow
Disc

Local Remeshing – CAD Based Remeshing

• A face or a set of faces could have been so severely damaged that a re-mesh
will no longer be possible.
• In such cases, it is possible to return to the CAD and re-mesh the faces you
wish to fix, including, preferably, adjacent faces as well.
• Replace the damaged faces with new ones using Geometry | Face |
Replace.

Local Remeshing – Exercise

Open the file:
…\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A3_Modify\A3_Housing_2DMesh.slb
1. Generate an Isoline-mapped mesh on selected faces by using
• Face Merge + Grid Mesh or
• Isoline Mesh Control + Re-mesh
2. Change the number of element layers on a washer and on cylinders with Mesh | Layers
3. If something goes wrong, mesh selected CAD faces and replace the damaged FE-faces using
Geometry | Face | Replace.

Topology Verification
The Topology Verification tools are used to verify if a 2D shell mesh fulfills all of the
topological requirements to allow a volume mesh.
• Mesh enclosure (“Water tightness”) checked with both Mesh | Verify | Edges and
Mesh | Verify | Folds, and Cracks and Wedges are verified with Mesh | Verify |
Folds.
• Non-Manifold Edges (allowed only for shared and internal faces) are checked with
Mesh | Verify | Edges.
• For a no self-intersecting or self-overlapping mesh use Mesh | Verify | Intersection.

Topology Verification – Free Edges
Mesh | Verify | Edges locates and isolates topological issues in an

outer-surface mesh:
• Free Edges (displayed in orange): element edges belonging to only Non-manifold Edge
Free Edge
one shell element. Never allowed in solid modeling!
• Non-Manifold Edges: (displayed in yellow): element edges
belonging to three or more shell elements. Allowed when having
internal/shared faces.
• In the Free-Edge view, element patches containing errors are

isolated. The patches disappear in real time as soon as they get
fixed.
• Enlarge/reduce the patch size with RMB | Add/Remove Layer.
• Exit the Free-Edge View with RMB | Redisplay.

Topology Verification – Intersection
Mesh | Verify | Intersection locates and isolates the self-

intersection and the self-overlap of an outer-surface mesh
which has to be filled with a volume mesh. Intersections
are highlighted in orange.
• In the Intersection view, the element patches containing errors

are isolated. Patches will disappear in real time as soon as they
are fixed.
• Exit the Intersection View with RMB | Redisplay.
• The panel Mesh | Intersection should not be confused with the
panel Assembly | Modify Intersections:
• Mesh | Verify | Intersection: used to find self-intersections
within a shell body, to allow a volume mesh.
• Assembly | Modify Intersections: mainly used to find and
modify the overlap between different bodies allowing
assembly operations.

Topology Repair – Fill Holes
• Mesh | Fill Holes is a tool used to repair (fill in) breaks (holes) in the outer surface of a body.
• If the option Body or Faces is selected, all free edge loops within the body or sets of faces
will be filled.
• Use Mesh | Verify | Edges to check for residual open loops.
• Note: Mesh | Fill Holes is a repairing tool of the shell mesh, and should not be confused
with Feature | Remove Hole, which is a de-featuring tool to remove design holes such as
bolt connections or lubrication channels.

Topology Repair – Fill Holes
• Mesh | Fill Holes with the option Edge | Single Face checked, gives a
practical way to re-create missing (preferably planar) faces.
• Pick the external free edge loop and any internal edge loop which will be
subtracted from the output face.
• With Fill Partial Loop it is possible to create (planar) faces also from an
open loop of edges.
Internal
Loops
External Loop

Topology Repair – Fill Cracks and Slots
• Mesh | Fill Cracks allows to fill cracks and slots from selected faces or bodies.
• Cracks are defined as a closed loop of free element edges with an angle smaller than 30°.
No new elements are created to fill in the cracks.
• Slots are cracks with a minimum angle of at least 30°. If the minimum edge length allows it,
the slot will be filled by creating new elements, otherwise the slot is closed by collapsing
edges and equivalent nodes.
Crack Slot

Topology Repair – Stitch Edges
Assembly | Imprint Edges on Edges is a straightforward method to fill cracks,

slots or missing shell mesh geometry by stitching edges.
• Select the Input and Target edges (the shape of the target edge will be preserved).
• The Tolerance will be automatically defined, but can be modified by the user.
Target
edge(s)
For some cases, use

the FreeEdge Loop
selection
Input edge(s)

Manual Repair Tools – Mesh | Modify
Tools to edit elements manually
Swap Edge Collapse Edge Equivalence Node

Manual Repair Tools – Mesh | Modify
Quad to Tris
Split Edge
Combine Tris to quad

Manual Repair Tools – Create Element
Create Element
Note: if a panel doesn’t allow to create a Tri6, you can still fill holes in a second order
mesh with first order elements (Tri3). This will not be seen as a free edge: SimLab will
convert everything to linear or quadratic as soon as the volume mesh is created.

Manual Repair Tools – FEM Ribbon
The FEM Ribbon features additional FE-entity-based tools to check

and fix the mesh manually, such as:
• FEM | Create Node by coordinates, arcs, centroid…
• FEM | Delete (Orphan) Nodes
• FEM | Move Node
• FEM | Equivalence Nodes to stitch together free nodes (different
selection options available).
• FEM | Show (Free) Nodes to identify free nodes.
• FEM | Separate Nodes

Manual Repair Tools – Update Model
• When you work directly with FE-Entities such as Elements

and Nodes, topology entities (namely vertices, edges and
faces) are NOT always created, and you may have nothing
more than new element edges and nodes.
• Before you continue working on a model it could be useful to
use Update Model (right click the model name in the
Assembly Tree): the topology will be updated, free element
edges will be converted into topology edges, IDs of new faces
will be defined, and so on.

Element Quality Check & Cleanup
Quality Check
• SimLab generates a mesh that can be used for different types of analyses. For
each of these analyses, the mesh should meet a certain quality criteria.
• Since the definition of these quality measures can differ from one software to
another, refer to the SimLab Help to understand how each criteria is computed.
F1-Help

Element Quality Check & Cleanup
Element Type:
Select a body
taking into
account the
Element Type.
Clean Up:
automatic element
Compute: will show the Min and Max Display: shows the clean up for the
values as well as the percentage of elements that fail the quality selected criteria.
failure. Elements not satisfying the given test. Only 1 element quality
criteria will show a failure percentage. can be shown at a time.

Find Element by ID
• If you need to identify an element (or a node) with a particular ID,

use the Search by ID option (right click the model name in the
Assembly Tree).
• To isolate the element, create an element group containing it and
proceed to select the element from the Group Tree.

Exercise
Import the file:
… \5_Cleanup_Repair \Manual_cleaning.gda
1. Import the GDA part.

2. Verify elements using Free Edge and Elem intersection.
3. Clean the part using:
a) Create element, Split, Swap, Collapse, Equivalence and Combine
b) Fill Cracks and Fill holes
c) Delete Floating Edges

06 – Connections
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 6. Connections:
• Connectors
• 1D Bolts 2.1 2D Mesh
(NVH Bolts)
• 3D Bolts
(Solid Bolts)
• Contacts 2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

06 – Connections
Overview
Connectors Contact Bolt Modeling

• RBE Definition • 1D Bolts (NVH Bolts)
• MPC • 3D Bolts
• Bar
• Pretension
• Spring
• …

06 – Connections
Connectors
Automatic, semi-automatic and manual creation of

connectors for structural and thermal analysis:
• Rigid (RBE2, RBE3, RBAR)

• Bar Element
• Bush, Spring, Damper
• MPC
• Joint
• Gap Element
• Plot Element
• Matrix Element

06 – Connections
Connectors – Rigids (RBE, RBAR)
RBE2/RBE3 “One-to-many” (Spider)

• Select Bodies / Faces / Edges and then Centroid as
Center Node,
or
• Select the Center Node from the Arc center.
RBE2 “One-to-one”
• Select from Independent and Dependent Nodes
or
• Select Faces / Edges with a congruent mesh

06 – Connections
Connectors – Rigids – Check/Edit
Edit RBE
• Add / Remove / Change
Independent / Dependent nodes
Show Attached
• Finds nodes attached to connectors
• Works for RBE / Bar / MPC / Spring
Query RBE (Select Body + RMB)

• Finds RBEs attached to the selected body

06 – Connections
Connectors – MPC (Equations)
• MPC Creates multi-point constraint equations between two sets

of nodes (typically between groups of identical faces).
• Use Cyclic MPC to link opposite faces in models with angular
pattern repetition (an identical node pattern is required).

06 – Connections
Connectors – Special Connectors

06 – Connections
Bolt Modeling – Method Overview

Bolt Modeling
Menu: Advanced | Bolt Modeling
1D Modeling (NVH Bolt) 3D Modeling (Solid Bolt)

Rigid/Bar Tet/Hex
Quick Advanced Automatic CAD Pattern Face/Group

Pretension Head + Template Based Template Based
Thread + Based Based
Connection

06 – Connections
1D Bolts (NVH Bolts) – Modeling
Picture: Prof. Dr. Dieter H. Pahr
• 1D Bolt Modeling lowers model complexity.

• Bolt Head: RBE Spider
• Preferably use RBE3 elements to transfer loads without increasing stiffness
• Use RSpider = (RHead+RHole) / 2
• Bolt Shaft: Bar Elements
• Assign Property / Section / Material
• Use at least 2 bar elements
• Define a Pretension Load between the bars to simulate Bolt Tension

06 – Connections
1D Bolts (NVH Bolts) – Overview
Quick 1D Bolt
Automatic 1D Bolt
Advanced / Multiple 1D Bolt

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Quick Method – Through Hole
Trough Hole
Pick hole
Spider scale
Bar / Pretension

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Quick Method – Edit
• Bolt Modeling | 1D Bolt Pretension creates

RBE / Bar bodies in the Assembly Tree and
a Static Load for the pretension in the Loads
and Constraints Tree.
• To edit / delete a bolt and / or its pretension,

open the related Automation Object in the
Loads and Constraints Tree.

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Quick Method – Threaded Hole
Thread Hole
Pick hole
Thread
Spider
Bar / Pretension

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Advanced / Multiple
Head / Nut Thread 1D 1D Connection / Pretension

1D Modeling Modeling • Head+Nut  Through Bolt
• Head+Thread  Threaded Bolt

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Advanced / Multiple – Head / Nut
Head / Nut Creation (Face Based)

• Model multiple Bolt Heads for each
hole in a face(s).
Select the following:
• Head / Nut Type
• Faces to search in
• Diameter Range
Edit by selecting the Automation

Object “Head” in the Loads and
Constraints Tree.

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Advanced / Multiple – Thread
Thread Creation (Face Based)

Similar to the Bolt Head creation, the
thread can be modeled by selecting:
• Thread Type
• Faces to search in
• Diameter Range
• Depth/Pitch of the spider
Edit by selecting the Automation

Object “Head” in the Loads and
Constraints Tree.

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Advanced / Multiple – Connection 1/2
Connection
• Select the automation objects (Head/Thread)
from the Loads and Constraints tree then
click on Apply to create the connection.
• Pick two Head Objects (e.g. Head and Nut)
when using the Through option.
• Several connection types are available (also
with pretension). Check the Help Menu (F1) for
additional information.

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Advanced / Multiple – Connection 2/2
Connection
• Head and Thread (or Nut) can be connected as
well using Rigid Bar or Equivalence.
• Use Bolt Modeling | Rigid Bar to connect the
centers of the RBE Spiders or end nodes of the
Bars through Rigid Elements.
• Use Bolt Modeling | Equivalence mainly to fix
free nodes of Bar Elements.

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Automatic
Import Bolt
• Automatic, template-based
creation of 1D Bolt
Connections.
• The Automation is based on
the Body Names.
• The *.dat Template contains
the definition of:
• Head
• Thread
• Connection
• For additional information
regarding the syntax in the
Bolt Template refer to the
Help Menu.

06 – Connections
1D Bolts – Exercises
Open the file:
..\6_Connections_Bolts_Contacts\B_1D_Bolts\Through_Hole\Sample_BarPretension.slb
Try different 1D Bolt creation methods:

1. Through Hole using 1D Bolt Pretension (Quick Method)
2. Threaded Hole using 1D Bolt Pretension (Quick Method)
3. Other modeling types using Bolt Head, Bolt Thread and one of the connection
methods.
Optional:
4. Edit the Bolt Modeling through the Automation Objects in the Loads and Constraints
Tree.
5. Run an analysis with OptiStruct to view the effects of the pretension.
Open the file:

..\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A6_Connections_Bolts_Contacts
\A6_Housing_3DMesh.slb
1. Use 1D Bolt Pretension (quick method) to materialize a Threaded Hole
connection between the Carrier and Cover parts.
or
2. Use Import Bolt to import the Solid Bolt Template
transmissional_housing_1D_Bolt.dat

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Overview
CAD Based
Solid Bolt
• Pattern / Template 3D Pretension

Based
• Face / Group Based

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – CAD Based
CAD-Based Solid Bolts: Bolted Joint

• Creates 100%-Hex Bolts from CAD Bolts. Inputs requested:
• Mesh Size along the radial and axial directions.
• Number of elements along the circumference.
• Multiple bolt creation is allowed.
• Bolted Joint creates a circular bolt even for screws with a
hexagonal head or a hexagonal socket.
• Pretension cut has to be created separately using
Advanced | Bolt Modeling | Solid Pretension.
• If required, the angular position can be adjusted with
Geometry | Transform | Position.
Mesh Size and Angular Division: enter the

same values used in the Cylinder Mesh
Control of the Bolt Hole to obtain a congruent
mesh between the Bolt and the Flange.

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Pattern Based
Pattern-Based Solid Bolts

1. Choose any of the available Bolt Patterns, for instance
1
with/without shrinkage or with/without washer.
2. Set Mesh Size (axial/radial) and No. of elements along
2 circumference (preferably, use the same values used in
the Mesh Control for the bolt’s hole).
3. Define the Pivot Point (the central point right under the
3 Bolt Head):
• Select the X / Y / Z coordinate of the Pivot Point.
• Pick an arc edge (i.e. the upper edge of the upper hole).
4 4. Define the direction, orientation and offset of the bolt’s
axis (for example +/- Y Axis, offset to arc center).
5. Define the Bolt parameters according to the reference
picture. Instead of typing each value, it is possible to pick
5
arc edges or nodes on the existing hole/bolt
mesh/geometry (see the example on the next page).
6. Click on Apply.
Click on Export to save the template. The new Bolt will
6 already have a pretension cut.

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Pattern Based – Example
Pattern-Based Solid Bolts Pivot

Example – Pattern1: picking the
D1
bolt parameters on the geometry.
L5
L2
L3
D2
L4

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Template Based
Pattern-Based Solid Bolts:

Xml Template
• Use the Import/Export functions to save/load
bolt templates with the *.xml filename
extension.
• You can create your own bolt library.
• Imported solid bolts can be repositioned
using Geometry | Transform | Position.

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Face/Group Based

(Automatic)
Face/Group-Based Solid Bolts:

• Requires an aligned mesh between the Washer faces
(hollow disc faces) and Thread faces (cylinder faces).
• Creates an automatically congruent mesh between
the Hex Bolt and the connected bodies.
Pick washer faces or group.

Use Select Features | Hollow
Discs
Pick thread faces or group.

Use Select Features | Cylinder
or
Groups are automatically

generated when defining
contacts and the pretension.

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Hole Meshing Tips

The following tools allow an optimal mesh on bolted bodies:
1. Hole Faces (Thread):
• General case: use Cylinder Mesh Control for connected parts.
• In case of an unaligned hole division, use the IsoLine Mesh Control
with the option Merge faces sharing axial edges. Coaxial holes
sharing the same mesh control will be aligned.
2. Washer Faces (Head):
• General case: use Washer Mesh Control for the bolt’s head. Unaligned hole division
Consider using Select features | Circles to quickly select the circular edges on the
face.
• If the hollow disc faces are already imprinted on the CAD, use IsoLine Mesh Control
(with the axial parameter to be intended as radial) or Mesh Pattern | Iso Mesh to
obtain the structured mesh of the washer.
• To create a Washer Face on an existing mesh body
use Geometry | Edge | Create | Edge Offset.
Pick the option Offset selected edges on faces.

06 – Connections
3D Bolts (Solid Bolts) – Bolt Positioning
• The easiest way to align an existing bolt to its

hole is by using:
Geometry | Transform | Position
• Use the option Copy | with LBC to copy the bolt (including the
Pretension Load) into other holes.

06 – Connections
3D Bolts – Solid Pretension
Solid Pretension:
• Select: if the pretension cut already exists
(typically, when the bolt was created by SimLab
with Advanced | BoltModeling | Create Bolt).
Pick one shared face or a face pair when
having disconnected bodies.
Bolts created with the • Create: if the body has not yet been cut (i.e.,
Face/Group Based for CAD-Based Bolt creation with Advanced |
Method, will have their BoltModeling | Bolted Joint) pick the bolt’s body
pretension faces already
grouped here. and define the plane.
• Find: similar to Select, but allows to pick the
body instead of the faces.
• After doing the pretension, the bolt’s body is
divided into 2 separate volumes (divided by a
gap, if requested). Use the Body
Merge/Unmerge function to organize the
An alternative –quick– way to create a
pretension cut is by using: volumes into different bodies.
Geometry | Edge | Chain | Create Face. • The Pretension load(s) will appear under the
See Chapter 3 - Modify Geometry for more Loads and Constraints | Static Loads tree.
information.

06 – Connections
Contacts
Create
Contact
Define Surf Define

Interaction Clearance /
(Friction) Interference

06 – Connections
Contacts – Conditions (Friction, Interference)
Surface Interaction: Press Fit:

Defines interaction properties for Defines clearance or
contact analysis - (i.e. Friction, interference behavior for
Separation, Overclosure). contact pairs.
New Contact Conditions
will appear in the Loads
and Constraints Tree.

06 – Connections
Contacts – Contact Creation
Feature Based Pair

Contact Entities Identification
• Bodies • All
• Faces • Planar
or use Auto contact • Cylindrical
Contacts listed creation

under Loads
and Constraints • Surf Interaction
(Friction)
• Solver • Press-fit behavior
• Contact Card
Options

06 – Connections
Contacts – Feature Based (Planar / Cylindrical)
Contact Pair Identification Example: Solid Bolts
Head: FRICTION (or TIE) contact on Thread: TIE contact on CYLINDRICAL

PLANAR Faces. Faces.
Different bolt
bodies merged
into a single body

06 – Connections
Contacts – Contact Query / Contact Edit
Browser: Full Contact Editing
Query Contact on Body: Quick Contact Editing

06 – Connections
Contacts – Templates Based
Contact Template – Name Based (bodies, sets, face groups)
Export from
existing model
Automatic Creation
in new model

06 – Connections
3D Bolts and Contacts – Exercises

Open the file:
...\6_Connections_Bolts_Contacts\C_3D_Bolts\GroupFace_Based\SolidBolt.slb
1. Create 3D Bolts (Face / Group Based) using

Advanced | Bolt Modeling | Create Bolt | Pattern1 Using Face / Group
2. Create the Solid Pretension for the bolts.
3. Define TIE Contacts between the two components of the bolts.
4. Optional: Export a Contact Template.
5. Optional: Run a Simulation with Optistruct.
Open the file:

...\6_Connections_Bolts_Contacts\C_3D_Bolts\Pattern_Template_CAD_Based\Diff
Gear.gda
1. Use Advanced | Bolt Modeling | Create Bolt | Import Bolt to import the bolt
M8_Hex_bolt_Cover_Carrier_Pattern4.xml
Or
Import the CAD transmissional_3d_bolts_v1.xmt_txt containing the Bolts’
geometry and create one solid bolt using Advanced | Bolt Modeling | Bolted
Joint.
2. Create the Solid Pretension for the bolt.
3. Position and copy the bolt into the other holes of the Cover using
Geometry | Transform | Position

06 – Connections
Automated 1D Bolts and Contacts – Exercise
Open the file:

...\6_Connections_Bolts_Contacts\E_Contact_Bolt_template\DiffGear.gda
1. Use Import Bolt to import the 1D Bolt Template Bolts.dat

2. Use Analysis | Contact | Import to import the contact template
Contact_Template.dat

06 – Connections
Exercise – Complete Workflow – Auto 3D Bolts

Continue using the model from previous chapters
Or
Open the file:
...\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\ A6_Connections_Bolts_Contacts \A6_Housing_3DMesh.slb
1. Use Select Features to create:

• A face group containing the threaded holes (Cylinders) on the Carrier.
• A face group containing the washers (Hollow discs) on the Cover’s upper face.
2. Create solid bolts automatically using the groups:
• Advanced | Bolt Modeling | 3D Bolt | Create Bolt - choose the method Pattern1 Using Face/Group
• Select the groups from the Group Browser respectively as Thread Face and Washer Face.
3. Merge the 10 Bolts into a single (Bolt) body. Move the Bolt body into the main Model (assembly).
4. Pretension the bolts (OptiStruct) using Advanced | Bolt Modeling | 3D Bolt | Solid Pretension. Use the group with the
pretension faces that was automatically created along with the bolts.
5. Create OptiStruct Contacts with Analysis | Contact
• Use a TIE contact type
• Search for Cylindrical contacts between the Bolts and the Carrier
• Search for Planar contacts between the Bolts and the Cover
• Search for Planar contacts between the Cover and the Carrier
6. Explore the created contacts using Query Contact
7. Export a Name-Based Contact Template from Loads and Constraints
Browser | Contacts
Save the file to continue working with this setup in the next chapter.

07 – Analysis
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 7.1 Analysis
Setup:
2.1 2D Mesh
• Loads & Constraints
• Load Steps 3. Modify 4. Assembly
• Material & Property
• Sets
• Export Solver Deck 2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

07 – Analysis
Overview
Loads and Constraints

• Loads
• Pressure Sets
• Force • Node
• … • Shell Element Material and Property
• Constraints • Solid Element • Material
• Fixed • RBE • Define
• Enforced • Automatic • Manage Load Case
• … • … • Transfer and Solver
• Thermal • Property Setup
• Flux • Solid
• Convection • Shell
• … • Bar
• …

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints
Loads and constraints in SimLab are generally entity based,

i.e. it is possible to apply them on Faces, Edges and Bodies
(and of course, on Nodes and Elements).
• Existing Loads and Constraints are listed in the Model Browser.

• Double click the name of a Load / Constraint to edit it or to add /
remove entities.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints | Coordinate System
Create: establish a Local Coordinate System (LCS)

• Rectangular
• Cylindrical
• Spherical
Transform: perform a translation or rotation.
Assign: assigns nodes to a LCS.

• Geometric: define the coordinates of the
node with respect to a LCS.
Local Coordinate Systems • Analysis: define the displacement / degrees
are under the Loads and of freedom of the nodes.
Constraints tree.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints | Coordinate System –

Create
• Every option allows a spherical, cylindrical or
rectangular CS Type.
• They differ mainly in the element which has to
be selected to define the CS.
Node selection
Face selection
Edge selection
Cylindrical Face is especially useful to define

the Z-axis of the CS along a cylindrical axis.
• Select a Cylindrical Face and click Apply.
• If required, click on the Point on R checkbox to
select a node in the R-axis direction.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Pressure
Pressure
Applies uniform or varying pressure loads on Solid
or Shell element faces. The pressure will be
applied opposite to the element’s normal direction.
Distributed pressure table

• A pressure distribution can be applied by creating or importing a table.
Pressure from Force
• Easier way to calculate the pressure exerted by a given force applied to selected faces
(sharing the same plane).
Represented by
Yellow arrows

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Force and Moment
Force and Moment

Applies a Force or Moment in a Global or Local
Coordinate System.
Force:
Pink arrow
Force: applied on nodes, edges (edge nodes)

and faces (face nodes). When applied on edges
or faces, the load can be distributed in 3 ways:
• Use Shape Function
• Divide equally on all nodes
Moment:
• Node force on each node
Orange arrow
Moment: can only be applied on nodes.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Bearing Pressure
Bearing Pressure
This option distributes a given load over nodes in a cylindrical face. The section
of the cylinder’s face in which the force will be distributed is specified by the:
• Semi Load Angle
• Cylindrical face
• Direction of the force
Right click the Bearing

Pressure (under Static
Loads in the Loads
and Constraints tree)
to show / hide the
contour.
Load Contour

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Body Force
Body Force
Defines Acceleration (gravity), Angular Acceleration, Angular Velocity
and Centrifugal Force.
It can only be applied on bodies.

Can be used on either a Global or
Local Coordinate System.
An axis has to be specified to apply
the Centrifugal Force.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Temperature
Temperature
Applies a static uniform or
varying temperature load on a
Body or Face.
Represented by
Pink markers

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Temperature
Distributed table:
• Define a spatially varying temperature
load. Right click the Temperature Load
in the Model Browser and select Show
Contour to view the distribution.
• The table can be modified at any time.
Load Contour
Read from file – node ID, temperature:

• Allows you to import temperature data in
a node ID, Temperature format. Include abaqus fil file:
• In the text / data file, be sure to use a • Give an Abaqus fil file from a
comma or space to separate the values. CFD or thermal analysis.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints | Thermal
Thermal
Offers a variety of tools to define several
thermal conditions such as Flux and
Convection. Unlike the temperature loads,
thermal loads aren‘t listed under the Static
Loads and supports detailed thermal analysis.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints – Mapping
Mapping
This option is used to map Loads from one mesh onto
another. It requires only reference data (Data Table or
Results Data) or additionally meshed models.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints | Constraints
Constraints
Constraints can be applied on nodes, edges, vertices
(fixed and velocity) or faces. Each constraint can be
defined according to a Local or Global Coordinate System.
Fixed:
• Defines fixed displacement and
rotational constraints. Represented by
Enforced: a Green marker
• Defines translational and
rotational displacement
constraints.
• A varying displacement
constraints Table can be created.
Velocity:
• Create velocity constraints for Represented by
implicit / explicit motion or a Blue marker
dynamic analysis.

07 – Analysis
Loads and Constraints | Mass
Mass
This option is used to apply mass to a node or to define a mass element. It
is particularly useful to calculate the mass properties, centroid and moment
of inertia of meshed bodies. Select either a Global or Local CS.
Represented by
a Blue marker
Calculated Mass Properties:

• Require a defined Property for the body to compute the values.
• You can Calculate the properties of multiple bodies as well.
• Can be exported in a *.csv format. Refer to the Help Menu for
more information regarding the format.

07 – Analysis
Sets
Manual set creation

• Entity based i.e. Node, Element, Vertex, Edge, Face
and Body.
Automatic set creation

• Uses entities predefined in Local Mesh Controls or
Groups, i.e. MC/Group based.
• Create Set Pairs: Create node, shell or solid element

sets to create contact pairs.

07 – Analysis
Sets – Sets vs Groups
Groups: SimLab Entities Sets: Solver Entities

• Are created in SimLab or in the CAD • Are exported to the solver.
System • Available for FE entities (Nodes,
• Exist only in SimLab: are not exported to Elements, Element Faces etc.).
the solver. • Created in SimLab through the Analysis
• Available for both Topology and FE Ribbon.
entities (Faces, Edges and Vertices; • Are listed in the LBC Tree of the Model
Nodes and Elements). Browser.
• Can be converted into Sets in the panel • Can be created effectively from existing
Analysis|Tools|Sets|Automatically Groups and Local Mesh Controls.

07 – Analysis
Sets – Manual Creation
Manual Set Creation

• Select the Set Type. (e.g. Node)
• Select the Input Entity. (e.g. Face). Each Set
Type has a limited number of Input Entities
available (see the table below).
• Click Apply.
All nodes on that Face will be added to a Set
and they will be listed under the Sets tree in the
Model Browser.
Input Entities Face Element Body Edge Vertex Node Region RBE
Node sets
Shell Element sets
Solid Element Face sets
Solid Element sets
Rigid Body Element (RBE) sets
Membrane Element sets
Nastran/OptiStruct ASet

07 – Analysis
Sets – Automatic Creation (Group/MC Based)
Automatic Set Creation

• It relies on predefined Mesh Controls or Groups to automatically create sets.
• Select the Set Type you would like to create for a specific MC / Group.

07 – Analysis
Sets – Template Export
Sets can be imported / exported as a

Set Template or as an Abaqus file.
From the File Menu you

can Import / Export Set
Templates with the *.xml
From the Model filename extension.
Browser you can
Import the sets name
and Export Sets with
the *.inp (Abaqus file)
filename extension.

07 – Analysis
Material and Property | Material
Material
This is option is used to define materials
for bodies. Material definitions can be
created for elastic, plastic, acoustic,
rubber, gasket and fluid structures.
To Define a material:
• Click on Material,
• Select the Category, Type and Model.
Materials will be listed • Enter material properties and click OK.
in the Property tab.
The material’s information can be

exported as an *.xml file.

07 – Analysis
Material and Property | Material – Manage / Transfer
Manage Transfer
Save and add a material’s information into a You can create or load a Material
separate database or select and add Materials database (with an *.xml format) to
into the Materials tree in the Model Browser. be used in any session.

07 – Analysis
Material and Property | Property
Property
Used to apply Solid, Shell, Bar, Membrane, Rigid Bar and Rigid Body
properties. There can only be one property (thus one material) per body.
• Properties can be viewed (and their names / IDs edited) in the Property tab.
To define a Property:
• Click on Property.
• Select the Category, Type and
Material.
• Proceed to enter material properties,
select the Element Type, select the
body on which the property will be
applied and click OK.
• Element types are solver specific.

07 – Analysis
Solve | Load Case
Load Case
• Organize and group various loads and constraints into different loading
combinations (as Nastran / OptiStruct Sub Cases or Abaqus Load Steps).
• Subcase definition, including analysis types, Solution Control Parameters and
Output Requests, can be set up for each load step.
Load Cases are listed

in the order in which
they were created. The
solver executes the
analysis following the
same order.

07 – Analysis
Solve | Load Case – Text Input
The Create Text input option allows you to create

solver cards which are not yet available in SimLab.
After saving the new card, it

will be listed under the Load
Cases in the LBC tree.

07 – Analysis
Solve | Load Case – Template Export
From the main menu File │ Import or Export │ Specifications you can
retrieve / save Load case Templates with the *.xml filename extension.

07 – Analysis
Solve | Solver Settings
Solver Setting defines solution parameter and output request

options for the chosen solver and analysis type.
If no solution parameters or output request is defined SimLab will write
default Solver Settings while exporting
The defined options
are listed in the
LBC browser.
Solver Settings can be

exported as a template
and reused for similar
analysis
(File|Export|Specification|
Solver Settings).

07 – Analysis
Solve | Export and Solve
Export and Solve

This option exports solver decks in text
format and allows you to run the solver
and load the results directly in SimLab.
• Each Solver has a list of supported
Analysis types.
• Load case: select which LC are to
be exported; if no LC is available, a
standard one is created.
• Write option: Export the solver deck
as a single file (Default) or separate
files (By Models / By Bodies).

07 – Analysis
Solve | Export and Solve
• Only the visible bodies and LBC are

exported to the solver deck.
• If the property is not defined for any
visible body in the database, SimLab will
define a default material (Steel) and
property. The options Solve and Data
• If no Load Case has been defined, Check invoke directly the
SimLab will create a default load case solver.
containing the defined loads and The solver should be linked
boundary conditions. to the SimLab Installation.
Please consult the chapter
Getting Started|SimLab
Installation|Solver Access to
Numbering is done per models in add your solver to SimLab.
SimLab. Meshed models can be
renumbered appropriately before or
during the export of a solver deck.

07 – Analysis
Exercise – Complete Workflow – Analysis

Or
Open the file:
...\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A7_Analysis\A7_Housing_3DBolts.slb
1. Go to Analysis | Coordinate | Create and define a Cylindrical CS on the faces of the bushing.
2. Define three Fixed constraints on the Carrier, with Analysis | Constraints | Fixed:
Constrains on
• Select the cylinders in both sides of the bush and constrain the displacements, in the Local CS, bushes (R,Z
for the R and Z axes and the other only in the R axis. and R axes)
• Place the last constraint on a face in the Z (Global) axis.
3. Create a RBE3 using Analysis | Connectors | Create RBE on the outer section of the Rotor bush.
4. Apply a force with Analysis | Loads | Force and Moment of 10e3 N in the Z axis
of the RBE’s Master Node.
Group the loads and constraints defined on the Carrier into a Load Case.
6. Export a solver input deck with OptiStruct and Solve. Rotor RBE+load (Z)
Continue on the next slide
Constraint (Z) Local CS

07 – Analysis
Exercise – Complete Workflow – Analysis

Optional steps:
1. Define a material for the Carrier, the Cover and the Bolts. Go to
Analysis | Material | Define.
2. Assign a material to each body using Analysis | Property.
3. Export and Solve using the Load Case defined for the Carrier instead of the default.
4. Group the loads and constraints defined on the Carrier, in Analysis | Load Case, into a single Load Case.
5. Go to Analysis | Export and Solve, and proceed to export and solve the solver input deck. Constrains on
• Use OptiStruct as solver. Be sure to change the CHECKEL solver card from Solver Default into No. bushes (R,Z
• Select a Linear Static analysis. and R axes)
Save the file to continue working with this setup in the next chapter.
Rotor RBE+load (Z)
Constraint (Z) Local CS

08 – Post Processing
Agenda
1. Import CAD/FEM
• 8.1 Post
Processing:
2.1 2D Mesh
• Import/Export
• Animation 3. Modify 4. Assembly
• View Results
• Query Results
• Tools 2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup
6. Connections
7. Analysis Setup

Overview

Importing Results
After solving within SimLab, the results file are loaded automatically.
Otherwise, result files can be imported as follows:
• From File | Import | Results, select the results file you wish to import.
• The option Results data will import only the results (WITHOUT THE MESH!) and
assign them to the currently loaded database. (Be aware: results and current model
should have the same numbering!).
• Importing a new results file will delete (overwrite) existing results or model data.

Importing Results
• The option Both imports the mesh together with the results (if available in the result file)
• This will avoid discrepancies due to renumbering between mesh and results.
• New models/bodies are added to the database.
• The new imported geometry typically does not have features (edges, faces) defined on
it. Creating faces in many cases can help the postprocessing.

Importing Results – Split Faces

To evaluate the results locally, you can isolate sections of the imported geometry
using Geometry | Split Faces.
• When there are no features present, it is useful to first split By angle, and then By
feature to extract planar and cylindrical faces.
• Select the sections you wish to view and then use RMB Menu | Reverse Hide to
display the isolated sections.

Results – Display/Hide Results
Display/Hide Results
• After importing a results file, you can Hide Results to view the model‘s
geometry.
• From the RMB Menu in the graphics area, click on Display Results to
view the results again.

rocessing All rights reserved.
Export Results
Export the result values for each node, either

with its Node ID or with its X, Y, Z coordinates.
• There are two export methods, namely data
fields and the deformed model.
• You can specify the Range of

results to export.
• You can export aText file or
SimLab table, of a a BDF
format as well.
Export the model after

deformation in a GDA, STL or
VRML file, with a given scale.

Export Results – Results Mapping
Besides exporting results as text files, it is

possible to create SimLab tables with the
same data.
In this way, the user can have coordinates of
the nodes and their results listed as a table.
• Click on File | Export | Export Results.
• This option is only available for X, Y, Z values.
• The table will be

displayed in the
Materials tab, under
Tables.
• Double click the table to
view its values or
change its name.

Export Results – Region
A user defined region can be

created to restrict the results
which will be exported.
Drag and pull any of its faces

Box defined to modify the box width.
for the Cover

Results | Select Loadcase
Select Loadcase
• Shows a list of all available load cases and sub frame results.
• Select the load case results you wish to view and click on Display.
• For a static analysis, the VonMises stress is displayed as default.
• The results for the

selected load case will be
available under the
Results tab from the
Model Browser.
• Double click the results
you wish to view.

Results – Vector Plot
In the Results tab, you can view the

vector representation of displacements
and main stress components.
• Select a face.
• Double click the solid
results you wish to view.
• Right-click the result to
view either the vector or
contour (default) plot.

Results | Contour – Options
Legend Settings
• Display a continuous or discrete color spectrum.
• Enter the Number of segments (1-25).
• Text format: choose from either Exponential or Float (Float |
Precision specifies the number of decimals).
Range display
• Set the color or transparency range to be displayed.
• The max and min values shown can be specified by the user.
• Changing Start or End Values is useful to isolate results, since
values outside of the range will be transparent.

Results – Animation
Contour | Animate
• Clicking on the Animate button will display the animation toolbar.
• The Animation Settings are accessed from the RMB Menu in
the graphics area.
In the Animation Settings, change the

animation sequence and options for the
Current or All load cases.
Specify the number of frames, animation
speed, direction and range.

Results | Deformation
You can view different axial deformation options in Results | Deformation.

• Enter a custom scale or leave the default option on (computes the best
scale factor automatically).
Resultant deformation
X deformation
(no Wireframe of
(with Wireframe of model)
undeformed model)
You can view the mesh lines of the

deformed model and a wireframe of
the undeformed model during the
animation´s result. Y deformation
Z deformation
• Select Display element edges from (no Wireframe of
(with Wireframe of model)
Animation Settings to view the edges. undeformed model)

Results – Cutting Plane View
Create a Cutting Plane to view different sections of the model.

• Click on Enable Cutting Plane from the View Toolbar to activate the plane.
• Right click the Graphics area to access the Cutting Plane Options.
Check the Element edge display to view the mesh lines and pick Reverse to
view the Wireframe of the undeformed model opposite to the cutting plane.
Section Cut
Section Cut (Element edges &
Reverse display)
• You can save the Cutting Plane View and

export it in File | Export | Specifications.
• Saved views will be available from the
RMB | Cutting Plane Views.

Results – Query results
Query results
• Query and export results values from selected nodes, elements and points.
• Are accessed via the RMB Menu from the Graphics Area.
• Nodes and elements will give the results value for each Node/Element ID.
• Points require its X, Y, Z coordinates as input, but has the option to enter Many points as a table as well.
• Choose the Result Component from either Displayed result or a selected Results Component, then
click on Query to view the Result.

Results – Min/Max values
Show Min/Max displays the minimum or

maximum results value and node ID for a
model or selected entities (Body, Face, Edge,
Node and Element).
• Accessed through the RMB Menu from the
graphics area.
• Click on Hide Min/Max to hide the values.

Results – Query results | Results spec
Query results
• Import a spec results file (.xml) containing the results components, from
which you wish to calculate the Max and Min values.
• Click on Query Results, Update and Export Spec to export another .xml
file with the Max and Min values for each component.
Input Output

Results | Hotspots
Hotspots
Identifies results regions for a given threshold and local region mesh
control (which refines the mesh) can be defined for every region.
• Select the Range.
• Click on Identify Hotspots to have the regions displayed.
• The Capture Image command will take screenshots of each region.

Results | X / Y Plot
X Y Plots
Plot result components for selected nodes in a X vs Y graph.
• Select one data type: Node ID, Loadcase/Frequency or XYZ.
• Pick the nodes from which the data will be taken and click Plot.
• Loadcase/Frequency plots
curves for the selected Load
cases on each node.
• Click on the X data to select load
cases.

Tools | Stress Resultant
Stress Resultant
Calculates the force and moment values for a selected face.
• Select one face then click on Compute.
• The X, Y and Z Component Results will be displayed as well as its Resultant.

Results | Frequency Response
Frequency Response allows you to view

the results (as plots or tables) of frequency
dependant loads on a structure.
• Select the modes you

wish to include in the
analysis in Mode
Contribution.
• Create or Modify Click on Compute Response after
tables (Load as a
entering all of the inputs (more info in the
function of frequency)
for each Node. Help Menu) to Plot or Export results.

Results | Frequency Response | Plot
• Select which nodes to plot

(or all of the nodes) and the
Plot data, including the
type of plot (Linear or Log).
• For more details on the
types of plots, refer to the
Help Menu.

Results | Frequency Response | Export
• Results can be exported for a selected

node and a specific output (or all of
the outputs).
• The calculated data will be saved as a
*.csv file.

Tools | Strain Gauge
Strain Gauge
Calculate the Strain/Stress value at any point (center node) in a given
direction. Strain results must have been read before calculating.
• The center node, the direction and the strain gauge dimensions are
required as input.
• Click on Calculate to show the value.
The results will be

displayed in the Output
window or they can be
exported as a *.txt file.

Bore Distortion
Bore Distortion
Determine the degree of cylinder bore distortion from displacements at
the bore surface.
• Two methods for computation are available, one which uses the
current mesh and a second one which creates an iso mesh (if the
bore face has a perfect iso mesh) on a selected bore face.
• View the results as a distortion table

or as a plot.
• Export a list of distortion parameters
for each depth value in a *.csv format.

Bore Distortion
To compute the distortion:

• Select bore faces
• Select a cylindrical CS (create one from Analysis | Coordinate | Create if
needed). Make sure the Z-Axis is in the direction of the cylinder’s depth.
• If required, specify additional depths (separated by commas) then click on
Compute.
After computation, a Distortion Table, the Plots and the option to Export
the results will be available.
You can Export either all or selected distortion parameters.
• Click on Distortion Table to view

the distortion values in a depth (Z-
Axis, vertical axis of the table),
versus angle (horizontal axis)
format.
• A drop down list shows all of the
available Distortion Parameters.

Bore Distortion – Plots
• 5 types of graphs and various distortion

parameters are available for bore distortion.
• Select the Bore Depths for the representation.

Bore Distortion – Plots
Graph: Circle Graph: 3D Deform

(Distortion: Overall) (Distortion: Original)
Graph: Vertical View

(Distortion: Original´)
Graph: Fourier Angle sets: 270, 360
coefficients
Graph: Circularity
(Distortion: OverAll)

Distortion | Valve Seat
The Valve Seat tool helps determine the radial distortions on the intake
and exhaust valve seats for a combustion chamber.
• Select the intake and the exhaust valve seat edges.
• Define the radial and tangential directions for the valve seat’s cylindrical CS.
• Click on Compute.
• After computing, the Polar Plot of the distorted valve seat edge profiles can
be viewed.

Tools | Derived Results
Derive results from 2 or more load cases.

• 3 different options are available: Super
Position, Extreme Values and Remove
Thermal Displacement.
Super Position: Extreme Values: Remove Thermal

• Combine results giving a user • Derive minimum/maximum Displacement:
specified multiplication factor. values for 2 or more load case • Remove displacement values
• The superimposed results will results. for selected load cases.
be displayed in the Results • The derived results will be • The displacement will be
tree under Derived Results. created as a new load case. updated in the new load case.

Tools | Remove Displacement
Remove a displacement (from results data) from selected

faces.
• Select the faces from which the displacement will be removed.
• If the data is imported from a file, it should have the node ID
and the X, Y, Z components of the displacement.

Exercise – Post Proc – Viewing results

Or
Open the file:
...\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A8_PostProcessing\A8_Housing_Solved.slb
1. View the model’s animation for the Resultant Displacement.

2. Activate the model’s Resultant deformation for the VonMises and Max Principal Results.
• Display the contour on the model with its Resultant deformation.
• Display both the deformed and undeformed model with element edges and wireframe, respectively.
3. Identify Hotspots between 20 and 31 VonMises stress values.
4. Select a cylindrical face in one of the bushes and view the vector plot for its Max and Min Principal
components.
5. Create a Cutting Plane View having a Section cut (with a cut layer color) in the YZ plane.
6. Compute the Stress Resultant for any section of the Carrier.
6. View the Min and Max values for the Max Principal stress.
7. Query results on any nodes or elements on the Carrier.
8. Export the results for its X, Y and Z components.
Optional:
• Create a Results Specification for the Principal-Max Stress.
• Import the Results Spec, from the RMB Menu | Query Results | Results spec.
• Export the Results Specification file.

Exercise – Post Proc – Bore Distortion

Import the results file:
...\_Complete_Workflow\A_Transmissional_Housing\A8_PostProcessing\runNastran.op2
1. Create features for the model making use of Geometry | Faces | Split (First by angle then by Feature).
2. Activate the Wireframe of the undeformed model from Results | Deformation.
3. Create a floating node in the center of at least two of the bore cylinders (FEM | Node | Create | Arcs).
4. Create a Circular Edge coordinate system in one of the cylinders from Analysis | Coordinate | Create.
• Hide Results to view the Coordinate System.
• Rotate the Z Axis of the CS to have its positive axis along the cylinder’s depth.
• Define the rotation axis using two of the floating nodes.
5. Compute the Bore Distortion for the cylinder (specify additional depths if wanted).
6. View different types of Plots.

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Altair SimLab 14.

2 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

3 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

2.2 Volume Mesh 5. Cleanup

8. Post Processing A1. Automation

4 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

5 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

6 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab Installation – CAD Access

7 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab Installation – Solver Access

8 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab Installation – Temp Folders

9 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

Initial Settings – View

The first time you open SimLab after its installation or

10 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

Initial Settings – Autosave

Under File | Preferences | Application you can access and edit

Specify the Auto

11 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

Initial Settings – File | Preferences

12 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

Initial Settings – File | Preferences | System

File | Preferences | System: choose Set the number of cores to generate

13 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Default Mouse Buttons

Right Button Click

Space Mouse is supported

14 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

15 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Ribbons

16 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Icons

17 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Additional Menues

18 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Panels

The panels will remember any selections

19 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Customizing the GUI

20 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Model Browser

Loads and Property

Groups Results Parameters

21 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Entity Selection

22 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Default Shortcut Keys

Ctrl + R - Remove last picked entity F - Fit view

Ctrl + A - Select all entities Z - Rectangle zoom

Ctrl + Z - Undo Shift + Z - Scribble zoom

Ctrl + Y - Redo F1 - Help

Ctrl + N - New tab F5 - Redisplay

Ctrl + O - Open file F12 - Save as

Ctrl + S - Save file

23 SimLab Basic Training, V14.2

SimLab GUI – Additional Shortcut Keys

Head to File | Preferences | Application to edit and review the available