MANUAL BÀSIC PER A F.E.A.

(FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS)

 
Welcome to the Generative Structural Analysis User's Guide. This guide is
intended for users who need to become quickly familiar with the Generative
Structural Analysis Version 5 workbench.
This overview provides the following information:
Generative Structural Analysis in a Nutshell
Before Reading this Guide
Getting the Most Out of this Guide
Accessing Sample Documents

Conventions Used in this Guide

Generative Structural Analysis in a Nutshell

Generative Structural Analysis allows you to rapidly perform first order

mechanical analysis for 3D systems.
This workbench is composed of the following products:
The Generative Part Structural Analysis (GPS) product is intended
for the casual user. Indeed, its intuitive interface offers the possibility to
obtain mechanical behavior information with very few interactions. The dialog
boxes are self explanatory and require practically no methodology, since all
defining steps can be done in any order.
The ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product is a natural extension
of the above mentioned product, fully based on the V5 architecture. It
represents the basis of all future mechanical analysis developments. 
The Generative Assembly Structural Analysis (GAS) product has
been designed as an integrated extension to Generative Part Structural
Analysis enabling the study of the mechanical behavior of a whole assembly.
The product has been conceived with the same "easy to learn" and "fun to
use" ergonomics principles. 
The Generative Dynamic Analysis (GDY) product will let you work in
a dynamic response context.

The Generative Structural Analysis User's Guide has been designed to show you
how to analyze a system consisting of single parts or of assemblies of parts,
operating within a specified environment. There are several ways for
undergoing a part to external actions.

Before Reading this Guide

Before reading this guide, the user should be familiar with the basic Version 5
concepts such as document windows, standard and view toolbars. We therefore
recommend that you read the Infrastructure User's Guide that describes generic
capabilities common to all Version 5 products.
We also recommend that you read the Finite Element Reference Guide.
You may also like to read the following complementary product guides, for
which the appropriate license is required:
Part Design User's Guide
Assembly Design User's Guide
Real Time Rendering User's Guide
Generative Shape Design, Optimizer, Developed Shapes & BiW Design
User's Guide

Automotive Body in White Fastening User's Guide

Getting the Most Out of this Guide

To get the most out of this guide, we suggest that you start performing the
step-by-step Getting Started section.
Once you have finished, you should move on to the User Tasks section.
At any time, you can access the Frequently Asked Questions section and the
Reference Information section.
The Workbench Description section, which describes the Generative Structural
Analysis workbench, and the Customizing section, which explains how to set up
the options, will also certainly prove useful.

Accessing Sample Documents

To perform the scenarios, you will be using sample documents contained in the
online/estug/samples folder.
For more information about this, refer to Accessing Sample Documents in the
Infrastructure User's Guide.

Conventions Used in this Guide

To learn more about the conventions used in this guide, refer to Conventions
section.
In addition to these conventions, you can find the following icons in the
Generative Structural Analysis User's Guide:
 

This
Means that the functionality is only available with ...
icon ...

the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product

the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis (GAS) product

 the Generative Dynamic Analysis (GDY) product

Entering the Generative Structural Analysis Workbench

This first task will show you how to load a .CATPart document (and display the
corresponding specification tree) by entering the Generative Structural
Analysis workbench and defining that you will create a Static Analysis case.
Creating a static analysis case means that you will analyze the static boundary
conditions of the CATAnalysis document one after the other.

Avoid having CATAnalysis documents automatically saved. Otherwise, on some

models, each computation will be followed by a Save operation, thus making
temporary data become persistent data.
To know more, refer to Computing Objects Sets.

In this example, a material has been previously assigned to the part you will
open. In the case no material has been previously assigned to the part, before
entering the Generative Structural Analysis workbench, you should proceed as
follows:
a. Select the part in the specification tree.

b. Click Apply Material .

The Material library appears.

c. Select a material family, then select the desired material from the
displayed list, then click OK.

The material is applied.

You can visualize the material properties and its analysis characteristics by
selecting the material in the specification tree and using Edit > Properties >
Analysis.
If you select Start > Analysis & Simulation > Generative Structural Analysis
from a CATPart document containing a part without any material assigned, the
material library will appear directly for an easy material selection.

1. Open the CATPart Document.

To do this, select File > Open, then select the desired .CATPart
file.
In this tutorial, you will open CATPart named sample01.CATPart.
This opens a Part Design document containing the selected part.
2. Define the View Mode.

To do this, select View > Render Style > Customize View .

The Custom View Modes dialog appears: select the Shading option and
then the Materials option in the Custom View Modes dialog box.

3. Enter Generative Structural Analysis Workbench.

Select Start > Analysis & Simulation > Generative Structural Analysis
from the menu bar.

The New Analysis Case dialog box appears with Static Analysis as
default option.

o Static Analysis  means that you will analyze the static

boundary conditions of the CATAnalysis document one after the
other.
o Frequency Analysis means that you will analyze the
dynamic boundary conditions  of the CATAnalysis document .
o Free Frequency Analysis means that you will analyze the
buckling dynamic conditions of the CATAnalysis document.
o Keep as default starting analysis case means that when
you next open the Generative Structural Analysis workbench from
the menu bar, the selected case appears as default.
4. Select an Analysis Case type in the New Analysis Case dialog box.

In this particular case, also keep Static Analysis type

selected.
 5. Click OK in the New Analysis Case dialog box to enter the workbench.

The CATAnalysis document now opens. It is named Analysis1. You will

now perform different operations in this document.
A link exist between the CATPart and the CATAnalysis document. 

6.
Double-clicking on the green symbol allows displaying mesh specifications or
setting meshing parameters.
The standard structure of the Analysis specification tree is displayed.
As you can see below, the Finite Element Model contains a Static Case, which
contains empty Restraints and Loads objects sets, along with an empty Static
Case Solution.1 object set. All along this tutorial, you will assign a Restraint
and a Load to the CATAnalysis document and then compute the Static Case
Solution.

Creating a Surface Slider Restraint

This task will show you

how to restrain several
faces of your part in
such a way that it can
only slide along their
tangent planes
(geometry supports).
You will create a surface
slider restraint on a
Finite Element Model
containing a Static
Analysis Case.

1. Select the Restraints.1 object in the specification

tree to make it active.
2. Click Surface Slider in the Restraints toolbar.

The Surface Slider dialog box appears.

3. Select in sequence the four faces as indicated.

Symbols representing the surface sliders appear as

you select the four faces. The elements supporting
the surface slider are automatically displayed in
the Surface Slider dialog box.

4. Click OK in the Surface Slider dialog box to actually

create this surface slider.

In the specification tree, the Surface Slider.1

object has been inserted under the Restraints.1
object.
 5.

Creating a Distributed Force Load

This task will show

you how to distribute
on a face of your part
a resultant force. You
will create a
Distributed Force on
a Finite Element
Model containing a
Static Analysis Case.

1. Select the Loads.1 object in the specification tree to

make it active.

2. Click Distributed Force in the Loads toolbar.

The Distributed Force dialog box appears.

 You will distribute on a face of your part a resultant
force of 50N parallel to the global z-direction applied
at the centroid of the face.
To do this:

3. Enter -50N value in Z field (Force Vector).

The resultant Force Vector Norm field is automatically

updated.

4. Select the part face as indicated below.

A symbol (arrow) representing the distributed force is

displayed.

5. Click OK in the Distributed Force dialog box.

The Distributed Force.1 object has been inserted

under the Loads.1 objects set in the specification tree.
 6.

Computing a Static Case Solution 

This task will

show you how
to compute the
Static Case
Solution of a
Finite Element
Model on which
you previously
created a
Restraint object
and a Load
object. You will
store the results
in a given
directory.

1. Click External Storage in the Solver Tools toolbar.

The External Storage dialog box appears.

The Results and Computation Data are stored in one single

file with given extensions:
o xxx.CATAnalysisResults
o xxx.CATAnalysisComputations
To know more about external storage, refer to Specifying
External Storage.

2. If needed, change the path of the Result Data and/or

 Computation Data directories.
3. Click OK in the External Storage dialog box.

4. Click Compute .

The Compute dialog box appears.

5. Select the All default value proposed for defining which are
the objects sets to be updated.
6. Click OK in the Compute dialog box to launch the
computation.

The Progress Bar dialog box provides a series of status

messages (Meshing, Factorization, Solution) that inform
you of the degree of advancement of the computation
process.

Upon successful completion of the computation, the

status of all objects in the analysis specification tree
up to the Static Case Solution.1 objects set is changed
to valid. In other words, the   symbol appears no
more.
 The color change of the Restraints and Loads symbols
to blue, also reflecting the fact that the Static Case
Solution computation was successful.

7.

Viewing Displacements Results

This task will

show you how
to visualize the
displacements
of the
CATAnalysis
according to
the restraints
and load you
assigned to
this
CATAnalysis.
You previously
launched the
computation of
the Static
Analysis Case
and will now
generate a
Report with
computations
of the
displacements
you are going
to perform:
Displac
ement 
Stress
Von Mises.

1. Click Displacement in the Image toolbar.

A plot of the displacement field is displayed with arrow

symbols. If you go over the plot with the cursor, you can
visualize the nodes. The computed displacement field can
now be used to compute other results such as strains,
stresses, reaction forces and so forth.

Arrows representing the

Zoomed arrows:
displacement:

A Translational displacement vector image appears in the

specification tree under the Static Case Solution.1 objects
set.

2. Click Stress Von Mises in the Image toolbar.

 To obtain a better visualization, select View > Render
Style > Customize View and make sure the Materials
option is selected in the Custom View Modes dialog
box.

A Von Mises Stress (nodal value) image object appear in the

specification tree under the Static Case Solution.1 objects
set.

As soon you created the Von Mises Stress image, the

representation of the Translational Displacement image
is deactivated.
You can choose to have both Translational
displacement vector and Von Mises Stress (nodal
value) images displayed.
To do this, right-click Translational displacement
vector in the specification tree and select
Activate/Deactivate .

3. Double-click the Von Mises Stress (nodal value) image in the

specification tree to edit it.

The Image Edition dialog box appears.

o Color value: the Color Palette enables you

to modify the color distribution and to focus on
specific values.
 For more details about the color palette, refer to
Editing the Color Palette.

o Internal von Mises stress field values

To visualize internal von Mises stress field values in a

plane section through the part, click Cut Plane

Analysis in the Analysis Tools toolbar.

You can handle the compass with the mouse in order
to rotate or translate the Cutting Plane (to do so,
select an edge of the compass and drag the mouse).

To exit this view, click Close in the Cut Plane Analysis

dialog box that appeared.
For more details about this functionality, refer to Cut
Plane Analysis.
o

4. Click Image Extrema in the Analysis Tools toolbar to

obtain local and global extrema values of the von Mises
 stress field magnitude.

The Extrema Creation dialog box

appears.

5. Click OK.

In this particular case, you will define that you need two
Absolute extrema.
Locations of the global maxima and minima are indicated on
the image, and the Extrema object appears in the
specification tree under the Static Case Solutions objects
set.   

As you can see above, the values are not satisfying for our
static case: you need more distributed force so that the
Stress Von Mises values might be more significant. You will
therefore save the document, modify the values and re-
compute the static case in the following task.
6.

Inserting a Frequency Analysis Case 

This task will

show you how
to insert a
Frequency
Analysis Case.
Creating a
frequency
analysis case
means that you
will analyze the
dynamic
boundary
conditions  of
the
CATAnalysis
document.

Remember that we use the Materials view mode.

If needed, select View > Render Style > Customize View and select
the Materials option in the Custom View Modes dialog box.

1. Select Insert > Frequency Case.

The Frequency Case dialog box appears with the possibility

to either use the existing Analysis case as Reference or
create a Frequency case with New feature.

2. Click OK.

A new Analysis solution and the standard structure of

Analysis specification tree is displayed.
The Finite Element Model contains a Frequency Case, which
contains empty Restraints and Masses object sets, along
with an empty Frequency Case Solution.1 object set.

3.
Remember that if you selected Start > Analysis & Simulation > New
Generative Analysis from a CATPart document containing the part
without any material, the material library will appear directly for an
easy material selection.

Creating an Iso-static Restraint

This task will show you
how to create an Iso-
static Restraint on a part.
In other words, you will
apply statically definite
restraints allowing you to
simply support a body. 

1. Select the Restraints.2 object in the specification

tree to make it active.

2. Click Isostatic Restraint in the Restraints

toolbar.

The Isostatic Restraint dialog box appears.

You can see that an Isostatic.1 object has been

inserted under the Restraints.2 objects set in the
specification tree.

You will restrain your part in such a way that it is

statically definite and all rigid-body motion is
impossible. The program will automatically
determine the restrained points and directions. 

3. Click OK.

The Isostatic symbol appears on the part.

 4.

Creating a Non-Structural Mass

This task will show you

how to create a Mass
Surface Density on the
surface geometry
supports. In this
example, you will
distribute a mass
density of 50kg/m2 on
several faces of your
part. 

1. Select the Masses.1 objects set in the specification

tree to make it active.

2. Click Surface Mass Density in the Masses

toolbar.

The Surface Mass Density dialog box appears.

You can see that a Surface Mass Density.1 object is

now inserted under the Masses.1 object set in the
 specification tree.

3. Select the faces on which you will distribute a mass

density.

Red symbols representing the Mass Surface Density

are displayed.

4. Enter a new Mass Density in the Surface Mass

Density dialog box. In this particular case, enter
50kg_m2.

5. Click OK.

Note that the invalid symbol has disappeared in the

specification tree.
6.

Computing a Frequency Case Solution

This task will

show you how
to compute a
Frequency Case
Solution on
which you
previously
created a
Restraint object
and optionally a
Mass object.

1. Click External Storage in the Solver Tools toolbar.

The External Storage dialog box appears.

Optionally change the path of the External Storage directory

to another directory and then click OK in the External
Storage dialog box.
The results and computation data are stored in one
single file with given extensions:
o xxx.CATAnalysisResults
o xxx.CATAnalysisComputations

2. Click Compute .

The Compute dialog box appears.

Take the default (All) proposed for the objects sets to

update.

3. Click OK to perform the computation.

The Progress Bar dialog box provides a series of status

messages (Meshing, Factorization, Solution) that inform
you of the degree of advancement of the computation
process.
 Upon successful completion of the computation, the status
of the Frequency Case Solutions objects set is changed to
valid in the specification tree. In other words, the symbol
appears no more.

Note the green color change of the Restraints and

Masses symbols, reflecting the fact that the
Frequency Case Solution computation was
successful. 
4.

Viewing Frequency Results

This task will show

you how to visualize
Vibration Modes after
computing the
Frequency Analysis
Case and how to
generate a Report.

1. Click Deformation in the Image toolbar.

An image of the deformation corresponding to the

first vibration mode is displayed, and a Deformed
Mesh image object appears in the specification tree
under the Frequency Case Solution.1 objects set.
 2. Double-click the Deformed Mesh object in the
specification tree to edit the image.

The Image Edition dialog box, containing the list of

vibration modes with the corresponding frequency
occurrences is visualized. You can visualize any mode
by clicking it in this multi-occurrence list.

3. Select the Occurrences tab in the Image Edition

dialog box and select the seventh mode.

The selected mode is visualized:

4. Click OK.
← You can further manage your results by using the
Results Management action icons on the bottom of your
screen. 
For more details, refer to Results Visualization. 
← In addition to standard information, the Report for a
Frequency Case Solution contains modal participation
factors information, which allows you to evaluate the
 validity of the modal truncation to the first 10 modes. 

← You can modify the number of computed modes by

double-clicking the Solution and editing the Solution
Definition dialog box.

USER TASKS

Analysis Cases

A new Analysis Case is a set of objects sets (a

template) corresponding to a new set of
specifications of simultaneous environmental actions
on a given system.
Create a Finite Element Model
Generate a Finite Element Model, optionally
containing an empty Static of Frequency
Analysis Case.

Inserting Analysis Cases

Insert a New Static Case
Generate a Static
Analysis Case set.
Insert a Static Constrained
Case
Generate a Static
Constrained Analysis
Case set.
Insert a New Frequency Case
Generate a Frequency
Analysis Case set.
Insert a Buckling Case
Generate a Buckling
Analysis Case set.
Insert a Combined Case
Generate a Combined
Analysis Case set.
Insert a Preprocessing Case
Generate a
preprocessing case set.

Insert a Solution Case

Generate an solution

case set.
Insert an Envelop Case
Generate an Envelop

Analysis Case set.

Insert a Harmonic Dynamic
 Response Case
Generate a Harmonic
Dynamic Response

Analysis Case set.

Insert a Transient Dynamic
Response Case
Generate a Transient
Dynamic Response

Analysis Case set.

Creating a Finite Element Model

This task shows

you how to create
a Finite Element
Model, and
optionally an
Analysis Case.

Finite Element Models are representations used for performing

computer-aided engineering analysis (CAEA) of products. They
are complementary to computer-aided design (CAD) models,
which are mainly geometric representations of products.
A Finite Element Model consists of: 
← a system representation, consisting of:
← a Mesh objects set (containing Node and Element
objects)
← a Properties objects set (containing Property-type
objects)
← a Materials objects set (containing Material-type
objects)
← an Axis objects set (containing Axis-type objects)
← various environment actions representations, each
consisting of:
← an Analysis Case object sets, defining implicitly the
type of analysis (solution procedure) expected, and 
possibly containing:
← a Restraints objects set (containing
Restraint-type objects) 
← a Loads objects set (containing Load-type
objects)
← a (NS) Masses objects set (containing
Mass-type objects)
← for each Analysis Case, a Solution objects set,
defining the type of results sought:
← images
← analyses
← reports
← graphs...

The Finite Element Model can initiate a solution process when a

sufficient amount of specifications have been captured in the
objects constituting the representations of the model.
At the creation of a Finite Element Model, the program
automatically generates the system representation template, and
proposes to also generate an Analysis Case template for the
environment representation and also for indicating the type of
solution procedure sought. 

If you do not have the ELFINI Structural Analysis product license,

your Finite Element Model can simultaneously contain at most
one Static Analysis Case and one Frequency Analysis Case.

Open the sample01.CATPart document from the samples

directory.

1. Select Start > Analysis & Simulation > Generative

Structural Analysis.

The New Analysis Case dialog box appears.

You can create several types of template:

o Static Analysis Case 
o Frequency Analysis Case 
o Free Frequency Analysis
Case 
2. Select the desired Analysis Case in the list.

The Finite Element Model specification tree template

shows the standard system representation objects sets.
The Analysis Case representation contains the following
empty object sets:
o Restraints
o Loads
o Masses
o Solution
o Sensors
3. Select the Keep As Default option in the New Analysis
Case dialog box if you want to set the current choice as
the default choice.
4. Click OK.

If you installed the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product,

the Finite Element Model can contain an arbitrary number of
(Static and/or Frequency) Analysis Cases.
Inserting a New Static Case

This task shows you how to insert a Static Case.

Inserting a new static case allows you to create objects sets for the new
environmental specifications, and to implicitly require a static solution
procedure for the computation of the system response to applied static loads
under given restraints.
You will see how to:
Insert a static analysis case
Insert a static analysis case with a multi load set.

If you do not have the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product license,
your Finite Element Model can simultaneously contain at most one Static
Analysis Case and one Frequency Analysis Case.

Static Analysis Case

The solution of static analysis case defined without load set is mono-
occurrence.

Open the sample00.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

1. Select Insert > Static Case .

The Static Case dialog box appears.

o Restraints: lets you create an empty restraint set

(New) or reference a restraint set existing in a previously defined
analysis case (Reference).
o Loads: lets you create an empty load set (New) or
reference a load set existing in a previously defined analysis case
(Reference).

You cannot create simultaneously a Loads set and a Multi

Loads set in the same static analysis case.

o Multi Loads: lets you create a multi loads set (New) or

reference a multi loads set existing in a previously defined analysis
case (Reference).

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST)

product.
 You cannot create simultaneously a Loads set and a Multi
Loads set in the same static analysis case.

o To know more about the Multi Loads set, refer to Multi

Loads Set.
o Masses: lets you create a mass set (New) or reference
a mass set existing in a previously defined analysis case
(Reference).
o Hide existing analysis cases: by default, the last
created (inserted) analysis case is set as current, and the
corresponding objects set is underlined in the specification tree.
To change the current case, refer to Changing a Current Analysis
Case.

2. Set the options for each type of objects set.

In this particular example:

a. Select New as Restraints and Loads
options.
b. Clear the Masses check box.

2. Click OK.

A new Static Case objects set appears in the Finite Element Model
specification tree.

The new Static Analysis Case representation consists of the following

object sets:
o Restraints
o Loads
o Solution

3. Edit the solution.

To do this, double-click the Static Case Solution.1 object in the

specification tree.
The Static Solution Parameters dialog box appears.
 o Method
 Auto: one of the three methods below is
automatically computed.
 Gauss: direct method, recommended for
computing small/medium models.
 Gradient: solving iterative method which is
memory saving but not CPU time saving, recommended for
computing huge models without contact (if the model contains
contact elements then prefer the Gauss R6 method).
 Maximum iteration number: lets you set
the maximum number of iteration.
If you enter 0 as maximum iteration number, the necessary
number of iteration will be automatically calculated.
 Accuracy: lets you set the precision of
convergence (by default: 10-8).
 Gauss R6: fast Gauss method recommended for
computing large size models.
o Mass Parameter: lets you take into account or not the
structural mass.
Select this check box lets you exclude the structural mass from the
total mass summation when computing the solution of a static case
with additional mass.

If you exclude the structural mass parameter in a static case

without additional masses (static case without masses set), an
error occurs while computing the solution.
If the static case does not contain any masses set, do not
select this option.
o
4. Change the desired parameters and click OK.

Products Available in Analysis Workbench

Once a New Analysis Case has been inserted, its Definition parameters
cannot be changed. 
 To modify the Analysis Case Definition parameters you can only replace it
(delete followed by insert) in the analysis features tree.

 
Static Multi Loads Case
Defining a static multi loads case allows you to compute a high number of
loads in the same case.
Multi loads set is a new type of load set. A multi loads set references several
load set defined in any other cases (static analysis case or preprocessing
case).
The solution of a static case containing a multi load set is multi occurrence,
each occurrence corresponds to a load set.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.

Open the sample03.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

 
Inserting a Static Case With a Multi Loads Set

1. Select Insert > Static Case .

The Static Case dialog box appears.

To know more, refer to the description of the dialog box.
o Multi Loads: lets you create a multi loads set (New) or
reference a multi loads set existing in a previously defined analysis
case (Reference).

You cannot create simultaneously a Loads set and a Multi

Loads set in the same static analysis case.
o
2. Set the following options:

a. Select New as Restraints.

b. Select the Multi Loads check box and select
New.
c. Clear the Masses check box.

2. Click OK.

A new Static Case objects set appears in the specification tree.

This analysis case contains the following object sets:

o Restraints
o Multi Loads
 o Solution
You have now to define the restraint set and the multi load set.
3.
 
Defining a Multi Loads Set
1. Double-click Multi Loads.1.

The Multiple Loads Set dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you modify the name of the multi loads set.
o Analysis Set: lets you select the load you want to
reference.
 Index: gives you the identification number of
the selected load set.
 Selected loads: gives you the name of the
selected load set.
 Path: gives you the path of the selected load
sets.
You can hide or show the path of the selected load set using the
Show Path contextual menu.

2. Select the following load sets:

In this particular example, select:

o Loads.1
o Loads.2

You can also use the Search functionality.

To do this:
a. Select Edit > Search... (or press Ctrl+F).

The Search dialog box appears.

b. Enter *load* in the Name field of the General

tab.

c. Click the Search button .

d. Select the desired lines in the found objects list
 and click Select.
e. Click Close.

If you select a line and then you right-click it you access the following
contextual menus:
o Delete: lets you delete the selected line from the list.
o Delete All: lets you delete all the content of the list.
o Show Path: lets you hide or show the path of the
selected load.

3. Click OK.

You can now perform a partial or complete computation.

To do this, refer to Computed Data or Computing Static Multi Loads
Case.
4.

Inserting a Static Constrained Case

This task shows you

how to insert a new
Static Constrained
Case.
Inserting a New Static
Constrained Case
allows you to create a
restraint set (new or
reference to an
existing one).

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST)

product.

Open the sample04.CATAnalysis document from the

samples directory.

1. Select Insert > Static Constrained Modes .

The Static Constrained Modes dialog box appears.

 o Restraints:
 New: allows you to create a
new restraints set that will be empty.
 Reference: allows you to
choose an existing restraints set as reference.
o Hide existing analysis cases: allows
you to hide the analysis cases that have been
previously created.
2. Click OK in the Static Constrained Modes dialog box.

A Static Constrained Modes feature appears in the

specification tree.

3.

Inserting a New Frequency Case

This task shows

you how to insert
a new Frequency
Case.
Inserting a
frequency case
allows you to
create objects
sets for the new
environmental
specifications,
and to implicitly
require a normal
modes solution
procedure for the
computation of
the system
vibration
frequencies and
normal modes for
a given non-
structural mass
distribution under
given restraints.
This capability is only available with the ELFINI Structural
Analysis product (except for inserting a first Frequency Analysis
Case).
Remember that if you do not have the ELFINI Structural
Analysis product license, your Finite Element Model can
simultaneously contain at most one Static Analysis Case and one
Frequency Analysis Case. 

Open the sample00.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.

1. Select Insert > Frequency Case .

The Frequency Case dialog box is displayed. 

For each type of objects set (Restraints, Masses, Static

Case Solution), you can  require that your new Frequency
Case contains either an empty objects set or an objects
set existing in a previously defined Analysis Case. 
The  New and Reference switches for Restrains and
Masses objects sets allow you to choose between these
two options:
o New: the new objects set  is empty.
o Reference: the new objects set is a copy of
an objects set existing in a previously defined Analysis
Case.
o Static Case Solution option allows you to
perform a pre-loaded frequency computation by selecting
a static solution. The frequency computation will then take
the corresponding loads into account and generate a (non-
linear, load-dependent) pre-loaded frequency computation.
This capability is only available with the ELFINI
Structural Analysis (EST) product. 
o
2. Set the switch for each type of objects set.
3. Click OK.

A new Frequency Case template (objects sets set) appears

in the Finite Element Model specification tree template
displayed on the left.
 The new Frequency Analysis Case representation consists
of the following (empty) object sets:
o Restraints
o Masses
o Solution

4. Edit the solution.

To do this, double-click Frequency Case Solution.1 in the

specification tree.
The Frequency Solution Parameters dialog box appears.

o Number of Modes
o Method (Iterative subspace, Lanczos) 
(only available if you have ELFINI Structural
Analysis (EST) product installed, otherwise, the
default method is Iterative subspace).

If you select the Lanczos Method, the Shift option

appears: compute the modes beyond a given value:
Auto, 1Hz, 2Hz and so forth. Auto means that the
computation is performed on a structure that is
partially free. 

o Dynamic Parameters (Maximum iteration

 number, Accuracy)
o Mass Parameter: lets you take into account
or not the structural mass.
Select this check box lets you exclude the structural
mass from the total mass summation when computing
the solution of a frequency case with additional mass.

If you exclude the structural mass parameter in a

frequency case without additional masses
(frequency case without masses set), an error
occurs while computing the solution.
If the frequency case does not contain any masses
set, do not select this option.
o
5. Change the desired parameters and click OK.

By default, the last created (inserted) Analysis Case is set as

current, and the corresponding objects set is underlined in the
analysis features tree. 
A right mouse click (key 3) on a Frequency Case objects set
further allows the following action:
Set as Current: allows you to define the Frequency Analysis Case
as being the currently active one. The Frequency Case is then
underlined in the features tree and all subsequent actions refer to
it. 
If you inactivate the Hide Existing Analysis Cases switch in the
Frequency Case dialog box, the symbols of objects created in
previous Analysis Cases will remain displayed.
Once a New Analysis Case has been inserted, its Definition
parameters cannot be changed.
To modify the Analysis Case Definition parameters you can only
replace it (Delete followed by Insert) in the analysis specification
tree. 
To compute free vibration modes, you need a Frequency Analysis
Case containing no Restraints objects set. This means that you
must insert a new Frequency Analysis Case without Restraints.  

To compute free vibration modes, you need a Frequency Analysis

Case containing no Restraints objects set. This means that you
must first delete the existing Frequency Analysis Case and insert
a new Frequency Analysis Case without Restraints.  
To subsequently compute supported (non-free) vibration modes,
you must delete the previous, Restraints-less (free vibration
modes) Frequency Analysis Case and insert a new (supported)
Frequency Analysis Case with Restraints.

Inserting a Buckling Case

This task shows you

how to insert a
Buckling Case.
Inserting a buckling
case allows you to
require a buckling
modes solution
procedure for the
computation of the
system buckling critical
loads and buckling
modes for a given
Static Analysis Case.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST)

product.

Open the sample00.CATAnalysis document from the

samples directory.

1. Select Insert > Buckling Case .

The Buckling Case dialog box appears.

You can associate your new Buckling Case either to
an existing Static Case or to a new one.

2. Select the Static Case Solution (Reference) field to

which you will associate your new Buckling Case.

The Hide Existing Analysis Cases option allows you

to hide all symbols representing physical attributes
applied to your part. 

3. Click OK in the Buckling Case dialog box.

A Buckling Case template (objects sets set) appears

in the Finite Element Model specification tree.

The new Buckling Case representation consists of

the following (empty) object sets:
 o Static Case Solution

o Buckling Case Solution

4.
Products Available in Analysis Workbench
 
By default, the last created (inserted) Analysis Case is set
as current, and the corresponding objects set is underlined
in the analysis features tree. 
Once a New Analysis Case has been inserted, its Definition
parameters cannot be changed.
To modify the Analysis Case Definition parameters you can
only replace it (delete followed by insert) in the analysis
specification tree.

Inserting a Combined Case

This task shows you how

to insert a new
Combined Case.
Inserting a Combined
Case allows you to
specify reference Static
Analysis Cases and
associated coefficients
when editing.
You can now compute a
small number of static
cases and perform lots of
combinations when
performing post-
processing analyses.
Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis
(EST) product.

Open the sample03.CATAnalysis document from the

samples directory.

1. Select Insert > Combined Case .

The Analysis Case.1 feature appears in the

specification tree. 

2. Double-click Combined Static Case Solution.1 in

the specification tree.

The Combined Solution dialog box appears: you

 can now select the static cases to be combined.

o Name: lets you change the name of

the combined solution.
o Solution Definition:
 Selected Solution: lets you
select the static solution you want to
combine.

The combined case must reference

several static cases that share the same
restraint set.

 Coefficient: lets you

associate a coefficient value to each select
solution.

3. Select Static Case Solution.1.

4. Right-click the solution that has just been added
(Static Case Solution.1) and then select Add.
 Note that using this contextual menu, you
can also remove one or all the selected
solutions.
5. Select Static Case Solution.2.

The Combined Solution dialog box is updated.

6. Enter 1 as Coefficient value.

7. Click OK.

At any time, you can double-click on the Combined Static

Case Solution.1 in the specification tree and perform the
desired operations (see above described contextual
menu).

Inserting a Preprocessing Case

This task shows you how to insert a preprocessing case and then how to fill this
preprocessing case.
Preprocessing case is a new type of Analysis Case gathering a collection of
preprocessing sets (loads, multi loads, restraints, masses) and containing no
solution.
Several preprocessing cases can be created in the same analysis document. A
preprocessing case is a useful tool to organize and store preprocessing
specifications and to reuse them in solution-based cases.
Any type of load, mass and restraint specifications can be defined in
preprocessing sets.
Regarding loads, in addition to standard loads, preprocessing cases will be
central for the following scenarios:
Transfer of loads
Multiple Load Set will usually be used to compute several Load Sets
defined in a preprocessing cases.
You will see how to:
Insert a preprocessing case
Create a preprocessing set:
Restraint set
Mass set
Load set
Import Forces.
You will also find a recommended methodology to use the transfer of loads.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.

Open the sample14.CATAnalysis document in the samples directory.

You cannot create any sensor in a preprocessing case.

You can generate images on a set belonging to a preprocessing case.
To do this you have to perform a Mesh Only computation before generating
images.
 
Inserting a Preprocessing Case
Select the Insert > Preprocessing Case menu.

An empty Preprocessing Case.1 feature appears in the specification tree.

You can now access the following contextual menus:

Create Preprocessing Set:
 Restraints: lets you create an empty restraint set
under the preprocessing case you just inserted.
To know more, refer to Creating a Restraints Set.
Masses: lets you create an empty mass set under the
preprocessing case you just inserted.
To know more, refer to Creating a Masses Set.
Loads: lets you create an empty load set under the
preprocessing case you just inserted.
To know more, refer to Creating a Loads Set.
Import Forces: lets you import forces defined in other load
sets.
To know more, refer to Importing Forces.

 
Creating a Preprocessing Set
 
Creating a Restraints Set
You can create a restraints set under a frequency analysis case (on the
condition that the case does not contain any restraint set) or a
preprocessing set.
In this particular example, you will create a restraint set under a
preprocessing set.

Static and frequency cases cannot contain more than one restraints set.
Preprocessing cases can contain as many restraint sets as you want.
In this case, you have to select in the specification tree the restraint set in
which you want to create restraint specifications.

1. Right-click Preprocessing Case.1 and select Create Preprocessing Set >

Restraints.

An empty Restraint.2 set appears in the specification tree.

 You can now insert restraints under this set, you can also insert an
other restraint set.

2. Create as many restraints as you want under the Restraints.2 set.

To do this, refer to the Restraints section.

3.
 
Creating a Masses Set
You can create a Masses set under a static analysis case, frequency
analysis case (on the condition that the case does not contain any masses
set) or a preprocessing set.
In this particular example, you will create a masses set under a
preprocessing set.

Static and frequency cases cannot contain more than one mass set.
Preprocessing cases can contain as many mass sets as you want.
In this case, you have to select in the specification tree the mass set in
which you want to create mass specifications.

1. Right-click Preprocessing Case.1 and select Create Preprocessing Set >

Masses.

An empty Masses.1 set appears in the specification tree.

You can now insert masses under this set, you can also insert an other
mass set.

2. Create as many masses as you want under the Masses.1 set.

To do this, refer to the Mass Equipment

section.
3.
 
Creating a Loads Set
You can create a loads set under a static analysis case (on the condition
 that the case does not contain any loads set) or a preprocessing set.
In this particular example, you will create a load set under a preprocessing
set.

Static cases cannot contain more than one loads set.

Preprocessing cases can contain as many loads sets as you want.
In this case, you have to select in the specification tree the loads set in
which you want to create load specifications.

1. Right-click Preprocessing Case.1 and select Create Preprocessing Set >

Loads.

An empty Loads.1 set appears in the specification tree.

You can now insert loads under this set, you can also insert an other
mass set.

2. Create as many loads as you want under the Loads.2 set.

To do this, refer to the Loads

section.
3.
 
Importing Forces
You can import load specifications that have been exported.
The import of loads is the second step of the load transfer between a
document to another.
To know how to export computed loads, refer to Exporting Computed
Loads.

1. Right-click Preprocessing Case.1 and select Import Forces.

The Import Forces dialog box appears.

 o Supports: lets you select the support on which you want
to apply the forces you import.
Non homogeneous multi selection of supports is available.
If you do not select any support, all the model is selected by default.
o File: lets you select an exported file
(.CATAnalysisExport).
o Axis System: lets you define the axis system in which the
imported loads will be taken into account.
To know more about axis system, refer to Axis System Type.

2. Select the support.

3. Select the file containing the imported data.
4. Choose the axis system.
5. Click OK.

A new loads set (Loads.3) containing the imported data (Imported

Loads.1) appears under the Preprocessing Case.1 in the specification
tree.

6.

More About Transfer of Loads

You will find here the recommended methodology to use the transfer of
loads.
  You can use the transfer functionality to perform the two following scenarios.
Transfer from an Assembly to Sub Analysis

1. You make a copy of the sub analysis A1.

2. You compute loads at the assembly level (AA).
3. You export local loads from assembled analysis and import them in the
copy of the sub analysis.
4. You can generate images.

Transfer between Two Analyses Based on Identical Mesh

1. You make a copy of the analysis A1.

2. You export local loads from assembled analysis and import them in the
copy of the analysis.
3. You can generate images.

About Axis System Management

You can select an axis system
← Transfer of displacements from an assembly of analysis to a sub-
analysis:
The displacements exported on file will be expressed in the local axis of the
sub analysis.
Consequently, if the file is imported in a copy of the sub analysis, there will
be no need to specify a user axis.
← Transfer from an analysis to another:
The displacements exported on file will be expressed in the global axis of
the analysis.
Consequently:
← If both analyses have the same position, the import must be
done in the global axis.

← If they have not the same position, the import must be done in
a user axis reflecting the transformation.

Synchronization Mechanism
There is no automatic synchronization mechanism.
If a CATAnalysisExport file already imported is re-generated from a modified
solution and then re-imported in the same Preprocessing Case, then the last
import always deletes and replaces the imported loads created after the
previous import.

Update Mechanism
If the imported forces are invalidated (for example, after a mesh modification),
you cannot update these forces. The only way is to re-import the
CATAnalysisExport file using the Import Forces functionality.
 

Open the sample46.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory for this
task.
← Compute all the solutions.
To do this, refer to Computing Object Sets.

1. Export loads corresponding to the Static Case Solution.3.

To do this:
a. Right-click Static Case Solution.3 and select Export >
Computed Loads.

The Export Solution dialog box appears.

b. Select the directory in which the .CATAnalysisExport file

will be saved, enter a file name and click Save.
c. Select User preferences in the Select occurrences list.

d. Click .
e. Hold down Ctrl and select Loads.1 and Loads.3.
f. Click OK in the Modes dialog box.
g. Click OK.

2. Right-click Preprocessing Case.1 and select Import Forces.

The Import Forces dialog box appears.

3. Click Browse and select the .CATAnalysisExport file you generated.

4. Click OK.

Two new loads sets (Loads.4 and Loads.5) containing the imported
data appears under the Preprocessing Case.1 in the specification tree.

Each new loads set corresponds to a selected occurrence.

5.
Inserting a Solution Case

This task shows you how to insert a solution case.

Solution case is a new type of Analysis Case gathering a collection of solutions
(assembled solution or imported solution).
Once a solution case is created, you can add an assembled solution and you can
import an exported solution.
You will see how to:
Insert a solution case
Add assembled solution
Add imported solution.
You will also find a recommended methodology to use the transfer of
displacements.

Open the sample14_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

 
Inserting a Solution Case
Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.

← Select Insert > Solution Case .

An empty Solution Case.1 feature appears in the specification tree.

You can now access the Add Solution contextual menu:

← Assembled Solution...: lets you select solutions belonging to
sub analyses.

This contextual menu is available only in an assembled analysis

context. So you need to install the Generative Assembly
Structural Analysis (GAS) product.

← Imported Solution: lets you import solutions that have been

previously exported.
←
 
Adding Assembled Solution
Assembled solution (also called displacement assembly) is created in an
 assembled analysis. This solution is the concatenation of several solutions
computed in sub analyses.
  The aim of displacement assembly is to post-process all the component of an
assembled model:
← without building a formal assembled analysis (for example: without
connection and preprocessing specification). Only the component positioning
is required.
← without computing the assembly level (based on computations made at
sub analysis level).
In the case of a plane analysis, the displacement assembly allow you to make
fast comparison between two sections of the plane (by generating images,
enveloping, ...).
You can add several assembled solutions in the same solution case.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis (GAS)

product.

1. Right-click Solution Case.1 and select Add Solution > Assembled

Solution .

An Assembled Solution.1 object appears under Solution Case.1 in the

specification feature.

You now have to define the assembled solution.

To do this:

2. Double-click Assembled Solution.1 in the specification tree.

The Assembled Solution dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the assembled

solution.
o Analysis Sets: lets you select the solution you want to
assemble.

 You can select only the solutions belonging

to sub analyses.
 You cannot select solutions belonging to
 the assembled analysis.
 You cannot assemble:
 Mono occurrence solutions and
multi occurrences solutions
 Multi occurrences solutions that
have not the same number of occurrences (a message will
appear while launching a computation).

To select a solution, you can:

 Select it directly in the specification tree
 Use the Edit > Search... menu.

 Index: gives you the identification number of the

selected analysis solution.
 Analysis Sets: gives you the name of the selected
analysis solution.
 Path: gives you the path of the selected solutions.
You can hide or show the path of the selected solution using the
Show Path contextual menu.

3. Select the solution you want to assemble.

In this particular example, select:

o Static Case Solution.1 under Surface1 (Surface1.1)
o Static Case Solution.1 under Surface2 (Surface2.1).

You can also use the Search functionality.

To do this:
a. Select Edit > Search... (or press Ctrl+F).

The Search dialog box appears.

b. Enter *solution* in the Name field of the General

tab.

c. Click Search .
d. Select the desired lines in the found objects list and
click Select.
e. Click Close.

The Assembled Solution dialog box is updated:

 If you select a line and then you right-click it you access the following
contextual menus:
o Delete: lets you delete the selected line from the list.
o Delete All: lets you delete all the content of the list.
o Show Path: lets you hide or show the path of the selected
analysis solution.

4. Click OK.
5. Compute the solution.

To do this:
a. Select Assembled Solution.1 in the specification tree.

b. Click Compute .
c. Click OK.
Then you can generate images.
To do this, right-click Assembled Solution.1 and select Generate
Images.

2. Generate images.

To do this:
a. Right-click Assembled Solution.1 in the specification
tree.
b. Select Generate Image.
c. Select the images you want to generate.
d. Click OK.
3.
 
Adding Imported Solution
The import of solution lets you transfer displacements.
A transfer of displacements is a copy as results of solutions, between a
source document and a target document based on identical meshes.
The displacement import is the second step of the displacement transfer
between a document to another.
You can add several imported solutions in the same solution case.
Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.

← The source document and target document must be based on identical

meshes.
← If you exported a solution from a model containing thermal loading (and
therefore an environment set), only displacements will be taken into account
during the import execution. Since thermal information are not saved into
the CATAnalysisExport file, resulting stress distribution will not take into
account thermal effects.

1. Right-click Solution Case Solution.1 and select Add Solution > Imported

Solution .

The Imported Solution dialog box appears.

o File:
 Browse: lets you select the desired file (a
.CATAnalysisExport file).
o Axis System: lets you define the axis system in which the
imported displacements will be taken into account.
To know more about the axis system management in the import
context, refer to Axis System Management.
To know more about the selection of an axis system, refer to Axis
System Type.

2. Click Browse and select the desired .CATAnalysisExport file.

To know how to export solution and then generate a .CATAnalysisExport

file, refer to Exporting Solutions.

3. Choose the Axis System type.

In this particular example, select

Global.

4. Click OK.

The Static Case Solution.1 feature appears in the specification tree.

The name of the imported solution is given by the name of the

solution that has been exported.
For example, if you export three static solutions (Static Case
 Solutions.1, Static Case Solutions.2, Static Case Solutions.4), the
result of the import will be:

You can generate images.

To do this, right-click Static Case Solution.1 and select Generate
Images.
5.

 
More About Transfer of Displacements
You will find here the recommended methodology to use the transfer of
displacements.
  You can use the transfer functionality to perform the two following scenarios.

Transfer from an Assembly to Sub Analysis

1. You make a copy of the sub analysis A1.

2. You compute displacements at the assembly level (AA).
3. You export local displacements from assembled analysis and import
them in the copy of the sub analysis.
4. You can generate images.

Transfer between Two Analyses Based on Identical Mesh

 1. You make a copy of the analysis A1.
2. You export local displacements from assembled analysis and import
them in the copy of the analysis.
3. You can generate images.

Axis System Management

You can select an axis system
← Transfer of displacements from an assembly of analysis to a sub-
analysis:
The displacements exported on file will be expressed in the local axis of the
sub analysis.
Consequently, if the file is imported in a copy of the sub analysis, there will
be no need to specify a user axis.

← Transfer from an analysis to another:

The displacements exported on file will be expressed in the global axis of the
analysis.
Consequently:
← If both analyses have the same position, the import must be
done in the global axis.
 ← If they have not the same position, the import must be done in a
user axis reflecting the transformation.

Synchronization Mechanism
There is no synchronization mechanism.
If a CATAnalysisExport file already imported is re-generated from a modified
solution and then re-imported in the same Solution Case, then a new solution
set will be added under the Solution Case.

Update Mechanism
If the imported solutions are invalidated (for example, after a mesh
modification), you cannot update these solutions. The only way is to re-import
the CATAnalysisExport file using the the Add Solution > Imported Solution
functionality.
 

Open the sample14_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

← Compute all the solutions.
To do this, refer to Computing Object Sets.

1. Right-click Static Solution.1 and select Export > Solution.

2. Click Browse, select the directory in which you want to save the
.CATAnalysisExport file and enter a file name.
3. Click Save.
4. Select Analysis Manager (under Surface1) as Selected Sub Analysis.
 5. Click OK.
6. Right-click Analysis Manager (under Surface1) in the specification tree
and select Analysis Manager Object > Open in New Window.

The AnalysisSurface11.CATAnalysis appears in a new

window.

7. Select Insert > Solution Case.

8. Right-click Solution Case.1 and select Add Solution > Imported Solution.
9. Click Browse and select the .CATAnalysisExport file you generated.
10. Click OK.
You can now generate images.

Inserting an Envelop Case

This task shows you how to

insert a new Envelop Case.
Inserting an envelop case allows
you to search a selected
number of most critical values
(minima/maxima/absolute
maxima) among several
analysis sets (solutions, load
sets, ...).
These extremes may be
computed on any kind of values
provided by the selected
analysis case.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural

 Analysis (EST) product.

Open the sample45.CATAnalysis document from

the samples directory.
← Compute all the model.

To do this, click Compute and select All.

1. Select Insert > Envelop Case .

The Envelop Case dialog box appears.

o Hide existing analysis cases:

allows you to hide the analysis cases
that have been previously created.
2. Click OK.

An Envelop Case feature appears in the

specification tree.

o Envelops: this set contains

the definition of the entities on which the
envelop will be computed (support) and
the selected analysis sets. Under this
envelop set, you can create envelop
types.
For more details, refer to Defining an
Envelop Set and Adding Envelop Types.
o Envelop Case Solution: this
set contains the result of the envelop
computation.
To update the envelop solution, click the
Compute icon.
For more details, refer to Computing
Envelop Solutions.
3.
You can now define the envelop case sets.
To know more, refer to Envelop Case Sets.

Inserting a Harmonic Dynamic Response Case

This task
shows
you how
to insert
a
Harmonic
Dynamic
Response
Case
containin
g an
excitatio
n (load
excitatio
n or
restraint
excitatio
n) and a
damping.
Inserting
a
Harmonic
Dynamic
Response
Case
allows
you
to create
objects
sets and
to set up
a
harmonic
dynamic
solution
where
loads or
restraint
will be
excited.

Only available with the Generative Dynamic Response Analysis

(GDY) product.

To insert a Harmonic Dynamic Response Case:

A Frequency Case must be defined.
For more details, refer to Inserting a Frequency Case.
A Static Case must be defined only if you choose a load excitation
set.
For more details, refer to Inserting a Static Case.

Open the sample56.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

In this particular example, a static case and a frequency case have been
previously defined.
1. Select Insert > Harmonic Dynamic Response Case .

The Harmonic Dynamic Response Case dialog box appears.

o Reference: allows you to choose a reference

solution case.
o Excitation set: lets you choose the excitation set.
A load excitation set and a restraint excitation set cannot
be created simultaneously.
 
 Load excitation set: allows you to choose
to create a new load excitation set or to reference an existing
one.
 New: allows you to create a new
load excitation set that will be empty.
 Reference: allows you to choose an
existing load excitation set as reference.
 Restraint excitation set: allows you to
choose to create a new restraint excitation set or to
reference an existing one.
 New: allows you to create a new
restraint excitation set that will be empty.
 Reference: allows you to choose an
existing restraint excitation set as reference.
o Damping set: informs you that a new Damping set
will be created.
o Hide existing analysis cases: allows you to hide the
analysis cases that have been previously created.
2. Select the Frequency Case Solution.1 solution as Frequency Case
Solution reference.
3. Choose the desired excitation set.

To do this, select the desired check box in the Harmonic Dynamic

Response Case dialog box.
o Select the Load excitation check box if you want to
 apply a load excitation set (for a dynamic load).

o Select the Restraint excitation check box if you want

to apply a restraint excitation set (for an imposed motion of the
support).

o
4. Click OK in the Harmonic Dynamic Response Case dialog box.

The Harmonic Dynamic Response Case feature appears in the

specification tree.

Load excitation check box Restraint excitation check box

selected: selected:

5.
You now have to define the excitation (Load or Restraint) how you will
excite the part as well as the damping of this part.
To do this, refer to Modulation and Dynamic Response Sets chapters in
this guide.

Inserting a Transient Dynamic Response Case

This task shows you how to insert a Transient Dynamic Response Case containing
an excitation (load excitation or restraint excitation) and a damping.
Inserting a Transient Dynamic Response Case allows you to create objects sets and to
set up a dynamic solution where loads or restraint will be excited.

Only available with the Generative Dynamic Response Analysis (GDY)

product.

To insert a Transient Dynamic Response Case:

← A Frequency Case must be defined.
For more details, refer to Inserting a Frequency Case.
← A Static Case must be defined only if you choose a load excitation set.
For more details, refer to Inserting a Static Case.

Open the sample56.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

In this particular example, a static case and a frequency case have been
previously defined.

1. Select Insert > Transient Dynamic Response Case .

The Transient Dynamic Response Case dialog box appears.

o Reference: allows you to choose a reference solution case.

o Excitation set: lets you choose the excitation type.
A load excitation set and a restraint excitation set cannot be
created simultaneously.
 
 Load excitation set: allows you to choose to
create a new load excitation set or to reference an existing one.
 New: allows you to create a new load
excitation set that will be empty.
 Reference: allows you to choose an
existing load excitation set as reference.
 Restraint excitation set: allows you to choose to
create a new restraint excitation set or to reference an existing one.
 New: allows you to create a new restraint
 excitation set that will be empty.
 Reference: allows you to choose an
existing restraint excitation set as reference.
o Damping set: informs you that a new damping set will be
created.
o Hide existing analysis cases: allows you to hide the
analysis cases that have been previously created.
2. Select the Frequency Case Solution.1 solution as Frequency Case Solution
reference.
3. Choose the desired excitation set.

To do this, select the desired check box in the Transient Dynamic

Response Case dialog box.
o Select the Load excitation check box if you want to apply a
load excitation set (for a dynamic load).

o Select the Restraint excitation check box if you want to

apply a restraint excitation set (for an imposed motion of the support).

o
4. Click OK in the Transient Dynamic Response Case dialog box.

The Transient Dynamic Response Case feature appears in the

specification tree.

Load excitation check box selected: Restraint excitation check box

selected:
 5.
You now have to define the excitation (Load or Restraint) how you will excite the
part as well as the damping of this part.
To do this, refer to Modulation and Dynamic Response Sets chapters in this
guide.

Dynamic Response Sets

Only available with the Generative Dynamic Response Analysis (GDY) product.
When you insert a Dynamic Response Analysis case (harmonic or transient), you
have to define the load excitation set and the damping set.
 
Define a Load Excitation Set
Apply a modulation to the load that is supposed to excite the part.
Define a Restraint Excitation Set
Apply a modulation to the restraint that is supposed to excite the part.
Define a Damping Set
Define the resulting damping of a part once a force has been applied on this
part.

Defining a Load Excitation Set

This task will show

you how to define
the load excitation
set in a:
harmonic
dynamic response
analysis case
transient
dynamic response
analysis case

Defining a load
excitation set allows
you to define the
force type load you
will apply.

Only available with the Generative Dynamic Response

Analysis (GDY) product.
 
Harmonic Dynamic Response Case
Open the sample57.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
Insert a Harmonic Dynamic Response Analysis Case
(and choose a load excitation set).
Define a white noise modulation or define a frequency
modulation.

1. Double-click the load excitation set from the

specification tree.

In this particular case, double-click Load Excitation.1

under the Harmonic Dynamic Response Case set.
The Load Excitation Set dialog box appears.
 o Name: gives the name of the excitation
set. You can modify it.
o Selection: 
 Selected load: lets you select the
load you want to excite.
You cannot reference load set belonging to a
preprocessing case.
 Selected modulation: lets you
select a white noise modulation or a frequency
modulation.
You cannot select a time modulation.
 Selected factor: lets you select
the factor that will multiply the modulation.
 Selected phase: lets you
associate a phase component of a dynamic load
excitation (load, modulation and factor).
2. Set the desired parameters in the Load Excitation Set
dialog box.

In this particular example:

o Select Pressure.1 as Selected load.
o Select Frequency Modulation.1 as
Selected modulation.
o Enter 1 as Selected factor value.
o Enter 2deg as Selected phase value.
3. Press Enter to update the Load Excitation Set dialog
box.

The Load Excitation Set dialog box appears as shown

below:
 You can add or delete load excitation parameters using
contextual menus in the Load Excitation Set dialog
box.

The available contextual menus are:

o Add: lets you add a load excitation.
o Delete: lets you delete a load excitation.
o Delete All: lets you delete all the load
excitations you have previously defined.
4. Right-click in the frame and select the Add contextual
menu.
5. Select the desired load, modulation, factor and phase.

In this particular example:

o Select the Loads.1 set as Selected load.
o Select the White noise.1 as Selected
modulation.
o Enter 2 as Selected factor value.
o Enter 1 as Selected phase value.

6. Right-click the second line and select the Delete

 contextual menu.
7. Click OK.

 
Transient Dynamic Response Case
Open the sample57.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
← Insert a Transient Dynamic Response Analysis Case
(and choose a load excitation set).
← Define a time modulation.

In this particular example, a transient dynamic response case

and a modulation set have been already inserted.

1. Double-click the load excitation set from the

specification tree.

In this particular case, double-click Load Excitation.1.

The Load Excitation Set dialog box appears.
 o Name: gives the name of the excitation
set. You can modify it.
o Selection: 
 Selected load: lets you select the
load you want to excite.
You cannot reference load set belonging to a
preprocessing case.
 Selected modulation: lets you
select a time modulation.
You cannot select a frequency modulation.
 Selected factor: lets you select
the factor that will multiply the modulation.
2. Select the load you want to excite in the specification
tree.

In this particular example:

o Select Pressure.1 as Selected load.
o Select Time Modulation.1 as Selected
modulation.
o Enter 1 as Selected factor value.
3. Press Enter to update the Load Excitation Set dialog
box.

The Load Excitation Set dialog box appears as shown

below:
 You can add or delete load excitation parameters using
contextual menus in the Load Excitation Set dialog
box.

4. Click OK.

Defining a Restraint Excitation Set

This task will show

you how to define
the restraint
excitation set in a:
harmonic
dynamic
response
analysis case
transient
dynamic
response
analysis case

Defining a restraint
excitation set
allows you to define
an imposed motion
of the support in
the frequency
domain or in the
time domain.

Only available with the Generative Dynamic Response

 Analysis (GDY) product.
 
Harmonic Dynamic Response Case
Open the sample57_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
Insert a Harmonic Dynamic Response Analysis Case
(and choose a restraint excitation set).
Define a white noise modulation or define a frequency
modulation.

1. Double-click the restraint excitation object belonging to

the harmonic dynamic response case.

In this particular case, double-click Restraint

Excitation.1. under the Harmonic Dynamic Response
Case set.
The Restraint Excitation Set dialog box appears.
o Name: gives the name of the restraint
excitation set. If needed, you can modify it.
o Axis System:
 Type:
 Global: if you select the
Global Axis system, the components field will be
interpreted as relative to the fixed global
rectangular coordinate system.
 User: if you select a user-
defined axis system, the components will be
interpreted as relative to the specified rectangular
coordinate system.

 Current
axis: lets you select the desired axis system.
 Local
orientation: (Cartesian) the components are
interpreted as relative to a fixed rectangular
coordinate system aligned with the Cartesian
coordinate directions of the User-defined
Axis.
o Selection:
 Selected modulation: lets you
select a white noise modulation or a frequency
modulation.
 You cannot select a time modulation in a
harmonic dynamic response analysis case.
 Selected acceleration: lets you
select the acceleration that will be modulated.
 Selected phase: lets you specify
the phase value.
o Degrees of freedom: gives you the list of
the degrees of freedom, the associated modulation,
acceleration and phase (T for translation and R for
Rotation)
2. Set the desired parameters in the Restraint Excitation
Set dialog box.

In this particular example:

o Select the Global option as Axis System
Type.
o Select Frequency Modulation.1 as
Selected modulation.
o Enter 1m_s2 as Selected acceleration.
o Enter 1deg as Selected phase.
3. Press Enter to update the Restraint Excitation Set dialog
box.

The TX degree of freedom is defined and the Restraint

Excitation Set dialog box appears as shown below:

You can define other degrees of freedom.

To do this:

4. Select an other degree of freedom.

In this particular example, select the RY degree of

freedom.
 5. Set the different parameters (associated modulation,
acceleration and phase).

In this particular example:

o Select the White Noise.1 modulation as
Selected modulation.
o Enter 3rad_s2 as Selected acceleration.
o Enter 2deg as Selected phase.
6. Press Enter to update the Restraint Excitation Set dialog
box.

The RY degree of freedom is defined and the Restraint

Excitation Set dialog box appears as shown below:

7. Click OK.

 
Transient Dynamic Response Case
Open the sample57_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
← Insert a Transient Dynamic Response Analysis Case
(and choose a restraint excitation set).
← Define a time modulation.
1. Double-click the restraint excitation belonging to a
transient dynamic response case.

In this particular case, double-click Restraint

Excitation.1.
The Restraint Excitation Set dialog box appears.

o Name: gives the name of the restraint

excitation set. If needed, you can modify it.
o Axis System:
 Type:
 Global: if you select the
Global Axis system, the components field will be
interpreted as relative to the fixed global
rectangular coordinate system.
 User: if you select a User-
defined Axis system, the components will be
interpreted as relative to the specified rectangular
 coordinate system.

 Current
axis: lets you select the desired axis system
 Local
orientation: (Cartesian) the components are
interpreted as relative to a fixed rectangular
coordinate system aligned with the Cartesian
coordinate directions of the User-defined
Axis.
o Selection:
 Selected modulation: lets you
select a time modulation.
You cannot select a frequency modulation.
 Selected acceleration: lets you
select the acceleration that will be modulated.
o Degrees of freedom: gives you the list of
the degrees of freedom, the associated modulation,
acceleration (T for translation)
2. Set the desired parameters in the Restraint Excitation
Set dialog box.

In this particular example:

o Select the Global option as Axis System
Type.
o Select Time Modulation.1 as Selected
modulation.
o Enter 1m_s2 as Selected acceleration.
3. Press Enter to update the Restraint Excitation Set dialog
box.
 The Restraint Excitation Set dialog box appears as
shown below:

You can define other degrees of freedom.

To do this:

4. Select an other degree of freedom.

In this particular example, select the TY degree of

freedom.

5. Set the different parameters (associated modulation and

acceleration).

In this particular example:

o Select the White Noise.1 modulation as
Selected modulation.
o Enter 3rad_s2 as Selected acceleration.
6. Press Enter to update the Restraint Excitation Set dialog
box.

The TY degree of freedom is defined and the Restraint

Excitation Set dialog box appears as shown below:
 7. Click OK.

Defining a Damping Set

This task will

show you how to
define the
damping set in a
Dynamic
Response
Analysis case.

Only available with the Generative Dynamic Response

Analysis (GDY) product.

Defining a damping set allows you to define the resulting damping

of the part once the force has been applied to this part.
You can choose between two damping types: Modal or Rayleigh.
By default, the damping is modal.

Open the sample57.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
← insert a Dynamic Response Analysis Case
← define a white noise excitation or define an imported
modulation

In this particular example, a dynamic response case and a

modulation set have been already inserted.
1. Double-click the damping set from the specification tree.

In this particular case, double-click the Damping.1 object.

The Damping Choice dialog box appears.

o Name: if needed, you can change the name

of the damping set.
o Damping type:
 Modal damping
 Rayleigh damping
2. Select the desired Damping type.

Modal Damping Type

The modal damping is a fraction of the critical
damping.
The critical damping is computed as follow:

where m is the mass of the system and k the

stiffness of the system.

Rayleigh Damping Type

The Rayleigh damping is defined as follow:

where [M] is the mass matrix, [K] is the stiffness

matrix.

3. Compute the frequency solution.

 For more details, refer to Computing Frequency Solutions.

You have to compute the frequency solution before

defining the damping parameters.

4. Click the Component edition button to define the

damping parameters.

The Damping Definition dialog box appears.

Modal Damping Defintion

o Global ratio: lets you define the factor of the

critical damping for all the modes (in %).
o Definition mode by mode: lets you define
the critical damping ratio (in %) independently for each
mode.
Multi-selection is available in this case.

Rayleigh Damping Definition

 o Global ratio: lets you define the Alpha
(mass ratio) and/or Beta (stiffness ratio) coefficients
for all the modes.
 Alpha (mass ratio): lets you define
the factor of the mass ratio (in %).
 Beta (stiffness ratio): lets you define
the factor of the stiffness ratio (in %).
o Definition mode by mode: lets you define
the Alpha (mass ratio) and/or Beta (stiffness ratio)
coefficients (in %) independently for each selected
mode.
Multi-selection is available in this case.
5. Define the desired damping parameters and click OK in the
Damping Choice dialog box.
6. Click OK in the Damping Definition dialog box.

Model Manager
Mesh Creation
Create Octree 3D Mesh Parts
Create a 3D mesh using tetrahedron elements.
Create Octree 2D Mesh Parts
Create a 2D mesh using triangle elements.
Create 1D Mesh Parts
Create a 1D mesh using beam elements or bar elements.
Element Type
Create Local Mesh Sizes
Generate local element sizes.
Element Type
Specify the element type.
Create Local Mesh Sags
Generate local element sags.

Mesh Property Creation

Create 3D Property
Create 3D properties.
Create 2D Property
Create 2D properties globally and, if needed, locally.
Import Composite Property

Import composite property.

Create 1D Property
Create 1D properties globally and, if needed, locally.
Create Imported Beam Property

Create beam properties globally and, if needed, locally.

Create Mapping Property

Create mapping properties.

  Changing Physical Type

Change the physical type of 1D or 2D element.

Creating a User Material
Create an analysis material without specifying a geometrical support.
Applying Material on Analysis Connections
Create an analysis material without specifying a geometrical support.
  Modifying Material Physical Properties
Modify the physical properties of a material.
  Editing a User Isotropic Material
Edit a user isotropic material that has been created in the previous
releases.

Mesh Check
Check the Model
Check whether mesh part, properties and material were properly
applied. Check can be performed on bodies, connection and/or others
(specifications).

Creating Octree 3D Mesh Parts

This task shows you how to create a 3D mesh using Octree tetrahedron
elements.
This command is available both in the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench and in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench. Options available in
the Octree tetrahedron mesher are different depending on the products you
have installed:
Generative Part Structural Analysis (GPS) or FEM Surface (FMS)
products
FEM Solid (FMD) product.
 
Generative Part Structural Analysis (GPS) or
FEM Surface (FMS)
In this configuration, the dialog box allowing you to define Octree 3D mesh
parts contains only two tabs either in the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench or in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench.

1. Click Octree Tetrahedron Mesher (in the Model Manager toolbar

for the Generative Structural Analysis workbench or the the Meshing
Methods toolbar for the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench).
2. Select the part you want to mesh.

In this particular case, select PartBody.

You can only select 3D geometries belonging to the default

PartBody.

The OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box appears.

o Global tab: lets you change global parameters.

To know more, refer to the global tab description.
o Local tab: lets you create local parameters.
To know more, refer to the local tab description.

3. Enter the desired options in the OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box.

In this case, enter 24mm as Size

value.

4. Click OK in the OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box.

The new mesh part has been created manually and the specification
tree is updated.
 5.
To know more about the Element Type you have to choose in the OCTREE
Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box, refer to Linear Tetrahedron and Parabolic
Tetrahedron in the Finite Element Reference Guide.
3D mesh can be deleted and/or added to parts manually.

 
FEM Solid (FMD)
  In this configuration, the dialog box allowing you to define Octree 3D mesh
parts contains four tabs either in the Generative Structural Analysis workbench
or in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench.

1. Click Octree Tetrahedron Mesher (in the Model Manager toolbar for
the Generative Structural Analysis workbench or the the Meshing
Methods toolbar for the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench).
2. Select the solid you want to mesh.

You
can
only
sele
ct
3D
geo
metr
ies
belo For more details about mesh quality analysis, refer to  Analyzing
ngin Element Quality in the Advanced Meshing Tools User's Guide.
g to
the
defa
ult
Part
Bod
y.
The
OCTRE
E
Tetrah
edron
Mesh
dialog
box
appear
s.
o
tab:


:
le
ts
y
o
u
ch
o
os
e
th
e
si
ze
of
th
e
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(i
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ut
 e
s
a
g:
m
a
xi
m
al
g
a
p
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w
e
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ry
.

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ti
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s
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g:
is
th
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ra
ti
o
 b
et
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n
gt
h.
 

Proportional sag
edge length value)


m
e
nt
ty
p
e:
le
 ts
y
o
u
ch
o
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e
th
e
ty
p
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el
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y
o
u
w
a
nt
(L
in
e
ar
or
P
ar
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ic
).
o
tab:
You
can
also
add
local
mes
hing
para
met
ers
such
as
sag,
size
or
distr
ibuti
on
 to
the
part.
For
this
sele
ct
the
desir
ed
Avai
labl
e
spec
s
and
then
click
the
Add
butt
on.


l
si
z
e:
y
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m
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e
N
a
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 S
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p
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
l
s
a
g:
y
o
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m
o
di
fy
th
e
N
a
m
e,
S
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 
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s
di
st
ri
b
ut
io
n
:
le
ts
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o
u
di
st
ri
b
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e.
F
or
th
is
:

t
the
Ed
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s
dis
 tri
bu
tio
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an
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Ad
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e
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pe
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.


t
the
ed
ge
on
wh
ich
yo
u
wa
nt
to
ass
ign
no
de
s
(S
up
po
rts
)
as
we
ll
as
the
Nu
m
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r
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Dis
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bu
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fea
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the
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ll
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 s
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ect
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ge.


OK
in
the
Lo
cal
Me
sh
Dis
tri
but
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dia
log
bo
x.

o
s
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th
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at
wi
ll
 b
e
ta
k
e
n
in
to
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co
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nt
w
h
e
n
m
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hi
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
d
o
th
is
:

t
the
Lo
cal
im
po
se
d
poi
nts
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ion
an
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k
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 Poi
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.


t
fro
m
the
sp
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fic
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Op
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Bo
dy
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the
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nts
(S
up
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)
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po
se
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OC
TR
EE
 tet
ra
he
dr
on
me
sh
ge
ner
ati
on.

OK
in
the
Im
po
se
d
Poi
nts
dia
log
bo
x.

o
y
tab
 


ri
a:
le
ts
y
o
 u
ch
o
os
e
a
cr
it
er
io
n
(
S
h
a
p
e,
S
k
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or
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re
c
h
)
to
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h
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.

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ar
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)
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a
n
a
n
d
W
ar
p
v
al
u
es
 .

o Others tab:

 Details simplification: lets you remove small

mesh.
 Geometry size limit: lets you specify the
maximum size of the elements ignored by the mesher (before
meshing).
If all the edges of a surface are smaller than the Geometry
size limit value, this surface will be ignored by the mesher.
 Mesh edges suppression: removes small
edges (after meshing).

Without Mesh edge

With Mesh edge suppression:
suppression:

It may happen that Mesh edge suppression involve

constraints violation.
 Global interior size: lets you specify the
maximum interior size of the mesh.
If the value of the Global interior size is smaller than the
value of the Size, the value of the Size will be reduced to
the value of the Global interior size.
 Min. size for sag specs: lets you specify the
minimum size of the mesh refining due to sags specifications.
 Max. number of attempts: lets you impose
 a maximum number of attempts, if several attempts are needed
to succeed in meshing, in the case of a complex geometry.
3. Select the desired parameters.

In this particular example, preserve the default parameters.

4. Click Apply.

The Computation Status dialog box appears and the mesh is generated
on the part.
For a better visualization, hide the geometry.
To do this, right-click the Links Manager.1 object and select
Hide/Show.

The OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh.1: Part.1 object appears in the

specification tree.

5. Click OK.

To edit the Octree tetrahedron mesh, double-click the OCTREE Tetrahedron

Mesh.1: Part.1 object in the specification tree.
The OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box reappears.

Creating Octree 2D Mesh Parts

This task shows you how to create a 2D mesh using triangle elements.
This command is available both in the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench and in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench. Options available in
the Octree triangle mesher are different depending on the products you have
installed:
Generative Part Structural Analysis (GPS) or FEM Solid (FMD) products
FEM Surface (FMS) product.
 
Generative Part Structural Analysis (GPS) or
FEM Solid (FMD)
In this configuration, the dialog box allowing you to define Octree 2D mesh
parts contains only two tabs either in the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench or in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench.

1. Click Octree Triangle Mesher (in the Model Manager toolbar for the
Generative Structural Analysis workbench or the the Meshing Methods
toolbar for the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench).
2. Select the 2D geometry.

A symbol appears on the geometry and the OCTREE Triangle Mesh

dialog box appears.

o Global tab: lets you change global parameters.

To know more, refer to the global tab description.
o Local tab: lets you create local parameters.
To know more, refer to the local tab description.

3. Modify the desired options. In this particular case, keep the default
options.
4. Click OK.

The OCTREE Triangle Mesh.2 mesh parts appears in the specification

tree. Note that now the corresponding 2D Property is missing. For
more details on how to add this property, refer to Generative
Structural Analysis User's Guide - User Tasks - Model Manager -
Creating 2D Property.

You can change the physical property of 2D mesh element you

just created using the Changing Element Type contextual
menu.
5.
← 2D mesh can be deleted and/or added to parts manually.
← To visualize the mesh in the Generative Structural Analysis workbench,
use the Mesh Visualization contextual menu.
 The mesh is automatically displayed in the Advanced Meshing Tools
workbench.
← To know more about the Element Type you have to choose in the
OCTREE Triangle Mesh dialog box, refer to Linear Triangle and Parabolic
Triangle in the Finite Element Reference Guide.

 
FEM Surface (FMS)
  In this configuration, the dialog box allowing you to define Octree 2D mesh
parts contains four tabs either in the Generative Structural Analysis workbench
or in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench.

1. Click Octree Triangle Mesher (in the Model Manager toolbar for the
Generative Structural Analysis workbench or the the Meshing Methods
toolbar for the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench).
2. Select the geometry to be meshed.

To do this, select either the geometry feature in the specification tree or

select the part.
A symbol appears on the geometry:

 The OCTREE Triangle Mesh dialog box appears.

o Global tab:

 Size: lets you choose the size of the elements.

  Absolute sag: maximal gap between the mesh and
the geometry.

 Proportional sag: is the ratio between the local

absolute sag and the local mesh edge length.
 

Proportional sag value= (local Absolute sag value) / (local mesh

edge length value)

 Note that Absolute sag and

Proportional sag could modify the local mesh edge length
value.
 You can use both Absolute sag
and Proportional sag, the most constraining of the two
values will be used.
 Element type: lets you choose the type of element
you want (Linear or Parabolic).
o Local tab:
You can also add local meshing parameters such as sag, size or
distribution to the part.
To do this select the desired Available specs and then click the Add
button.

 Local size: you can modify the Name, Support and

Value.

 Local sag: you can modify the Name, Support and

Value.
 Edges distribution: lets you distribute local nodes
on a edge.
To do this:
 Select the Edges distribution option and
click Add. The Edges Distribution dialog box appears.

 Select the edge on which you want to

assign nodes (Supports) as well as the Number of Edges to be
created.
The Edges Distribution.1 feature now appears in the
specification tree.
 Click OK in the Local Mesh Distribution
dialog box.
In this particular case, 7 nodes are generated, i.e. 6 edges will
be generated after the meshing.

 Imposed points: lets you select the points that will

be taken into account when meshing.
In this case, the points you have to select must have been
created via Shape Design or Part Design.
Only points on curve or points on surface are supported. The
points support must be a member of the meshed geometry.
 To do this:
 Select the Local imposed points option and
click Add.
The Imposed Points dialog box appears.
  Select from the specification tree (under
Open Body feature) the points (Supports) you will impose for
OCTREE triangle mesh generation.

 Click OK in the Imposed Points dialog box.

To edit the local mesh distribution that has just been
created, you need to double-click the Local Nodes
Distribution object in the specification tree and modify the
desired options from the Local Mesh Distribution dialog box
that appears.
o Quality tab:

 Criteria: lets you choose a criterion (Shape,

Skewness or Strech) to optimize the mesh quality.
 Intermediate nodes parameters: only available if
you have chosen a Parabolic element type. This option lets you
choose the position of parabolic tetrahedron intermediate nodes
(Jacobian or Warp).
The distance (d) between the geometry and the intermediate node
is function of Jacobian and Warp values.
 For more details about mesh quality analysis, refer to Analyzing
Element Quality in the Advanced Meshing Tools User's Guide.
o Others tab:

 Details simplification: lets you remove small mesh.

 Geometry size limit: lets you specify the
maximum size of the elements ignored by the mesher (before the
meshing).
If all the edges of a surface are smaller than the Geometry
size limit value, this surface will be ignored by the mesher.
 Mesh edges suppression: removes small
edges (after the meshing).

Without Mesh edge

With Mesh edge suppression:
suppression:

It may happen that Mesh edge suppression involve

constraints violation.
 Global interior size: not available in Octree triangle
mesh.
 Min. size for sag specs: lets you specify the
minimum size of the mesh refining due to sags specifications.
 Max. number of attempts: lets you impose a
maximum number of attempts, if several attempts are needed to
succeed in meshing, in the case of a complex geometry.
3. Select the desired parameters in the OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog
 box.
4. Click Apply.

The Computation Status dialog box appears.

The OCTREE Triangle mesh is generated on the part.

5. Click OK.

To edit the Octree triangle mesh, double-click the OCTREE Triangle Mesh.1
object in the specification tree.
The OCTREE Triangle Mesh dialog box reappears.

Creating 1D Mesh Parts

This task shows you how to add beam mesh to a Generative Shape Design
CATPart.
This command is available both in the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench and in the Advanced Meshing Tools workbench.

You cannot select a sketch geometry.

You cannot mesh 1D body belonging to hybrid body.
 
Generative Structural Analysis Workbench
Open the sample47.CATAnalysis document from the sample directory.

1. Click Beam Mesher in the Model Manager toolbar.

2. Select the beam to be meshed.

The Beam Meshing dialog box appears.

 o Element type: lets you choose the 1D element type:

 (linear): 1D element without intermediate

node.
By default, this element is a beam but you can work with linear
bar element using the Change Element Type contextual menu.
For more details about these elements, refer to Beam and Linear
Bar in the Finite Element Reference Guide.

 (parabolic): 1D element with an intermediate

node.
This element can only be a parabolic bar. For more details about
this element, refer to Parabolic Bar in the Finite Element
Reference Guide.
o Element size: lets you specify the element size.
o Sag control:
 Sag: lets you define the distance between the
mesh elements and the geometry.
 Min size: lets you define the minimum element
size.
3. Select the desired Element Type.

In this particular example, click the button to select linear as

element type.

4. Enter the desired Element size value in the Beam Meshing dialog box.

In this particular case, enter

3mm.

5. Activate the Sag control option in the Beam Meshing dialog box.
 6. Modify the Sag control parameters if needed.
7. Click OK in the Beam Meshing dialog box.

The 1D Mesh.2 feature now appears in the specification tree. Note that
now the corresponding Beam Property is missing.
For more details on how to add this Beam Property, refer to Creating
Beam Property in the Generative Structural Analysis User's Guide.

8.
To apply a restraint, a load or a connection to one extremity of a
beam, you need to first put the point that were possibly created at the
extremity of this beam, in order to build the wireframe, into the Hide
mode. As result, to apply the above mentioned specifications, you will
select the extremity of the wireframe and not the hidden point (small cross
in the 3D view) as this point is not linked to the mesh.

You cannot apply beam properties and 1D mesh parts on geometry

included in a sketch.
1D or beam mesh can be deleted and/or added to parts manually.

 
Advanced Meshing Tools Workbench
This task shows you how to add beam mesh to a Generative Shape Design
CATPart, and if needed, edit the mesh.
You can add a beam mesh on a Structure Design beam. So you will mesh it
with 1D elements.

This functionality is only available with the FEM Surface (FMS) product.

Open the sample47.CATAnalysis document from the sample directory.

← Make sure a material was applied to the geometry, first.

1. Click Beam Mesher in the Meshing Methods toolbar.

2. Select the feature corresponding to the geometry to be associated a
mesh part.

The Beam Meshing dialog box appears.

o Element type: lets you choose the 1D element type

 (linear): 1D element without intermediate

node.

 (parabolic): 1D element with an intermediate

node.
o Element size: lets you set the global mesh size.
The Element size value must be strictly positive.
o Sag control: lets you set the element minimum size and
sag. If checked, the corresponding values (Min size and Sag) appear
in the dialog box.
Remember that the sag is the distance between the mesh elements
and the geometry so that mesh refining is optimum in curve-type
geometry.
o Automatic mesh capture: lets you capture external mesh
with a given tolerance (external mesh must be a 2D mesh).

 Mesh capture button: for more details, click

here.
This button is only available if you activated the Automatic
mesh capture option.
 Tolerance: lets you enter a tolerance value.
o Angle between  curves: lets you define the vertices to be
taken into account.

o Edit mesh button: lets you edit mesh manually to

enhance quality using the Edit Mesh dialog box.
For more details about this button and the Edit Mesh dialog box, click
here.
This button is available as soon as a geometry has been
selected.

o Add/remove isolated points button: lets you select

 points to be projected on the geometry.

This button is available as soon as a geometry has been

selected.

The External Points dialog box appears.

o Add Mesh Distribution button: lets you specify local

nodes distribution.
When clicking this button, the Edit Elements Distribution dialog box
appears. You can choose between several distribution types:
uniform, arithmetic, geometric, user-defined law.
For more details about the Edit Elements Distribution dialog box,
refer to Distributing Elements in the Advanced Meshing Tools User's
Guide.
3. Enter the desired Element size value in the Beam Meshing dialog box.

In this example, enter 20mm as Element size

value.

4. Click Apply in the Beam Meshing dialog box to launch computation.

The mesh is displayed.

To visualize 1D elements, you can use the Shrink Elements

command.

The Beam Meshing dialog box now appears as shown here.

5. Select Linear or Parabolic as Element Type option and click Apply in
the Beam Meshing dialog box.

Linear option activated Parabolic option activated

6. Click OK.

A 1D Mesh.1 feature appears in the specification

tree.

7. Shrink the 1D element visualization.

To do this, click Shrink Elements in the Mesh Visualization Tools

toolbar and set the value of 1D elements shrink to 0.90 using the
slider.
The 1D mesh appears as shown below:
8. Double-click 1D Mesh.1 in the specification tree and click Apply in the
Beam Meshing dialog box.
9. Select the Sag control check box and modify the Min size and Sag
values so that the mesh is refined as desired.

Selected Size and Sag values Resulting mesh

Selected Size and Sag values Resulting mesh

Selected Size and Sag values Resulting mesh

10. Click the Edit mesh button in the Beam Meshing dialog box.

The Edit Mesh dialog box appears.

o Smooth: the neighbor elements are smoothed around

the modified mesh.
o Node: 
 Move node: move a node belong the geometry.
 Freeze node: fix a node whatever the
modifications applied to the neighbor elements.
 Unfreeze node: cancel the Freeze node option.
o Edge:
 Split edge: create a node and split an edge into
two edges.
 Condense edge: suppress an edge by
condensation of one node and the node opposite to the point on
the selected edge.

Moving a node:
11. Select the Move node option in the Node list.
12. Select a node and move it to the desired location.

Select the node Move the node

 The result is:

Smooth option deactivated Smooth option activated

Splitting an edge:
13. Select the Split edge option in the Edge list.
To refine the mesh, you need to check the Smooth option in the Edit
Mesh dialog box. The neighbor edges are updated.
14. Select the edge you want to split.

The result is:

Smooth option deactivated Smooth option activated

15. Click OK in the Edit Mesh dialog box.

16. Click the Add Mesh Distribution button.

The Edit Elements Distribution dialog box appears.

17. Select the edge on which you want to distribute nodes.

In this particular example, select the following edge:

 18. Set the parameters in the Edit Elements Distribution dialog box.

In this particular example:

The distribution is displayed:

19. Click OK in the Edit Elements Distribution dialog box.

20. Click Apply and then OK in the Beam Meshing dialog box.

A Mesh Specifications.1 set containing the Elements Distribution.1

specification appears in the specification tree under the 1D  Mesh.1
mesh part.

21.
1D (beam mesh), can be deleted and/or added to parts manually.
Creating Local Mesh Sizes

This task will

show you how to
create a Local
Mesh Size
specification on a
Mesh Part and
how to specify
element type.
The Mesh Part
objects set
contains all user
specifications
relative to the
mesh. In
particular, global
size and sag
specifications, as
well as global
element order
specifications.
Local Mesh Sizes
are local
specifications
relative to the size
of the elements
constituting the
finite element
mesh.

Open the sample00.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory for this task.
Go to View > Render Style > Customize View and make
sure the Shading, Outlines and Materials options are active in
the Custom View Modes dialog box.

1. Click Local Mesh Size in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Local Mesh Size dialog box appears.

In the case of an assembly, you will select from the

specification tree the Mesh object which you want to
modify the size (Nodes and Elements feature). 
 You can change the name of the Local Size by editing the
Name field.

2. Enter an element size in the Value field.

You can use the ruler button on the right of the field to
enter a distance between two supports by selecting them
in sequence. 
The smallest element size which can be used to generate
a mesh is 0.1mm. In order to avoid geometrical
problems in the mesher, the smallest size of an element
is set to 100 times the geometrical model tolerance. This
tolerance is actually set to 0.001mm and cannot be
modified whatever the dimension of the part. This is why
the mesh global size must be bigger than 0.1mm.

3. Select a geometry for applying a local size.

4. Click OK.

A symbol representing the Local Size is visualized on the

support.
A Local Size object appears in the specification tree under
the active Mesh Part objects set.

You can apply in sequence several local mesh size

specifications to the system. A separate object will be
created for each specification in the specification tree.
5.
← You can select several geometry supports to apply the
Local Size to all simultaneously.
← You can edit the OCTREE Tetrahedron mesh part.
 To do this:
← Right-click the OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh.1 mesh
part in the specification tree and select .object > Definition.
or
← Double-click the OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh.1
mesh part in the specification tree.

The OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box appears.

To know more about this dialog box, refer to Creating

Octree 3D Mesh Parts.
←
 
Element Type
You can specify the element type.
To do this:

1. Click Element Type in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Element Type dialog box lets you modify the type of
the element.

2. Select the desired option.

3. Click OK.

To know more about the Element Type you have to choose in the
OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box, refer to Linear
Tetrahedron and Parabolic Tetrahedron in the Finite Element
Reference Guide.

Creating Local Mesh Sags

This task shows how

to create a Local
Mesh Sag
specification on a
mesh part.
The Mesh Part
objects set contains
all user specifications
relative to the Mesh.
In particular, global
size and sag
specifications, as well
as global element
order specifications.
Local Mesh Sags are
local specifications
relative to the
maximum distance
between the element
boundaries and the
boundary of the
system.

Open the sample00.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory for this task.
← Go to View > Render Style > Customize View and
make sure the Shading, Outlines and Materials options are
active in the Custom View Modes dialog box.

1. Click Local Mesh Sag in the Model Manager

toolbar.

The Local Mesh Sag dialog box appears.

In the case of an assembly, you will select from

the specification tree the Mesh object of which
you want to modify the sag (Nodes and
Elements feature). 

You can change the name of the Local Sag by editing

the Name field.

2. Enter an element sag in the Value field.

You can use the ruler button on the right of the field
to enter a distance between two supports by selecting
them in sequence.

3. Select a geometry for applying a local sag. 

 4. Click OK to create the Local Sag.

A symbol representing the Local Sag is visualized on

the support.
A Local Sag object appears in the features tree under
the active Mesh Part objects set.

You can apply in sequence several local mesh sag

specifications to the system. A separate object will be
created for each specification in the specification tree.
5.

Creating 3D Properties

This task shows you

how to add 3D
physical properties to
a body, on the
condition a mesh part
was previously
created.

A 3D property is a physical property assigned to a 3D part. A

solid property references a material assigned to this 3D part.
A solid property is associative to the geometry this property
points at.
To know more about this property, refer to Solid Property in
the Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample41.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
1. Click 3D Property in the Model Manager toolbar.

The 3D Property dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the

property.
o Support: lets you select a support.
o Select Mesh Parts: this button is only
available if you have selected a support.
For more details, refer to Selecting Mesh Parts.
o Material: indicates that a material has
been applied on the selected support.

If you do not specify a user material, the

material taken into account will be the first one
found, if any, on the way up from the selected
geometry in the specification tree.

o User-defined material: lets you select

an user material on condition that it has been
previously created.
For more details, refer Creating an User Material.
 The only allowed materials in the 3D property
definition are Isotropic, Honey Comb and
Orthotropic 3D.

o Orientation: lets you define an accurate

axis system for 3D properties even if the 3D shapes
are complex.
This option is only available with the ELFINI
Structural Analysis (EST) product.
 None: no axis system will be
associated.
 This option is useful if the
associated material is Isotropic.
 If the material is
Orthotropic 3D, the global axis system will be
taken as the default axis system.
 By axis: lets you define the axis
system you want to associate to the selected
user material.
This option is useful if the material is Honey
Comb or Orthotropic 3D.
If you select this option, the Component Edition
button appears.

To know more about axis system, refer to Axis

System Type.
 By surface: lets you select a
surface and a direction to orient the 3D property.
This option is useful for complex 3D shapes.
If you select this option, the Component Edition
button appears.

Note that the Component Edition button shows

an invalid status.
To make it valid, click Component Edition.
The Orientation Definition dialog box appears:

 Surface: lets you define

the Z-direction by selecting a surface.
 Direction: lets you define
the X and Y-direction by selecting an edge, a
line or an axis of a reference axis system.
 

2. Select the part to be applied a 3D property.

 The 3D Property dialog box now appears as shown
here:

3. Select By axis as Orientation option.

4. Click the Component edition button.
The Orientation Definition dialog box appears.
5. Select Global as axis system Type.
6. Click OK in the Orientation Definition dialog box.
7. Click OK in the 3D Property dialog box.

The 3D property is created.

The specification tree is updated: the 3D Property.1
feature is displayed.

8.
You can manually add or delete 3D properties.

Creating 2D Properties

This task shows you

how to:
Add 2D physical
properties to a
modified product
Create local 2D
properties (on the
condition a 2D
property was
previously added to
the part).
A 2D property is a
physical property
assigned to a surface
part. A 2D property
references a material
assigned to the surface
Part and describes a
thickness associated to
this surface Part. A 2D
property is associative
to the geometry this
property points at. You
can also associate a
local thickness to a
piece of the geometry.
To know more about
this property, see Shell
Property in the Finite
Element Reference
Guide.

Open the sample51.CATAnalysis document.

In this particular case, a mesh part has been previously
created.

Be aware that the default thickness corresponds to the

thickness that was possibly previously defined in Generative
Shape Design workbench (Tools > Thin Parts Attributes
menu).
Associativity exists between the thickness of the part and
the corresponding CATAnalysis 2D property. Of course, you
can modify this thickness as necessary using Analysis
workbench, afterwards.

Add 2D Physical Properties

You can add 2D physical properties to a body.

1. Click 2D Property in the Model Manager toolbar.

 The 2D Property dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you modify the name of

the property.
o Supports: lets you select a support.
o Select Mesh Parts: this button is only
available if you have selected a support.
For more details, refer to Selecting Mesh Parts.
o Material: indicates you that a material
has been applied on the selected support.
If you do not specify a user material, the
material taken into account will be the first
one found, if any, on the way up from the
selected geometry in the specification tree.
o User-defined material: lets you select
an user material on condition that it has been
previously created.
For more details, refer to Creating an User
Material.
The only allowed material in the 2D property
definition is Isotropic.
o Thickness: lets you change the value
of the thickness.
o Data Mapping
You can re-use data (Data Mapping) that are
external from this version (experimental data
or data coming from in-house codes or
procedures). For more details, refer to Data
Mapping (only available if you installed the
ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST)
product).
o
2. Select the support to be applied a 2D property.
 The 2D Property dialog box is updated as shown
here:

3. Enter 2mm as Thickness value.

4. Click OK in the 2D Property dialog box.

The 2D Property is created and a symbol appears on

the geometry:

A 2D Prorperty.1 property appears in the

specification tree:

5.
 
Create Local 2D Property
You can associate a local thickness to a piece of the
geometry on the condition a shell property was previously
added to the geometry.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST)

product.

1. Right-click the 2D Property.1 property previously

created in the specification tree and select Local 2D
Property .

The Local 2D Property dialog box appears.

o Name: you can modify the name of

the property.
o Supports: you can select a support.
o Select Mesh Parts: this button is only
available if you have selected a support.
For more details, refer to Selecting Mesh Parts.
o Material: indicates you that a material
has been applied on the selected support.
o User Defined Material: lets you select
an user defined material on condition that it has
been previously created
For more details, refer to Creating an User
Material.
The only allowed material in the 2D property
definition is Isotropic.
o Thickness: you can change the value
of the thickness.
o Data Mapping: for more details, refer
to Data Mapping.
2. Select the part of the geometry on which you want
to apply a local 2D property.
 The Local 2D Property dialog box is updated as
shown here:

3. Enter 1mm as Thickness value.

4. Click OK in the Local 2D Property dialog box.

The Local 2D Property is created and symbols appear

on the geometry. 

A Local 2D Prorperty.1 property appears in the

specification tree.
5.

Importing Composite Properties

This task shows you how to import a composite property.

In the analysis context, composite properties will be applied on 2D geometries
on which composite design has been defined in the Composite Design
workbench.
For more details, refer to the Composite Design User's Guide.
You will see here how to generate a composite finite element model from the
design by:
zones
plies
Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.
 
Definition Based on Zones
Open the sample06.CATAnalysis document.

1. Click Imported Composite Property in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Imported Composite Property dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you modify the name of the property.

o Supports: lets you select a 2D body as support.
o Analysis: lets you choose the zone approach or the ply
approach.
 By zone: lets you choose the zone approach.
 Zones must have been defined in
the Composite Design workbench.
 Transition zones defined in the
Composite Design workbench are ignored.
 By ply: lets you choose the ply approach.
 Component Edition button: lets you filter by zone
or by plies.
When clicking this button, the Filter Definition dialog box appears
to lets you select the zone or ply.
o Core sampling depth: lets you define an optional
tolerance to control the number of plies or zones taken into account
in the analysis context.
 
2. Select the support as shown below.
 The Imported Composite Property dialog box is updated as shown
below:

3. Select By zone as Analysis option.

4. Click OK in the Imported Composite Property dialog box.

An Imported Composite Prorperty.1 property appears in the

specification tree under the Properties.1 set.

Note that the applied materials are not visible under the Materials.1 set
in the specification tree.
However you can edit and change the material properties.
To do this:
a. Select the File > Desk menu.
b. Right-click the CompositesCatalog.CATMaterial document
and select the Open contextual menu.
c. Double-click a material to edit it.

The Properties dialog box appears.

 d. Change the desired parameters in the Analysis tab of the
Properties dialog box.

For more details about this tab, refer to Modifying Material

Physical Properties in this guide.

The only allowed materials in the composite property

definition are Isotropic, Orthotropic 2D and Fiber.

e. Click OK in the Properties dialog box.

In this particular example, do not change material physical properties.

2. Click Compute , select Mesh Only in the Compute dialog box and
click OK.
3. Right-click the Properties.1 set and select the Generate Image
contextual menu.
4. Select Composite angle symbol as image and click OK in the Image
Generation dialog box.

The following image visualization is displayed:

5. Edit the image you just generated.

In this particular example:

a. Double-click the Composite angle symbol.1 image.
b. Click the More button to expand the Image Edition dialog
box.
c. Enter 6 as Lamina value.
d. Click OK in the Image Edition dialog box.
The image visualization is updated and lets you visualize the sixth
lamina:
 6.

 
Definition Based on Plies
Open the sample06.CATAnalysis document.

1. Click Imported Composite Property in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Imported Composite Property dialog box appears.

To know more about the Imported Composite Property dialog box, click
here.

2. Select the support as shown below.

 The Imported Composite Property dialog box is updated as shown
below:

3. Select By ply as Analysis option.

4. Click OK in the Imported Composite Property dialog box.

An Imported Composite Prorperty.1 property appears in the

specification tree under the Properties.1 set.

In this particular example, do not change material physical properties.

5. Click Compute , select Mesh Only in the Compute dialog box and
click OK.

Creating User Materials

This task shows you

how to create a user
material with no
geometrical support.
The user material will
be added under the
Material set in the
analysis context
contrary to the Apply
Material functionality.
For example, this
material should be
useful for properties
that have mesh
support.

Open the sample51.CATAnalysis document from the

sample directory.

1. Click User Material in the Model Manager

toolbar.

The Library dialog box appears.

For more details about the Library dialog box, refer
to the Real Time Rendering User's Guide.
2. Choose the desired material in the Library dialog
box.

In this particular example, select Aluminium in the

Metal tab.
3. Click OK in the Library dialog box.

A User Material.1 object appears in the specification

tree under the Material.1 set.

4. Double-click the User Material.1 object in the

 specification tree.

You can also right-click the User Material.1

object and select the Properties contextual
menu.

The Properties dialog box appears. This dialog box

lets you modify the physical properties of the user
material using the Analysis tab.
For more details about the Analysis tab of the
Properties dialog box, refer to Modifying Material
Physical Properties.

5. Select the Analysis tab in the Properties dialog box.

By default, the Analysis tab appears as shown

below:

6. Modify the parameters if needed.

7. Click OK in the Properties dialog box.

Thermal Material and Non Linear Material

Two contextual menus (Thermal Material and Non Linear
Material) are available on the following objects: Materials,
User Isotropic Material, User Material (under the Materials
set).
To use them, you need to work with CATIA V5 Partners.
Applying a Material to Analysis Connections

This task shows you how

to apply a material to an
analysis connection with
no geometrical support.

Open the sample48_1.CATAnalysis document from the

sample directory.

1. Click Material on Analysis Connection .

The Library dialog box appears.

For more details about the Library dialog box,
refer to the Real Time Rendering User's Guide.

2. Choose the desired material in the Library dialog

box.

In this particular example, select Aluminium in

the Metal tab.

3. Select the analysis connection on which you want

to apply a material.

In this particular example, select Point Analysis

Connection.1 in the specification tree.

4. Click OK in the Library dialog box.

A material appears in the specification tree under

 the selected analysis connection.

5.
You can modify the physical properties of the material
you just applied.
To do this:
a. Double-click the material you just applied.

You can also right-click the material object

and select the Properties contextual menu.

The Properties dialog box appears. This dialog

box lets you modify the physical properties of the
user material using the Analysis tab.
For more details about the Analysis tab of the
Properties dialog box, refer to Modifying Material
Physical Properties.

b. Select the Analysis tab in the Properties dialog

box.

By default, the Analysis tab appears as shown

below:

c. Modify the parameters if needed.

d. Click OK in the Properties dialog box.

Checking the Model

This task lets

you know
how to check
whether
specification
assigned to
a model are
consistent.
You can
perform
check
operations
on:
Bodie
s
Conn
ections
Other
s

You also see

how to
migrate
Analysis
Connections
created
before the
Version 5
Release 12.
Note that
this check on
features
considered
as
inconsistent
is performed
both via the
dialog box
(one line per
feature and
a dedicated
diagnostic
box) and via
highlighted
associated
features in
the
specification
tree.

We advise that you perform a check before computing a case.

Check on Bodies
Check on bodies means on all the Mesh parts (1D, 2D, 3D) as well as
their properties and supports.

You created a new property

To do this, you selected the 3D Property command and selected
Pad1.

Open the sample37.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.

1. Click Model Checker in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Model Checker dialog box appears.

o Bodies tab: this tab gives the list of all the Mesh
parts (1D, 2D, 3D) as well as their properties and supports.
You can filter the bodies (1D, 2D, 3D or All bodies) in the
displayed list using contextual menus.

o Connections tab: any connection specification.

You can filter the connections (All, Point, Line, Surface or
Other connections) in the displayed list using contextual
menus.
 o Others tab: specification features (loads,
restraints, virtual parts).
o Complete Property>>: lets you complete your
finite element model.
If you defined only once property (and its characteristic),
you can duplicate this property automatically for many other
support.
This can be useful in the case of documents that contain a
lot of different geometries (for example, a surface assembly
model containing many 2D geometries built with the same
material and same thickness).
o Migrate Connections: this button lets you
migrate the Analysis Connections created before the Version
5 Release 12.
It is strongly recommended to migrate the former Analysis
Connections because you cannot select them as Connection
Properties support any longer.
To know more, refer to Migrating Analysis Connections.

The Model Checker dialog box displays all the parts (one per
line in the dialog box) which are assigned at least one mesh
part or property.
A status is assigned to each Mesh part you select in the dialog
box, to let you know whether:
o you forgot to assign the material,
o you assigned no or too many Mesh parts,
o you assigned no or too many properties.
2. Select the line with a KO status.
 When you select a part in the table, the corresponding features
in the specification tree and in the model as well as the
assigned properties and material are also highlighted.
In this particular case, more than one property has been
defined.

3. Click OK.
4. Delete the 3D Property.2 and 3D Property.3 properties.

The specification tree is updated:

5. Click the Model Checker icon .

The Model Checker dialog box appears.

You can select the line with a KO status.
 A 3D property is missing.

6. Click the Complete Property>> button.

7. Select the line with the KO status and click the button.

8. Select the Copy Property field.

9. Select the 3D Property.1 property in the specification tree.

The Preview button is now available in the Model Checker

dialog box.
10. Click Preview.

The Model Checker dialog box is updated.

A 3D Property is created, and the specification tree is also

updated:
 11. Click OK.

You deleted the material from an OCTREE mesh part

Open the sample38.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.

1. Click Model Checker in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Model Checker dialog box appears.

For more details, refer to the description of the dialog box.
The Model Check dialog box displays the lists of all the Mesh
parts as well as their properties and supports.
When you select a part in the table, the corresponding features
in the specification tree and in the model as well as the
assigned properties and material are also highlighted.

In this particular case, no mesh part is defined for the Part1.3.

 2. Click OK.
3. Create a mesh part applied on Part Body of Part1.3 and get
this:

To do this, refer to Creating 3D Mesh Part.

4. Click Model Checker .

The specifications are now consistent: all the states are set to
OK.

5. Click OK.

Check on Connections
Check on connections means on any connection specification. In other
words, you will check the consistency of the connections regarding the
following: missing mesh parts, properties, materials ; connected
supports with no associated mesh parts ; overlapping connections and
so forth.

You deleted the mesh part of a part that was connected

to another
Open the sample50.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
A warning message appears to inform you that you have to migrate
analysis connections created before the Version 5 Release 12.
To do this, refer to Migrating Analysis Connections.

1. Click Model Checker in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Model Checker dialog box appears.

For more details, refer to the description of the dialog box.
The Connections tab of the Model Checker dialog box displays
all the parts (one per line in the dialog box) which are assigned
at least one connection:
o Mesh part and property assigned to this mesh
part
o Connected mesh part
o Product to which the constraints was assigned
o Names of both mesh parts connected to each
others
o Material (has no impact on Connection valid
state).
 When you select a connected mesh part in the table, the
corresponding features in the specification tree and in the
model as well as the assigned properties, material and
constraints are also highlighted.

In this particular case, Face does not have a Mesh Part defined
on it.

2. Click OK.
3. Create mesh parts on the geometry.

Check on Others
Check on others means on specification features such as loads,
restraints, virtual parts, masses and periodic conditions.

Scenario: You deleted the mesh part of a clamped part that

was connected to another
Open sample50.CATAnalysis document.
A warning message appears to inform you that you have to migrate
analysis connections created before the Version 5 Release 12.
To do this, refer to Migrating Analysis Connections.

1. Delete OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh.1 : Part1.1 mesh part in the

specification tree.

2. Click Model Check in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Model Check dialog box appears.

For more details, refer to the description of the dialog box.
The Others tab of the Model Check dialog box displays all the
specifications features (one per line in the dialog box) which
are not correct as well as details on the status of the selected
line. In this particular case, Clamp.1 is KO as the part the
clamp was assigned to has been deleted.

In this particular case, the root design feature is no more

support of any Mesh specification for Clamp.1 and Clamp.2.

3. Click Cancel.
 The solution is therefore to add the mesh part to the
invalidated part.
4.

 
Migrating Analysis Connections Created
Before Version 5 Release 12
It is strongly recommended to migrate the former Analysis
Connections because you cannot select them as Connection Properties
support any longer.
Analysis Connections created before the Version 5 Release 12 are
stored in the Analysis Connection Manager under the product:

Open the sample50.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
A warning message appears to inform you that you have to migrate
analysis connections created before the Version 5 Release 12.

1. Click Model Checker in the Model Manager toolbar.

The Model Checker dialog box appears.

For more details, refer to the description of the dialog box.
Note that the Migrate Connections button is available.
2. Click Migrate Connections.

The following message appears:

3. Click Yes.

Analysis Connection Manager.1 appears in the specification

tree under Analysis Manager.
 4. Click OK.

Adaptivity

The adaptive method implemented is the H-method.

At constant element order, the mesh is selectively refined
(decrease element size) in such a way as to obtain a
desired results accuracy. The mesh refining criteria are
based on a technique called predictive error
estimation, which consists of determining the distribution
of a local error estimate field for a given Static Analysis
Case.
As a result, the use of the adaptative method makes it
possible to reduce the memory costs and the time costs.
 
Compute first the
solution with parabolic
elements.
Create Global Adaptivity
Specifications
Generate glocal
adaptive mesh
refinement
specifications.
  Create Local Adaptivity
Specifications
 Generate a local
adaptive mesh
refinement
specifications.

Computing with Adaptivity

Compute with Adaptivity
Computing
adaptive
solutions.

Creating Global Adaptivity Specifications

This task
shows how to
create an
Adaptivity on
a Mesh Part
for a given
Static
Analysis Case
Solution.
The Adaptivity functionalities are only available with static
analysis solution or a combined solution that references a static
analysis solution.

The former adaptivity specifications (created before V5R12)

can be edited but they can not be computed with adaptativity.
If you modify these specifications and launch a computation with
adaptativity, a warning message informs you that these
specifications will not be taken into account. You have to create
new adaptativity specifications.
Open the sample07.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
← Compute the solution.

To do this:

← Click Compute .
← Select the All option.
← Click OK in the Compute dialog box.
For more details, refer to the Compute Objects
Sets.
← Optionally, you can generate an error map image to visualize
the current error.

To do this, click Precision .

For more details, refer to Visualizing Precisions.

1. Click New Adaptivity Entity .

The Global Adaptivity dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the global

adaptivity.
o Supports: lets you select the supports on which
you want to refine the mesh.
You can select as support one or several mesh part
(Octree 2D or Octree 3D).
o Solution: gives you information on the referenced
solution name.
If your document contains several analysis cases, the
referenced solution is the solution belonging to the
current analysis case.
If you want to change the reference solution, use the
Set as Current Case contextual menu.
o Objective error (%): lets you specify the
objective error of the selected mesh part.
o Current error (%): gives you information on
the current error of the selected mesh part.
2. Select the desired mesh part.

In this particular example, select the OCTREE Tetrahedron

Mesh.1: Part3 object under the Nodes and Elements set.

The Global Adaptivity dialog box is updated. You can now

visualize the value (in %) of the current error.
 3. Enter the desired Objective error (%) value.

In this particular example, enter 9 as Objective error (%)

value.

4. Click OK in the Global Adaptivity dialog box.

An Adaptivities.1 set is created in the specification tree

containing a Global Adaptivity.1 object.

5.
← You can edit the global adaptivity you just created.
To do this, double-click the Global Adaptivity.1 object in the
specification tree.

← You can create several Adaptivities objects associated to the

same Static Solution and corresponding to the different mesh
parts.
You can now compute the model with adaptivity (for more details,
refer to Computing with Adpativity) or create local adaptivity
specifications (for more details, refer to Creating Local Adpativity
Specifications).

Creating Local Adaptivity Specifications

This task
shows
how to
create a
local
adaptivit
y on a
Mesh
Part for
a given
Static
Analysis
Case
Solution.

Only available with the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST) product.

The Adaptivity functionalities are only available with static analysis
solution or a combined solution that references a static analysis
solution.
A global adaptivity must have been defined.
For more details about global adaptivity, refer to Creating Global
Adaptivity Specifications.

Open the sample07_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

In this particular example, a global adaptivity has been already defined.

1. Right-click Global Adaptivity.1 in the specification tree and select

Local Adaptivity .

The Local Adaptivity dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the local

adaptivity.
o Supports: gives you the list of the selected elements.
Multi-selection is available: you can select as support one
or several vertices, edges, faces or group (except body
group).
This multi-selection may be non-homogeneous (that means
that you can select two edges and three faces, as
example).
o Solution: gives you information on the referenced
solution.
o Exclude elements: if you select this option, the
selected elements will not have an objective error and then, the
Objective error (%) field will disappear.
In this case, elements will not be taken into account in the re-
meshing algorithm.
o Objective error (%): lets you specify the objective
error of the selected mesh part.
 This option is available only if the Exclude elements is
deactivated.
o Current error (%): gives you information on the
current error of the selected support.
2. Select the desired elements as support.

In this particular example, select one edge and two surfaces:

The Local Adaptivity dialog box is updated.

You can now visualize the value (in %) of the current error (on the
condition you have not activate the Exclude elements option).

You can visualize the other selected elements of the Supports list
by clicking the arrows as shown here:

3. Enter the desired Objective error (%) value.

In this particular example, enter 20 as Objective error (%)

value.
 4. Click OK in the Local Adaptivity dialog box.

An Local Adaptivity.1 object is created under the Adaptivities.1 set

in the specification tree.

5.
You can edit the local adaptivity.
To do this, double-click the Local Adaptivity.1 object in the specification
tree.

Computing with Adaptivity

This task
shows how to
compute with
adaptivity.
Adaptivity
management
consists of
setting global
adaptivity
specifications
and
computing
adaptive
solutions.
The Adaptivity functionalities are only available with a static
analysis solution or a combined solution that references a static
analysis solution.
To compute with adaptivity, you need to update the solutions.
A global adaptivity and optionally a local adaptivity must have
been defined.

The former adaptivity specifications (created before V5R12)

can be edited but they can not be computed with adaptativity.
If you modify these specifications and launch a computation with
adaptativity, a warning message informs you that these
specifications will not be taken into account. You have to create
new adaptativity specifications.
Open the sample07_2.CATAnalysis document from the samples
directory.
In this particular example, a global adaptivity and a local adaptivity
have been already defined.
You can compute the static solution.
To know more, refer to Computing Static Solutions.

1. Activate the Estimated local error image to visualize the

quality elements.

To do this, right-click the Estimated local error image in the

 specification tree and select the Activate/Deactivate
contextual menu.

2. Double-click the Global Adaptivity.1 object in the specification

tree to visualize the current error.

The Global Adaptivity appears.

Click Cancel to close the Global Adaptivity dialog

box.

3. Double-click the Local Adaptivity.1 object in the specification

tree.

The Local Adaptivity appears.

Click Cancel to close the Local Adaptivity dialog

box.

4. Click Compute with Adaptivity in the Compute toolbar.

The Adaptivity Process Parameters dialog box appears.

o Name: gives you the name of the adaptivity set
you want to compute.
o Iterations Number: lets you specify the
maximum number of iterations you want to perform to
reach the objective error you have defined.
o Allow unrefinement: lets you choose to allow
refinement or not.
If you allow unrefinement, the global sizes of the mesh
parts may be modified.
o Deactivate global sags: lets you choose to ignore
the global sags.
Existing global sags will be deactivated.
o Minimum size: lets you specify a minimum mesh
size.
The objective size must be superior to the mesh size.
o Sensor stop criteria: lets you specify a sensor.

If you select this check box, the Parameter Convergence

frame appears:

 Sensor parameter: lets you select the

sensors.
 Multi-selection of sensor criteria is available.
 Tolerance (%): lets you specify the
tolerance value.
o
To sum up, the adaptivity process stops as soon as:
o the maximum number of iterations is reached
o or all objective errors are reached
o or all sensors converged.

5. Clear the Minimum size check box.

6. Select the Sensor stop criteria check box in the Adaptivity
Process Parameters dialog box.
7. Activate the Sensor parameter field, select a sensor and enter
a Tolerance value (in %).

In this particular example, select the Energy sensor as shown

below:

You can add other sensor criteria, delete a sensor criteria

or delete all the sensor criteria.
To do this, right-click a line and select the desired
contextual menu: Add, Delete or Delete All.

8. Click OK in the Adaptivity Process Parameters dialog box.

The Computation Status dialog box appears.

At the end of the computation, a Warnings message appears
to inform you that the selected sensor has not converged and
the objective error is not reached.
9. Click OK in the Warnings message.

Note that a Local Mesh Size Map.1 object has been created
under OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh.1 in the specification tree
and that the Adaptivities.1 set is now valid.

10. Activate the Estimated local error image to visualize the

quality elements.

To do this, right-click the Estimated local error image in the

specification tree and select the Activate/Deactivate
contextual menu.

11. Double-click the Global Adaptivity.1 object in the specification

tree to visualize the current error value.

The Global Adaptivity dialog box appears.

 The Local
Adaptivity
GlobalAdaptivity
Adaptivity
Process
appears.
dialog
Parameters
box appears.
dialog box appears.

14. Enter 2 as Iterations Number value and click OK in the

Adaptivity Process.
15. Double-click the Global Adaptivity.1 object in the specification
tree to visualize the current error value.

Note that: after the first iteration of computation with

adaptivity, theglobal
objective
errorerror
you you
havehave specified (9%) is not
The objective specified is reached.
reached.
16. The objectivethe
Double-click local error
Local you have specified
Adaptivity.1 object inisthe
reached.
specification
12. Click
tree. OK in the Global Adaptivity dialog box.
17. Activate the Estimated local error image to visualize the
13. quality elements.
Click Compute with Adaptivity .

18.
Groups

Grouping elements allows you to apply pre-processing specifications to a pre-

defined group of elements (points, lines, surfaces or bodies) and to generate
images from this group.
 
Geometrical Groups
Group Points

Create groups of points.

Group Lines

Create groups of lines.

Group Surfaces

Create groups of surfaces.

Group Bodies

Create groups of bodies.

 
Spatial Groups
Group Using a Box

Create groups based on box.

Group Using a Sphere

Create groups based on sphere.

 
Groups by Neighborhood
Group Point by Neighborhood

Create proximity point groups.

Group Line by Neighborhood

Create proximity line groups.

Group Surface by Neighborhood

Create proximity surface groups.

 
Groups by Boundary
Group Line by Boundary

Create line groups by boundary.

Group Surface by Boundary

Create surface groups by boundary.

 
Groups under Mesh Parts
   Create Group under Mesh Parts
Create groups under mesh parts using the Create Group contextual

menu.
 
Update
  Update Groups
Update a group or a group set.
  Analyze Groups
Analyze and display the nodes, elements, faces of element and edges
element of a group.

Analysis Connections
Only available with the Generative
Assembly Structural Analysis
(GAS) product.
General Analysis Connection
Allow connection between points,
edges, surfaces and mechanical
features.
 
Point Analysis Connections
Point Analysis Connection
Allow the connection of surfaces and
the selection of one open body
containing points.
Point Analysis Connection Within One Part
Allow the connection of one surface
and the selection of one open body
containing points.
 
Line Analysis Connections
Line Analysis Connection
Allow the connection of surfaces and
the selection of one open body
containing lines.
Line Analysis Connection Within One Part
Allow the connection of one surface
and the selection of one open body
containing lines.
 
Surface Analysis Connections
Surface Analysis Connection
Allow the connection of surfaces.
Surface Analysis Connection Within One Part
Allow the connection of one surface.
 
Point Analysis Supports
Points to Points Analysis Connection
Allow the connection of surfaces.
 Point Interface
Allow the connection.

Connection Properties
Only available with the Generative Assembly
Structural Analysis (GAS) product.
Connection properties are assembly connections
used to specify the boundary interaction
between bodies in an assembled system. Once
the geometric assembly positioning constraints
are defined at the Product level, the user can
specify the physical nature of the constraints.
About Connection Properties
Give information about
connection properties.
 
Face Face Connection
Properties
Create Slider Connection Properties
Fasten bodies together at
their common interface in
the normal direction while
allowing them to slide
relative to each other in the
tangential directions.
Create Contact Connection
Properties
Prevent bodies from
penetrating each other at a
common interface.
Create Fastened Connection
Properties
Fasten bodies together at
their common interface.
Create Fastened Spring Connection
Properties
Create an elastic link
between two faces.
Create Pressure Fitting Connection
Properties
Prevent bodies from
penetrating each other at a
common interface.
Create Bolt Tightening Connection
Properties
Prevent bodies from
penetrating each other at a
common interface.
 
Distant Connection
Properties
Create Rigid Connection Properties
 Create a link between two
bodies which are stiffened
and fastened together at
their common boundary,
and will behave as if their
interface was infinitely rigid.
Create Smooth Connection
Properties
Create a link between two
bodies which are fastened
together at their common
boundary, and will behave
approximately as if their
interface was soft.
Create Virtual Rigid Bolt Tightening
Connection Properties
Take into account pre-
tension in a bolt-tightened
assembly in which the bolt
is not included.
Create Virtual Spring Bolt
Tightening Connection Properties
Specify the boundary
interaction between bodies
in an assembled system.
Customize User-defined
Connection Properties
Specify the types of
elements as well as their
associated properties
included inside a distant
connection.
 
Welding Connection
Properties
Create Spot Welding Connection
Properties
Create a link between two
bodies, using analysis
welding point connections.
Create Seam Welding Connection
Properties
Create a link between two
bodies, using analysis seam
weld connections.
Create Surface Welding Connection
Properties
Create a link between two
bodies, using analysis
surface weld connections.
 
Point Based Connection
Properties
Create Nodes to Nodes Connection
 Properties
Create a link between two
bodies, using points to
points analysis connections.
Create Node Interface Properties
Create a link between two
bodies, using point interface
connections.

About Connection Properties

When you want to use the connection properties of the Generative Assembly
Structural Analysis product, you first need to define a connection that the
connection property will reference.
The connections can be created in different ways:
in a product context:
Assembly Constraints in the Assembly Design workbench
Welding Joints in the Automotive Body in White Fastening
workbench
Joint Connections in the the Ship Structure Detail Design
workbench (Manual Connection command)
Analysis Connections created before V5R12

The former Analysis Connections are still maintained but:

You cannot create them any longer.
You cannot select them as Connection Properties
support any longer.
It is strongly recommended to migrate the Analysis Connections
created before V5R12.
To do this, refer to Checking the Model.
in an analysis context:
Analysis Connections in the Generative Structural Analysis workbench
(from V5R12)
Why you will use Connections of the Analysis
Workbench?
In some cases, constraints are not sufficient to modelize connections from an
Analysis viewpoint:

1. In order to support properties, users often need to define too many

constraints using the Assembly Design workbench, leading to over-
constrained models that cannot be updated.
2. It is impossible to define constraints that are not positioning constraints but
connection constraints.
3. It is impossible to select several geometries to define connections in a
product context.
4. It is impossible to select a mechanical feature to define connections in a
product context.

In order to meet these different needs, a new Analysis Connection toolbar was
added to the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis product of the
Generative Structural Analysis workbench.
This toolbar lets you create all these connections dedicated to analysis modeling.

What Type of Hypotheses are Used for Analysis?

You will find here below three types of hypotheses used when working in Analysis
workbench.
1. Small displacement (translation and rotation)
2. Small strain 
3. Linear constitutive law: linear elasticity

For static case solutions, one can say that:

If there is no contact feature (either virtual or real), no pressure fitting
property and no bolt tightening (being virtual or not) feature, then the problem is
 linear, that is to say, the displacement is a linear function of the load. 

In other cases, the problem is non linear, that is to say, the displacement
is a non linear function of the load.

What Type of Property For What Type of

Connection?
Welding Connections Properties
 
← Spot Welding Connection Property:
← Point Analysis Connection defined in the Generative Structural
Analysis workbench (from V5R12)
← Point Analysis Connection within one Part defined in the Generative
Structural Analysis workbench (from V5R12)
← Joint Body containing at least a (point) Joint Element and defined in
the Body in White Fastener workbench

← Seam Welding Connection Property:

← Line Analysis Connection defined in the Generative Structural
Analysis workbench (from V5R12)
← Line Analysis Connection within one Part defined in the Generative
Structural Analysis workbench (from V5R12)
← Joint Body containing at least a (line) Joint Element and defined in
the Body in White Fastener workbench
← Surface Welding Connection Property:
← Surface Analysis Connection defined in the Generative Structural
Analysis workbench
← Surface Analysis Connection within one Part defined in the
Generative Structural Analysis workbench

Other Connection Properties

When you define a connection property, you can select as support:
← General Analysis Connection of the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench (from V5R12)

← Assembly Constraints (Contact Constraint, Coincidence Constraint or Offset

Constraint) of the Assembly Design workbench
 
General Analysis Connection (from V5R12)
Lines* Lines*
Point / Point / Point /
Connection Properties
Point Lines* Faces*
/ / Faces* / Faces*
Lines* Faces*

Slider          
Contact          
Fastened  
Fastened Spring  
Pressure Fitting          
Bolt Tightening

Rigid ** ** **
Smooth ** ** **
Virtual Rigid Bolt
Tightening
Virtual Spring Bolt
Tightening

User-Defined

* You can multi-select:

← Lines or 1D mechanical features (example: polylines)
← Faces or 2D/3D mechanical features (example: extrudes, faces of a pad).

** with optional handler point: the selection of a general analysis connection with
a handler point is forbidden for all the other combinations (the pointer indicates
what you can select or not).

Assembly Constraints
By default, you can select any assembly constraints as Connection Property
support.

Former General Analysis Connections and Face Face Analysis

Connections (before V5R12)
You cannot select these connections as Connection Properties support any
longer.
It is strongly recommended to migrate the Analysis Connections created before
V5R12.
To do this, refer to Checking the Model.

Precisions and Restrictions

Here you will find precisions and restrictions for certain connection properties.
 
← Slider: Slider Connection Property
← The slider direction is defined according to the geometry on which
the joins are landed.
If you select a former Face Face Analysis Connection (before V5R12)
as support, the slider directions are automatically parallel or coaxial.

← Contact: Contact Connection Property, User-Defined Distant

 Connection Property (if you select Contact as Start or End option).
It will be possible to select connections connecting:
← 3D body
← 2D body as support of the contact connection properties with the
condition that none of the contact join element generated is flat.
The connection property fails if the distance between the two connected
surfaces is null at one location of the connection.
← Pressure Fitting: Pressure Fitting Connection Property
← Can be generated only on a geometry belonging to a 3D body.
← The fitting direction is defined according to the geometry on
which the joins are landed.

If you select a former Face Face Analysis Connection (created before

V5R12) as support, the slider directions are automatically parallel or
coaxial.

← Bolt: Bolt Tightening Connection Property, Virtual Bolt Tightening

Connection Property, Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection Property,
User-Defined Distant Connection Property (if you select Bolt as Middle
option)
← On each side of the assembly, multi-selection of geometry is
available.
In this case, if a geometry has a revolution axis, the other geometries
(belonging to the same side of the assembly) must have a revolution axis
that must be the same.
← Moreover, if the two sides have a revolution axis (tightening
direction), this axis must be the same.
← You can define a bolt connection property (and also virtual bolt
tightening, virtual spring bolt tightening and user-defined connection
properties) even if the connection is defined between two points.
← User-Defined: User-Defined Distant Connection Property
← Refer to Contact.
← Refer to Bolt.
← Face Face Connection Properties:
← Under a certain tolerance, you cannot mesh a face face
connection properties.
This tolerance is a ratio between the distance from the point to the
element and the size of the element.
← Some Face Face and Distant Connection Properties are authorized in
the assembled analysis if you apply them to a general analysis connection
built with groups as support.
To know which connection property you can apply to a general analysis
connection with groups as support, refer to About Analysis Assembly.

Creating Slider Connection Properties

This task
shows how
to create a
Slider
Connection
Property
between
two parts.

← Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product.
← To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About
Connection Properties.

A slider connection is the link between two bodies which are

constrained to move together in the local normal direction at their
common boundary, and will behave as if they were allowed to slide
relative to each other in the local tangential plane. Since bodies can be
meshed independently, the slider connection is designed to handle
incompatible meshes. 
The slider connection relations take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
← each node of the finer surface mesh is projected parallel to the
local outer normal of the first surface onto the second surface mesh.
← a projection point is located whenever possible at the intercept
of the projection direction with the second surface mesh
(extrapolated at the face boundary by roughly half an element
width).
← if a projection point exists, the start node is connected by a
kinematical spider element to all nodes of the element face on which
the projection point has landed.
← a set of join-type relations (involving interpolation using
element shape functions and a rig-beam relations) is computed
between the start node degrees of freedom and the connected nodes
degrees of freedom.
← these relations are projected on the local normal direction
yielding a single scalar relation between the start node degrees of
freedom and the connected nodes degrees of freedom.
Thus, the slider connection generates at most as many spider
kinematical elements as there are nodes on the finer surface mesh for
which a projection onto the opposite surface mesh exists. 
To know more about the Slider Join element, refer to Slider Join in the
Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document: you applied constraints to

the assembly (Assembly Design workbench). 
Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Slider Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Slider Connection Property dialog box appears.

2. Select an assembly constraint previously created in the
Assembly Design workbench.

The only allowed constraint type is Contact between

surfaces.

A symbol representing the slider connection property is

visualized on the corresponding faces.

3. Click OK in the Slider Connection Property dialog box. 

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Slider Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh part
under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Slider Connection Property.1 connection
property under the Properties.1 set.

4.
The Finite Element Model contains two Mesh objects, one for
each part of the assembly.
The sizes of the two meshes are different as can be seen by
comparing the Mesh Size symbols.
Creating Contact Connection Properties

This task
shows
how to
create a
contact
connection
property
between
two parts.
Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product .

To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About
Connection Properties.
The Gradient method is not available if several Contact
connections reference the same degree of freedom.
In this case, try to choose another method type.

A Contact Connection is the link between two part bodies which are
prevented from inter-penetrating at their common boundary, and will
behave as if they were allowed to move arbitrarily relative to each other
as long as they do not come into contact within a user-specified normal
clearance. When they come into contact, they can still separate or slide
relative to each other in the tangential plane, but they cannot reduce
their relative normal clearance. Since part bodies can be meshed
independently, the Contact Connection is designed to handle
incompatible meshes. 
The Contact Connection relations take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
each node of the finer body surface mesh is projected parallel to
the local outer normal of the first surface onto the second surface
mesh.
a projection point is located whenever possible at the intercept of
the projection direction with the second body surface mesh
(extrapolated at the face boundary by roughly half an element
width).    
if a projection point exists, the start node is connected by a
node-to-face element with contact property to all nodes of the
element face on which the projection point has landed.
a set of join-type relations (involving interpolation using element
shape functions) is computed between the projection point degrees of
freedom and the degrees of freedom of the element face nodes (the
projection point virtual degrees of freedom are eliminated in the
process).
rigid body kinematical relations are computed between the start
 node and the projection node.
after the elimination of the projection point degrees of freedom, a
contact relation is generated by projecting these relations in the local
normal direction yielding a single scalar inequality between the start
node degrees of freedom and the degrees of freedom of the element
face nodes, with a right-hand side equal to the user-defined
clearance.
Thus, the Contact Connection generates at most as many node-to-face
elements with contact property as there are nodes on the finer surface
mesh for which a projection onto the opposite surface mesh exists.  
To know more about the Contact Join element, refer to Contact Join in
the Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document: you applied constraints to

the assembly (Assembly Design workbench). 
Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a Static
Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Contact Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Contact Connection Property dialog box appears.

The Clearance field can be used to enter an algebraic value for

the maximum allowed normal clearance reduction:
o a positive clearance value (used to model a known
gap between the surfaces) means that the surfaces can still
come closer until they come in contact. 
o a negative clearance value (used for instance to
model a press-fitted clamp between the surfaces) means that
the surfaces are already too close, and the program will have
to push them apart.
o the default value used for the clearance represents
the actual geometric spacing between surfaces.

2. Select an assembly constraint previously created in the Assembly

Design workbench. 

The only allowed constraint type is Contact between body

surfaces.
A symbol representing the Contact Connection is visualized on
the corresponding faces.
 3. Optionally modify the default value of the Clearance parameter.
4. Click OK.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Contact Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh
part under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Contact Connection Property.1 connection
property under the Properties.1 set.

5.
The Finite Element Model contains two Mesh objects, one for each
part of the assembly.
The sizes of the two meshes are different as can be seen by
comparing the Mesh Size symbols. 
Specific results (images) are available for models with contact
properties:
Pressure : gives the contact stresses.
Clearance : gives both the initial (from the contact
property) and final (from the static solution) clearances.

Creating Fastened Connection Properties

This task
shows how
to create a
Fastened
Connection
between
two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.

A fastened connection is the link between two bodies which are

fastened together at their common boundary, and will behave as if they
were a single body. From a finite element model viewpoint, this is
equivalent to the situation where the corresponding nodes of two
compatible meshes are merged together. However, since bodies can be
meshed independently, the Fastened Connection is designed to handle
incompatible meshes. 
The Fastened Connection relations take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
each node of the finer surface mesh is projected parallel to the
local outer normal of the first surface onto the second surface mesh.
a projection point is located whenever possible at the intercept
of the projection direction with the second surface mesh
(extrapolated at the face boundary by roughly half an element
width).    
if a projection point exists, the start node is connected by a
kinematical spider element to all nodes of the element face on which
the projection point has landed.
a set of join-type relations (involving interpolation using
element shape functions and a rig-beam relations) is computed
between the start node degree of freedom and the connected nodes
degree of freedom.
Thus, the Fastened Connection generates at most as many spider
kinematical elements as there are nodes on the finer surface mesh for
which a projection onto the opposite surface mesh exists.  
To know more about the Fastened Join element, refer to Fastened Join
in the Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory:

you applied constraints to the assembly (Assembly Design
workbench). 
Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Fastened Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Fastened Connection Property dialog box appears.

2. Select the assembly constraint previously created in the
Assembly Design workbench.

The only allowed constraint type is Contact between surfaces.

A symbol representing the fastened connection property is
visualized on the corresponding faces.

3. Click OK in the Fastened Connection Property dialog box.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Fastened Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh
part under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Fastened Connection Property.1 connection
property under the Properties.1 set.

4.
The Finite Element Model contains two Mesh objects, one for
each part of the assembly.
The sizes of the two meshes are different as can be seen by
comparing the Mesh Size symbols. 
Creating Fastened Spring Connection Properties
This task
shows how
to create a
Fastened
Spring
Connection
between
two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.

A Fastened Spring Connection is an elastic link between two faces.

From a finite element model viewpoint, this is equivalent to the
situation where the corresponding nodes of two compatible meshes are
merged together. However, since bodies can be meshed independently,
the Fastened Spring Connection is designed to handle incompatible
meshes.
The Fastened Spring Connection relations take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
each node of the finer surface mesh is linked to a fastened
spring that is itself linked to the slave node.
rigidity is distributed on all the elements of the Fastened Spring
connection. This rigidity in defined interactively.
if a projection point exists, the start node is connected by a
kinematical spider element to all nodes of the element face on which
the projection point has landed.
a set of join-type relations (involving interpolation using element
shape functions and a rig-beam relations) is computed between the
start node degree of freedom and the connected nodes degree of
freedom.
Thus, the Fastened Connection generates at most as many spider
kinematical elements as there are nodes on the finer surface mesh for
which a projection onto the opposite surface mesh exists.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory:

you applied constraints to the assembly (Assembly Design
workbench). 
Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Fastened Spring Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Fastened Spring Connection Property dialog box appears.

2. Select the assembly contact or coincidence constraint or joint
body previously created in the Assembly Design workbench.

A symbol representing the Fastened Connection is visualized on

the corresponding faces.

3. Enter the desired Translation and Rotation values.

In this particular example:

o Enter 70N_m as Translation stiffness 2 value
o Enter 70N_m as Translation stiffness 3
value.

4. Click OK.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Spring Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh
part under the Nodes and Elements set,
o A Fastened Spring Connection Property.1
connection property under the Properties.1 set.
 5.
The Finite Element Model contains two Mesh objects, one for
each part of the assembly.
The sizes of the two meshes are different as can be seen by
comparing the Mesh Size symbols. 

Creating Pressure Fitting Connection Properties

This task
shows how
to create a
Pressure
Fitting
Connection
between
two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product .

To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About
Connection Properties.
The Gradient method is not available if several Pressure Fitting
connections reference the same degree of freedom. In this case, try
to choose another method type.

The pressure fitting connection uses assembly surface contact

constraint as a support. A pressure fitting connection is the link
between two bodies which are assembled in a Pressure Fitting
configuration, more precisely when there are interferences or overlaps
between both parts. Along the surface normal, the connection behaves
as a contact connection with negative clearance value (positive
overlap). The difference lies in the tangential directions where both
parts are linked together. Since bodies can be meshed independently,
the Pressure Fitting Connection is designed to handle incompatible
meshes. 
The Pressure Fitting Connection relations take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
each node of the finer surface mesh is projected parallel to the
 local outer normal of the first surface onto the second surface mesh.
a projection point is located whenever possible at the intercept
of the projection direction with the second surface mesh
(extrapolated at the face boundary by roughly half an element
width).
if a projection point exists, the start node is connected by a a
node-to-face element with contact property to all nodes of the
element face on which the projection point has landed.
a set of join-type relations (involving interpolation using element
shape functions) is computed between the degrees of freedom of the
start node and the degrees of freedom of element face nodes (the
projection point virtual degrees of freedom are eliminated in the
process).
rigid body kinematical relations are computed between the start
node and the nodes of element face.
these relations are rotated in a coordinate system the third
vector of which corresponds to the normal of the local surface.
after the elimination of the projection point degrees of freedom,
a pressure fitting relation is generated between the start node and
the projected node, transforming the scalar equality relation into an
inequality relation with a right-hand side equal to the minus user-
defined overlap.
two scalar equality relations are generated in the tangential
plane to link the tangential displacement of the start node and its
projection.
Thus, the Pressure Fitting Connection generates at most as many node-
to-face elements with Pressure Fitting property as there are nodes on
the finer surface mesh for which a projection onto the opposite surface
mesh exists.
To know more about the generated element, refer to Fitting Join in the
Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory:

you applied constraints to the assembly (Assembly Design
workbench). 
Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Pressure Fitting Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Pressure Fitting Connection Property dialog box appears.

 o Name: lets you change the name of the
connection property.
o Support: lets you select the supports.
o Overlap: lets you enter an algebraic value for the
maximum allowed normal clearance reduction. The overlap
indicates the interference between both parts. It is intended
to be positive.
 a positive Overlap value (used for instance
to model a press-fitted clamp between the surfaces) means
that the surfaces are already too close, and the program
will have to push them apart.
 a negative Overlap value (used to model a
known gap between the surfaces) means that the surfaces
can still come closer until they come in contact. 
 the default value used for the Overlap
represents the actual geometric spacing between surfaces.

2. Select an assembly constraint previously created in the

Assembly Design workbench.

The only allowed constraint type is Contact between body

surfaces.
A symbol representing the Pressure Fitting Connection is
visualized on the corresponding faces.

3. Optionally modify the default value of the overlap parameter. In

this case, enter 0.001mm.
4. Click OK in the Pressure Fitting Connection Property dialog box.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Pressure Fitting Connection Mesh.1 connection
mesh part under the Nodes and Elements set
 o A Pressure Fitting Connection Property.1
connection property under the Properties.1 set.

5.

Creating Bolt Tightening Connection Properties

This task
shows how
to create a
Bolt
Tightening
Connection
between
two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product .

To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About
Connection Properties.
The Gradient method is not available if several Bolt Tightening
connections reference the same degree of freedom. In this case, try
to choose another method type.

As a support, the bolt tightening connection requires a surface

constraint of face-face type between the bolt thread and the bolt
support tapping. Note that both these surfaces should be coincident.
In this example, Surface 1 and Surface 2 are supports for the assembly
constraint of surface contact type.
A bolt tightening connection is a connection that takes into account
pre-tension in bolt-tightened assemblies. The computation is carried
out according to the two-step traditional approach. In the first step of
the computation, the model is submitted to tension forces relative to
bolt tightening by applying opposite forces on the bolt thread and on
the support tapping, respectively. Then, in the second step, the relative
displacement of these two surfaces (obtained in the first step) is
imposed while the model is submitted to user loads. During these two
steps, the bolt and the support displacements are linked in the direction
normal to the bolt axis. Since bodies can be meshed independently, the
Bolt Tightening Connection is designed to handle incompatible meshes. 
The Contact Connection relations take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
each node of the finer surface mesh is projected parallel to the
local outer normal of the first surface onto the second surface mesh.
a projection point is located whenever possible at the intercept
of the projection direction with the second surface mesh
(extrapolated at the face boundary by roughly half an element
width).    
if a projection point exists, the start node is connected by a
node-to-face element with Bolt Tightening property to all nodes of
the element face on which the projection point has landed.
a set of join-type relations (involving interpolation using element
shape functions) is computed between the degrees of freedom of the
start node and the degrees of freedom of element face nodes (the
projection point virtual degrees of freedom are eliminated in the
process).
rigid body kinematical relations are computed between the start
 node and the nodes of element face.
after the elimination of the projection point degrees of freedom,
these relations are rotated in a coordinate frame the third vector of
which is aligned with the tension direction (bolt axis).
two scalar equality relations are generated in the first two
directions of the coordinate frame, in order to link the displacement
of the start node and the nodes of the element face in the plane
normal to the bolt axis.
a cable relation (the reverse of a contact relation) is generated
between the start node and the nodes of element face in the third
direction, generating an inequality.
Thus, the Bolt Tightening Connection generates at most as many node-
to-face elements with Bolt Tightening property as there are nodes on
the finer surface mesh for which a projection onto the opposite surface
mesh exists.
To know more about the generated element, refer to Tightening Join in
the Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample21.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Bolt Tightening Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Bolt Tightening Connection Property dialog box appears.

2. Select an assembly constraint or an analysis connection.

In this particular example, select Coincidence.1 (Part4.1, Vis.1)

in the specification tree (under the Constraints set).

3. Optionally modify the default value of the force and orientation

parameters.

Choose either the same or the opposite orientation so that the

graphic representation of the Bolt Tightening Connection
matches the bolt direction.
 Same Orientation Opposite Orientation

4. Click OK in the Bolt Tightening Connection Property dialog box.

A symbol representing the Bolt Tightening Connection Property

is visualized on the corresponding faces.
 To obtain the same visualization of the assembly, select
Shading with Edges in the View toolbar.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Tightening Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh
part under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Bolt Tightening Connection Property.1
connection property under the Properties.1 set.

5.

Creating Rigid Connection Properties

This task
shows how
to create a
Rigid
Connection
between
two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.

A rigid connection is the link between two bodies which are stiffened
and fastened together at their common boundary, and will behave as if
their interface was infinitely rigid. Since bodies can be meshed
independently, the Rigid Connection is designed to handle incompatible
meshes. 
The Rigid Connection relations do not take into account the elastic
deformability of the interfaces.
The program proceeds as follows:
a null-length rigid bar is created at the midpoint between the
centroids of the two systems of points represented by the nodes of
the two meshes (or at handler point, if specified).

In case of a Point/Point connection, the length of the rigid bar

is non null.
 each extremity of the null-length rigid bar is connected by a
rigid spider element to all nodes of the first and of the second
meshes.
a set of rig-beam relations is generated between the central
node degree of freedom and the connected nodes degree of freedom.
Thus, the Rigid Connection generates as many rig-beam kinematical
elements as there are nodes on the two surface meshes.

To know more about the generated element, refer to Rigid Spider in the
Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Rigid Connection Property in the Connection Properties

toolbar.

The Rigid Connection Property dialog box appears.

2. Select an analysis connection.

In this particular example, select the General Analysis

Connection.1 in the specification tree (under the Analysis
Connection Manager.1 set).
A symbol representing the Rigid Connection Property is
visualized on the corresponding faces.

By default, if you deactivate the Transmitted degrees of

freedom option, all the degrees of freedom are transmitted.
You can also release some degree of freedom to the distant
connection, if needed.
The degrees of freedom are released at the null-length element.
Translation 1 = Translation in x
Translation 2 = Translation in y
Translation 3 = Translation in z
Rotation 1 = Rotation in x
Rotation 2 = Rotation in y
Rotation 3 = Rotation in z
 The Axis System Type combo box allows you to choose between
Global or User-defined Axis systems for defining the degrees of
freedom directions. 
o Global: if you select the Global Axis system, the
degree of freedom directions will be interpreted as relative to
the fixed global rectangular coordinate system.   
o User:  if you select a User Axis system, the
degree of freedom directions will be relative to the specified
Axis system. Their interpretation will further depend on your
Axis System Type choice.

The degrees of freedom are released only for the null-

length element, so the User Axis System is defined
only for the null-length element.

To select a User-defined Axis system, you must activate an

existing Axis by clicking it in the features tree. Its name will
then be automatically displayed in the Current Axis field.
If you select the User-defined Axis system, the Local
orientation list further allows you to choose between
Cartesian and Cylindrical Local Axis Orientations.
 Cartesian: the degrees of freedom
directions are relative to a fixed rectangular coordinate
system aligned with the cartesian coordinate directions of
the User-defined Axis.
 Cylindrical: the degrees of freedom
directions are relative to a local variable rectangular 
coordinate system aligned with the cylindrical coordinate
directions of each point relative to the User-defined Axis.
o
3. If needed, set the Axis system.
 4. Click OK in the Rigid Connection Property dialog box. 

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Rigid Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh part
under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Rigid Connection Property.1 connection
property under the Properties.1 set.

5.
The Finite Element Model contains two Mesh objects, one for
each part of the assembly.
The sizes of the two meshes are different as can be seen by
comparing the Mesh Size symbols. 

Creating Smooth Connection Properties

This task
shows how
to create a
Smooth
Connection
between
two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.

A Smooth Connection is the link between two bodies which are fastened
together at their common boundary, and will behave approximately as
if their interface was soft. Since bodies can be meshed independently,
the Smooth Connection is designed to handle incompatible meshes. 
The Smooth Connection relations take approximately into account the
elastic deformability of the interfaces. The approximation is based on a
least squares fit of a slave node degree of freedom rigidly linked to the
master nodes (element shape functions are ignored).
The program proceeds as follows:
a null-length rigid bar is created at the midpoint between the
centroids of the two systems of points represented by the nodes of
the two meshes (or at handler point, if specified).

In case of a Point/Point connection, the length of the rigid bar

 is non null.

each extremity of the null-length rigid bar is connected by two

smooth spider elements to all nodes of the first and of the second
meshes.
a set of mean (constr-n) relations is generated between the
central node degree of freedom and the connected nodes degree of
freedom.
Thus, the Smooth Connection generates two spider kinematical
elements.

To know more about the generated element, refer to Smooth Spider in

the Finite Element Reference Guide.

Open the sample16.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

Click Smooth Connection Property in the Connection Properties

toolbar.
The Smooth Connection Property dialog box appears.

Select an analysis connection.

In this particular example, select the General Analysis
Connection.1 in the specification tree (under the Analysis
Connection Manager.1 set).
A symbol representing the Smooth Connection Property is
visualized on the corresponding faces.

By default, if you deactivate the Transmitted degrees of freedom

option, all the degrees of freedom are transmitted.
You can also release some degree of freedom to the distant
connection, if needed.
The degrees of freedom are released at the null-length element.
Translation 1 = Translation in x
Translation 2 = Translation in y
Translation 3 = Translation in z
Rotation 1 = Rotation in x
Rotation 2 = Rotation in y
Rotation 3 = Rotation in z
 The Axis System Type combo box allows you to choose between
Global or User-defined Axis systems for defining the degrees of
freedom directions.
Global: if you select the Global Axis system, the
degree of freedom directions will be interpreted as relative to the
fixed global rectangular coordinate system.
User:  if you select a User Axis system, the degree of
freedom directions will be relative to the specified Axis system.
Their interpretation will further depend on your Axis System
Type choice.
The degrees of freedom are released only for the null-
length element, so the User Axis System is defined only
for the null-length element.
To select a User-defined Axis system, you must activate an
existing Axis by clicking it in the features tree. Its name will then
be automatically displayed in the Current Axis field. 
If you select the User-defined Axis system, the Local orientation
list further allows you to choose between Cartesian and
Cylindrical Local Axis Orientations.
Cartesian: the degrees of freedom
directions are relative to a fixed rectangular coordinate system
aligned with the cartesian coordinate directions of the User-
defined Axis.
Cylindrical: the degrees of freedom
directions are relative to a local variable rectangular 
coordinate system aligned with the cylindrical coordinate
directions of each point relative to the User-defined Axis.

If needed, set the Axis system.

Click OK in the Smooth Connection Property dialog box.
Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:
A Smooth Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh part
under the Nodes and Elements set
A Smooth Connection Property.1 connection
property under the Properties.1 set.

d. The Finite Element Model contains two Mesh objects, one for each
part of the assembly.
e. The sizes of the two meshes are different as can be seen by
comparing the Mesh Size symbols. 
Creating Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Properties

This task shows how to create a virtual rigid bolt tightening connection
property between two parts.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.
To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About Connection
Properties.

Virtual Rigid Bolt Tightening Connections are used to specify the boundary
interaction between bodies in an assembled system. Once the geometric
assembly positioning constraints are defined at the Product level, the user can
specify the physical nature of the constraints. When creating this connection,
both the coincidence constraints and the Analysis Connections workbench
constraints can be selected.

Surface 1 and surface 2 are supports for the assembly constraints of

coincidence type.
A Virtual Rigid Bolt Tightening Connection is a connection that takes into
account pre-tension in a bolt-tightened assembly in which the bolt is not
included. The computation is carried out according to the two-step traditional
approach. In the first step of the computation, the model is submitted to
tension forces relative to bolt tightening by applying opposite forces on the
first surface (S1) and the second surface (S2) of the assembly constraint,
respectively. Then, in the second step, the relative displacement of these two
surfaces (obtained in the first step) is imposed while the model is submitted to
user loads. During these two steps, the rotations of both surfaces and the
translations perpendicular to the coincidence constraint axis are linked
together, while taking into account the elastic deformability of the surfaces.
Since bodies can be meshed independently, the Virtual Rigid Bolt Tightening
Connection is designed to handle incompatible meshes.
The program proceeds as follows:
a central node is created at the centroid of each surface of the
assembly constraint referenced as the support.
for each surface/central node couple, a set of mean (constr-n) relations
is generated to link the average displacement of the central node and the
nodes of the surface.
the first central node is linked rigidly to the duplicata of the second
central node.
the second central node is linked rigidly to its duplicata except for the
translation in the direction of the coincidence constraint.
in the direction of the coincidence constraint, a cable relation (the
reverse of a contact relation) is generated between translation degrees of
freedom of the second central node and its duplicata.
To know more about the generated element, refer to Tightening Beam and
Rigid Spider  in the Finite Element Reference Guide.

Virtual rigid bolt tightening connection property is equivalent to a user-defined

distant connection property defined with the following combination:
Smooth as Start option
Bolt-Rigid as Middle option
Smooth as End option.
For more details about user-defined distant connection properties, refer to
Creating User-defined Distant Connection Property in this guide.

Open the sample12.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory.

Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a Static
Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property you will
use for what type of connection.

1. Click Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Property dialog box appears.

2. Select an analysis connection.

In this particular example, select the General Analysis Connection.1 in

the specification tree (under the Analysis Connection Manager.1 set).
 A symbol representing the Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Property
is visualized on the corresponding faces.

3. Optionally modify the default Tightening Force value.

4. Click OK in the Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Property dialog box.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Virtual Bolt Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh part
under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Property.1
connection property under the Properties.1 set.

5.
Creating Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection
Properties

This task
shows how to
create a
virtual spring
bolt
tightening
connection
between two
parts.
Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural
Analysis (GAS) product.
To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About
Connection Properties.

Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connections are used to specify the

boundary interaction between bodies in an assembled system. Once
the geometric assembly positioning constraints are defined at the
Product level, the user can specify the physical nature of the
constraints. When creating this connection, both the coincidence
constraints and the Analysis Connections workbench constraints
can be selected.

Surface 1 and surface 2 are supports for the assembly

constraints of coincidence type.
Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection is a connection that takes
into account pre-tension in a bolt-tightened assembly in which the
bolt is not included. The computation is carried out according to the
two-step traditional approach. In the first step of the computation,
the model is submitted to tension forces relative to bolt tightening by
applying opposite forces on the first surface (S1) and the second
surface (S2) of the assembly constraint, respectively. Then, in the
second step, the relative displacement of these two surfaces
(obtained in the first step) is imposed while the model is submitted to
user loads. The Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection takes into
account the elastic deformability of the surfaces and since bodies can
be meshed independently, the Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening
Connection is designed to handle incompatible meshes.
The program proceeds as follows:
a central node is created at the centroid of each surface of the
assembly constraint referenced as the support.
for each surface/central node couple, a set of mean rigid body
(constr-n) relations is generated to link the average displacement
of the central nodes and the nodes of the surface.
the first central node is linked to the duplicata of the second
central node using a tightening element. This element generates:
a set of equality relations linking both nodes according
to the rigid body motion except for the translation in the
direction of the element.
a cable inequality relation (the reverse of a contact
element) in the direction of the element. This cable relation is
used to enforce the relative displacement of both surfaces at the
second step of the computation.
the second central node is linked to its duplicata using a
spring element the characteristics of which are defined by the user.
To know more about the generated elements, refer to Tightening
Beam, Spring and Smooth Spider in the Finite Element Reference
Guide.

By default, when creating a virtual spring bolt tightening connection

property, the stiffness rotations and translations are defined in a
global axis system.
To select a user axis system, use a user-defined distant connection
property defined with the following combination:
Smooth as Start option
Spring-Rigid-Bolt as Middle option
Smooth as End option.
For more details about user-defined distant connection properties,
refer to Creating User-defined Distant Connection Property in this
guide.

Open the sample12.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection Property in

the Connection Properties toolbar.

The Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection Property dialog

 box appears.

2. Select an analysis connection.

In this particular example, select the General Analysis

Connection.1 in the specification tree (under the Analysis
Connection Manager.1 set).

A symbol representing the Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening

Connection Property is visualized on the corresponding faces.
 3. Optionally modify the default value of the force and stiffness
parameters.
4. Click OK in the Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection
Property dialog box.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Spring Virtual Bolt Connection Mesh.1
connection mesh part under the Nodes and Elements set
o A Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection
Property.1 connection property under the Properties.1 set.

5.

Creating User-defined Connection Properties

This task
shows you
how to
create user-
defined
distant
connection
properties.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product.
To have precisions and to know restrictions, refer to About
Connection Properties.
Creating user-defined distant connection properties allows you to
specify the types of elements as well as their associated properties
included inside a distant connection.
For example:

You will define which types of element will be featured in the

connection. Remember that you can possibly have the following types
of connected elements:
Surface-Point part (left part). It describes the way the
surface is connected to the middle of the connection. The possible
combinations will be:
Smooth
Rigid
Spring-Smooth
Spring-Rigid
Contact-Rigid
Middle part. It describes the elements featuring in the middle
of the connection. The possible combinations will be:
Rigid
Spring-Rigid-
Spring
Rigid-Spring-
Rigid
Spring-Rigid
Rigid-Spring
Beam
Spring-Beam-
Spring
Beam-Spring-
Beam
Spring-Beam
Beam-Spring
Bolt-Rigid
Rigid-Bolt
Bolt-Beam
Beam-Bolt
Bolt-Rigid-Spring
Spring-Rigid-Bolt
Point-Surface part. It describes the way the surface is
connected to the middle of the connection. The possible
combinations will be:
 Smooth
Rigid
Smooth-Spring
Rigid-Spring

Rigid-Contact

Open sample12.CATAnalysis from the samples directory.

Make sure you created a Finite Element Model containing a
Static Analysis Case from this assembly.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property
you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click User-defined Distant Connection Property in the

Connection Properties toolbar.

The User-defined Connection Property dialog box appears.

Depending on the selected combination type, the appropriate

properties will be proposed: lists in sub-windows describing all
the elementary properties.
For example: 
o If the list of elements is RIGID + SPRING and
BEAM + RIGID and CONTACT
o Three sub-windows (elementary basic
components) will display the properties for each of the
elements: Spring, Beam and Contact.

2. Select an analysis connection as support.

In this particular example, select the General Analysis

Connection.1 in the specification tree (under the Analysis
Connection Manager.1 set).
 A symbol representing the user-defined connection property is
visualized on the corresponding faces.

3. Define the types of the elements to be featured in the

connection: Start, Middle and End.

Depending on the type of Start, Middle and End elements you

will choose in the User-defined Connection Property dialog
box, given definition boxes and options will be available.
This is an example:
Set the parameters as shown below:

o Start: if you click the Component Edition button

, the Start Connection dialog box appears:

  Axis System Type: lets you to choose
between Global or User Axis systems for defining the
degrees of freedom directions. 

 Global: if you select the

Global Axis system, the degree of freedom directions
will be interpreted as relative to the fixed global
rectangular coordinate system.
 User:  if you select a User
Axis system, the degree of freedom directions will be
relative to the specified Axis system. Their
interpretation will further depend on your Axis System
Type choice.

To select a User Axis system, you must activate an

existing Axis by clicking it in the features tree. Its
name will then be automatically displayed in the
Current Axis field. 
If you select the User Axis system, the Local
orientation combo box further allows you to choose
between Cartesian, Cylindrical and Spherical Local
Axis Orientations.

 Translation and Rotation stiffness
values.
o Middle: if you click the Component Edition

button , the Middle Connection dialog box appears:

  Axis System Type: for more details, refer
to the axis system description or refer to Axis System
Type.
 Translation and Rotation stiffness
values.
o End: if you click the Component Edition button

, the End Connection dialog box appears:

 Axis System Type: for more details, refer

to the axis system description or refer to Axis System
Type.
 Translation and Rotation stiffness
values.

4. If needed, click OK in the Start, Middle or End Connection

dialog box.
 5. Click OK in the User-defined Connection Property dialog box.

Note that two elements appear in the specification tree:

o A Generic Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh
part under the Nodes and Elements set
o A User-defined Connection Property.1
connection property under the Properties.1 set.

6.
← If the support of the connection is a Face to Point connection
(connecting wire-frames with solid or surface), only two of the
three lists will be proposed (left part and middle part).
← If the support of the connection is Point to Point connection
(connecting two wire-frames), only the middle list will be proposed.
← No handler point is proposed in that type of connection. To
ensure that a Face to Face connection will respect a given point, it
will be necessary to split into a Face to Point and a Point to Face
connection sharing the same point. Like for virtual parts sharing
the same handler point, only one single node will be generated on
the associated point.

Creating Spot Welding Connection Properties

This task shows how

to create a Spot
Welding Connection
between two parts.
A Spot Welding
Connection is the
link between two
bodies, using point
analysis connections
or point analysis
connections within
one part.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product.

Open the sample48_1.CATAnalysis document from the

samples directory.
 Make sure you know all you need about what type of
property you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Spot Welding Connection Property in the

Connection Properties toolbar.

The Spot Welding Connection Property dialog box

appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the

connection property.
o Supports: lets you select the connection
you want to associate to a property.

You can apply the spot welding connection

property:
 on Point Analysis
Connection and Point Analysis Connection
within one Part (from R12)
 on a joint body of the
Body in White Fastening workbench
 on Spot Welding
Connection (before R12)
For more details, refer to About Connection
Properties.

o Type: allows you to choose between:

 Rigid  
 Spring-Rigid-Spring 
 Rigid-Spring-Rigid  
 Beam
 Hexahedron

o If you select the Beam, Spring-

Rigid-Spring, Rigid-Spring-Rigid or
Hexahedron option type, the Component

edition icon appears .

o The Component edition icon can
have two status:

 valid:
  invalid:
o If you select Beam or Hexahedron
option type, you can select an user-defined
material.

For more details, refer Creating an User

Material.

2. Select a spot welding connection.

In this particular example, select the Point Analysis

Connection.1 in the specification tree.

3. Select the desired Type option.

In this particular example, select the Spring-Rigid-

Spring option Type.

4. Click the Component edition icon to specify the

parameters.

The Spot Weld Definition dialog box:

o the Axis System Type combo box lets
you to choose between Global or User Axis systems
for defining the degrees of freedom directions. 
 Global: if you select the Global
Axis system, the degree of freedom directions will
be interpreted as relative to the fixed global
rectangular coordinate system.
 User:  if you select a User Axis
system, the degree of freedom directions will be
relative to the specified Axis system. Their
interpretation will further depend on your Axis
System Type choice.

To select a User Axis system, you must activate

an existing Axis by clicking it in the features tree.
Its name will then be automatically displayed in
the Current Axis field. 
If you select the User Axis system, the Local
orientation combo box further allows you to
choose between Cartesian, Cylindrical and
Spherical Local Axis Orientations.
o Translation and Rotation stiffness
values.
 Translation stiffness 1 =
Translation in X
 Translation stiffness 2 =
Translation in Y
 Translation stiffness 3 =
Translation in Z
 Rotation stiffness 1 = Rotation in
X
 Rotation stiffness 2 = Rotation in
Y
  Rotation stiffness 3 = Rotation in
Z

5. Modify the desired parameters in the Spot Weld

Definition dialog box.
6. Click OK in the Spot Weld Definition dialog box.
7. Click OK in the Spot Welding Connection dialog box.

A Spot Welding Connection Property.1 connection

property appears in the specification tree under the
Properties.1 set and a Spot Welding Connection
Mesh.1 connection mesh part appears under the
Nodes and Elements set.

8.
← You can edit the Weld Spot Connection Mesh.1 object.

To do this, double-click the Spot Welding Connection

Mesh.1 object in the specification tree.
The Spot Welding Connection Mesh dialog box appears.

For more details about the weld spot connection mesh

parts, refer to Meshing Spot Weld Connections in the
Advanced Meshing Tools User's Guide.
 ← You can visualize the connection mesh.
To do this:
← Compute the mesh only (for more details, refer
to Computing Objects Sets).
← Generate a Mesh image (for more details, refer
to Generating Images).

Creating Seam Welding Connection Properties

This task
shows
how to
create a
Seam
Welding
Connectio
n
Property
between
two parts
or within
one part.
A Seam
Welding
Connectio
n
Property
is a
connectio
n that is
created
from an
existing
Line
Analysis
Connectio
n or Line
Analysis
Connectio
n Within
One Part.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.

Open the sample48_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of property you
will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Seam Welding Connection Property in the Connection

Properties toolbar.

The Seam Welding Connection Property dialog box appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the connection
property.
o Support: lets you select the connection you want to
associate to a property.

You can apply the seam welding connection property:

 on Line Analysis Connection and
Line Analysis Connection within one Part (from R12)
 on a joint body of the Body in White
Fastening workbench
 on Seam Welding Connection
(before R12)

For more details, refer to About Connection Properties.

o Type:
 Shell
 Hexahedron
 Rigid
 Spring-Rigid-Spring
 Rigid-Spring-Rigid
 Contact: only available to connect 3D
geometries.
 Beam

o If you select the Shell, Hexahedron, Spring-

Rigid-Spring, Rigid-Spring-Rigid, Contact or Beam option

type, the Component edition button appears .

o The Component edition button can have two
status:

 valid:

 invalid:
o If you select Shell, Beam or Hexahedron
option type, you can select an user-defined material.

For more details, refer Creating an User Material.

2. Select the seam welding connection.

In this particular example, select Line Analysis Connection.1 in

the specification tree.

3. Select the desired Type option.

In this particular example, select

Shell.

4. Click the Component edition button to specify the

parameters.

The Seam Welding Definition dialog box appears.

o Material: gives you information about the

associated material.
o User-defined material: lets you select an user
material.
For more details, refer Creating an User Material.
o Thickness: lets you specify a thickness value.

5. Specify the desired parameters.

In this particular example:

o Click the User Defined Isotropic Material check box.
o Click the Material text box.
o Select the User Isotropic Material.1 object in the
specification tree.
o Enter 1mm as Thickness value.
 6. Click OK in the Seam Welding Definition dialog box.

Note that the Component Edition icon becomes

valid.

7. Click OK in the Seam Welding Connection Property dialog box.

A Seam Welding Connection Property.1 connection property

appears in the specification tree under the Properties.1 set and a
Weld Seam Connection Mesh.1 connection mesh part appears
under the Nodes and Elements set.

8.
← You can edit the Seam Welding Connection Mesh.1 object.

To do this, double-click the Seam Welding Connection Mesh.1 object

in the specification tree.
The Seam Welding Connection Mesh dialog box appears.
 For more details about the weld seam connection mesh part, refer to
Meshing Seam Welding Connections in the Advanced Meshing Tools
User's Guide.
←
  The weld seam connection mesh part is created with a default Step
value.
This value is computed as a ratio of the seam length.
In case this value is much smaller than the size of the connected
meshes, the size of the problem to be solved is considerably
increased. This may lead to an "Out of Memory" error.
You can find here a recommended methodology to avoid this error:
1. Create the Seam Welding Connection Property.
2. Edit the Seam Welding Connection Mesh part in the
specification tree.
3. Check that the Step value respects the proportion of the
connected meshes (commonly used value: half of the
smallest connected mesh).
4. Launch the computation.
  ← You can visualize the connection mesh.
To do this:
← Compute the mesh only (for more details, refer to
Computing Objects Sets).
← Generate a Mesh image (for more details, refer to
Generating Images).
Creating Surface Welding Connection Properties
This task shows
how to create a
Surface Welding
Connection
Property between
two parts or within
one part.
A surface welding
connection
property is a
connection that is
created from an
existing Surface
Analysis
Connection or
Surface Analysis
Connection Within
One Part.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product.

Open the sample11_1.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
Make sure you know all you need about what type of
property you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Surface Welding Connection Property in the

Connection Properties toolbar.

The Surface Welding Connection Property dialog box

appears.
 o Name: lets you change the name of the
connection property.
o Supports: lets you select the connection
you want to associate to a property.

You can apply the surface welding connection

property to Surface Analysis Connection and
Surface Analysis Connection within one Part of
the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis
(GAS) product.

To know more, refer to About Connection Properties.

o Type:
 Hexahedron: the connection is
meshed using hexahedron elements.

 Component Edition : lets you

specify the associated material and if desired, an
orientation for the associated material.
To know more, refer to the third step.

The Component Edition button can have two

status:

 valid:

 invalid:

2. Select the surface welding connection.

In this particular example, select Surface Analysis

Connection.1 object in the specification tree.

3. Click the Component Edition button to specify the

parameters.

The Surface Welding Definition dialog box appears.

 o Material: gives you information about the
associated material.
o User-defined material: lets you select an
user material.
To know more, refer Creating an User Material.
o Orientation: lets you associate or not an
axis system.
This option is only available with the ELFINI
Structural Analysis (EST) product.
 None: no axis system will be
associated.
 By axis: lets you define the axis
system you want to associate to the selected user
material.
If you select this option, the Component Edition
button appears.

To know more about axis system, refer to Axis

System Type.

4. Select the User-defined material option in the Surface

Weld Definition dialog box.
5. Activate the Material text box as shown below:

6. Select User Material.1 as Material.

The Surface Welding Definition dialog box is updated:

7. Select By axis as Orientation option.

The Component Edition button appears in the Surface

Welding Definition dialog box:

8. Click the Component Edition button to specify the

axis system.

The Orientation Definition dialog box appears.

To know more about axis system, refer to Axis System

Type.

9. Select Global as axis system Type.

10. Click OK in the Orientation Definition dialog box.
11. Click OK in the Surface Welding Definition dialog box.

Note that the Component edition button becomes valid

in the Surface Welding Connection Property dialog box:
 12. Click OK in the Surface Welding Connection Property
dialog box.

A Surface Welding Connection Property.1 connection

property appears in the specification tree under the
Properties.1 set and a Weld Surface Connection Mesh.1
connection mesh part appears under the Nodes and
Elements set.

A symbol appears on the geometry:

13.
← You can edit the Surface Welding Connection Mesh.1
object.

To do this, double-click the Surface Welding Connection

Mesh.1 object in the specification tree.
The Surface Welding Connection Mesh dialog box appears.
 To know more about the surface weld connection mesh part,
refer to Meshing Surface Welding Connections in the
Advanced Meshing Tools User's Guide.

← You can visualize the connection mesh.

To do this:
← Compute the mesh only (to know more, refer to
Computing Objects Sets).

← Generate a Mesh image (to know more, refer to

Generating Images).

Creating Nodes to Nodes Connection Properties

This task shows

how to create a
Nodes to Nodes
Connection
Property between
two parts or
within one part.
A nodes to nodes
connection
property is a
connection that is
created from an
existing Points to
points Analysis
Connection.

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural

Analysis (GAS) product.

Open the sample36.CATAnalysis document from the samples

directory.
 Make sure you know all you need about what type of
property you will use for what type of connection.

1. Click Nodes to Nodes Connection Property in the

Connection Properties toolbar.

The Nodes to Nodes Connection Property dialog box

appears.

o Name: lets you change the name of the

connection property.
o Supports: lets you select the connection
you want to associate to a property.

You can apply the nodes to nodes connection

property to Points to Points Analysis Connection of
the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis
(GAS) product.

For more details, refer to About Connection Properties.

o Type:
 Coincidence: the connection is
meshed using coincidence elements.
To know more about the coincident elements, refer
to the Finite Element Reference Guide.
 Rigid: the connection is meshed
using bar elements and a rigid property is applied to
bar elements.
To know more about the rigid elements, refer to the
Finite Element Reference Guide.

 Component Edition : lets you

specify the associated material.

The Component Edition button can have two

status:

 valid:

 invalid:

2. Select a points to points analysis connection.

In this particular example, select Points to Points Analysis

 Connection.1 object in the specification tree.

3. Select Coincidence as Type option.

4. Click the Component Edition button to specify the

parameters.

The Definition dialog box appears.

o Axis System: lets you specify the axis

system you want to use.
To know more about axis system, refer to Axis System
Type.
o Degrees of Freedom: lets you release the
degrees of freedom (three translations and three
rotations).

5. Select the degrees of freedom you want to release.

6. Click OK in the Definition dialog box.
7. Click OK in the Nodes to Nodes Connection Property dialog
box.

A Nodes to Nodes Connection Property.1 connection

property appears in the specification tree under the
Properties.1 set and a Nodes to Nodes Connection Mesh.1
connection mesh part appears under the Nodes and
Elements set.
 8.
← You can edit the Nodes to Nodes Connection Mesh.1
object.

To do this, double-click the Nodes to Nodes Connection Mesh.1

object in the specification tree.
The Nodes to Nodes Connection Mesh dialog box appears.

In this particular example, the connection modeling is DOF

Equal.
If you select Rigid as Type option in the Nodes to Nodes
Connection Property dialog box, the connection modeling will
be Rigid in the Nodes to Nodes Connection Mesh dialog box:

For more details about the nodes to nodes connection mesh

part, refer to Creating Nodes to Nodes Connection Mesh in the
Advanced Meshing Tools User's Guide.

← You can visualize the connection mesh. To do this:

 ← Compute the mesh only (for more details, refer to
Computing Objects Sets).
← Generate a Mesh image (for more details, refer to
Generating Images).

Analysis Assembly

Only available with the Generative

Assembly Structural Analysis (GAS)
product.
  About Analysis Assembly
You can find here general
information about the Analysis
Assembly context.
  Analysis Assembly Methodology
Methodology of work in Analysis
Assembly context.
Analysis Assembly 2D Viewer
You can visualize the analysis
document structure.

About Analysis Assembly

You will
find here
general
informati
on about
the
Analysis
Assembly
concept.

This functionality is only available in the Generative Assembly

Structural Analysis (GAS) product.
Analysis assembly provides a general solution based on reusability of the
analysis document (.CATAnalysis file). Consequently the simulation of a
complex product structure can be split into several independent sub-
analysis performed by several users and assembled together in a global
analysis called assembled analysis.
The Analysis Assembly definition will be done in both the Generative
Structural Analysis workbench and the Advanced Meshing Tools
workbench.
All analysis data (such as mesh, properties and materials) are retrieved
without data duplication.
  You can find here the notations used in this document:
 The supported product structure are:

Product Structure: Assembly of:

Analysis on Part
The shape A1 must be activated when
creating the assembled analysis.
The part pointed by the A1 must be
the same as Part1.

Orphan mesh (imported mesh)

A1 is not pointing any geometry.

 
  Finite Element Model:
Properties and mesh parts can be defined either in the sub-analysis or
in the assembled analysis but the mesh part and its associated
property must be defined in the same analysis (under the same
Analysis Manager).
Analysis Connections:
You can connect sub-analyses using general analysis connection, point
analysis connection, line analysis connection, surface analysis
connection.
Connection Properties:
All the welding connection properties (spot welding, seam
welding and surface welding) are authorized in the assembled
analysis. All these connections can be applied between mesh parts
and geometrical bodies.
All Face Face and Distant Connection Properties are
authorized in the assembled analysis if you apply them to a general
analysis connection built with geometry as support.
To know more about the properties you can apply to a general
analysis connection, refer to About Connection Properties.
Some Face Face and Distant Connection Properties are
authorized in the assembled analysis if you apply them to a general
analysis connection built with groups as support.
You will see in the following table which connection property you can
apply to a general analysis connection with groups as support:

Group by
Geometrical Groups by Spatial
  Neighborho
Groups Neighborhood Group
od

Connecti
Point Line Surfac Point Line Surfac Box Spher Line Surfac
on
Grou Grou e Grou Grou e Grou e Grou e
Propertie
p p Group p p Group p Group p Group
s

3D 3D
Contact                
suppo suppor
rt only t only

Slider                

Fastened          

Fastened
         
Spring

Pressure 3D 3D
             
Fitting suppo suppor
rt only t only

Bolt
Tightenin              
g

Rigid

Smooth

User-
Defined
(with
Contact                
as Start
and End
option)

User-
Defined
(with
       
Bolt as
Middle
option)
 User-
Defined

Pre-processing Specifications:
The pre-processing specifications such as restraints and loads can be
defined either in sub-analysis or in the assembled analysis.
The pre-processing specifications defined in a sub-analysis will be
ignored in the assembled Finite Element Model.
All the functionalities belonging to the Generative Part Structural
Analysis (GPS) product and the ELFINI Structural Analysis (EST)
product are available in the assembled analysis. These specifications
can be applied on any geometry and groups of the specification tree.
They are automatically linked to all meshes throughout the assembly.
Solving Process:
The standard simulation solving processes are supported in the
analysis assembly context.
Post-processing Specifications:
The result management is supported in the analysis assembly context.
Finite element visualization is available on assembly, as well as sensors
and reporting.

Analysis Assembly Methodology

This task
will show
you how to
work in
Analysis
Assembly
context to
build an
assembly
of:
anal
ysis on
part
orp
han
analysis

Only available with the Generative Assembly Structural Analysis

(GAS) product.

Open the Assembly.CATProduct from the samples directory.

The product structure is the following:
 Do not associate the same sub-analysis to several instances of a part.
In case of a sub-analysis is associated to several part instances, the
sub-analysis will be ignored when creating the assembled analysis.
 
Assembly of Analysis on Part
Two methodologies are available to attach a sub-analysis to a product
structure:
← The sub-analysis is attached as an alternate shape of a part
instance of the product.
To do this, you will use the Manage Representations... contextual
menu.
← The sub-analysis is attached directly in the product structure as
a new component of the product.
To do this, you will use the Existing Component contextual menu.

Associating a Sub-analysis as an Alternate Shape

1. Associate one or several analysis to the Surface1 part and
activate one analysis representation.

a. Right-click the Surface.1 part and select

Representations > Manage Representations...

Make sure you work in a product context.

To work in a product context, double-click the root
product in the specification tree (in this particular
example, double-click Assembly.

The Manage Representations dialog box appears.

b. Click the Associate... button in the Manage
Representations dialog box.

The Associate Representation dialog box appears.

c. Select the AnalysisSurface11.CATAnalysis

document in the sample directory and click the Open
button.
d. Click the Associate... button in the Manage
Representations dialog box, select the
AnalysisSurface11.CATAnalysis document in the sample
directory and click the Open button.

The Manage Representation dialog box is updated:

Note that:
 the two associated representations
are deactivated.
 you can remove, replace or rename
a selected shape.
For more details, refer to Managing Representations -
Product Structure User's Guide.
e. Select AnalysisSurface11.CATAnalysis in the
Manage Representations dialog box and click the Activate
button.

The Manage Representation dialog box is updated:

 f. Click Close in the Manage Representations dialog
box.
Note that an Analysis Manager appears under the Surface1 part
in the specification tree:

2. Associate the AnalysisSurface2.CATAnalysis document to the

Surface2 part and activate this representation.

The specification tree is updated as shown below:

3. Enter the Generative Structural Analysis workbench.

To do this:
a. Select Start > Analysis and Simulation >
Generative Structural Analysis.
b. Select Static Case and click OK in the New
Analysis Case dialog box.
 The specification tree is updated as shown below:

The Nodes and Elements, Properties and Material sets are

empty in the specification tree.
The Mesh Visualization contextual menu is available.

4. Create the pre-processing specifications either in the sub-

analysis or in the assembled analysis.

o To activate an analysis, double-click the

associated Analysis Manager.
o At any time you can add/remove a shape,
activate/deactivate an associated shape or add/remove a
product component.
For more details, refer to Analysis Assembly 2D Viewer.

At this step, you can open the sample14.CATAnalysis document

in which all the analysis specifications have been already defined
and follow the scenario.

2. Compute the solution.

To do this:
a. Click the Compute icon.
b. Select the All option.
c. Click OK in the Computation dialog
box.

5. Define the post-processing specifications.

Any analysis shape which is not active at creation will be ignored in the
assembly.
In case of several analysis shapes are associated to the same product
instance, only the active shape will be taken into account in the
assembled analysis.
To check the content of the assembled analysis, you can use the Shape
Management command.
 
Associating a Sub-analysis as a Component of a Product
You have to use the Existing Component contextual menu.
1. Open the Assembly.CATProduct product.

The product structure is the following:

2. Right-click the root product. In this example, right-click

Assembly.
3. Select Components > Existing Component....

The File Selection dialog box appears.

4. Select a .CATAnalysis document.

In this particular example, select the

AnalysisSurface11.CATAnalysis document in the File selection
dialog box.

5. Click OK in the File Selection dialog box.

A new part instance is created in the product structure:

 6. Enter the Generative Structural Analysis workbench.

To do this:
a. Select Start > Analysis and Simulation >
Generative Structural Analysis.
b. Select Static Case and click OK in the New
Analysis Case dialog box.

7. Define the analysis pre-processing specifications, compute the

analysis and define the post-processing specifications.
 
Assembly of Orphan Analysis (Imported
Mesh)
You can find here the methodology for orphan analysis creation.
1. Create an new analysis document.
2. Use the Import Mesh command of the Advanced Meshing Tools
workbench to import an .dat file.
For more details, refer to the Advanced Meshing Tools User's
Guide.
3. Complete the property set in the Generative Structural Analysis
workbench.
4. Insert the orphan analysis in the product structure using the
Existing Component command.

Virtual Parts
Virtual Parts are structures created without a
geometric support. They represent bodies for
which no geometry model is available, but
which play a role in the structural analysis of
single part or assembly systems. 
Virtual Parts are used to transmit action at a
distance. Therefore they can be thought of as
rigid bodies, except for the case where a
lumped flexibility is explicitly introduced by the
means of a spring element.

Do not use Virtual Parts to simulate

connections.
To simulate connections, use
Analysis Connections of the
Generative Structural Analysis
(GAS) product.
 
Create Rigid Virtual Parts
Generate a stiff transmission
rigid virtual part.
Create Smooth Virtual Parts
Generate a soft transmission
rigid virtual part.
Create Contact Virtual Parts
Generate a contact
transmission rigid virtual
part.
Create Rigid Spring Virtual Parts
Generate a stiff transmission
elastic spring virtual part.
Create Smooth Spring Virtual Parts
Generate a soft transmission
elastic spring virtual part.
Create Periodicity Conditions
Simulate periodicity
conditions by linking
together the degrees of
freedom of two faces that
undergo transformation.