Objective: Manually write-out an updated FEM from HyperX, which contains the results from Sizing optimization.
Add Context with collieraerospace.com
After optimizing the model zones, HyperX automatically updates FEM properties with new shell thicknesses, laminates, and beam properties. Read more here.
In some workflows, it can be necessary to write out a stand-alone copy of the FEM with updated Sizing results for use in an external post-processing event (i.e. importing into another software, sharing with a team, etc.). If this is the case, automatic iteration with HyperFEA is likely not the best procedure. Instead, HyperX offers the ability to manually generate an updated FEM with considerations to various different user-selected formatting options.
Sizing results must exist in the current Project in order for a FEM update to be performed. See the following for guidelines on the various different Sizing Modes offered by HyperX:
The FEM Export form is the third tab found in the FEM Import Dashboard.The most direct access to this form is from the Model Tab of the Ribbon. Select the FEM Export icon. Doing so launches the window shown in the example image below:
There are several different options to consider when exporting a FEM update:
-
New FEM Folder - Use the "..." button to launch the file explorer and navigate to the location to which the updated FEM should be printed.
-
Project Options - Select what happens to the current Project as a result of creating the exported FEM.
-
No Project changes - The current Project remains pointed to the original FEM files, rather than the new export.
-
Set current Project to updated Run Decks - Allow HyperX to automatically point the current Project to the updated FEM upon export.
-
Archive this Project and create a copy with updated Run Decks - Allow HyperX to automatically copy the current Project and point said copy to the newly exported FEM.
-
-
Materials and Properties
These settings affect how HyperX writes Material and Property updates to the new FEM input file.
-
Overwrite Linked Materials - A "linked" Material is one that is defined both in HyperX and in the FEM input file, related to one another via the FEM Material ID.
Setting this option to "true" will prompt HyperX to write "new" (as-defined in HyperX) material definitions to the FEM, replacing the original from the FEM input file. This is recommended if you have made any changes to the material definition in HyperX since running FEA, if you'd like to capture a temperature-dependent material case, etc.
If "false," HyperX will not write material definitions for linked materials to the new FEM. Only new materials that did not already exist in the FEM will be exported. Use this option to rely exclusively on the original FEM material definitions.
-
Property ID Conflict Behavior - A property ID conflict can arise if a Zone ID - from which HyperX bases property IDs - is the same as an existing property in the original FEM. There are two options:
-
Keep Original Property ID - The data corresponding to the original Property will be overwritten with HyperX results for the corresponding Zone, thereby "keeping" the original property ID for the Zone. This could affect regions of the model that reference that property, but were not sized in HyperX.
-
Generate New Property ID - The original Property definition corresponding to the conflicting ID is kept in the FEM, and a new Property is automatically generated to define the HyperX Sizing results for the Zone.
-
-
Export Material Density and Non-Structural Mass -If selected, HyperX will automatically include material density and nonstructural mass values in the data written to the exported FEM.
-
-
Advanced Options
Once the correct folder location and corresponding settings are selected, the new FEM can be exported by selecting 'Export' on the bottom right-side of the form. Navigate to the specified FEM location for verification.
Whenever an updated FEM is exported from HyperX, a 'FEM Export Report' is generated to provide enhanced overview of what was actually printed to this new FEM. The option to view this report appears on the bottom of the FEM Export window once the export operation is finished.
Upon selecting this option, the following report will appear:
This report contains a summary table which outlines each Zone that was written to the FEM as well as the Property and Material IDs that it corresponds to. As can be seen, additional information will be printed per Zone, if applicable.
Additionally, at the top of the report, there are three different hyperlink-ed files:
-
Iteration FEM - This link directly opens the exported Run Deck for view.
-
Properties and Materials - The
.pmfile contains all properties and materials that were written to the new FEM by HyperX during export. Open this file using the hyperlink, or find it in the TEMP directory, to gain a much more concise summary of the exported Property data. -
Elements - The
.celfile contains all element definitions written to the updated FEM.