Ansa v15.1.x Users Guide

BETA CAE Systems S.A. 1 ANSA v.15.1.x Users Guide

ANSA V15.0.X USERS

GUIDE

v.15.1.x


ANSA version 15.1.x

Users Guide

ANSA version 15.1.x Users Guide Printed in Greece June 2014 COPYRIGHT 1990-2014 BETA CAE SYSTEMS S.A. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This ANSA Users Guide is an integral part of the ANSA software. This Users Guide, in whole or in part, may not be copied, reproduced, translated, transferred, or reduced to any form, including electronic medium or machine-readable form, or transmitted or publicly performed by any means, electronic or otherwise, unless BETA CAE Systems consents in writing in advance. Use of the software and its documentation has been provided under a software license agreement. BETA CAE Systems assumes no responsibility or liability for any damages or data loss caused by installation or use of the software. Information described in this documentation is furnished for information only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by BETA CAE Systems. BETA CAE Systems assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual.


The software and its documentation contain valuable trade secrets and proprietary information and are protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized use of the software or its documentation can result in civil damages and criminal prosecution. All other company and product names, mentioned in the software and its documentation, are property, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. BETA CAE Systems S.A. Kato Scholari, Thessaloniki, GR-57500 Epanomi, Greece Tel: +30-2392 021420 +30-2311 993300 Fax: +30-2392 021828 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.beta-cae.gr

http://www.beta-cae.gr/


MAIN TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

Chapter 2 USER INTERFACE

Chapter 3 BASIC TERMS AND PRINCIPLES

Chapter 4 CUSTOMIZING THE USER INTERFACE

Chapter 5 PART MANAGER

Chapter 6 MAKING MEASUREMENTS

Chapter 7 CAD FUNCTIONS

Chapter 8 GEOMETRY CLEANUP

Chapter 9 ASSEMBLIES

Chapter 10 SURFACE MESHING

Chapter 11 VOLUME MESHING

Chapter 12 HEXA BLOCK MESHING

Chapter 13 BATCH MESHING

Chapter 14 WORKING WITH GEOMETRY AND FE-MODEL MESH

Chapter 15 FE-MODEL INPUT/OUTPUT

Chapter 16 DECKS GENERAL FEATURES

Chapter 17 MODEL MANAGEMENT

Chapter 18 INCLUDES MANAGEMENT

Chapter 19 MODEL COMPARISON

Chapter 20 DECK TOOLS

Chapter 21 MODEL CHECK & REPORT

Chapter 22 KINETICS

Chapter 23 SAFETY

Chapter 24 SOLVER HEADERS

Chapter 25 CFD DECKS

Chapter 26 MORPHING TOOL

Chapter 27 CROSS SECTION TOOL

Chapter 28 FUEL TANK TOOL

Chapter 29 VOLUME TRAPS TOOL

Chapter 30 ANSA DATA MANAGEMENT

Chapter 31 TASK MANAGER

APPENDICES

Appendix I RUNNING ANSA

Appendix II ELEMENTS GENERATED BY THE CONNECTION MANAGER ASSEMBLER

Appendix III FILTER MODIFY SYNTAX


Appendix IV XML CONNECTIONS FILE

Introduction


Introduction

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.1. About ANSA .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2. About this User's Guide ......................................................................................................... 9

1.2.1. Annotations and Symbols ............................................................................................ 10

Introduction


1.1. About ANSA

ANSA is an advanced CAE preprocessing tool in Finite Element Analysis. Applications include the generation of models for Crash, Durability, NVH, CFD and other research areas.

The main concepts of the software are the following:

- A properly cleaned-up geometry is the key prerequisite for a well-defined mesh model.

Connection and assembly of single parts should be performed in accordance with meshing and modeling requirements. - Alternative mesh models should be generated based on a common assembled geometry model. - The grid nodes of the shell mesh to be generated lie exactly on CAD-data geometry. - The most usual pre-processing jobs may be completed in this single software, without the use of

additional software. - Compatibility with many major CAD/CAE interfaces and packages used in the industry.

Some of ANSA's key features include:

- CAD-geometry topology and cleanup. - CAD 2D and 3D functions. - Advanced part management, assembly and connection. - High flexibility in surface preparation for shell meshing. - Batch Meshing. - Automatic execution of ANSA commands through Scripts. - Unstructured shell meshing for first and second order shell elements with grid nodes lying on CAD

geometry surfaces. - Volume mesh generation based on surface shell mesh. - Advanced mesh quality checks and improvement functions. - Pre-processing Decks for NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, PAM-CRASH, and

RADIOSS. - Cross-Section analysis tool.

- KINETICS tool. - Fuel Tank analysis tool. - Body in White bath analysis tool. - Surface and Volume mesh Morphing.

Introduction


ANSA in CAE process flow

1.2. About this User's Guide

This User's Guide is addressed to new and advanced users, as it consists of a combination of examples and detailed description of functions. New users can also refer to the Tutorial Guide, which contains a Getting Started section. Since not all of the functions and features can be documented in this Users Guide, users should also refer to the ANSA On-Line-Help, for a detailed description of all menus and functions. As the users become more experienced, they develop their own techniques and certainly, if they go through this Guide, they will be able to combine ANSA functions and techniques for their own benefit.

The material is presented in the order that the user would follow to work with the software. Not all chapters may be relevant for every application.

Properties & Materials Definition

FE-Model ABAQUS RADIOSS ANSYS MEDINA PERMAS M-SERIES FLUENT STAR-CD CCM CFX RADTHERM THESEUS CGNS CFD++ OPENFOAM MOLDEX 3D SESTRA MEDINA TOSCA Structure SC/TETRA UH-3D ONF PATRAN ST-LITHGRP WAVE FRONT VRML FREE FORM INVENTOR etc

Mesh Shell/Solid mesh generation

Quality check Modification

Quality Improvement Penetration Check & Auto correction

CAD IGES, VDA FS, STEP CATIA v4 & v5 NX CREO JT etc

Pre-Processing Decks Special Elements Loads/Constraints Solution numerics

Contacts Dummy model positioning &

restraining

Tools Cross section

Fuel Tank Volume Traps

Materials Database

Alternative FE-Models

NASTRAN PATRAN LS-DYNA PAM-CRASH ABAQUS RADIOSS ANSYS MEDINA PERMAS M-SERIES FLUENT STAR-CD CCM CFX RADTHERM THESEUS CGNS CFD++ OPENFOAM MOLDEX 3D SESTRA MEDINA TOSCA Structure SC/TETRA UH-3D ONF PATRAN ST-LITHGRP WAVE FRONT VRML FREE FORM INVENTOR etc

Geometry Cleanup

Modification Definition

Connections Definition &

Management

Model Assembly Common Model

ANSA

Morphing

Introduction


If any queries are not referenced in this Users Guide or in the On Line Help, refer to Technical Support (e-mail: [email protected]).

1.2.1. Annotations and Symbols

Throughout the manual the following text presentation conventions are followed to distinguish the various text interpretations.

Object - Action Presentation Example

ANSA buttons, functions All capitals CUT ANSA Entities First letter capital Face ANSA Windows Italics DECK Parameters window Text Window messages Italics Please select PART Files, variables, OS commands Courier New ANSA.defaults

Warning ! ! Do not cut Macros at locations

Due to the nature of the program a lot of graphical conventions are also used. Mouse and keyboard icons, arrows, cursors etc. are widely utilized. Some examples are presented below:

Cursor position in the ANSA display window where left mouse button is pressed

Click and drag with left mouse button movement

Cursor position over menus and entry cards

Keyboard for alphanumerical input

As a function is described in the manual its button is presented in

its not pressed state, prior to selection.

Some commands have sub-options displayed in the pull down menu that appears when the button is pressed. In the manual only the option of interest is presented for

simplification. For example if the user selects the option NORMAL from the function PROJECT which belongs to the CONS group of the TOPO > menu, the button below is presented: In addition in the text the command path is stated: TOPO>CONS>PROJECT [NORMAL] Many times the root path (TOPO > in this case) is omitted.

PARAM

Menu

Group

PROJECT

NORMAL

SCREEN

USER

Function

Option

User Interface


User Interface

Chapter 2

USER INTERFACE

Table of Contents

USER INTERFACE .......................................................................................................................... 11 2.1. Screen Layout ..................................................................................................................... 14 2.2. ANSA Settings ..................................................................................................................... 16

2.2.1. Settings Window.......................................................................................................... 16 2.2.2. Saving User Settings ................................................................................................... 17

2.2.2.1. Saving GUI Settings under ANSA.xml ................................................................. 17 2.2.2.2. Saving Application Settings under ANSA.defaults .......................................... 18

2.3. Handling ANSA windows ..................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1. Fullscreen mode ......................................................................................................... 23

2.4. The use of mouse-buttons................................................................................................... 24 2.5. View Control using the mouse ............................................................................................. 25

2.5.1. SpaceMouse support .................................................................................................. 26 2.6. View Control using Views toolbar ........................................................................................ 26 2.7. View Control using the F keys ............................................................................................. 28

2.7.1. Standard views ............................................................................................................ 28 2.7.2. Rotate and Panning ..................................................................................................... 28

2.8. Selecting Items.................................................................................................................... 29 2.8.1. Single Items ................................................................................................................ 29 2.8.2. Box selection ............................................................................................................... 30 2.8.3. Polygon area selection ................................................................................................ 30 2.8.4. Front Only selection .................................................................................................... 31 2.8.5. Selecting 2D & 3D entities ........................................................................................... 32

2.8.5.1. Feature Area selection ......................................................................................... 32 2.8.5.2. PID Region selection ........................................................................................... 34 2.8.5.3. Macro Area selection ........................................................................................... 35 2.8.5.4. Poly Area selection .............................................................................................. 36 2.8.5.5. Poly Line selection ............................................................................................... 36

2.8.6. Selecting 1D entities .................................................................................................... 37 2.8.6.1. Feature Line selection for edges ......................................................................... 37 2.8.6.2. PID neighbors selection for line elements ........................................................... 40

2.8.7. Selecting nodes ........................................................................................................... 40 2.8.7.1. Feature Line selection for nodes ......................................................................... 41 2.8.7.2. Feature Area selection for nodes ......................................................................... 42

User Interface


2.9. Numerical Input ................................................................................................................... 42 2.9.1. Single Numerical Input windows ................................................................................. 42 2.9.2. Active/Not-active Numerical Input windows ................................................................. 42 2.9.3. Vector Definitions & Arithmetical Operations ............................................................... 42

2.10. Multi-touch screen controls ............................................................................................... 43 2.10.1. Mouse buttons to gestures correlation ..................................................................... 43 2.10.2. Touch screen view controls ...................................................................................... 43 2.10.3. Selections .................................................................................................................. 44

2.10.3.1. Touch Assistant toolbar ...................................................................................... 44 2.10.3.2. Single selections ................................................................................................ 45 2.10.3.3. Box selections ................................................................................................... 45 2.10.3.4. List selections .................................................................................................... 45

2.11. Entities Visibility ................................................................................................................. 46 2.11.1. Property and Material Colors ..................................................................................... 46 2.11.2. Propertys Shadow, Wire and Perimeters state ......................................................... 46 2.11.3. Transparency ............................................................................................................. 48 2.11.4. Light control ............................................................................................................... 49 2.11.5. Coloring FE-Model Entities ........................................................................................ 50 2.11.6. Automatic transparency implementation .................................................................... 50 2.11.7. Detail on demand effect ............................................................................................. 51

2.12. Draw modes ...................................................................................................................... 52 2.13. Fringe modes .................................................................................................................... 54

2.13.1. Element thickness view mode ................................................................................... 55 2.13.2. Non Structural Mass (NSM) view mode .................................................................... 56 2.13.3. Contact thickness view mode .................................................................................... 56 2.13.4. Mass Scale view mode .............................................................................................. 57 2.13.5. Pressure and Temperature view modes .................................................................... 58 2.13.6. Boundary Conditions view mode ............................................................................... 58 2.13.7. Quality Graph view mode .......................................................................................... 59 2.13.8. Separation Graph mode ............................................................................................ 60

2.14. Saving visibility status ....................................................................................................... 61 2.15. Focusing on Items ............................................................................................................. 62

2.15.1 Lock Entities and Views ............................................................................................. 68 2.16. Multiple Views ................................................................................................................... 70 2.17. Cutting Planes ................................................................................................................... 72 2.18. Database Browser and Lists ............................................................................................. 77

2.18.1. General ..................................................................................................................... 77 2.18.2. Focusing on items ..................................................................................................... 77 2.18.3. Selecting items .......................................................................................................... 78

2.18.3.1. Selection Lists interface ..................................................................................... 78 2.18.3.2. Selecting ............................................................................................................ 79 2.18.3.3. Visibility Control ................................................................................................. 80 2.18.3.4. Sorting ............................................................................................................... 81 2.18.3.5. Managing Columns ............................................................................................ 81 2.18.3.6. Quick Filtering .................................................................................................... 84 2.18.3.7. Quick Modify ...................................................................................................... 86 2.18.3.8. Edit cards ........................................................................................................... 89 2.18.3.9. User Attributes ................................................................................................... 91

2.18.4. Creating New Entities ................................................................................................ 92 2.18.5. Other uses of the Database Browser ........................................................................ 93

2.19. Search Engine................................................................................................................... 94 2.19.1. Searching for program functions ............................................................................... 95 2.19.2. Searching for data ..................................................................................................... 95 2.19.3. Command Line commands ....................................................................................... 96 2.19.4. Mathematical Calculations ........................................................................................ 96

2.20. File Manager ..................................................................................................................... 97 2.21. Display clipping ............................................................................................................... 101

User Interface


2.22. Graphics .......................................................................................................................... 102 2.23. Saving Images in ANSA .................................................................................................. 104 2.24. Acquiring Help ................................................................................................................. 105

2.24.1. ANSA on-line Help ................................................................................................... 105 2.24.2. ANSA documentation index ..................................................................................... 107 2.24.3. About ANSA ............................................................................................................ 107

2.25. Beep sound ..................................................................................................................... 107 2.26. System - OpenCL ............................................................................................................ 107 2.27. Undo/ Redo ..................................................................................................................... 108

User Interface


2.1. Screen Layout

The main features of the Graphical User Interface are highlighted and described below:

1. Main pull down menus

- File: contains all the functions for data Input/Output - Windows: access all ANSA windows, as well as the Settings window - Containers: access all the container Group functions (Parts, DM, Properties, Materials, Sets, Includes, Filters, Database) - Tools: access the tool functionality (Batch Mesh, Compare, Task Manager, Script, Includes Manager, Checks) - Utilities: access the utility functions (i.e. Mesh Parameters, Quality Criteria, Measure etc.) - Assembly: access all the functions that can be used for the Handling of Connections. - Help: invoke all the options concerning ANSA Help. 2. Toolbars: User can optionally have any of the Main pull down menus, in the form of toolbars,

which can be docked in the main ANSA window. Furthermore there is the option to create custom toolbars. For more details refer to the Customizing Toolbars section in the Customizing User Interface chapter of the same document. 3. Modules Buttons: contains all the ANSA functions, according to the selected module, i.e.

TOPO, MESH, etc. 4. Module buttons groups: all ANSA functions are arranged in groups, depending on the Entity

that they are applicable to. The number in parentheses next to the group name indicates the number of additional functions located in the Hidden window of each group. 5. Hidden window: the hidden window can be accessed by pressing on the group's name with the

right mouse button. The user can then choose which functions will reside there. Furthermore, one can access the hidden buttons pop-up to directly activate a function by pressing the left mouse button on the group's name. 6. Info window: Instructions and reporting of the program are printed in this window. 7. Command Line: the user can activate functions by typing in the command line. 8. Database Browser: this window can contain tabs for Database, Includes, or Filters, and is used

for visualization and management of all the entities in the database. 9. Status Bar: in this area are displayed several error or guiding messages, the title of the currently

active function and an option to terminate it, as also a progress bar whenever this is needed.

User Interface


10. Search engine: The former Function Finder has been replaced by a more sophisticated

engine, which: is activated through Windows>Search Engine or with the shortcut Ctrl+F. invokes functions of any menu, loaded script functions and session commands. The function access is achieved by typing few letters. Search by meaning is also possible. Filter ranges of any entity and then open the respective list. History of last applied functions is stored. Access is enabled by hitting the 'Enter' key. 11. Options List: In this area they appear options and settings for the currently active function.

User Interface


2.2. ANSA Settings

2.2.1. Settings Window

Prior of starting any process in ANSA, or during that, one must know how to change ANSA settings. All settings, concerning the Graphic Interface and many of the options related to the ANSA functionality, can be accessed through the Settings window. To invoke the Settings window go to Windows>Settings, or press the shortcut key Ctrl+I. The main features of this window are highlighted and described below:

1. Settings Categories: In this section of the Settings window, all the settings categories are listed in a tree-form. Choose between the two major categories, Settings or GUI settings, and select the desirable subcategory to edit its options. 2. Define Settings: This section of the Settings window is updated according to the selected

category. Here the user can define the desirable settings. 3. ANSA.defaults: To save the new settings in the ANSA.defaults file, press the Save button, or

save the current settings in a new ANSA.defaults file by pressing the Save as button. For more

information about saving in ANSA.defaults please refer to section 2.2.2.2.

4. ANSA.xml: To save the new GUI settings in the ANSA.xml file, press the Save button, or save

the current GUI settings in a new *.xml file by pressing the Save as button. Additionally, the user

can read another *.xml file by pressing the Read button, and all GUI settings are updated

accordingly. For more information about saving in ANSA.xml please refer to section 2.2.2.1.

5. ANSA.xml location: In this field is displayed the location of the current *.xml file.

At any point the user can press OK button to accept the changes, taken place in any category, and exit the Settings window, or press Cancel button.

2. Define the Settings

1. Settings Categories

5. Current *xml location

4. Save GUI Settings in ANSA.xml

3. Save Settings in ANSA.defaults

User Interface


In the latter case, if no changes have taken place, the user exits the Settings window, else, if changes have taken place in any category, a warning message appears, listing all the changes and prompting the user to decide whether the changes will be applied or discarded.

2.2.2. Saving User Settings

All settings that can be changed by the user, are saved and can be available for the next ANSA session. The settings regarding the graphical interface are saved into the ANSA.xml file, whereas all the settings regarding the

application of ANSA functions, are saved into ANSA.defaults file. Hence,

the size and position of all ANSA windows are saved into the ANSA.xml file,

whereas the meshing parameters and the quality criteria are saved into the ANSA.defaults file.

These files are located into the directory .BETA/ANSA/ANSA/version_13.x.x, which is created

the first time ANSA is launched.

The easiest way to distinguish which settings are saved into the ANSA.xml and which into the

ANSA.defaults is based on the classification in the Settings window. Thus, the settings that

reside in the category Settings of the Settings window are saved in the ANSA.defaults,

whereas the settings that reside in the category GUI settings are saved in the ANSA.xml.

2.2.2.1. Saving GUI Settings under ANSA.xml

All settings that can be changed inside the GUI settings category of the Settings window are

saved into the ANSA.xml file. Some of these settings are saved only when the user presses the

Save GUI settings button, whereas some others are also saved when ANSA quits.

A general rule is that the settings that are related to the display of the ANSA windows and buttons (e.g. size and position of windows, format and position of ANSA buttons, etc.), are saved either when the user presses the Save GUI settings button, or when ANSA quits. The rest GUI settings are saved only when user presses the Save GUI settings button.

Note: The state of the General Buttons (i.e. activate or deactivate) is saved only upon pressing Save GUI settings button and not when ANSA quits. This is due to the fact that such kind of

options are frequently altered by the user during a project (to control the visibility, isolate entities in the screen etc.), but it is not meant to be permanently changed. Whenever a user changes the size and position of an ANSA window (File Manager, Property List

etc.) this information is stored in the ANSA.xml file either by pressing the Save GUI settings

button or automatically the moment ANSA quits. This way, the user does not have to worry about saving settings, and in the next ANSA session the windows will appear as were set in the last session. The user defined menus (see section 4.7) are also saved upon ANSA quiting, and thus the user can be sure that even if accidentally quits ANSA prior of saving them, these will not be lost.

The ANSA.xml file also contains the list of recently opened files, accessed from

FILE>OPEN RECENT or FILE>INPUT RECENT, and generally the history wherever this appears. The filters and additional columns added by the user in the list windows, are also saved into the same file. The Save GUI settings as button allows the user to save the current settings in a file with different

name and path so as not to overwrite the existing ANSA.xml file. In this case the File Manager

window opens for the filename specification. When the current GUI settings are saved in a different

User Interface


xml file, this file becomes the current one and any GUI changes from that point on are written

there.

See Appendix I (RUNNING ANSA) for some extra uses of the ANSA.xml file.

2.2.2.2. Saving Application Settings under ANSA.defaults

All settings that can be changed in the Settings category of the Settings window are saved into the

ANSA.defaults file, so that the next time the user starts ANSA they will be set as required. To do

so go to Windows>Settings and press the Save settings button.

Beside these settings, in this file are generally saved all those settings that are related to the way ANSA functions are applied, such as the Mesh Parameters, the Batch Mesh Parameters, the Output and Input Parameters, etc. Such type of settings are also the options and values of the F11 window, and hence are saved into

the ANSA.defaults file.

Note: The state of the CRITERIA group flag buttons (i.e. activate or deactivate), is saved into the

ANSA.defaults file and not into the ANSA.xml file. This is due to the fact that these flag buttons

are related to the quality criteria and are actually controlled through the F11 window (i.e. by activating a criterion into the F11 window, the respective flag is activated). Nevertheless, their

relative position inside the General Buttons area is saved into the ANSA.xml file, similarly to the

rest flag buttons of the General buttons group. In the Settings Categories there is also a category ANSA defaults where the settings, which are saved in the ANSA default file, can be modified. The Save settings as button allows the user to save the current settings in a file with different

name and path so as not to overwrite the existing ANSA.defaults file. In this case the File

Manager window appears for the filename specification. See Appendix I (RUNNING ANSA) for details on the format and use of the ANSA.defaults file.

User Interface


2.3. Handling ANSA windows

The ANSA working window can be resized using the mouse.

Using the -g option the desired ANSA window size is obtained as width x height when ANSA is

launched, i.e.: > ansa -g 1280x815

If the ANSA working window is minimized, all the ANSA windows that were open are minimized as well. When the ANSA working window is restored all the minimized windows are restored as well.

All ANSA main windows can be found under the Windows menu, in the menubar. From there one can activate or deactivate any of these windows. When an ANSA window is active, one can close it either by pressing the Esc key, or by pressing the x symbol on its

titlebar.

Accordingly, the List windows of: Parts, DM, Properties, Materials, Sets, Includes, Filters, Database can be found under the Containers menu, in the menubar. From there, one can activate or deactivate any of these List-windows.

The functionalities of: Batch Mesh, Compare, Task Manager,Script, NVH Console, Includes Manager and checks can be found under the Tools menu, in the menubar. From there one can access any of these functions.

or

User Interface


Under the Utilities menu in the menubar the Mesh Parameters and Quality Criteria window can be accessed. Further functions that can be accessed through the Utilities menu are: Delete, Deck Info, Renumber, Measure, Cut Plane, Best, Snapshot, Isolate, Compress and Transform.

Under the Assembly menu all the functions for working with Connections are listed: Connection Manager, Template Manager, Erase, Define connections, Convert, Rm. Dbl., Project, Adhesive, Info.

All ANSA windows can be docked in every side of the ANSA working window. To dock a window grab it from its title bar and drag it towards the desirable position. As soon as the cursor changes from arrow to hand, one can be sure that this position can accept the window to be docked, and as soon as a preview of the docking status is displayed, the user can drop it.

Drag

or

or

Drop

User Interface


Furthermore, all ANSA windows can be placed inside an already docked window, in the form of tab. To tab a window grab it from its title bar and drag it towards the title of an existing docked window or another tab. As soon as a preview of the tab is displayed, drop it in the current position.

Once a window is tabbed, use the right mouse button onto its title, to untab, or close it. Additionally, the user can pick the tab from its title and drag it to change its position respectively to the other tabs of the same window.

The position and size of each window are saved in the ANSA.xml file, every time the user saves

the GUI options through the Settings window, or when ANSA quits (see section 2.2.2.1). Hence, all the ANSA windows appear in the same manner, in the next ANSA session. The same stands for all the other windows that pop up during an ANSA functionality. All these windows can be positioned by the user or be docked, and its position and size are saved for the next ANSA session, in the ANSA.xml file.

To facilitate working with ANSA windows, several handling options regarding their format exist.

All windows that accommodate check boxes,

have the ability of selecting multiple check boxes simultaneously, by box selection using

the left mouse button. Correspondingly, by box selection using the right mouse button, one can deselect multiple check boxes. This is also applicable in lists with check boxes.

Drag

Drag

Drop

Preview

User Interface


To make the window roll-up and leave only its titlebar visible middle-click on the title bar.

To expand a window which has a scroll bar, for a better overview of its contents, press Shift key, middle click anywhere inside the window, and move the mouse pointer towards the desired expansion direction.

Especially for all lists, one more option to save space exists. All the filtering check boxes, as well as

the visibility and management buttons, can be hidden by the user by pressing the respective arrow button.

User Interface


For all those windows which host entities in a tree form list, one can expand or collapse their contents, by using the Ctrl key in combination with the Num_Plus key (+) or the Num_Minus key (-), respectively. Such windows are the SETs window, the Database window, the Filters window, the Settings window, etc.

2.3.1. Fullscreen mode

Ansa can be viewed in full screen mode by toggle selection of the Windows>Views>Fullscreen flag button.

When ANSA is set to Fullscreen mode, all the toolbars and windows are hidden.

The visibility of the toolbars is controlled by four buttons in the middle of each side of the screen. Press on these arrow buttons to reveal or hide the toolbars and menus of the respective side of the screen.

To exit the Fullscreen mode, select again, Windows>Views>Fullscreen.

+

+

+

-

User Interface


2.4. The use of mouse-buttons

The left mouse button is mainly used to: - activate modules buttons - select or define entities The double click of the left mouse button is mainly used to: - edit entries in lists - control visibility by clicking on the screen

The middle mouse button is mainly used to: - declare the end of a selection process - cancel the currently activated function

The right mouse button, depending on the function, is mainly used to: - deselect previously selected items - reapply last action to other entities - pick closest point position (Working Plane mode) - access the right click menu in lists - activate hidden windows, select buttons to custom place them on ANSA desktop panel The double click of the right mouse button is mainly used to: - control visibility by clicking on the screen

The mouse-buttons combined with the Control (Ctrl) key, are used for the View control (section 2.5). The mouse-buttons combined with the Shift key, are used for the definition of a polygon selection area (section 2.7.3). Special use of the mouse buttons, in certain functions, is given in their description in the ANSA online help (section 2.18.1).

User Interface


2.5. View Control using the mouse

Rotating

Pressing Ctrl and left mouse button the view rotates around an axis, which is perpendicular to the mouse track and lies on the screen plane. The rotation pole is automatically defined on the closest position that the mouse was pointing when the left mouse button was pressed.

Pressing Ctrl and right mouse button the view rotates around an axis, which is normal to the screen plane. The rotation pole is automatically defined on the closest position that the mouse was pointing when the right mouse button was pressed.

Panning

The view translates along the mouse track with Ctrl and middle mouse button.

Zooming

Pressing Ctrl and left and middle mouse buttons simultaneously the view Zooms IN and OUT according to the mouse movement. Moving left and down the view zooms in and moving right and up the view zooms out.

! View control is faster when both Ctrl and Shift buttons are pressed, as

certain items are not drawn during the movement (see section 2.16).

Mouse Track

Rotation Axis

Rotation Axis

_

Mouse Track

Mouse Track

OUT

IN

+

+

+

+

User Interface


The mouse zooming can also be controlled by the mouse roller. The sensitivity of the roller, as also the behaviour during zoom (auto center before zoom or not), are adjusted in the GUI settings under Mouse.

Rotation Center visibility

Rotation center can be visible during rotations. Visibility paremeters (color, radius) are controlled through Settings>GUI settings>General.

2.5.1. SpaceMouse support

ANSA supports the use of SpaceMouse for Linux O/S and Windows OS.

2.6. View Control using Views toolbar

Views toolbar provides functions for retrieving default views (front, top, left, etc.) as also change the mouse mode (rotate, pan, zoom) when Ctrl button is not available or convenient to use (as it is described in 2.5).

Views toolbar can be activated through the context menu in the toolbar area. ! By default, only Zoom Area and Fit In View

functions will be available. In order to arrange what functions will be available in the toolbar, go to Windows>Settings>GUI settings>Buttons manager,

and activate their visibility status (for more about Buttons manager please refer to sections 4.5, 4.6).

Default views Zoom Pan & Rotate

Default views (no screen fit)

Step rotations

User Interface


Top View

View functions, according to which, the visible entities will orient and zoom to fit the full graphic area.

Front View

Left View

Bottom View

Back View

Right View

Isometric

Zoom Zoom mode. Use mouse without Ctrl, to zoom. (Left MB)

Zoom In Zooms In with each press

Zoom Out Zooms Out with each press

Zoom Area Specify an area to zoom into, by drawing a box.

Fit in View Fit all visible entities to the graphic area.

Pan Pan mode. Use mouse without Ctrl, to zoom. (Left MB)

Rotate Rotation mode. Use mouse without Ctrl, to rotate.

Set Rotation Center Activate to define a center and keep this until deactivation.

Fix Clipping Planes Correct any disappearing or cut entities effect.

Non-Fitted Top View

View functions, according to which, the visible entities will orient without any zoom actions. Non-Fitted Front View

Non-Fitted Left View

Non-Fitted Bottom View

Non-Fitted Back View

Non-Fitted Right View

Non-Fitted Isometric

X+

Each function will apply a rotation by a specific step according to the screen coordinate system.

X-

Y+

Y-

Z+

Z-

User Interface


2.7. View Control using the F keys

2.7.1. Standard views

TOP FRONT LEFT BOTTOM BACK RIGHT ZOOM

IN ZOOM OUT

ZOOM ALL

Default View

* The F1~F6 keys orient and zoom the visible entities to exploit the full graphic area. Combine them with Shift (e.g. Shift+F1), to apply only the orientation, without the zooming.

Note that while F9 zooms all, pressing Ctrl+F9 recalculates the visible model screen depth, thus resolving any problems that may appear during view manipulation (invisible areas).

2.7.2. Rotate and Panning

step rotations

Rotate x +

Rotate x

Rotate y +

Rotate y

Rotate z +

Rotate z

Pan

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

User Interface


By default the rotations are performed in angle steps of 10

o. The user can change this value inside the Settings

window (Windows>Settings) in the category Settings>General Settings.

2.8. Selecting Items

2.8.1. Single Items

Terminate

To select, press the left mouse-button over or close to each entity. Selected entities become highlighted. Repeat for multiple selections. In some functions, it is possible to deselect the previously selected entities, step by step using the right mouse-button. In other functions it is possible to deselect any entity, by indicating it with the

right mouse-button. On multiple selections, declare the termination using the middle mouse-button.

Select Deselect

User Interface


2.8.2. Box selection

For functions that support box-selection, press and hold the left mouse-button. Drag the mouse by means of the diagonal of a rectangle. All the entities that are relevant to the current function and lie in the red rectangle are automatically selected. In some functions, it is possible to de-select previously selected entities by box-selection. To de-select, press and hold the right mouse-button. Drag the mouse by means of the diagonal of a rectangle. All the selected entities, which lie in the aqua colored rectangle, are automatically unselected. Declare the end of selections by using the middle mouse-button.

2.8.3. Polygon area selection

Simultaneous selection of a number of entities may also be achieved by defining a polygon area. Press Shift-key only once. Then move the mouse and press the left mouse-button at each selection-polygons corner. When the last corner is defined, press the middle mouse-button, and the selection polygon is closed. All the entities that are relative to the current function and lie in the red polygon are automatically selected.

Select

Deselect Terminate

Select Terminate

User Interface


In most functions, it is possible to deselect previously selected entities by polygon-selection. To deselect, press Shift-key only once. Then move the mouse and press the right mouse-button at each selection polygons corner. When the last corner is defined, press the middle mouse-button, and the polygon is closed. All the selected entities that lie in the area of the aqua polygon are automatically unselected.

2.8.4. Front Only selection

Front Only flag, enhances the Box and Polygon selections by providing the option to select only the entities inside the box/polygon area that are visible to the user.

Deselect Terminate

User Interface


2.8.5. Selecting 2D & 3D entities

When the user activates a functionality which requires selection of entities (shells, solids, facets etc.), a selection assistant appears as a free window or docked as toolbar (ICONs:Feature Selection toolbar).

Mind that there is an option for visualization of the label for each icon of the toolbar (see section 4.4).

The features of this window are described in the following sections.

2.8.5.1. Feature Area selection

The concept of Feature Area, which is defined according to the feature angle, is widely used in many functions in ANSA. The Feature Area is defined as the area of shell elements between whom the angle that is formed at their common edge is less than the given feature angle, as shown.

In many functions where the selection of shell elements or free facets of solid elements is required, the Feature Selection tool is

available and its window appears. If the ENT flag is active, then elements can be selected one by one or with box or polygon area selection.

User Interface


If the Feature Area flag is activated and a feature angle is specified, then by picking one element, all elements are selected provided that the angle formed by the normals of neighboring elements is less than the specified value. This allows fast and easy selection of specific regions of the model.

Adjusting the feature angle value controls the extent of the selection area of the elements. (Note that box or polygon area selection or de-selection is not affected by the Feature Angle functionality).

De-activating the WIRE flag, allows the display of feature lines only (according to the angle limit specified in the Presentation Parameters window, activated by F11). In this example the feature lines are not closed curve limits.

If elements were selected using the Feature Angle selection tool the selection would extend quite far as the identified feature lines leave openings

User Interface


If however the check box Shell/Solid selection: auto-close feature lines in the Settings window is activated, then ANSA closes automatically the identified feature lines by extending them (Windows>Settings: Settings>General Settings). As a result the Feature Area selection is more limited.

2.8.5.2. PID Region selection

If the PID region flag is activated in the Feature Selection tool, then by picking an element (shell or solid) of a particular PID, ANSA automatically selects all the connected, visible elements which are assigned with the particular PID.

Select with the left mouse button an element. The selected element is highlighted along with all the connected, visible elements which share the same PID.

The user must know that the selection will stop wherever red bounds exist either because of non-visible elements or due to unconnected elements. The same applies for the cyan bounds.

Non-visible elements Red bound

Resulting Selection

Resulting Selection

User Interface


This functionality can also be used to de-select already selected areas, by picking an element with the right mouse button. (Note that box or polygon area selection or de-selection is not affected by the Feature Angle functionality).

2.8.5.3. Macro Area selection

If the Macro Area flag is activated in the Feature Selection tool, then by picking an element that lies on a MACRO, ANSA automatically selects all the corresponding MACRO area.

This functionality can also be used to de-select already selected macros, by picking an element with the right mouse button.

Unconnected elements Red bound

Resulting Selection

User Interface


2.8.5.4. Poly Area selection

If the Poly Area flag is activated in the Feature Selection tool, then the user can pick individual elements in order to select all the elements enclosed in the path that is formed among the picked elements.

Select with the left mouse button an element. The selected element is marked by a blue triangle. Proceed with the selection of more elements. The paths between the picked elements are marked in red.

In every step, the closing path is displayed in green.

At any time you can de-select the last blue-marked element with right mouse button. Pressing middle mouse button, ANSA selects all the elements enclosed by the paths of the picked elements. This functionality can also be used to de-select already selected elements, by picking positions with the right mouse button.

2.8.5.5. Poly Line selection

A similar selection mode is the Poly Line. In a similar manner, the user selects with left mouse button individual elements, marked in blue, and their connecting path is highlighted in red. De-select with right mouse button if required.

User Interface


Unsele

ct

Confirming with middle mouse button leads to the selection of all the elements along the path.

2.8.6. Selecting 1D entities

The concept of the selection assistant is also used when a function requires selection of 1D entities (shell edges, perimeters, line elements, etc.). When the user activates a functionality which requires selection of such entities, a selection assistant appears as a free window or docked as toolbar.

Depending on which function will be activated the selection assistant has the two following types. Mind that there is an option for visualization of the label for each icon (section 4.4).

The features of this window are described in the following sections.

2.8.6.1. Feature Line selection for edges

The Feature Line selection tool uses the concept of Corner Angle, which is widely used in several functions. The Corner Angle is defined as the angle formed by two consecutive element edges, as shown in picture.

corner angle

User Interface


Certain functions in ANSA require the selection of a continuous string of element edges (for the definition of feature lines, perimeters etc.). In these cases the Feature Selection tool pops up, where the user can activate the Feature Line selection flag. If the flag in the window is de-activated then the user must select the element edges one by one.

Activating the flag, and picking a single element edge, ANSA automatically identifies and includes all edges that fall within the specified Corner Angle value.

Increasing the input value, allows the selection of a longer string of edges as edges that form larger angles are also selected. Right-mouse button pick on an edge results in the de-selection of edges within the same Corner Angle. (Note that box or polygon area selection or de-selection is not affected by the Corner Angle functionality).

Controlling the direction of selection When selecting an element edge with the Feature Line selection tool, the direction of the highlighted path is determined by which end of the edge is picked. The picked end is considered as the start of the path, and the edge length points to the direction, as shown here.

User Interface


The resulting highlighted path is the one shown in the picture.

Another path is selected by picking on another element edge.

Finally, the identified path stops automatically when it intersects with another highlighted path. ! The same rules apply to right mouse button deselections.

User Interface


2.8.6.2. PID neighbors selection for line elements

Certain functions in ANSA require the selection of line elements (for the creation of curves, shell elements, etc.). In these cases the Feature Selection tool pops up, with an extra option, the PID Neighbors flag. If the flag is de-activated then the user must select the line elements one by one.

Activating the flag then by picking a line element of a particular PID, ANSA automatically selects all the connected, visible line elements which are assigned with the particular PID. The tool follows the concept of the PID region selection which applies on 2D and 3D entities, as described in the 2.8.4.2 section.

2.8.7. Selecting nodes

The selection assistant concept apply also to the selection of nodes.

Whenever the user is asked to select nodes (to align them or create line element from them) a Selection window mode appears, where the

user can either select Nodes or Entity Nodes.

Furthermore, the Feature Selection window appears which, according to what the user has selected in the selection window, has the following formats. The combinations of selections in these two windows are described in the following sections.

User Interface


2.8.7.1. Feature Line selection for nodes

When the user is in the Nodes mode, if the ENT flag is active, then one must select the nodes one by one or with box or polygon selection.

Activating the Feature Line flag, and picking a single element edge, ANSA automatically identifies and includes all nodes that lie along a feature line defined by the given angle.

Increasing the input value, allows the selection of a longer string of nodes, since edges that form larger angles are also selected.

Right-mouse button pick on an edge results in the de-selection of the respective nodes within the same Corner Angle.

The Loop selection option automatically selects

closed loops without the need to define a feature angle.

User Interface


2.8.7.2. Feature Area selection for nodes

When the user switch to Entity Nodes mode, the ICONs:Feature Selection toolbar is updated and the user can then select elements following all the features and rules for the 2D entities selection, that was described in section 2.8.4.

ANSA then will use the nodes that belong to the selected elements.

2.9. Numerical Input

2.9.1. Single Numerical Input windows

When a function requires the numerical input of a single number then the typing of this number is possible even if the mouse cursor is outside the Input window. Type the value and press enter. The value is accepted and the window closes

2.9.2. Active/Not-active Numerical Input windows

When a function allows the numerical input of data as an alternative to graphical input, the activation of the Numeric Inp. check box is necessary. While the Numerical Inp. check box is active, press the left mouse-button when the cursor is on the input field in order to activate the field, and type the required data.

2.9.3. Vector Definitions & Arithmetical Operations

A vector is specified either by typing the values in the corresponding fields or by selecting the appropriate point positions from the screen. Arithmetical operations (+,-,*,/) are also

allowed in these fields.

User Interface


2.10. Multi-touch screen controls

ANSA supports the use of multi touch screens for Windows OS. Following are the gestures and tools with which the user can control ANSA through a multi-touch screen.

2.10.1. Mouse buttons to gestures correlation

The one finger tap, is used to: - activate modules buttons - select, deselect or define entities The one finger double tap is used to: - edit entries in lists

The two fingers tap is used to: - confirm a selection process - cancel the currently activated function

The one finger press and hold, is used to: -open context menu -move fringe-bar, etc.

2.10.2. Touch screen view controls

Rotation

a. Axis on screen plane

Dragging one finger along the graphic area, rotates the view around an axis perpendicular to the finger track.

b. Axis perpendicular to the screen

Use two fingers. The one that remains still defines the axis position. Otherwise the axis is defined between the two fingers.

Rotatio

n Axis

Rotation

axis

Rotation

axis

User Interface


Panning

Dragging with two fingers along the graphic area, translates the view.

Zoom

Use two fingers. Spread the fingers apart to zoom in or pinch them together to zoom out.

2.10.3. Selections

2.10.3.1. Touch Assistant toolbar

Touch Assistant toolbar, provides the ability to switch between select/ deselect modes as also to control the activation of virtual keyboard, when a text field is active.

Touch Assistant toolbar can be activated through the context menu in the toolbar area (with right mouse button or one finger press, hold and release).

Selection mode

Deselection mode

Virtual keyboard switch

User Interface


2.10.3.2. Single selections

In order to select, activate the select state icon in the Touch Assistant and select entities with one finger tapping. Deselect by switching to deselect state in the Touch Assistant and again with a one finger tap on selected entities. Terminate the procedure with a two fingers tap.

2.10.3.3. Box selections

In order to activate the box selection, tap and hold until the box appears. Then, without raising the finger, drag along to resize the box accordingly. Touch Assistant state defines the resulting action. Conclude selections with a two fingers tap.

2.10.3.4. List selections

In order to select many rows in a list at once, tap on a row and drag to add more lines in the selection.

User Interface


2.11. Entities Visibility

2.11.1. Property and Material Colors

The colors of Properties and Materials are being edited in the same way as the interface colors are edited (section 4.2) through the relative functions available in Property and Material Cards.

2.11.2. Propertys Shadow, Wire and Perimeters state

The visibility status of Shadow, Wire and Perimeters can be controlled specifically for each Property. This applies for the ENT, PID and MID draw modes.

The activation status of this capability is controlled by the Draw per PID flag in the Presentation Parameters tab of the F11 card. Once this is active, then each PID is drawn according to its specific settings.

User Interface


These settings are controlled through four flags, one for the per PID draw activation and three flags for the three parameters respectively. These flags can be accessed through the respective Propertys card,

the Color Editor of the Property,

or the Property list by activating the appropriate fields (refer to paragraph: 2.15.3.5-Managing Columns)

User Interface


2.11.3. Transparency

In PID display mode the user can set some PIDs to be viewed with transparency. Setting Transparency from the Property List

Activate the PR.LIST, select some PIDs and press the SET-TRANSP [ON] button.

The selected PIDs are now viewed in transparency. The SET-TRANSP [OFF] button removes

transparency from selected PIDs. Note that, globally, the visibility control of transparency is achieved through the Transparency check box in the Presentation Parameters tab of F11 window. By deactivating this check box the user can temporarily deactivate transparency without changing the transparency status of each PID. Next to this check box is the default transparency percentage that is assigned with the SET-TRANSP button in the PR.LIST.

User Interface


Setting Transparency from the Property Card

EDIT a PID from the Property List and press the Color Edit button.

In the Color Editor window the user can change the transparency status, by altering the transparency percentage.

2.11.4. Light control

By default the Light rendering effect is active in shadow mode.

However, the user can deactivate Light, by deactivating the Light check box in the Presentation Parameters tab of the F11 window.

User Interface


2.11.5. Coloring FE-Model Entities

The colors used in the visual representation of supported FE-Model entities are described in the ANSA.defaults file. See Appendix I for details on the customization of the FE-Model entities

colors.

2.11.6. Automatic transparency implementation

Whenever the user activates a function which requires selection of entities of certain type, an automatic transparency is applied on all other entities which are not suitable for selection. Thus, the selectable items become more clear for the user.

In this example the function NASTRAN>ELEMENTs>RBE2>BRANCH is activated, which requires the selection of RBE2 elements. Automatically, only the existing RBE2 remain visible, while all the other entities becomes transparent.

Notes:

There are cases where entities which are not selectable by the current function remain non-transparent, only because this state of visibility helps the user to have a more clear image of the model. At any point during this automatic transparency implementation, the user can hold Ctrl+Shift to see the model in normal draw.

User Interface


2.11.7. Detail on demand effect

It is very usual, especially in models with a large amount of elements, for the user to need a gradual increase of detail for the model, which will depend on the current view. Such a detail on demand effect can be obtained by adjusting the respective regulator inside the Presentation Parameters window, invoked by the F11 key. The more the user zooms in, the more details of the model come to visible, leading in a more detailed view of the model. The detail on demand effect affects, first of all the visibility of the mesh in a model. By zooming out, the wire is lost equivalently to the view with the WIRE flag off. Other entities that are affected by the detail on demand effect, are the line elements, the hot points in TOPO and MESH modules, the nodes of the perimeters in the MESH module, etc.

Zoom-out

Zoom-in

Zoom-out

Zoom-in

Zoom-out

Zoom-in

User Interface


The more to the right the regulator is, the more intense is the effect, which means that less zoom out is needed for the details to disappear.

2.12. Draw modes

In the Drawing Styles Toolbar, the 'Draw Mode' switch button is available, with the following options: ENT / PID / MID / PART / INCLUDE Depending on its status, the user can view Geometry and FE-model mesh with different coloring, according to the selected mode. Cycle through the different modes is available using a combination of buttons (shortcut). The reverse cycle operation is also available. This can be set in the Settings>GUI settings>Buttons Manager (e.g. Alt+V / Alt+Shift+V)

Each mode colors the entities according to their entity type (ENT), their Property (PID) color, their Material (MID) color, the Part (PART) color or the color of the Include (INCLUDE) they belong to, as shown.

The Entity colors can be modified as described in section 4.3.

The definition of Property and Material colors is achieved through their edit cards, using the Color Editor window as described in section

2.9.1.

Note that FE-Model entities that belong to sets (Loads, SPCs etc.), are colored according to their entity type in ENT mode, and their Set ID in PID and MID view modes, as shown below.

User Interface


The color of these entities in PID and MID mode can be modified by the Color Edit button in the respective Set card.

In all modes besides ENT, the CONS can be colored either by the respective mode's color representation or by the ENT mode's one (refer to chapter: Basic terms & principles>Geometric entities used in ANSA>Cons for CONS color meaning in ENT mode.)

The CONS color representation is controled from the "Visualization" region that can be found in the Presentation

Parameters tab, inside the Presentation Parameters window, invoked by F11 key.

User Interface


2.13. Fringe modes

In the Drawing Styles Toolbar, the 'Fringe Mode' switch button is available, with a list of options, depending on the active DECK menu, include: EL.THICK / EL.NSM / EL.PRESS / EL.PRESS MENU / EL.TEMP / EL. TEMP2 / EL.TEMP MENU / C.THICK / M.SCALE / BC / QGRAPH / SGRAPH Depending on its status, the user can view Geometry and FE-model mesh with different coloring, according to the selected option.

All the options that the user can tune in order to have the desirable result drawing on his/her model, can be found in the Presentation Parameters window, invoked by F11 key, in the Graph Parameters tab. Here can be found: Quality Graph options: select according to which criterion the model will be drawn. Separation Graph options: select the calculation way of the distance for the S.GRAPH. Color Bar Limits options: select the ranges of the color bar. Color Bar Colors options: select the colors of the color bar.

User Interface


2.13.1. Element thickness view mode

Shell elements can be colored according to their thickness if the EL.THICK mode is selected. A legend appears indicating the thickness color ranges for the visible

elements.

The user can select the limits of the color bar, by choosing one of the following three options:

Whole DB: Auto adjust range from all shell

elements of the Database Visible: Auto adjust range from Visible shell

elements only User min-max: Specify user defined min and

max values in the two activated fields

Note that the last option is used only for the Q.GRAPH drawing mode (see section 2.10.8).

Furthermore, the user can select the way the color bar will be configured, by choosing one of the following two options:

Palette: Define a color bar a user defined number of colors. Each color can be configured by

pressing on the sample square.

Unique color: Assign a unique color for each class of thickness.

Note that the last option is used only for the G.GRAPH drawing mode (see section 2.10.8).

The Color Bar Limits and the Color Bar Colors options can be combined according to the user's needs.

The following images show two of the aforementioned combinations:

Note that if nodal thickness values are assigned in the shell element cards, then their average value is used for the coloring of each element.

EL.THICK. EL.THICK.

EL.THICK.

User Interface


2.13.2. Non Structural Mass (NSM) view mode

The user has the option to visualize a model according to

the applied Non Structural Mass. This is applicable for NASTRAN, LS-DYNA, ABAQUS, ANSYS decks, where the respective keyword exist in the property card. Select the EL.NSM option to view the properties colored according to the respective value inside their edit cards. For NASTRAN deck menu, one can find this value inside the [PSHELL] card under the keyword [NSM]. For the rest deck menus the correspondence is the following: LS-DYNA: [SECTION_SHELL] - > [MAREA] ABAQUS: [SHELL_SECTION] - > [DENSITY] ANSYS: [PSHELL] - > [ADMSUA]

2.13.3. Contact thickness view mode

Select the C.THICK option to view the elements colored according to their contact thickness.

For LS-DYNA, the elements are colored according to their OPTT value in the CONTACT card of the

PART&SECTION SHELL card, when C.THICK mode is selected. If no OPTT value is specified then the elements are colored according to their PID thickness. If no OPTT is used but a valid value exists in the STF field then the product of PID Thickness multiplied by the STF is displayed.

For PAM-CRASH the elements are colored according to their TCONT value in the PART

(ATYPE=SHELL) card.

EL.THICK.

C.THICK.

User Interface


2.13.4. Mass Scale view mode

For LS-DYNA and PAM-CRASH decks only, the M.SCALE mode option provides a fringe plot of the 2-D and 1-D elements based on the calculated time step value (A

color bar is also displayed):

LS-DYNA

- If the CONTROL>CONTROLs>T>TIMESTEP check box is activated and the DT2MS field has a

negative value, extra mass will be added (during analysis by LS-DYNA) only to elements that need

to increase their current mass, so as to reach the desired time step value ( |DT2MS| * TSSFAC ).

In order to check this situation these Shell and Line (e.g.: BEAMs etc.) elements are colored according to the ratio: Additional mass over Physical mass

- If the CONTROL>CONTROLs>T>TIMESTEP check box is activated and the DT2MS field has a

positive value, the LS-DYNA solver has to add or subtract mass to all elements so that they obtain

the specified time step value ( DT2MS * TSSFAC ). Thus, Shell and Line elements are colored

according to the ratio: Scaled mass over Physical mass

PAM-CRASH

The CONTROL>CONTROLS>TCTRL_/_>INIT MASS SCALE check box is activated and the

DTSCAL field has a valid value. If the time step of an element, Dte, is found to be smaller than the

given mass scaling time step, DTSCAL, the solver will adjust its mass density such that its time step

equals DTSCAL.

These elements are colored according to the ratio: [Physical mass +Added mass] over Physical mass

AUXILIARIES>CONTROL>CONTROLS>

TCTRL_/_

F11>Presentation Parameters window

M.SCALE.

User Interface


2.13.5. Pressure and Temperature view modes

The EL.TEMP, EL.TEMP2 and EL.TEMP MENU view modes

allows the display of the elements colored by their assigned Temperature boundary condition with the corresponding color bar beside.

Correspondingly the pressure view mode (EL.PRESS and EL.

PRESS MENU) displays the applied pressure on the elements.

2.13.6. Boundary Conditions view mode

The BC view mode enables the visibility of boundary conditions in FLUENT models.

EL.TEMP

EL.PRESS

User Interface


2.13.7. Quality Graph view mode

Shell elements can be colored according to their quality,

based on a certain criterion, if the Q.GRAPH mode is selected. A legend appears indicating the values of the selected criterion and the shell elements are colored according the value they get in this criterion. This view mode work in collaboration with the Quality Criteria of the F11

window and the values the user defines there.

To define according to which criterion the coloring will take place, the user must activate the Presentation Parameters window invoked by F11, in the Graph Parameters tab. In the Quality Graph by drop down menu select the desirable criterion.

Similarly to the EL.THICK view mode, the user can define the color bar limits, making use of the same options. In the QGRAPH view mode there is one more option the user can select, the Ranges defined min-max. This option works in collaboration with the ranges in the Quality Criteria (Shells or Solids).

Thus, the user can choose to have as minimum and maximum values of the color bar, the values of the respective columns (Best, Good, Failed, Worst) in the quality criteria.

Q.GRAPH

User Interface


The user can also choose to visualize the shell elements colored according to which category they fall based to the selected quality

criterion and its ranges. To do so, one must enable the option Use unique color for each range.

Thus, there will be three unique colors for the color bar, one for the range between Best and Good, one for Good to Failed, and one for Failed to Worst.

Note that in order these options to work properly, one must have activated the check box Enable ranges, in the Quality Criteria (Shells or Solids). For more information about the Quality Criteria, the ranges and their usage please refer to the Chapter 10.

2.13.8. Separation Graph mode

The separation graph view mode (SGRAPH), can be used by the user for comparisons between two FE meshes or between a FE mesh and a geometry.

Having in the current database two FE models with a certain mesh, or a geometry model and a FE one, activate the SGRAPH view mode to compare them.

In this picture a comparison between a geometry and a FE model is taken place. The shell elements of the FE mesh are colored according to their distance from the geometry.

SGRAPH

User Interface


The distance can be calculated based on the selected option inside the F11 window in the Graph Parameters tab. Thus, the user can select to calculate the distance from the middle point of the shell element or from its nodes, by activating the respective check box. In case the nodes option has been selected the average of all is displayed. These two options can be combined, and in this case again the average distance of all will be displayed. Note that switching to the SGRAPH view mode ANSA is calculating the distances and such a procedure might take a while. To halt the process one can press the Break key.

2.14. Saving visibility status

Display Styles tool provides the ability to save the status of the visibility buttons and the Presentation Parameters tab options of the F11 card, under a specific style. Thus,

different styles can be stored for respective needs and use them later, in order to instantly switch massively the visibility status of the database.

Create a new style Select New option from the sub-menu to create a new style. The New Display Style window opens. Edit the name accordingly and press OK to confirm. The style is created by storing the current status of visibility buttons and Presentation Parameters. Create new styles by changing each time the status of the visibility buttons and Pr.Parameters to store different cases.

Changing styles

The created styles can be seen in the sub-menu. The active one is the checked one. To activate another style, select it from the list with left mouse button. Updating a style By selecting Save option, the active style is overwritten with the

current visibility status.

Handling Display Styles

Select the List option, to open the Display Styles list window. Double click with left mouse button to activate a style. Additionally, from the context menu, it can be activated (Apply), updated (Save) or deleted (Remove). Furthermore, the whole list select Clear All to delete.

User Interface


2.15. Focusing on Items

The FOCUS Group of buttons contains functions, operations and flags, which allow the control of the visibility of selected items, in order to isolate regions of the model and facilitate work. These functions and operations may be applied: on single entities like Faces or elements (ENT mode), on items with the same Property ID number (PID mode), on items with the same Material ID number (MID mode), on defined ANSA Volume entities (VOL mode), or on ANSA Parts (as listed in the Part Manager) according to the status of the ENT / PID / MID / VOL / PART switch button. Selections are performed using the mouse, as described in section 2.8. Example applications of these functions in ENT mode are shown below:

Logical operation for the selection of items to remain visible

Or

User Interface


Logical operation for the selection of items to become visible

Logical operation for the selection of items to be excluded from the view

Brings to visible all items near the nodes/points of the selected visible entities, within a specified distance that can be modified from the radius parameter in the Options List window. In the display below, the radius has the default value of 10.

And

Not

Near

Resulting selection

User Interface


Similarly, in the display below, the radius has been set to 55 and the Dense search has been activated in order to search through the whole suface of the selected Faces and not only the Hot Points (this may result in poor performance for big models).

Brings to visible the first neighboring items connected to the already visible ones.

Neighb

1st Level

1st Level

User Interface


Brings to visible all the neighboring items connected to the already visible ones

(equivalent to pressing repeatedly the NEIGHB [1st LEVEL] function until no more entities are

brought to visible).

Note that the function NEIGHB is affected by the check box Show only locked entities, which can be found in the Settings window in the Settings>General settings category,

and the status of the LOCK button. If certain entities have been locked (LOCK ON) and this flag is active, then the NEIGHB operations will be limited to the currently

locked entities.

to invert current visibility status. Visible items become not visible and vice-versa.

Neighb

All

All

Lock

Invert

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to make all items visible.

to automaticaly align a view parallel to the screen. You can select entities such as Faces, elements, Working Planes, or 2 or 3 points or nodes and confirm with middle mouse button.

All

Best

2

Example 22 angle

Example 1

1

User Interface


!Not

Peel

Logical operation for the selection of multiple items to remain visible. Select first with left mouse button and confirm in the end with middle mouse button.

(FE-Model mesh only). Each press excludes from view all elements with free edges or facets

All of the above functions that require picking from the model can work either by selecting single items or by box selection.

Additionally, the above logical operations are functioning also if the NUMERIC option is active. In this case the selection of the items is made by numerical input and always in relation to the type selected by the ENT /... / VOL button. In this case you can, for example, isolate with an OR operation a Face by typing its ID number in the window that appears.

User Interface


Notes on Focus commands:

The OR, AND, NOT, !NOT functions can be inverted if selections are made with the right mouse button, e.g. OR and AND with right mouse button selection results in a NOT operation, while NOT with right mouse button leads to an AND operation.

The OR, AND, NOT, !NOT functions, while working in ENT mode, can also work with double click of the left or the right mouse button, which leads in selections equivalent to PID mode.

Thus, being in ENT mode and, for example, in function AND, by double clicking with the left mouse button on a face the whole PID will become visible. Correspondingly, by double clicking with the right mouse button on a face the whole PID will be excluded from the view.

! Note: This behavior can be deactivated through GUI Settings>Mouse.

Focusing logical operations may be also achieved through various functions and their list windows, like for example the PR.LIST and

M.LIST. These lists provide the buttons Show, Hide, and Show Only, that are applied upon the

selected listed items.

2.15.1 Lock Entities and Views

The LOCK flag button in the Focus group can be used to Lock the status of currently visible entities (Faces, Curves, Elements etc.) and the view angle, so that they can later be retrieved by the ALL function. The LOCK flag button has three sub options:

LOCK ON/OFF: Change of Flag button status. Activating this flag locks

temporarily all currently visible entities. While the flag is activated, the entities remain locked, so if other entities are removed or brought to visible by other Focus commands, only the initially locked entities can be retrieved by pressing the ALL function. De-activating the LOCK button erases any previous information, and the ALL function brings all

the entities to visible. See also the Lock option of the Part Manager in section 5.5.1.

STORE LOCK: Option to store the current status of visible entities and the View. Whenever Locks

are stored and the LOCK flag is active, the Locks also appear under the ALL function. Stored LOCKs are also saved in the ANSA database.

MANAGE LOCKs: Access to the Saved Views window, for restoring previously stored LOCKs

NOT

AND

+ = NOT

OR

= + NOT

AND

=

+ AND NOT

=

+ AND !NOT

=

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In this example there is a vehicle assembly.

Change the view to the desired one.

Activate the LOCK [Store Lock] function.

The Input window opens. Type in the name of the view to be stored under, and press Enter.

Move on and change the visibility of entities using the Focus commands. Activate again the Lock [Store Lock] function.

Specify a different name for this Lock group and view and press Enter.

One can continue with additional Locks in a similar manner.

While the Lock flag is

activated, all the stored locks appear also under the All function as sub-

options.

The user can thus switch immediately to a stored view lock.

my_custom_view

front

rear_door

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The user can finally access and modify all the stored locks from the Lock [Manage

Locks] function.

This list window supports all the functionality of Focus commands, and Edit, Modify, Copy, Delete, Save List.

2.16. Multiple Views

The Multiple views functionality can be used to created multiple

Documents

Ansa v15.1.x Users Guide