Setup Tab

• FEM Format The drop-down list is used to specify the format of the FEM. In the figure above, MSC Nastran is selected.
• Model This is the path of the FEM input file which is the ASCII file containing the definition of the nodes, elements, loads, etc.
• Results - Original This is the path of the result file containing the element forces and the nodal displacements.
• Results - Updated This is the path of the results file generated when using HyperFEA. This file contains the element forces corresponding to the updated element properties generated during sizing. If no iterations have been performed this field is hidden.

The Analysis Defaults button opens the Database Defaults form. You can specify the default ultimate and limit factors as well as the default analysis methods before import on this form.

Important: Analysis defaults that are set after the import will not be used.

See Analysis Defaults.

The Import/Export Options button opens the FEM Interface Options form.

See FEM Interface Options.

• Import FEM The FEM is imported. This operation will only be performed if all file paths are valid and the form has been saved.
• Remove FEM This removes all FEM, component, and group data.

See Import FEM.

Reimport the FEM while maintaining all component and group level data.

See Import FEM.

This process reads the FEA results files and stores the element forces and nodal displacements in temporary files (as opposed to the database). This process is now performed automatically after model import.

When iterating with FEA new results files (*_i.op2) are generated. This project option determines whether the original results (*.op2) or the iterated results (*_i.op2) are to be used during the next analysis.