Batch Mode: Export

• Composites Design:
  • Creates the ply design in the stacking.
• Simulayt CLBatch (CATSLTAnaTranBatchCore.exe):
  • Reads the ply stacking for the CATIA part file.
  • Exports the layup file based on tessellation.
• FEA:
  • Maps the layup file on the existing mesh, for example, using Composites Modeler.

Layup files are created using a command file that sets the parameters needed for the translation.
The command file can be created with any text editor.
Note that the syntax is very important:

• Be careful with quotes.
• Enclose names containing blank within triple quotes, for example:
  -ExportFileName """C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\test_actual.Layup"""
  

1. Create the command file (for example CLBATCH.cmd) to run CATIA using CLBATCH instead of CNEXT.exe.
   Example:

   C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B19\intel_a\code\bin\CATSTART.exe  -env Dev19+SLT+CL+AFM
-direnv "C:\Documents and Settings\XXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes\CATEnv"
-run "CATSLTAnaTranBatchCore.exe -CLCommand ExportPlies -CATPartName S05_Blade_DesignPly_R19.CATPart -Mesh SurfaceTesselation -FiberAngles RegeneratedTheoretical -ExportFileFormat Layup -ExportFileName ./blade_batch.Layup"

Example of a Batch Export

CLBATCH Command

SLTClkBatch.exe -CLCommand ExportPlies -CATPartName S05_Blade_DesignPly_R19.CATPart -Mesh SurfaceTesselation -FiberAngles RegeneratedTheoretical -ExportFileFormat Layup -ExportFileName ./blade_batch.Layup

Data

• Input file (CATIA V5 CATPart)
  -CATPartName S05_Blade_DesignPly_R19.CATPart
  
• Output file: blade_batch.Layup
  -ExportFileName ./blade_batch.Layup
  

As the exported file is based on a tessellated model, a mapping is required in the analysis tool, or use Composites Link Executable (CLX) (see below) to map this into a Nastran mesh.

Default Options File

-CATPartName = c:\work\myComponent.CATPart
               -CLCommand = ExportPlies
      -CoreSampleDistance = 7.5
         -ExcludeMaterial =
        -ExportFileFormat = Nastran
          -ExportFileName = c:\work\myComponent.bdf
           -ExportOffsets =
             -FiberAngles = RegeneratedTheoretical
          -IgnoreWarnings = 1
            -IncludeCores = 0
      -MaterialRenameFile = c:\work\myComponent\renameMaterials.csv
                    -Mesh = CoreSampling
                -MeshFile = c:\work\externalMesh.bdf
          -MeshFileFormat = BDF
    -OutputAngleTolerance = 5.0
 -OutputEquallySpacedData = 0
   -OutputExtrusionOption = NONE
      -OutputFirstCoordID = 1
    -OutputFirstElementID = 2
       -OutputFirstGPlyID = 1000
        -OutputFirstMatID =
       -OutputFirstNodeID =
        -OutputFirstPlyID =
    -OutputFirstSectionID =
   -OutputIgnoreThickness = 1
    -OutputMatCoordSystem =
    -OutputMatOrientation = THETA
          -OutputPartName = "AbaqusPartName"
   -OutputReverseElements = 0
     -OutputSectionOffset = DEFAULT
    -OutputThickTolerance = 5.0
  -OutputWriteGlobalPlies = 0
-OutputWriteMatComponents = 0
-OutputWritePlyComponents = 0
             -SelectGroup =
    -TessellationSagValue = 0.1
   -TessellationStepValue = 0.1

Composites Link Executable (CLX)

The purpose of this executable is to map an existing layup file, usually created by Composites Link) onto an existing Nastran Buld Data file (bdf), as a shell mesh.
CLX transfers data as follows:

Simulayt Composites Link

Exports the layup file based on a tessellation.

FEA

Exports a mesh in bdf format.

Simulayt CLX.EXE

Reads the layup and mesh.
Maps the layup onto a mesh, creates properties.
Writes the mesh and properties as a bdf file

Template or Macro Updating

CLS can also be used to create a Nastran file with the laminate (PCOMPs and MATs) set to comply with a set of design rules.
This is done by using a template and a macro as input of CLX.

Template

Material and properties file

Macro

Laminate variation file

Template/Macro process

Read the mesh file, identify the BasePID, delete existing laminates and materials. Import materials and laminate from the material and properties file, set BasePID Create variations of laminate using the rules found in the laminate variations file. The closest laminate variation is identified. Assign closest laminate to element, based on draping angle: Non-zero angles in base laminate are identifies, for example 45, -45, 90 On each element, draped angles for plies with nominal angles equal to these angles are identified, for examples 32.7, -48.9, 90 (Here, there is no ply with a 90 angle, so the angle is not changed). Angles not specified in the laminate vairations file are unchanged. Delete redundant laminates: Unreferenced laminates (pcomps) in output file are deleted for brevity and clarity. Use Isolated Property Reduction if applicable.

CLX Command Line Parameters

The used parameters mirror the inputs requried on the nastran Export graphic user interface, plus come additional ones to support the template.

Parameter	Type	Values	Default	Comments
MessageFile	String	-	-	Name of message file (optional)	Files specify the data flow. Mapping tolerances are used for mapping.
InputFile	String	-	-	Name of input file
InputFileFormat	String	Nastran	Nastran	Format of input file
OutputFile	String	-	-	Name of output file
OutputFileFormat	String	Nastran	Nastran	Format of output file
MapFile	String	-	-	Name of map file
MapFileFormat	String	Layup	Layup	Format of map file
MapAngleTolerance	Real	>= 0.0	45	Mapping tolerance
MapDistanceTolerance	Real	>= 0.0	10	Mapping tolerance
MaterialOrientation	String	(Existing,THETA)	THETA
AngleTolerance	Real	>= 0.0	15	Property merge tolerance	These parameters control the transfer from the ply layup to the laminate definition. They correspond to the interactive ones.
ThicknessTolerance	Real	>= 0.0	15	Property merge tolerance
FirstPID	Integer	>0	1	First PID of created property sets
FirstGPlyId	Integer	>=0	1001	If 0, creates PCOMPs
IgnoreThickening	Bool	(0,1)	1	Ignore thickening due to shear
EquallySpacedVariables	Bool	(0,1)	1	0,15,…
LaminateReduceIters	Integer	>=0	0	Remove isolated laminate refs
LaminateFile	String	-	-	Nastran file with MATs & PCOMPs	Only used in the alternative template/macro approach.
LaminateVariationsFile	String	-	-	Macro for expanding PCOMP

MessageFile

Reflects the commands in a message file (useful for debugging purposes)

$# Layup Lib 20100621 API 20100621 File 20091126
$# Message file opened
$# CLX 1.0
$#  -MessageFile                : ./Mesh.msg
$#  -InputFile                  : ./Mesh.bdf
$#  -InputFileFormat            : Nastran
$#  -OutputFile                 : ./Mesh+Mats+Props_makro_reduce99.bdf
$#  -OutputFileFormat           : Nastran
$#  -MapFile                    : ./Layup.Layup
$#  -MapFileFormat              : Layup
$#  -MapAngleTolerance          : 45
$#  -MapDistanceTolerance       : 10
$#  -MaterialOrientation        : THETA
$#  -AngleTolerance             : 0
$#  -ThicknessTolerance         : 0
$#  -FirstPID                   : 1
$#  -FirstGPlyId                : 1
$#  -IgnoreThickening           : 0
$#  -EquallySpacedVariables     : 0
$#  -LaminateReduceIters        : 99
$#  -LaminateFile               : ./Mats+Prop.bdf
$#  -LaminateVariationsFile     : ./LaminateVariations_15x15.txt

MapAngleTolerance and MapDistanceTolerance

In general, the input file containing the analyis mesh and the map file containing the layup are on dissimilar meshes.
A mapping is required.
MapAngleTolerance and MapDistanceTolerance define the maximum allowed angle and distance between the source and destination meshes.

MaterialOrientation

Material orientations are defined either from the one existing in the mesh file, or by computing an angle with respect to the first edge of each element (THETA).
With the THETA option, the orientation of the lowest ply on each element with a nominal direction of 0 degree is used to define the angle.
Otherwise, the orientation of the lowest ply of an arbitraty direction is used.

AngleTolerance and ThicknessTolerance

PCOMP/PCOMPG cards are created to reflect the stacking with respect to the material orientation.
Cards are merged whenever possible using AngleTolerance and ThicknessTolerance values defined in degrees and percentage respectively.

FirstPID

The first PID value defines the value of the PID of the first property card.
Usually, PID values correspond to different parts of a model.

FirstGPlyId

You can specify a first GPlyID corresponding to the first ply in the stacking. This value is exported via PCOMPG cards.
With a 0 value, no GPlyIDs are set. PCOMP cards are written insted.

IgnoreThickening

Ignores thickening due to shearing, thus reducing the number of properties.

EquallySpacedVariables

When this option is selected, only angles and thicknesses that are an integer multiple of the input tolerances are used.
For example, if the Angle Tolerance is 15 degrees, only PCOMP layer angles of 0, 15, 30,... degrees are allowed.

LaminateReduceIters

Reduces isolated properties:

• If an element with 4(3) sides has 3(2) neighbors sharing the same PID, the element is assigned that PID.
• Can be run several times, until no further changes are made.