FEMSITE Utility

The FEMSITE tool is a third party tool that is used to create specialized connector realization types which can be used in fatigue calculations. In HyperMesh, use the FEMSITE utility to preprocess models and submit connection information to the FEMSITE generator.

The FEMSITE utility is only available in the Nastran user profile for Windows and Linux platforms. The FEMSITE menu options will only appear if an installation of FEMSITE is found on your computer.

Add the hmfemsite.ini initialization file to one of the following four locations:

1.	$INSTALL_HOME/hm/bin/win64/hmfemsite.ini (win64 or linux64)

2.	HW_CONFIG_PATH/hmfemsite.ini

3.	$HOME/hmfemsite.ini

4.	$WORKING_DIR/hmfemsite.ini

The Nastran user profile searches all four locations for the hmfemsite.ini file in the order listed above, and uses the last found existing file to parse the variables pointing to your FEMSITE installation.

Example: hmfemsite.ini File Contents

This file can be edited to point Hypermesh to the FEMSITE installation:

This is the path to the FEMSITE data directory:

FEMSITE_DATA_DIR=W:\FEMSITE\installfemsite31\src\BOTH\english

FEMSITE_LINUX_DATA_DIR=W:\FEMSITE\installfemsite31\src\BOTH\english

This is the path to the executable:

FEMSITE_EXE=W:\FEMSITE\installfemsite31\src\BOTH\english\femsite_swv31.exe

This is the path to the executable:

FEMSITE_LINUX_EXE=/apps/FEMSITE/femsite_swv31

Lines that do not contain the strings FEMSITE_DATA_DIR=, FEMSITE_LINUX_DATA_DIR=, FEMSITE_EXE=, or FEMSITE_LINUX_EXE= will be ignored, and can be treated as a comment. If Hypermesh does not locate the FEMSITE exe or the data directory, the FEMSITE menu options will not load.

Welds need to have a minimum amount of metadata in order to be realized within FEMSITE. The Define Spotweld, Define Robscan, and Define Rivet options in the FEMSITE utility allow the assignment of this metadata from within Hypermesh (instead of via CONN file) for spotwelds, Robscans and Rivets.

From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Define Spotweld. In the Create Spotweld Connectors Interactive dialog, define the spotweld.

Defining a spotweld with the FEMSITE utility ensures that you will be able to create a FEMSITE spotweld within Hypermesh, and assign the proper metadata to the connector for successful realization. You can create a new connector with nodes, or change existing connectors to FEMSITE connectors.

The Element Label is used in FEMSITE. The Property ID and Nugget Diameter are sent to the FEMSITE executable. The RefMode (reference mode) for connector assignment can be by Property ID or Part ID. The assigned IDs are found once components are selected, and listed in the RefList. The Maximum number of intersections field defines the maximum number of connector links to create, and the Maximum distance field defines the search tolerance the FEMSITE executable should use for realization.

femsite_spotwelds

From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Define Robscan. In the Rob Scan Data dialog, define the Robscan weld.

Create multiple Robscan weld patterns by selecting node location input or selecting an exiting connector (for example a connector imported from a connector file). The values in the Width, Length, Seam Width, and Gap Size fields are populated after a Weld Pattern has been selected.

The Property ID is sent to the FEMSITE executable. The RefMode (reference mode) for connector assignment can be by Property ID or Part ID. The assigned IDs are found once components are selected, and listed in the RefList. The Maximum number of intersections field defines the maximum number of connector links to create, and the Maximum distance field defines the search tolerance the FEMSITE executable should use for realization.

The orientation of the weld is defined with a triad (x,y,z) and orientation angle. Preview the orientation of the weld by clicking “?”. You can also reverse both direction inputs by enabling the Invert Robscan direction (Z) checkbox.

femsite_robscan

From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Define Rivet. In the Self Piercing Rivet Data dialog, you can create multiple Rivet configurations.

The values in the Shaft Diameter, Head Diameter, Length, Hardness, and Geometry fields are dependent on the Label selected.

Diameter and Depth are dependent on the Die Label selected.

The RefMode (reference mode) for connector assignment can be by Property ID or Part ID. The assigned IDs are found once components are selected, and listed in the RefList. The Maximum number of intersections field defines the maximum number of connector links to create, and the Maximum distance field defines the search tolerance the FEMSITE executable should use for realization.

The rivet direction is defined by the normal of the shells. Reverse the default direction input by enabling the Invert Rivet Direction checkbox.

femsite_rivet

A FE model does not need to be imported into Engineering Solutions prior to importing a *.conn file.

1.	From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Import CONN.

2.	In the Select conn-File dialog, open the *.conn file. The connectors and metadata that are correctly and completely defined are imported and translated to a XML connector format.

3.	The Editor dialog opens if there were unsupported or incorrectly defined connectors. To save these connectors in a separate file, click Save.

Note:

You can add this information again during export.

Required *.conn File Format & Guidelines

In order for *.conn files to be successfully imported, they must be properly formatted, and connectors and metadata must be properly defined.

•	The separator must be a semicolon.

•	The line containing the definition and description of the Format (content of the columns) must start with the type of connector, and must have 25 entries.

•	Lines with a "&" can only be used within a connector definition.

•	Connector IDs must be higher than 10,000, and can only have a maximum of 5 digits.

•	Supported connector types: spotwelds, weldlines, and bondlines.

•	Supported methods: RS1, SN, LASER, FILLER, MIGMAG, BL_ST, and BL_SR.

•	The following options must be specified for the supported connectors: first dimension of tangent, second dimension of tangent, and dimension of normal vector.

•	A reference mode must be specified: Part-ID or property-ID. The reference mode defines which components or property IDs are connected.

•	The x, y, and z position, and the tangent and normal vector must be defined.

•	Only 2 parts are allowed for spotwelds and weldlines.

•	Parts must exist in the model.

•	MAX_NUMB_CONN_PARTS must be defined for spotweld connectors that have a reference mode of AUTO, .

•	SELF_PIERCING* must be defined for spotweld connectors that have PROC=SN.

•	ROB_SCAN_SEAM_WIDTH, ORIENTATION_ANGLE, and GAPSIZE must be defined for spotweld connectors that have PROC=ROBSCAN.

•	MAXIMUM_DISTANCE must be defined for spotweld, weldline, and bondline connectors.

•	ADJUST_LIMIT must be defined for spotweld, weldline, and bondline connectors.

•	POSITION_IN_PART_TREE must be defined.

•	WELD_POSITION_ID and WELD_ANGLE must be defined for weldline connectors.

If *.conn files are missing important parameters, the following attributes are set:

•	TYPE is set to spotweld (for spotwelds) or bondlines (for seamwelds).

•	JEID is set to the ID of the connector in Engineering Solutions.

•	PROC is set to 21 (for spotwelds) or bl (for seamwelds).

•	REFMODE is set to PROPERTY.

•	TAN_DIM1 is set to 5.0.

The internal Engineering Solutions parameter ce_diameter is synchronized with TAN_DIM1 during import. This parameter is used for realization in Engineering Solutions (diameter).

PART/PID mapping files are *.csv files generated by the BOM tool. This function is used with tailored blanks, where one part consists of several property IDs. REFMODE is set to PROPERTY when referencing two properties, or it is set to PART when referencing parts.

For every PID, there is a corresponding component which is used to reference a connector. For every PART, there is a corresponding assembly which is used to reference a connector.

The mapping of components/assemblies (PID/PART) can be done using an external file. The external file specifies the assembly structure in HyperMesh.

A2126120114;QUERTRAEGER UNTER FAHRERSITZ VO LI;26120114;Shell ;1700200;HT700T;Stahl EN 10336- HT700T +ZE+A+O;1,50;;;;;;;;;;;;Stahl EN 10336- HT700T +ZE+A+O;1,5;;;;;;;;;;;;

A2126160516;VERSTAERKUNG LI VO HPT.BODEN;26160516;Shell ;1100500;HC340LA;Stahl HC340LA EN10268-1.0548+ZE+A+O / DBL:4062.51;1,00;;;;;;;;;;;;Stahl HC340LA EN10268-1.0548+ZE+A+O / DBL:4062.51;1;;;;;;;;;;;;

A2126160716;VERSTAERKUNG HI LI / HAUPTBODEN;26160716;Shell ;1100500;HC340LA;Stahl HC340LA EN10268-1.0548+ZE+A+O / DBL:4062.51;1,00;;;;;;;;;;;;Stahl HC340LA EN10268-1.0548+ZE+A+O / DBL:4062.51;1;;;;;;;;;;;;

1.	From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Import PART/PID mapping.

2.	In the Select Part/Property File dialog, open the *.csv file. Only the parts that are correctly and completely defined are imported.

3.	The Editor dialog opens if there were any parts that could not be converted. To save these parts in a separate file, click Save.

Connector data that has been imported or defined in Engineering Solutions can be exported to *.conn files.

1.	From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Export CONN.

2.	In the Select conn-File dialog, save the .conn file to your working directory. The supported connector information and the unsupported connector information that you saved during import is converted to CONN format and exported to a .conn file.

Use the FEMSITE Filter tool to filter connectors in the graphics area based on metadata.

1.	From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Filter.

2.	In the Filter connectors dialog, define connector criteria accordingly.

femsite_filter_conn

3.	Click Submit. All of the connectors that do not meet the filter criteria are masked in the graphics area.

From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Check Connected to check if the connection partners of connectors are available in the Engineering Solutions database. After a check is performed, the number of connectors that have no existing connector partners in the Engineering Solutions database is reported, and failed connectors are displayed.

There is no geometrical check done if a projection is possible, only the availability is checked.

When REFMODE is set to Part, only assemblies are checked. PIDS are not checked.

All of the supported connector metadata that can be imported is listed in the parameter.cfg file, which can be found in the installation: /config/parameter.cfg. If certain metadata is not applicable to you, create comments for them using "#". Engineering Solutions will ignore metadata commented with "#".

Use the FEMSITE Review CONN tool to review and edit connector metadata that was created during import.

1.	From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Review CONN.

2.	In the panel area, use the connectors selector to select one or more connectors.

3.	Click proceed.

4.	In the Edit params dialog, review and edit the corresponding metadata of the selected connector(s).

Note:

If you selected multiple connectors, only identical metadata is displayed. Blank fields indicate that metadata was not identical for the selected connectors. If metadata was not defined, field will read "not defined".

femsite_review_conn

5.	Click Submit.

If you are working in a HyperMesh model that contains existing connectors that were imported from a *.conn file, they will appear in the Connector browser as undefined custom types. In order for these connectors to appear with the correct connector type, they must be assigned metadata. From the menu bar, click Connectors > FEMSITE > Assign Metadata to assign metadata.