Results Post Processing using MSC'Acumen

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Results Post Processing using MSC.Acumen

• Francis BARREAU - Snecma Moteurs
• Antoine SOEIRO - MSC.Software

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Acumen Résultats

• It is an application developed by MSC.Software
  for Snecma Moteurs.
• It is developed using MSC.Acumen.
• It allows post processing of the results
  calculated by Samcef (main mechanical analysis
  program at Snecma Moteurs).

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Why Acumen Résultats ?

• Post processing with Patran
• is adapted for all type of results,
• allows a great variety of displays.
• But
• It remains complicated to use, especially for an
  inexperienced user.
• It is not easy to automate some displays.
• It is missing some essential functions like units
  management.
• It allows to obtain different values depending on
  the options chosen. Which value is the right one ?

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Why Acumen Résultats ?

• Acumen Résultats allows
• To display results calculated with Samcef.
• Simplification of post processing tasks by
  offering an easy-to-understand Graphic user
  interface even for an inexperienced user.
• Display of results in a reliable manner to get
  only the right values.
• Automatic chaining of different Patran commands
  to get a complex display.
• Automation of some post processing.
• Addition of some missing functions (managing
  units) or improvement of existing ones ( titles,
  XY plots).

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Acumen Résultats menus

• Main buttons.
• The different steps of post processing.
• Selection area.
• Input area.
• To go to the next or the previous step.

Icons box.
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Step 1 to get the finite element model.

• Wizard like user interface.
• Acumen start.
• User identification.
• Selection of the MSC.Patran database.
• Finite element model definition.
• Immediate start of post processing or loading of
  Samcef Results.
• Other choices
• Units used for calculation.
• Units for display.
• Language for the titles.
• Make use of the HTML report.

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Steps 2 and 3 utilities functions.

• Step 2 managing the model.
• Managing groups and lists to display results on a
  part of the model.
• Managing the coordinate systems used to display
  results.
• Managing the viewport.
• Step 3 managing results.
• To rename or delete existing results.
• To create new results by linear combination.
• To create new results by calculating the maximum,
  the minimum, the average of a set of existing
  results.

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Step 4 displaying results.
To guide the user in order to get the display.
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Step 4 displaying results.

• Only to allow options that correspond to the
  finite element model, the result quantity and the
  display. Examples
• To display 2D tensors only for 2D models.
• To display a deformed plot only for displacement
  results. To display a vector plot for all types
  of vector results (displacement, loads, ).
• To display the results on the top, middle and
  bottom surface only for shell models.

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Step 4 displaying results.

• To automatically select the Samcef result code
  number which correspond to the result quantity to
  display. Example
• Shell model.
• Stress display.
• Average stress at the center of the elements.
• Top surface stresses.
• Von Mises stresses.
• Result  Code number  Samcef 3431.

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Step 4 displaying results.

• To propose simple choices for the element results
  display
• To display the average value at the center of the
  elements.
• To display an extrapolated value at the element
  nodes
• With discontinuities at the nodes.
• With an average at the nodes.
• With the largest difference of the values at the
  same node this will help the user to check the
  quality of his calculation.
• Example for the average value at the center of
  the elements MSC.Patran / Results equivalent
  options

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Step 4 displaying results.

• To merge a set of different Patran commands into
  one Acumen display. Examples
• Image captures with an automatic switch between
  black and white background colors.
• XY Plots with automatic scaling and titles.
• Stress tensors having traction values with a red
  arrow and compression values with a blue arrow.

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Step 4 XY plots

• Automatic titles.
• Element, component, local coordinate system used.
• Automatic axis title result displayed, units.
• Automatic axis scales with whole values.
• Automatic curve color and style.

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Step 4 tensor display.

• Patran
• Results Create / Marker / Tensor.
• Results Select Result Case(s).
• Results Select Tensor Result  Code 3411 .
• Results Show As  Principal .
• Results Show as Spectrum.
• Spectrum Create 3 colors black, red, blue.
• Results Show Tensor Box scale 0.0.
• Results No tensor Label
• Results Average Domain None.
• Results Average Method Average / Derive.
• Results Extrapolation Shape fn.
• Results Apply.
• Ranges create 2 values.
• Ranges Fit results and Calculate.
• Ranges From/To 0.0 for intermediate values.
• Ranges Apply.
• Ranges Assign Target Range to Viewport.
• Set Range don t overwrite range values.

• Acumen résultats
• Spatial post processing.
• Result selection.
• Stress display.
• On 2D elements.
• Average stress at the center of elements.
• Tensor display.
• Display options no label.

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Step 4 displaying results.

• To display results in reliable manner to show
  only the relevant values.
• Example fringe plots of von Mises stresses at
  the center of the elements. Maximum value
  displayed
• Patran
• 2  codes résultats  Samcef available (3411 ou
  3310) x 2  Averaging Domain  ( None  ou
   All ) at least 4 different maximum values
  can be displayed.
• Acumen Résultats
• Automatic selection of Samcef  result code 
  3411 and automatic choice of the display options
  one maximum value is displayed in accordance
  with Snecma Moteurs post processing methods.

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Step 5 reproducing results.

• To automatically reproduce the current display on
  other results
• Superimposed plots of deformation and stress
  fringe.
• Image and animation capture.
• To repeat the current display with different
  result units or title language.
• To insert the current display into an HTLM report.

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Step 5 reproducing results.

• Example modal calculation with stresses.
• Goal to display the deformation and the von
  Mises stress fringe for all the modes and to
  capture all these images.

• First part step 4 create this display for the
  first mode.

• Second part step 5 reproduce this display
• Possible change of the units.
• Select the modes to display.
• Validate Acumen does the plot and capture for
  all the selected modes.

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HTML report.

• Description of the model.
• Description of all the modifications of the
  results.
• Automatic insertion of all the graphic outputs.

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Conclusion

• MSC.Acumen has allowed us to create a new
  application for post processing Samcef results.
• At least, 95 of Snecma Moteurs needs are
  fulfilled.
• Post processing is now simpler, more reliable and
  can be automated.
• A new application for defining Element
  properties, loads and boundary conditions for
  Samcef calculations is being developed by Snecma
  Moteurs and MSC.Software.