84 The user interface

two types of scripts ( scripts) and program files ( program files)

respectively.
Reinforcement bar API Programming It is a Visual Basic compatible building and
debugging scripting environment that allows you to create your own scripts using the
application programming interface Femap (API). The API Femap Femap provides the
ability to customize according to your requirements. API Femap - it's OLE /
COM-programming interface. It contains hundreds of functions that can be called up and
of Visual Basic, VBA (Excel, Word, Access, ...), C or C ++.

Reinforcement bar Program File It allows you to automatically record any sequence
of commands Femap and write them into a program file (macro). After that, the macro
can be played in Femap to reproduce the same result.

script files, depending on the storage form can have an extension or *. bas, or *. bax.

Program files have the extension *. prg.

Command Tools Other Windows ( Other Windows) allows you to either place or
remove from the main window, a message box ( Messages)
and statustnuyu string ( Status Bar).
With a team Tools Toolbars ( the toolbar) to control the placement of buttons block,
Femap duplicate commands on the toolbar.

3.8.4. Tools Operations - Operational Tools

This set of menu commands Tools It includes commands that provide access to different
types of objects, as well as to determine and modify their settings.

Command Tools Parameters ( Options) It allows you to simultaneously enumerate

the model parameters. Femap object model parameters can be set individually at the
time of their creation or activation. Command simplifies the task of simultaneous viewing
and installation.

For all the objects that appear in the graphics window (Fig. 3.13), you can set the
color ( Color), number of the next object ( Next ID) and a step of creating ( Inc). For kits ( Set)
objects, you can select the active set, to determine the next number
Tools - Tools menu 85

Fig. 3.13. Faceplate numbering model parameters

recruitment and the creation step. The active set is used to place all newly created
objects of this type. In the active points of the coordinate system ( Coord Sys), materials ( Material)
and properties ( Property) - created objects referenced by default.

Command Tools Convert Units ... ( Converting units of measurement) is used to

convert the units in which the stored model parameters. Data to perform the conversion
are set in the dialog box, Unit Conversion ( Fig. 3.14).

Basic factors that are specified in the section Base Factors,

It provides an easy way to install all the 24 transform coefficients. This conversion
process uses a consistent methodology recalculation of all types of units ( units). conversion
formula is:

Unit new = Unit old Factor Multiply + Factor Add,

Where Unit new and Unit old - new and old units; extension coefficient Factor Add generally it is
not equal to zero only for temperature.

Basic factors are not used directly from the translation, but they are calculated by
using coefficients for the remaining
86 The user interface

Fig. 3.14. Conversion dialog box

units

physical quantities. Each time you press the button Calculate ( Calculate) or with a
positive response to the request OK to Recalculate Factor prior to Conversion ( Yes -
to compute the coefficients before performing transformation) which appears after
pressing OK, transform coefficients are updated using the current values of basic
coefficients. Option Reset ( Restore) sets the values for all factors are equal to one (1.0),
and the values of additional factors - equal to 0.0. Option Invert ( Invert) inverts all
transform coefficients. If, for example, the coefficients have been loaded for conversion
from SI to CGS system, then after pressing the button Invert you get the conversion rates
of the GHS in the SI system.

As shown in Fig. 3.14 Example translation units made from SI in coherent system
Newton / mm / C. Table 3.2 illustrates the evaluation rules agreed transform coefficients
on the basis of basic coefficients.
Tools - Tools menu 87

Table 3.2. Evaluation rules agreed transform coefficients

Conversion Factor for Calculating physical quantity

1 Length Length L
2 Area Area L2
3 Inertia Geometrical moment of inertia L4
4 Force Force F

5 Moment Moment of power F*L

6 Spring Rigidity F/L

7 Spring Rot tangent accelerator stiffness F

8 Pressure Pressure F / L2

9 Acceleration Acceleration L / t2

10 Acceleration Rotation angular acceleration 1/ t 2

11 Velocity Rot Angular velocity 1/ t
12 Damping damping F*t/L

13 Damping Rot angular damping F*t

14 Mass Weight M
15 Mass-Length Weight per length M*L

16 Mass / Length Weight, length distribution M/L

17 Mass / Area Massa, distributed by area M / L2
18 Density Density M / L3
19 Mass Inertia Mass moment of inertia M * L2

20 Temperature Temperature T ( multiplication and

addition)

21 Thermal Expansion thermal expansion 1/ T

22 Thermal Conductivity Thermal conductivity E/t*L*T

23 Specific Heat Specific heat E/M*T

24 Heat Gen Rate The rate of heat generation per unit volume E / t * L3

25 Energy / Mass specific energy E/M

L - length, F - force, t - time M - weight, E - energy, T - temperature.

3.8.5. Tools facilities - Entity Tools

This section of the menu Tools It contains three commands to create Femap objects,
which themselves are not used in the finite element analysis, but provides a simple way
of input variables ( Tools Variables), Display Model ( Tools Layers) and text placement ( Tools
Text).
88 The user interface

variables
variables ( Variables) used to store the constants in the model or the values calculated by
means of equations. In all cases when you create a model you want to set the number,
instead you can set a variable or equation that contains variables. Before you use
variables, you must create them. The variable name can contain up to 20 characters, the
first five characters must be unique. The variable name must begin with a letter (A to Z),
but can contain digits and the underscore character. Spaces are not allowed. Differences
between uppercase and lowercase letters are ignored.

Command Tools Variables a dialog box appears Define Variables ( Definition of

variables) (Fig. 3.15). In this window, new variables and edit existing can be created. You
simply enter the name of the variable in the field Variable Name ( The variable name) and
go into the field Value or Equation

(Value or expression). If the variable already exists, it will be modified, if not - it will be
created. The drop-down list box Variable Name It shows a list of all defined variables.

Fig. 3.15. Dialog variable definitions

In field Value or Equation You can specify either a constant or equation for existing
variables. When a variable is used in the equation, the variable you need to put a prefix
in front of the name! or @. For example, the expression that defines the sum of the two
variables will look like this: A_1 +! B_2. The calculation result can be viewed by using the
options Show Result ( Show result). The value will be displayed below the text field.
When you press OK variable is stored.

An additional interface when setting the equation gives equation editor, which can be
accessed by pressing the button Equation Editor. this editor dialog box shown in Fig.
3.16.
Tools - Tools menu 89

Fig. 3.16. Expression Editor dialog box

The list Variables ( Variable) is the current list of variables in the model. Variables in
this list may contain the symbolic notation constants given in the previous window, but
may include variables whose values will depend on the command to be executed that
they were created. Most of these variables are created when the load setting commands
to the geometry. Thereafter, for example, a variable! i denotes a node number, a variable! x -
X coordinate of the node, etc. Use.. Insert Value ( Insert value) Insert ( Paste)

Insert Functions ( Insert Function) in the field Calculation inserted variables, operations
signs and Femap standard functions for recording expressions. Besides mathematical
functions - sin (), cos (), ..., among the functions has a function of taking the coordinates
of the node point and an element of their number xnd (), xpt (), xel, .... If necessary, save
the expression as a variable in the field Save Variables specifies the variable name and
press the button OK.

groups
(layers Layers) They are the objects of Femap, allowing to create a model segment. Each
object model - point ( Point),
curve ( Curve), (node Node), member ( Element), (property Property) ., Etc. -. Can be in only
one layer. In the graphics window can display an arbitrary combination of layers. At any
time, one of the layers is active. All models created objects are placed in the active layer.
When you open a new model created two layers: ID = 1, title = Default Layer and ID = 9999

title = Construction Layer. The first layer is active by default. The default layer
Construction Layer marked as NoPick,
that is included in this layer objects are not trapped in the process
90 The user interface

graphical selection. See section 3.5. In this layer, in particular automatically recorded
objects used to create the solid geometry, for example the boundary surface used for
drawing. These objects are placed in the layer having the attribute

NoPick, to eliminate their choice when defining loads and boundary conditions.

Command Tools Layers ( layers) It is used to define the layers in the model. The
layers themselves are not displayed, but other objects are placed in layers created by
this command. The layer has a number ( ID), header ( title) and color ( Color). To create,
delete, renumbering layers use the buttons on the panel (Fig. 3.17). reflection layers is
controlled by command View

Visibility tab Layers, see chap. 9.3.

Fig. 3.17. Faceplate

management layers

Command Tools Text ( Text) makes it possible to provide notes model to be

displayed in one or more graphical windows. The text of each annotation may consist of
one or multiple rows.
Tools - Tools menu 91

3.8.6. Measurement Tools - Measuring Tools

The following commands allow measurement of distance between points in space, and
the angles between the center points of two lengths curves mass properties and the
properties of the cross sections. Measurement results are displayed in the message box
and listing the assigned team List Destination ( Appointment). See section. 3.13.6.

Command Tools Distance ( Distance) allows to measure the distance between two
points in model space ( Locations).
The points do not have to exist as geometric objects points ( Point) or host ( Node), because
the command uses the standard dialog box Locate determining the coordinates of two
points. In the measurement of the distance between nodes ( Node) or dots ( Points) option
is used Methods this window.

With a team Tools Distance Between Nodes ( The distance between the nodes)
can measure the distance between two nodes with the strain in one or more sets of
results ( Output Set).

Command Tools Angle ( Angle) measures the angle between the vectors defined by
three points in model space ( Locations), and also works as a team Tools Distance .... The
first point ( origin) It defines the center of the corner. the first point (with two end points
must then be selected first endpoint) and the second point ( second endpoint). Measured
angle ( angle), given the three points is shown in Fig. 3.18.

Fig. 3.18. angle measurement

92 The user interface

Command Tools Angle Between Nodes ( The angle between the nodes) allows to
measure the angle between three nodes, taking into account the deformation in one or more
sets of results ( Output Set).
With teams Tools Curve Length ( The length of the curve) and Tools
Surface Area ( The surface area) You can perform a measurement of length and the
surface areas of the curves.

Mass Properties menu

Menu Tools Mass Properties ( Mass properties) provides access to commands that can
be used to measure the inertial characteristics of the elements of the finite element mesh.

Command Tools Mass Properties Solid Properties ( Solid State Properties)

allows to calculate the volume, surface area, center of gravity and moments of inertia
matrix for the selected solid.

Command Tools Mass Properties Mesh ( Mesh) is used to determine weight and
center of mass moments of inertia model. When you call this command, you must select
the elements in the standard dialog. Once you press the button

OK, you will be given the opportunity to choose a coordinate system in which to perform
calculations. It is also possible to select output characteristics of each mass element
(option List Properties for Individual Elements). Moments of inertia of the elements are
calculated on the assumption that the entire mass of the element is concentrated in its
nodes. Such an approximation gives low accuracy calculations of moments of inertia for
a model with a small number of elements, or for a model comprising several elongated
elements of a large mass. However, for most models with a large number of elements,
this method is accurate enough.

Menu Section Properties

Menu Tools Section Properties ( Properties section) provides access to commands
that compute the geometrical characteristics of the cross section or surface, or the finite
element mesh.
Command Tools Section Properties Surface Properties ... ( The properties of the
surface) allows to measure the characteristics of the cross-sectional shape having a
predetermined surface. To determine the orientation of the cross section axis vector is
defined in the standard dialog box, a corresponding axis Y section. beginning of the Vector
also determines the beginning of section coordinates. At a given surface stroit-
Tools - Tools menu 93

Xia inner mesh, then to calculate the section properties generator used cross-sectional
properties of the element Beam.
Command Tools Section Properties Mesh Properties ... ( Properties mesh) is
identical to the previous command, except that instead of surface elements are selected.
Calculated cross-sectional characteristics having a plurality of predetermined shape
elements. This operation is performed without building additional internal grid. It is also
necessary to determine the vector corresponding to the axis Y section.

3.8.7. Tools checks - Checking Tools

Menu Tools Check ( Check) contains a series of commands that are useful when checking
e-course lementnoy model.
Command Tools Check Coincident Points ( Matching points) It allows you to find
the point of having a close or the same position in space. These are called coincident
points. Using this command, you can merge ( Merge)

such points. The team uses the same dialog box as the team Tools Check Coincident
Nodes ....
With a team Tools Check Coincident Curves ... ( Matching curves) can be Find the
curve with a close or identical position in space. Curves are considered coincident only if
all the points of one curve coincide with the points of the other. The team uses the same
dialog box as the team Tools Check Coincident Nodes ..., except that there is only
one set of curves. To remove all the matching curves of the model option must be
selected Merge Coincident Entities ( Merge overlapping curves), otherwise the number
of matching curves will be displayed in the message window, but will not be deleted.

Command Tools Check Coincident Nodes ... ( Matching components) allows search
nodes with different numbers, having a close or the same position in space. Such nodes
are called matching nodes. During the creation of the finite element mesh based on
geometric patterns often appear identical nodes. This is due to the fact that the program
grid generation usually assigns nodes that lie on the boundaries of geometric objects, a
variety of rooms. Moreover, the calculated coordinates of nodes may vary by a small
amount.