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CREO Simulate Tutorial

How to use FEM Mode

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 BACKGROUND
For CREO Simulate users, sometimes it is advantageous to use an asynchronous
protocol to pre or post-process your shell-driven FEM.

CREO simulate offers an extensible capability known as FEM Mode that allows a user to
export a .prt file as a file extension that is compatible with several high-end solvers such
as Nastran and ANSYS.

This tutorial will show how to create a .nas deck from a CREO Shell-FEM.prt file that can
be solved using Nastran.

This tutorial uses a 10 in. X 10 in. surface named plate.prt created in CREO. Load and
boundary condition definitions are based on user discretion. Tutorial assumes user is
familiar with the operation of CREO Simulate and Nastran file output types.

Tutorial written using CREO 3.0

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 Enter FEM Mode
• When to use:
o When you need to pre or post process your shell-based FEM using the Nastran solver.

Note: The FEM boundary conditions, material properties, etc., were defined in Simulate before
entering the FEM mode.

Begin by entering FEM Mode by clicking on the Model Setup Icon in Simulate menu.

Simulate Menu Bar

Select FEM Mode Check box:

Apply when necessary

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 Prepare FEM
If shell model is meshed using P-elements, convert Your model should look similar
to h-elements using Mapped Mesh function. to the one below if you are using
the tutorial part specifications

In this tutorial, the 10in. X 10in. flat surface

is meshed using quad h-elements totaling 100.

Click on Mapped Mesh

Select the Mesh Icon to create mesh

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 Create Analysis

Next, create an Analysis file by selecting the Analysis Icon. An

Analysis Dialog Box appears

Select New Name the analysis

The load and constraint sets

appear here. These are
consolidated in the .nas file

Analysis Dialog Box

Analysis Definition Dialog Box

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 Export .nas File

Select the Run Icon; the Run FEM Analysis

dialog box appears
Select MSC/Nastran to
create .nas file

Select Element Shape

Select a Coordinate System

Deselect Axillary Coordinate

system if not needed

Select Output to File option

Run FEM Analysis Dialog Box Select Ok when done

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 Output
A “Plate” folder is automatically created in the “working Directory” that contains the
.nas file along with ancillary files related to the analysis file

That’s it! You now have the capability

To export a CREO Part out of simulate
and use with Pre and post processors
Such as FEMAP, Nastran and Ansys.

In this case, simply select the .nas file, load

into Nastran and solve.

Sample .nas file output

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Author: Norm Lamar

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