Aerospace Tool Issue

Burner2k

Hi,

I was just trying out Aerospace -> Beams -> Beams from Lines function in HM.

 

The part is a curved C-Channel which has a slight joggle in one of its flange. I wish to represent the flanges using CBAR/CBEAM elements while the web will be represented by CQUAD elements. Like the tutorials mentioned, I first meshed the web using CQUAD elements. Since my beam is curved, I created a cylindrical coord as well.

 

I populated the selection window per my understanding based on a HW 14 Aerospace webinar and as can be seen below, the results are not what I expected. The picture below shows me selecting just 1 line but I did select lines representing the top & bottom flanges in my previous attempt.

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

Where am I going wrong? Hoping to get a hang on this function so that I can reduce the time on creating beam elements manually.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Q.Nguyen-Dai

Altair Forum User said:

Hi,

I was just trying out Aerospace -> Beams -> Beams from Lines function in HM.

 

The part is a curved C-Channel which has a slight joggle in one of its flange. I wish to represent the flanges using CBAR/CBEAM elements while the web will be represented by CQUAD elements. Like the tutorials mentioned, I first meshed the web using CQUAD elements. Since my beam is curved, I created a cylindrical coord as well.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

My question: why you choose different modelization for flange & web? How do you do to 'link' between them?

Altair Forum User

Altair Forum User said:

Hi,

I was just trying out Aerospace -> Beams -> Beams from Lines function in HM.

 

The part is a curved C-Channel which has a slight joggle in one of its flange. I wish to represent the flanges using CBAR/CBEAM elements while the web will be represented by CQUAD elements. Like the tutorials mentioned, I first meshed the web using CQUAD elements. Since my beam is curved, I created a cylindrical coord as well.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

I populated the selection window per my understanding based on a HW 14 Aerospace webinar and as can be seen below, the results are not what I expected. The picture below shows me selecting just 1 line but I did select lines representing the top & bottom flanges in my previous attempt.

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

Where am I going wrong? Hoping to get a hang on this function so that I can reduce the time on creating beam elements manually.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Hi,

 

Can you point me to the webinar your talking about?

Burner2k

Prakash,

This is the webinar: http://web2.altairhyperworks.com/hw14-model-build-webinar

 

Also, both in the webinar & in the tutorial, they chose an aircraft fuselage to demonstrate tool functionality. I am assuming that tool can work for applications other for typical structures like fuselage only!

 

Q.Nguyen-Dai, one of the ways to typically represent aircraft structures is to model flanges using CROD or CBEAM/CBAR elements & web by CQUAD elements. This type of rep is used in GFEM models and are typically used to calculate internal loads in various structures before doing a Detailed FEM for stressing purposes. I don't understand what you mean by linking. If you taking about connectivity, the 1D elements will be created along the edges of 2D elements. I've attached a picture of such representation of a stiffened panel.

 

Q.Nguyen-Dai

Altair Forum User said:

Hi,

I was just trying out Aerospace -> Beams -> Beams from Lines function in HM.

 

The part is a curved C-Channel which has a slight joggle in one of its flange. I wish to represent the flanges using CBAR/CBEAM elements while the web will be represented by CQUAD elements. Like the tutorials mentioned, I first meshed the web using CQUAD elements. Since my beam is curved, I created a cylindrical coord as well.

 

 

I populated the selection window per my understanding based on a HW 14 Aerospace webinar and as can be seen below, the results are not what I expected. The picture below shows me selecting just 1 line but I did select lines representing the top & bottom flanges in my previous attempt.

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

Where am I going wrong? Hoping to get a hang on this function so that I can reduce the time on creating beam elements manually.

 

 

I think you have some issue with flange part:

• Check section orientation of CBEAM
• Maybe you have to play with 'offset' to define C-Channel correctly. Without section offset, you model becomes T-Channel.

tinh

In HM help, it says y-axis of section is aligned with shell normals, so please try swapping DIM1 and DIM2 value of bar-section

Altair Forum User

Can you try with a different orientation?

Burner2k

OK. I will try changing the DIM1 & DIM2. Thanks Tinh. 

Burner2k

Tinh & others, it kinda worked when I swapped Dim1 & Dim2 dimensions. The tool set the offset on the wrong side of the flange but I reckon, it can be updated manually or I just need to adjust shell orientation.