presys quick start guide - · pdf fileexisting mcae solver input files into the empty...

PreSys Quick Start Guide

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Inventium PreSys Quick Start Guide

Copyright © 2012 Engineering Technology Associates, Inc.

Inventium and PreSys are both registered trademarks of Engineering

Technology Associates, Inc.

1133 E. Maple Road

Troy, Michigan 48083

USA

www.eta.com

http://www.eta.com/


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Welcome! Thank you for using PreSys, the finite element modeling toolset

for ETA’s Inventium Suite. Inventium’s PreSys delivers a complete set of

geometry construction and editing tools along with an advanced set of

finite element modeling tools for engineers to create simulations models

for many different MCAE solvers.

The name PreSys is inspired by the Greek word Presis, which means

‘development’, and the word Precise. These words are quite relevant to

each of the users of FE software and are part of our daily thoughts and

concerns.

This Quick Start Guide is your first step in learning how to navigate through

the menus of PreSys, how to import and export data, how to configure

your workspace and how to review your simulation results. This Guide will

provide you the basics on these topics – enough to allow someone

familiar with FE modeling software to quickly orient themselves to PreSys

and be ‘up and running’ quickly.

The Guide is divided into 3 sections; A Quick Introduction to the PreSys

User Interface, Starting a New PreSys Model and User Interface

Configuration and Customization.


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A Quick Introduction to the PreSys User Interface The PreSys user interface can be configured by the user, in many different ways, for maximum

flexibility. The default user interface is shown in Figure 1. The main areas of the interface are

labeled, and will be referred to in this Guide.

The TOOLBAR area is located at the top of the window, and contains selectable icons for all of the

commands available in PreSys.

The DROP DOWN MENUs are at the very top of the window allows users to access every command

through an easy to use drop down menu system.

The DISPLAY AREA is where all graphical data is displayed.

The COMMAND WINDOW allows users to directly input commands and execute scripts.

The MESSAGE WINDOW displays information about the model and prompts the user if data is

needed, as well as warning or error messages for the user. The MODEL EXPLORER allows the user to access a great deal of information about the model,

control the display of data, edit the model data and view non-graphical data via ‘card’ images.

Figure 1: Default PreSys User Interface

Display Area

Command Window Message Window

Toolbars Drop Down Menus

Model Explorer


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Starting a New PreSys Model A PreSys model can be created from existing geometry that you import or from data that you

create using PreSys’ geometry creation tools. Also, existing finite element models in various formats

may be imported into PreSys.

Your PreSys installation comes with a sample file that we will use to

quickly demonstrate how to import CAD data, create a mesh, create a

material and element properties, and export that data. Images of the

User Interface will be used to help guide you through this process.

Open a New PreSys Model Database

Select the PreSys icon on your desktop and open the software. Once

PreSys has started, an empty, new model will be opened. A tab will

open in the DISPLAY AREA, and the user may then import CAD or

existing MCAE solver input files into the empty database.

Importing CAD Data PreSys imports many native CAD

formats, using a common interface.

IGES, STEP, CATIA V4 and V5, UG NX,

ProE, SolidWorks and Autodesk DXF file

formats may be both imported and

exported from PreSys.

From the FILE drop-down menu, select

IMPORT. A file selection window will

open. Navigate to the PreSys Examples

folder and selec the IGES file ‘PreSys

Example.igs”. This iges data will be

imported and displayed.

Meshing the CAD Data

From either the PreProcessing drop down

menu or the Mesher Toolbar (see page 9

on displaying toolbars), select the

TOPOLOGY MESH tool. A dialogue will

open in the TASK panel of the MODEL

EXPLORER. This will prompt the user for the

necessary parameters such as meshing

style, mesh size and selection of the

surfaces to be meshed.

OR


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When the command is completed, PreSys will create a mesh on the selected surfaces. Progress

bars will show you when the process is completed.

Creating and Assigning a Material

Now that our mesh is completed, we can create and assign a material property. This is the

mechanical properties of the model. Multiple materials may be created and assigned on a part

level. Users may create/assign/edit materials through either the toolbars, drop down menus or the

Model Explorer. Our example will show these functions though the Model Explorer.

In the Model Explorer, right click on MATERIAL and select CREATE. This can also be performed by

using the Material toolbar, selecting the CREATE icon.

A material parameter interface will be displayed in the TASK panel of the Model Explorer. Here you

can select the material model you wish to use, name your part, and edit the material properties

using the EDIT button.

When the EDIT button is selected, the user will see all of the parameters available for that material

model. Each field can be edited or the available options can be selected.

Select OK to accept any changes and return to the Material TASK panel.

Note: LS-DYNA format shown


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To assign the material to a part in the model, again, right-click on MATERIAL in the Model Explorer.

Select the ASSIGN option. The user can then select the part from the Display Window or from the

part list that will be displayed.

Creating and Assigning an Element Property

The Element Property is the material thickness for shell elements. This applies only to LS-DYNA

models, since the material thickness is identified in the PART definition for NASTRAN models (PSHELL).

The process to create an Element Property is similar to the Material creation. Right-click on

PROPERTY in the Model Explorer and select CREATE from the options shown. In the TASK panel, the

property type may be selected and a name defined. To define the actual material thickness for a

shell, select the EDIT ATTRIBUTES button and a parameter table will be displayed. In the fields T1,T2,

T3, T4 enter a material thickness – for our model it will be 1.5. Select OK to complete the process.

Assigning the property is again accomplished by right-clicking on PROPERTY in the Model Explorer

and selecting the ASSIGN option. Select the part in the

DISPLAY AREA and now the part thickness is assigned.

Note: LS-DYNA format shown


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Exporting a Model

When the modeling process is completed, the model may be exported. Select FILE from the drop

down menu, or by selecting the EXPORT icon from the TOOLBAR. A FILE selection window will be

displayed and the user can select the type of file to be exported and define the file

name/location.

For most modeling projects, you’ll also define constraints and loads, as well as some simulation

parameters such as solution type or simulation time. These are all defined in a manner similar to the

MATERIAL and PROPERTY tasks.


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User Interface Configuration

Many components of the User Interface user may easily adapted to a configuration preferred by

the individual user.

Examples of User Interface Customization:

1. Moving Toolbars – The user may move any toolbar from the ‘docked’ location at the top

of the PreSys window by using the mouse to drag and drop it anywhere on the screen. The

user should select the ‘handle’ using the mouse and release the mouse button where they

would like the toolbar to be located. They may be docked at the edges of the Display

Area, or may float anywhere on the PreSys window or desktop. An example of a floating

toolbar is shown below.

2. Turning ON / OFF Toolbars – the user can add or remove individual toolbars from the user

interface by selecting them from a list of standard toolbars. The user can access this list by

right-clicking the mouse in the toolbar areas at the edge of the Display Window. This is

shown in Figure 3.

3. Toolbars that extend past the PreSys window are shown with a small double arrow.

Clicking on this double arrow will display the hidden icons on that toolbar (Figure 4).

Figure 2: Floating Toolbar

Figure 3: Toolbar ON/OFF Drop-down


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4. The Model Explorer Tabs may also be positioned anywhere on the screen and docked on

the right or left side of the Display Area. This can be done by selecting the handle on the

tab, and

dragging

/dropping it

where

desired. This

is shown in

Figure 5.

5. All PreSys

commands

can be

programme

d as shortcut

keys using

the TOOLS /

CUSTOMIZE

menu at the

top of the

PreSys

window. A

window will

open. Activate the SHORTCUT KEYS tab and select the desired keyboard letters or symbols

to associate with a specific command. The example in Figure 6 shows defining the ‘f’ key

to fill the screen using the

VIEW / FIT command. This

will then be executed

each time the user hits the

‘f’ key.

Figure 5: Floating Model Tree

Figure 4: Extended Toolbar Display

Figure 6: Shortcut Key Definition


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6. The PreSys DISPLAY AREA can be

configured to open multiple models

simultaneously, using a ‘tab’ concept.

There is no limit on how many models

maybe opened at one time. However,

system resources may limit the practical

number of models one may open. To

open multiple models, the selects FILE /

NEW MODEL from the drop down menu.

A new tab will open, where a model

maybe created. To view 2 or more

models side-by-side, the user can right

click the model tab and select the

configuration desired. Note that the

active model will be indicated by a

gold frame around the Display

Window.

7. To create viewports of a model, where there are 2-4 simultaneous views of a single model,

the user may select the VIEWPORT dropdown at the upper right corner of the Display Area.

The user can select the desired viewport configuration from the options shown.

Figure 7: Creating a Multiple Model PreSys Window

Figure 8: Side-by-Side Layout for Multiple Models


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8. PreSys can be configured to work with various MCAE solvers. By default, the model

template will be set to LS-DYNA. To change this default value, the user may go to the

TOOLS drop down menu, and select OPTIONS CENTER. A window with various categories of

options which may be controlled by the user is presented. Select the IMPORT/EXPORT

option and the TEMPLATE SOLVER option contained there. To change the solver template,

select the DEFAULT SOLVER field as shown in Figure 9. Selecting OK will set this as the default

for future models.

The user can find additional customization options by viewing the TOOLS / CUSOTMIZE and

OPTIONS CENTER.

When any of these options discussed here are changed, PreSys saves them in s configuration file

which is loaded each time the user accesses PreSys. You can reset all of the options by going to

the Options Center and selecting RESET, which will reset all options back to the original installation

condition.

Figure 10: Solver Template Selection

Figure 9: Viewport Definition

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