BDF Import
As mentioned above, the basis for an Adams nonlinear flexible body is a SOL400-legal BDF. Subject to some limitations, the BDF used to create an MNF can be used as the source file for the nonlinear flexible body. See "Appendix I: Using a BDF from which an MNF was Generated" for more details. When you create a nonlinear flexible body in Adams View you are specifying the BDF upon which it is to be based. Adams View reads the BDF and if it does not contain units data, then the user must specify it. If the BDF units differ from those of the Adams model, Adams View will scale the geometry and mass properties appropriately in session; however, it does not edit the values within the BDF to reflect the Adams model units. Upon import Adams View generates the flexible body including geometry representing the nodes and elements in the BDF. It will locate the node and element geometry based on the coordinates defined in the BDF relative to the Adams model origin or relative to some offset from the model origin defined by the user in the flexible body creation dialog. For complete details on the options in the flexible body creation dialog please the Create a Flexible Body dialog box help. This flexible body creation dialog is launched in Adams View from the Create a Flexible Body button within the "Flexible Bodies" container of the "Bodies" tab in the ribbon:
Once created one can also move the nonlinear flexible body later just like any element in Adams View using the Precision Move dialog box, the various move utilities on the standard toolbar or the nonlinear flexible body's modify dialog itself.
Notes: | Regarding BDF Import: ■On initial import into Adams View or Adams Car the BDF is read and, behind the scenes, the Adams NLFE Service creates a database of the mesh geometry so that it can be displayed. This make take a few minutes, especially for large BDF's (~1 million nodes). ■Additional processing time is necessary and will cause a delay in Adams View operation when the one transforms the location of the flex body based on the center of mass (CM), performs List Information on the nonlinear flexibly body, or performs a model Verify. These operations require additional information such as mass and stiffness properties to be calculated for the nonlinear flexible body behind the scenes by the Adams NLFE Service. ■Abaqus input files can be converted to MSC Nastran SOL400 BDF's via the Adams Flex Toolkit's ABQ2NAS command. |