Adams Advanced Package > ViewFlex > ViewFlex > ViewFlex Files > ViewFlex Input Files

ViewFlex Input Files

ViewFlex stores information about the flexible bodies it creates in input files, called AFI files. The content of the AFI files is different depending on whether or not the flexible body was created using the Flexible Body Definition Methods (extrusion, solid, or import mesh method).

You can load AFI files directly into ViewFlex, and you can export them to finite element analysis (FEA) Programs as explained in Exporting ViewFlex Meshes.

MDI_HEADER Block

Stores all the information about file type and version used for filtering in loading operations:

[MDI_HEADER]
FILE_TYPE = 'afi' FILE_VERSION = 8.0
FILE_FORMAT = 'ASCII'

UNIT S Block

Stores all basic units used to generate the model in the current ViewFlex input (AFI) file. Data from this block compares units in the file with units in the current model so that a conversion factor can eventually be applied.

[UNITS]

LENGTH = 'mm'

ANGLE = 'degrees'

FORCE = 'newton'

MASS = 'kg'

TIME = 'second'

MODEL Block

Stores information about the input model. Only Adams Solver uses the data. No other values are allowed.

[MODEL]

TYPE = 'STD'

FORMAT = 'STD'

MODE = 1

ANALYSIS Block

Stores information about the FE analysis to execute. The first parameter is the analysis type: any one of MODAL, MODAL_STRESS, MODAL_STRAIN or MODAL_STRESS_STRAIN and the second parameter is the number of first natural modes to be evaluated.

Examples of ANALYSIS Block:

[ANALYSIS]

TYPE = 'MODAL' MODES = 6

[ANALYSIS]

TYPE = 'MODAL_STRESS' MODES = 6

[ANALYSIS]

TYPE = 'MODAL_STRESS_STRAIN' MODES = 6

GEOMETRY Block

Stores information about input geometry to mesh. The table below explains the options and their parameters.

GEOMETRY_TYPE

■EXTRUSION for Extrusion Method

■PARASOLID for Geometry Method based on Parasolid geometry

■MDI_SHELL for geometry method based on Adams View shell geometry

■BDF for Import Mesh Method method from NASTRAN mesh

■UNIVERSAL for import mesh method from I_DEAS mesh

GEOMETRY_FORMAT

■ANALYTIC for extrusion method

■FILE for solid method

Extrusion method parameters:

SECTON_TYPE

Can assume two different values: generic or elliptical. If generic, SECTION_CLOSED parameter is present and can assume two different values: YES or NO.

SECTION_INTERP

Interpolation method used to join the points defining the section profile. Options are linear, cubic, or none. It is used only for generic section.

CENTERLINE_INTERP

Interpolation method used to join the points defining the extrusion path centerline. Options are linear, cubic, or none.

SECTION_ORIENT

Only standard option available.

Geometry method parameters:

GEOMETRY_FILE

The geometry file used as input for the meshing tools.

ADVANCED

Other parameters represent mesh rotation and translation in comparison to the original geometry. These parameters are the advanced options for the solid-meshing method. For more information, see Creating Flexible Bodies from Existing Solid Geometry. If the option is not required, all values are set to 0.0.

Import mesh method parameters:

GEOMETRY_FILE

The geometry file used as input for the meshing tools.

Other

Other parameters are not used, and all values are set to 0.0.

MODEL Block for Extrusion Method: Generic Section

$--------------------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY]

GEOMETRY_TYPE = 'EXTRUSION'
GEOMETRY_FORMAT = 'ANALYTIC'
SECTION_TYPE = 'generic'
SECTION_INTERP = 'linear'
SECTION_CLOSED = 'yes'
CENTERLINE_INTERP = 'cubic'
SECTION_ORIENT = 'std'

MODEL Block for Extrusion Method: Elliptical Section

$---------------------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY]

GEOMETRY_TYPE = 'EXTRUSION'

GEOMETRY_FORMAT = 'ANALYTIC'

SECTION_TYPE = 'elliptical'

SECTION_INTERP = 'linear'

CENTERLINE_INTERP = 'linear'

SECTION_ORIENT = 'std'

GEOMETRY Block for Geometry Method

$--------------------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY]

GEOMETRY_TYPE = 'PARASOLID'
GEOMETRY_FORMAT = 'FILE'
GEOMETRY_FILE = 'PART_2_flex.x_t'

GEOMETRY_TRA_X = 0.0

GEOMETRY_TRA_Y = 0.0

GEOMETRY_TRA_Z = 0.0

GEOMETRY_ROT_X = 0.0

GEOMETRY_ROT_Y = 0.0

GEOMETRY_ROT_Z = 0.0

GEOMETRY Block for Import Mesh Method

$---------------------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY]

GEOMETRY_TYPE = 'BDF'

GEOMETRY_FORMAT = 'FILE'

GEOMETRY_FILE = 'input_example.bdf'

GEOMETRY_TRA_X = 0.0

GEOMETRY_TRA_Y = 0.0

GEOMETRY_TRA_Z = 0.0

GEOMETRY_ROT_X = 0.0

GEOMETRY_ROT_Y = 0.0

GEOMETRY_ROT_Z = 0.0

GEOMETRY SECTION Block

Only valid in the extrusion method.

For generic section, requested values are the sequence of points defining the section. For elliptical section, only ellipse semi-axis lengths are required. These values are applied along the x- and y-axes of the coordinate reference defining the extrusion path centerline.

Examples of GEOMETRY SECTION Block

$--------------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_SECTION [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_SECTION]

{ x y }

-50.0 55.0

50.0 50.0

55.0 -30.0

-30.0 -40.0

$--------------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_SECTION [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_SECTION]

X_AXIS = 10.0

Y_AXIS = 10.0

GEOMETRY CENTERLINE/PROPS Blocks

Only for the Extrusion Method.

Stores all the data about the coordinate reference defining the extrusion path centerline.

GEOMETRY CENTERLINE Block

$----------------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_CENTERLINE [MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_CENTERLINE]

{x y z e1 e2 e3}

-450.0 250.0 0.0 90.0 90.0 270.0

GEOMETRY CENTERLINE PROPS Block

$-----------------------------------MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_CENTERLINE_PROPS

[MODEL_1_GEOMETRY_CENTERLINE_PROPS]

{sc_x sc_y max_x max_y thickness}

1.0 1.0 -1.0 -1.0 -1.0

MESH Block

Stores information on the mesh to create.

Complete description of allowed element properties in extrusion method. Complete description of allowed element properties in solid method. Allowable ELEMENT_TYPE are:

■SHELL_TRIA: Triangular shell elements for solid method

■SOLID_TETRA: Tetrahedral solid elements for solid method

■SHELL_QUAD: Quadrilateral shell elements for extrusion method

■SOLID_HEXA: Hexahedral solid elements for extrusion method

The SAVE_MESH option is used to save mesh data in an external geometry file, named in the MESH_FILE string.

[MODEL_1_MESH]

ELEMENT_TYPE = 'SHELL_QUAD' ELEMENT_ORDER = 'LINEAR' ELEMENT_SIZE_CALC = 'NO' ELEMENT_SIZE_SCALE = 0.01

ELEMENT_SIZE = 20.0

ELEMENT_MINSIZE = 0.1

ELEMENT_MINANGLE = 20.0

ELEMENT_SPANANGLE = 30.0

ELEMENT_GROWTHRATE = 2.0

ELEMENT_MINSIZE_SCALE = 0.1

SAVE_MESH = 'no'

MESH_FILE = 'Flexible_Body_1.mnf'

MATERIAL Block

Stores all fundamental material data to evaluate the flexibility properties of the body to be generated. Also stores the thickness value. In shell meshing, you supply this value and define shell thickness. In solid meshing, a default value is provided, which is ignored in mesh definition.

[MODEL_1_MATERIAL] THICKNESS = 5.0

YOUNG = 207000.0

POISSON = 0.29

DENSITY = 0.000007801

ATTACHMENT GEOM Block

Stores information on attachment points and the identification number and location of the secondary nodes.

The data is ordered in the block as follows:

ID

■If > 0, then mesh node ID number

■If = 0, identifies data about Parasolid feature

Type

Either:

■If method of selecting nodes is by picking nodes or by spherical or cylindrical scanning, then 1 for primary attachment point, 2 for location on flexible body mesh.

■If method of selecting nodes is by using Parasolid features, then 10 for vertex type, 11 for edge type, 12 for face type (i).

x,y,z

For mesh node, absolute coordinates, identifying node locations in space; for Parasolid feature: ID of Parasolid feature, unused value, unused value

Group

Primary node group ID to which the secondary node belongs; 0 for primary nodes.

Examples of ATTACHMENT GEOM Block

$---------------------------------------------MODEL_1_ATTACHMENT_GEOM [MODEL_1_ATTACHMENT_GEOM]

{id type x y z group}
1659.0 1.0 -450.0 100.0 0.0 0.0
1660.0 1.0 -500.0 250.0 0.0 0.0
1661.0 1.0 -250.0 300.0 0.0 0.0
388.0 2.0 -441.5 458068848 172.5 13.75 1.0
334.0 2.0 -372.8383789063 172.5 -13.75 1.0
337.0 2.0 -321.6791992188 172.5 -13.75 1.0
379.0 2.0 -304.1297607422 172.5 13.75 1.0
32.0 2.0 -422.8897094727 227.5 -0.3684675097 2.0
112.0 2.0 -366.4869689941 227.5 -0.0018377956 2.0
299.0 2.0 -302.9289245605 227.5 -13.75 2.0
164.0 2.0 -272.3932800293 227.5 0.0 2.0
167.0 2.0 -95.289894104 227.5 0.0 3.0
169.0 2.0 -174.141708374 227.5 0.0 3.0

$---------------------------------------------MODEL_1_ATTACHMENT_GEOM [MODEL_1_ATTACHMENT_GEOM]

{id type x y z group}
1247.0 1.0 -450.0 -50.0 0.0 0.0
0.0 11.0 11.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

ATTACHMENT MAP Block

Stores information about attachment points, degree-of-freedom (DOFs) map, and connections between attachment points and mesh.

Data are ordered in the block as follows:

ID

Identification number of the node associated with the attachment point.

tx,ty,tz,rx,ry,rz

Six real values representing the single DOF status for the attachment point. Allowed values are:

■1 - Constrained DOF

■0 - Released DOF

Connect

Element type connected with the attachment point. The only allowed mesh value is 1, meaning connection with location node on mesh

Link

Connection type between attachment point and mesh. Allowed values are:

1 - Rigid connection (RBE2-like element)

2 - Average connection (RBE3-like element)

Params

Method to define attachment locations connected to the attachment point. The unique allowable value is 3, followed by:

Group

Row position of the primary node.

ATTACHMENT MAP Block for Solid Method

[MODEL_1_ATTACHMENT_MAP]

{id tx ty tz rx ry rz connect link params group}
1659.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 1.0
1660.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 2.0
1661.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 3.0

AVIEW DATA Block

Stores data used by interface, not by routine for modal analysis.

The parameters are:

■MATERIAL: Name of the material whose properties are applied to the flexible body.

■STRESS_LAYER: In the case of stress/strain analysis, definition of layer on which the stress/strain is evaluated (TOP, MIDDLE, BOTTOM).

AVIEW DATA Block for Solid Method

[AVIEW_DATA]

MATERIAL = 'steel'

STRESS_LAYER = 'TOP'

AVIEW ATTACHMENT Block

Stores data about the attachment points, used by the interface to check the matching of data in the ViewFlex input (AFI) file and in current model data, when the AFI file is loaded into Adams View.

The parameters are the names of the coordinate references used to define the attachment points.

AVIEW ATTACHMENT Block

[AVIEW_ATTACHMENTS]

{ attachments_reference_name } MARKER_3

Note:

The template-based products create equivalent blocks (ACAR DATA, ACAR ATTACHMENTS, ACAR CENTERLINE).

AVIEW CENTERLINE Block

Only for the Extrusion Method.

The block exists only if all centerline points have been defined by selecting an existing coordinate reference frame. The block stores the names of the selected references.

It is used mainly for centerline parameterization.

AVIEW CENTERLINE Block

[AVIEW_CENTERLINE]

{ points_reference_name }
MARKER_1

MARKER_2

MARKER_7

Note:

The template-based products create equivalent blocks (ACAR DATA, ACAR ATTACHMENTS, ACAR CENTERLINE).

ACAR DATA block also has the following parameters:

TEMPLALATE: Name of the template (model) to which the AFI file is related.

TYPE: Flexible Body Type: left right single

ACAR DATA Block

[ACAR_DATA]

MATERIAL = 'steel'

STRESS_LAYER = 'TOP'

TEMPLATE