Accessing the FEM and Results

The spreadsheet is devoted to the management of finite element model and finite element Results. Several buttons can be used:

The two buttons “Show/Hide FeResPost” and “Close FeResPost” work exactly as in “LaminateAnalysis.xlsm” workbook. (See section VII.2.3.)
Button “Select Bdf File” is used to select the BDF file from which the finite element model shall be read.
Button “Select Ses File” is used to select the Patran Session file from which the definition of Groups shall be read.
Button “ReadModel” performs several operations:
1.
If necessary the COM component is loaded and the FeResPost application is loaded.
2.
A “NastranDb” object is created.
3.
The BDF file previously selected is imported as model into the DataBase.
4.
The Groups are initialized by reading the Patran Session File previously selected.
5.
After the importation of model and Groups, the list of Groups and coordinate systems present in the DataBase are saved in the two first columns in the spreadsheet.
Button “Select Xdb File” is used to select the Nastran XDB Result file that shall be read.
Button “ScanXdb” scans the content of the previously selected XDB Result file and updates the lists of load cases, sub-cases and Result types in columns C, D and E.
Button “exportGroups” can be used to export Groups from the current DataBase in a Patran session file. This is useful only if the Groups have been manipulated in the “GroupEdit” worksheet. (Section VII.3.3.)

Note that the reading of a model and Results must be performed before using the other spreadsheets.