Test several models with the same conditions?

General Questions
1

I want to compare the effects of geometric changes on a test. They’re all the same material, and they’re all loaded the same. For example’s-sake, let’s say it’s a round tube with one end fixed and the other has a offset force that tries to buckle and bend the rod (using a reference point and surface traction). Then I want to vary the inside and outside diameters and re-run the test.

Is there an efficient way to set up 6-10 analyses this way? Can I just swap one model for another or is it the same amount of work as just creating 6-10 separate analysis files?

2

Yes, you can use the Edit → Regenerate Using Other Files option to swap the geometry without having to redefine everything.

1 Like
3

Thank you, that works well.

I was worried the reference point traction wouldn’t find the same surfaces in the updated part, but it seems to have no problem. I’ve done several of them already and haven’t had any issues.

4

I Regenerated using new (but very similar) STEP files probably 15 times in the last day. It worked on all but 2 cases. Those times PrePoMax confused which surfaces had applied loads or were fixed. I was able to re-assign them easily, but I’d have been annoyed if I’d had to do that every time.

Conclusion: this works quite well and can greatly speed up comparison testing. But you also must pay attention that your loading and boundary conditions remain correct. Mistakes are uncommon, but they do happen.

5

Grat. PrePoMax saves the 3D location of the point selected and the part ID of the created selection. So if you know how your model will change, clicking on the correct location in space when creating the selection might help.

Usually, it is also better to use node sets, element sets, and surface definitions since it is easier to fix the failed selections.

The geometry of the part can also be replaced by importing the new geometry, selecting old and new geometry at the same time, right-clicking the selection, selecting Swap Part Geometries, and meshing the new geometry.

6

Matej, can be implemented some kind of identification of the color in the step model to apply bc? For example in CAD one could define some surfaces in some color to the fixed locations, other for loads, other for mesh refinement, and then automate the analysis in some way.

7

This would be very hard since color can be prescribed per assembly, per part, per surface and it is sometimes not recognised correctly.

A better way is to use regenerate.

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