Altair HyperMesh

Interfacing with nSOFT

Version 5.1
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nSOFT Translation Overview
This section describes the HyperMesh nSOFT interface. HyperMesh allows you to write a partial
FES file for fatigue analysis using nSOFT. Both the ASCII and binary formats of the FES file are
supported. Currently, only stress and strain results from NASTRAN and ABAQUS can be exported to
nSOFT via the fatigue panel.

See Also

fatigue panel in panels on-line help

Guidelines for using the nSOFT Interface

Follow these steps when using the nSOFT interface:
1. Load the finite element model of the structure or component to be analyzed.
2. Apply the loads that represent the loading environment for which the fatigue life is to be
evaluated.
These loads can be static loads for a static finite element analysis with load histories supplied in
nSOFT. The stress and strain tensor for each static loadcase can then be written for nSOFT from
the fatigue panel. Or, the loads can be transient loads that can be analyzed with a transient
dynamic finite element analysis. The stress and strain tensor for each time-step can then be
exported to nSOFT via the fatigue panel.
3. Analyze the model using the NASTRAN or ABAQUS finite element solver.
4. Translate the finite element analysis results into the HyperMesh format (hmres) using the
appropriate HyperMesh translator.
5. Select this hmres file in the global panel to make the results available in the fatigue panel.
6. In the fatigue panel, select the stress/strain data types, and the finite element entities for which
these data types should be written. Write out an FES file in ASCII or binary format.
7. Read the FES file into nSOFT to complete the fatigue analysis setup, which can include supplying
load histories and fatigue material properties, and selecting the analysis method.
8. Conduct an analysis in nSOFT to generate the HyperMesh results file (hmres) containing the
fatigue analysis results.
9. Load this results file into HyperMesh and use the contour panel to view the fatigue results
generated by nSOFT.

Data Groups
Data groups represent the stress and strain tensors for each finite element entity. nSOFT requires
that a six-component tensor be supplied for each node or element.
The components of the tensor include:
• Normal stress/strain along X
• Normal stress/strain along Y
• Normal stress/strain along Z
• Shear stress/strain XY
• Shear stress/strain YZ

Altair Engineering Interfacing with nSOFT 1

• Shear stress/strain XZ
The fatigue panel identifies the stress and strain tensor information available in the HyperMesh
results files generated with the NASTRAN or ABAQUS solver. The data types representing the
stress and strain tensors are grouped into data groups, which allow you to make only one selection to
write the necessary tensors to the FES file. When a particular data group is selected, HyperMesh
exports all associated data types to the FES file.
Select one of the following to view the data groups for the HyperMesh results files generated with the
hmnast or hmabaqus results translators.
• Data groups for hmabaqus results files
• Data groups for hmnast results files

Data Groups for hmnast Results Files

The fatigue panel identifies data types associated with nodes or element centroids if they are
available in the HyperMesh results file. The analysis deck for NASTRAN must contain the
appropriate output requests in the Case Control Section to ensure that correct stress and strain
components are recovered in the analysis. Please see NASTRAN Results Translation to select the
options for translating these data types into the HyperMesh results file.

Data Group hmnast Data Type

Stress at Z1 Normal Stress X at Z1
Normal Stress Y at Z1
Shear Stress XY at Z1
Stress at Z2 Normal Stress X at Z2
Normal Stress Y at Z2
Shear Stress XY at Z2
Stress (solids) Normal Stress X (solids)
Normal Stress Y (solids)
Normal Stress Z (solids)
Shear Stress XY (solids)
Shear Stress YZ (solids)
Shear Stress XZ (solids)
Strain at Z1 Normal Strain X at Z1
Normal Strain Y at Z1
Shear Strain XY at Z1
Strain at Z2 Normal Strain X at Z2
Normal Strain Y at Z2
Shear Strain XY at Z2
Strain (solids) Normal Strain X (solids)
Normal Strain Y (solids)

2 Interfacing with nSOFT Altair Engineering

 Normal Strain Z (solids)
Shear Strain XY (solids)
Shear Strain YZ (solids)
Shear Strain XZ (solids)

Data Groups for hmabaqus Results Files

The analysis deck for ABAQUS must contain the appropriate output requests to ensure that the
correct stress and strain components are recovered in the analysis. Please see ABAQUS Results
Translation to select the options for translating these data types into the HyperMesh results file.

Data Group hmabaqus Data Type

Stress TOP SURFACE (Nodal) Local Stress 11 (1) (N)
Local Stress 22 (1) (N)
Local Stress 12 (1) (N)
Stress BOTTOM SURFACE (Nodal) Local Stress 11 (n) (N)
n = number of integration points specified Local Stress 22 (n) (N)
for SHELL SECTION in ABAQUS
Local Stress 12 (n) (N)
Stress TOP SURFACE (Elemental) Local Stress 11 (1)
Local Stress 22 (1)
Local Stress 12 (1)
Stress BOTTOM SURFACE (Elemental) Local Stress 11 (n)
n = number of integration points specified Local Stress 22 (n)
for SHELL SECTION in ABAQUS
Local Stress 12 (n)
Stress (SOLIDS) (Nodal) Stress XX (N)
Stress YY (N)
Stress ZZ (N)
Stress XY (N)
Stress YZ (N)
Stress XZ (N)
Stress (SOLIDS) (Elemental) Stress XX
Stress YY
Stress ZZ
Stress XY
Stress YZ

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 Stress XZ
Strain TOP SURFACE (Nodal) Local Strain 11 (1) (N)
Local Strain 22 (1) (N)
Local Strain 12 (1) (N)
Strain BOTTOM SURF (Nodal) Local Strain 11 (n) (N)
n = number of integration points specified Local Strain 22 (n) (N)
for SHELL SECTION in ABAQUS
Local Strain 12 (n) (N)
Strain TOP SURFACE (Elemental) Local Strain 11 (1)
Local Strain 22 (1)
Local Strain 12 (1)
Strain BOTTOM SURF (Elemental) Local Strain 11 (n)
n = number of integration points specified Local Strain 22 (n)
for SHELL SECTION in ABAQUS
Local Strain 12 (n)
Strain (SOLIDS) (Nodal) Strain XX (N)
Strain YY (N)
Strain ZZ (N)
Strain XY (N)
Strain YZ (N)
Strain XZ (N)
Strain (SOLIDS) (Elemental) Strain XX
Strain YY
Strain ZZ
Strain XY
Strain YZ
Strain XZ

4 Interfacing with nSOFT Altair Engineering