FEMAP What's New 9.0

What’s New in FEMAP
FEMAP 10.0 and 10.0.1 include enhancements and new features in:
“User Interface” on page 3
“Meshing” on page 23
“Mesh Associativity” on page 33
“Properties” on page 33
“Functions” on page 35
“Loads and Constraints” on page 35
“Connections (Connection Properties, Regions, and Connectors)” on page 35
“Geometry” on page 36
“Groups and Layers” on page 42
“Views” on page 42
“Output and Post-Processing” on page 43
“Geometry Interfaces” on page 47
“Analysis Program Interfaces” on page 48
“Tools” on page 50
“OLE/COM API” on page 51
“Preferences” on page 53
FEMAP 9.3.1 includes enhancements and new features in:
“User Interface” on page 57
“Meshing” on page 58
“Layups” on page 60
“Geometry” on page 62
“Groups and Layers” on page 62
“Geometry Interfaces” on page 62
“Analysis Program Interfaces” on page 62
“Tools” on page 63
“OLE/COM API” on page 63
“Preferences” on page 64

10.0-2
Finite Element Modeling

What’s New for versions 10.0 and 10.0.1 10.0-3
What’s New for versions 10.0 and
10.0.1
User Interface
"Windows Vista", "General", "Menu", "Entity Select", "Toolbars", "Meshing Toolbox", "Model Info tree", "Data
Table", "Entity Editor", "API Programming", "Status Bar", "Graphics", "Astroid"
Windows Vista
General
FEMAP is now supported on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista.
Many issues from previous “unsupported” versions of FEMAP with regards to Windows Vista, such as entity picking
and proper use of the Model Info tree have been addressed.
• Renamed Weld Property Element/Property Type to Weld/Fastener to include Fastener Elements
• Added support to create GIF, Animated GIF, TIFF, and PNG files when using File, Picture, Save command.
• Improved length-based spacing, distance along, and other length-based curve functions to perform better when
highly nonlinear parametric domains exist on curves.
Menu
• Added Tools, Meshing Toolbox command to the Tools menu. See the Meshing section for more information on
this dockable pane.
• Added Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Split at Locations; Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Offset Curve/
Washer; Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Pad; Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Point to Point; Geometry,
Curve - From Surface, Point to Edge; and Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Edge to Edge commands to Geometry
menu. See the Geometry section for more information on these commands.
• Deleted Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Split at Points. See the Geometry section for more information on
these commands. Replaced by Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Split at Locations.
• Added Geometry, Surface, NonManifold Add and Geometry, Surface, Recover Manifold Geometry commands
to the Geometry menu. See the Geometry section for more information on these commands.
• Added Geometry, Midsurface, Offset Tangent Surfaces command to the Geometry menu. See the Geometry
section for more information on this command.
• Added Modify, Associativity, Automatic command to the Modify menu. See the Mesh Associativity section for
more information on this command.
• Added Modify, Update Other, Solid Facetting command to the Modify menu.
Entity Select
• Added “Combined Curves” options (Default, All Points/Curves, Points/Curves Eliminated by Combined
Curves, and Combined Curves Only) to the Pick Menu in the standard Entity Selection dialog box. Only one
mode can be selected at any given time.
• Added “Boundary Surfaces” options (Default, All Curves/Surfaces, Curves/Surfaces Eliminated by Boundary,
and Boundary Surfaces Only) to the Pick Menu in the standard Entity Selection dialog box. Only one mode can
be selected at any given time.

10.0-4
Finite Element Modeling
Toolbars
• Added “Add Connected Fillets” option to the Pick Menu in the standard Entity Selection dialog box. Allows
you to quickly add “connected fillets” to the selection list by first choosing any number of surfaces which represent
fillets in your geometry. This is a helpful picking tool when using Geometry, Solid, Remove Face or the
Feature Removal Tool set to “Surfaces” in the Meshing Toolbox to try and remove fillets from geometry. Only
visible when selecting surfaces.
• Added “Add Tangent Surfaces” option to the Pick Menu in the standard Entity Selection dialog box. Allows
you to add surfaces based on their relationship to surfaces which have already been selected. In this case, surfaces
“tangent” to any number of surfaces already in your selection list will be added to the list. This is a helpful
command when you would like to pick all of the surfaces on “one side” of a part. Only visible when selecting
surfaces.
• Updated direction of mouse wheel for Query Pick list to follow direction of mouse wheel.
• Added Meshing Toolbox icon to Panes Toolbar.
• Added Curve Washer, Curve Pad, Split Between Points, Split Point to Edge, and Split Edge to Edge icons to
Curves on Surface Toolbar.
• Improved Select Related mode of the Select Toolbar to include coordinate systems used as definition coordinate
systems for other selected Coordinate Systems and include reference nodes on beams when the nodes are
related to elements, properties, or materials.
Meshing Toolbox
The Meshing Toolbox is completely new for FEMAP 10 and contains several individual tools which can be very
helpful during the meshing process. There are tools which allow you to simplify geometry; create “combined” geometric
entities for meshing purposes using several “underlying” geometric entities; change the mesh size, biasing,
and other options on any number of curves interactively; move any number of nodes dynamically while seeing the
mesh update; and plot the element quality in the graphics window.
The Meshing Toolbox also contains the Entity Locator, which can be used to locate Curves or Surfaces in your
model which meet certain search criteria (for example, “short” curves or “sliver” surfaces which may cause problems
during meshing). Once the “Locator” identifies entities, you can then cycle through all of the located entities
in the model one at a time and take action using the Geometry Tools in the Meshing Toolbox, when appropriate.
Meshing Toolbox Icons
Mesh Quality Toggle Select Entity
Entity Locator
Remesh Modes Dialog Select
Toggle Tools
Toggle Tools menu - By default, all 7 of the “tools”
will be visible in the Meshing Toolbox.
Using the drop-down menu from this icon, you can
make all of the tools visible or hidden at once using
“Toggle All Tools”, individually toggle them on and off
by choosing the individual “tool name” (for example,
Feature Suppression) from the menu, or decide to
show only one “set” of tools at a time by selecting the
appropriate “tool set name” (for example, Geometry
Tools). When a tool is visible, there will be a check
mark next to it in the list.
Here is a short description of each “set” of tools:
Geometry Tools
• Feature Suppression - Basically, this tool allows you to use the same options available in the Mesh, Mesh Control,
Feature Suppression command interactively. You may suppress loops (curves of internal holes on surfaces
and solids, “base curves” of bosses and extrusions on solids), curves (usually relatively small in size), and surfaces
(usually sliver surfaces, not fillets or chamfers). Suppressed geometry still exists in the model and can be
“restored” at any time. See "Feature Suppression Tool"

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-5
• Feature Removal - Most of the functionality in this tool, which is used to permanently remove geometric entities
to simplify geometry, is offered in other FEMAP commands. This tool brings them together in one place
where they can be used interactively. Removing “Loops” basically mimics the functionality of the Geometry,
Surface, Remove Hole command, while removing “Surfaces” essentially uses the same process as Geometry,
Solid, Remove Face. Finally, removing “Curves” uses portions of the Geometry, Solid, Cleanup command
along some other methodology to try and remove redundant curves. In the case of “Aggressive Removal”,
localized geometry around the selected curve may be slightly altered to accommodate the curve no longer being
part of the geometry. See "Feature Removal Tool"
• Combined/Composite Curves - In some cases, combining several smaller curves along the edge of a surface
will allow you to create a higher quality mesh on the surface. This tool allows you to combine curves by choosing
the curves themselves or a point that two curves share. A “Composite Curve” will be created in FEMAP,
which will be used for mesh sizing purposes instead of the underlying curves. There are also options for splitting
a “composite curve” at a selected point or removing any of the underlying curves. See "Combined/Composite
Curve Tool"
• Combined/Boundary Surfaces - Much like creating “composite curves” to improve mesh quality, it may be a
good idea to combine several surfaces into a “Boundary Surface”. This tool uses the same concept as the Geometry,
Boundary Surface, From Surfaces on Solid command. This can be especially helpful when there are “sliver
surfaces” next to a much larger surface. By combining the selected surfaces into one “boundary surface”, all of
the internal curves can be ignored during the meshing process. “Boundary surfaces” can be created by selecting
a curve shared by multiple surfaces or choosing the surfaces themselves. Also, any underlying surface can be
removed from a boundary surface or “split” along a chosen curve. See "Combined/Boundary Surface Tool"
Meshing Tools
• Mesh Sizing - Combines the options used to set mesh sizing and node spacing on curves (Mesh, Mesh Control,
Size on Curve) with the “Add, Subtract, and Set To” functionality of the Mesh, Mesh Control, Interactive command.
When using the Auto Remesh option in the Meshing Toolbox you will be able to see the mesh update “on
the fly” after each change to sizing or node spacing, while you also monitor the element quality update (Mesh
Quality Toggle “On”). There are also options for matching any number of selected curves to a “Master Curve”,
as well as setting biasing and length based sizing without changing the number of elements on the curve. See
"Mesh Sizing Tool"
Mesh Editing Tools
• Mesh Locate - There may be times when you would like to make small changes to an existing mesh simply by
moving one or several nodes without changing the number of elements. This tool will allow you to do this while
making sure that as you move the node or nodes dynamically, they remain attached to specified solid(s), surface(s),
and curve(s), or if you have no geometry, follow the overall topology of the selected standalone mesh.
There are also options to move the selected nodes by a defined amount, continually smooth the mesh as the
nodes are moved, and allow the moved nodes to no longer be attached to surfaces or curves. Much like the
Mesh Sizing tool, you can also turn on the Mesh Quality Toggle and monitor the element quality “real time” as
the nodes are moved. See "Mesh Locate Tool"
• Mesh Quality - Creating a mesh with high quality elements is essential to the accuracy of a Finite Element
model. When the Mesh Quality Toggle in the Meshing Toolbox is set to “on”, this tool allows you to graphically
see an element quality value plotted on each element similar to a contour/criteria plot. There are several different
element quality types which can be selected and each type has default automatic values, but user-defined
values can also be specified. Also, the minimum and maximum distortion values for the specified “quality type”
are listed in the bottom fields of the tool. See "Mesh Quality"
Entity Locator menu - The Entity Locator is very helpful in finding “Short Edges” and “Sliver/Small Surfaces”
which may be causing meshing issues. It may also make it easier to locate “free edges” in troublesome geometry.
This menu contains commands for toggling the Entity Locator on and off, cycling through the entities currently in
the Entity Locator, removing the current entity from the Entity Locator or clearing it entirely, as well as creating a
group from the entities currently in the Entity Locator or sending them to the Data Table.
• Toggle Entity Locator - When this icon is toggled “on”, the Entity Locator is ready to be filled with entities
and the Locator fields will be available in the Meshing Toolbox. Depending on which entity type is selected in
the Search For drop-down list, Curves or Surfaces, the Locator fields change. The Locate Options and Show

10.0-6
Finite Element Modeling
Options can be used to modify how the Entity Locator searches for entities and then displays them. Also, the
entities loaded in the Entity Locator update after each change made in the Locator fields, unless Auto Locate is
turned “off” in the Locate Options section.
Once entities are loaded into the Entity Locator, use the following commands to move from entity to entity. By
default, the “current entity” in the Entity Locator will be “highlighted” in the graphics window using the display
options currently set in the Style portion of the Windows, Show Entities command (See Section 6.3.2.3, "Window,
Show Entities..."). There are other options for automatically rotating the model and zooming in to get a better view
of the entity. See the Locate Options and Show Options sections in the Locator section for more information.
• Next - Makes the next entity in the Entity Locator the “current entity”.
• Previous- Makes the previous entity in the Entity Locator the “current entity”.
Note:
Once either Next or Previous has been selected, the icon will “persist” at the top of the Entity Locator
menu in the Meshing Toolbox. This enables you to easily go to the “next” or “previous” entity simply by
clicking the icon. When you reach the “last” entity in the Entity Locator, the Next icon will automatically
become the Previous icon and vice versa.
• Current - “Re-highlights” the “current entity” in the Entity Locator. This can be helpful if you have regenerated
or rotated the model.
• First - Makes the “first” entity in the Entity Locator the “current entity”. When using Search Methods based on
physical size, the smallest “located” entity will be the “first” entity.
• Last - Makes the last entity in the Entity Locator the “current entity”. When using Search Methods based on
physical size, the largest “located” entity will be the “last” entity.
• Do Not Locate - Places the current entity into a group which is then automatically specified in the Not In Group
field of the Locate Options.
• Remove - Removes the current entity from the Entity Locator until cleared or new search criteria are entered.
• Clear Locator - Simply clears the Entity Locator of all entities.
• Create Group - Creates a new group with all of the entities currently in the Entity Locator or adds/removes/
excludes those entities from an existing group.
• Add to Data Table - Adds all entities currently loaded in the Entity Locator to the Data Table. The Data Table
needs to be “open” in the User Interface and “unlocked” for the command to be available.
Search For - Indicates the entity type, Curves or Surfaces, the Entity Locator will currently be able to “locate” in
the model. Depending on the entity type, different Locator fields become available.
Locator fields and buttons when Search For is set to Curves:
Search Method - Specifies the method the Entity Locator uses to “find, then load” itself with specific Curves in
the model. Depending on the Search Method, other options may become available.
Here are descriptions of the different Search Methods:

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-7
•Short Edges - “Short edges” will be loaded into the Entity Locator
using criteria specified in the current Based On option.
When Based On is set to:
Global Mesh Size - Curves whose length is shorter than the specified
% of Mesh Size (default) will be loaded into the Entity Locator.
Curve Length - Curves will only loaded into the Entity Locator
which are Shorter Than a user-specified value. You may type the
value in directly or specify the value by clicking the “Select Curve
to Set Length” icon button, then choosing any curve on the screen.
Shortest Curves - Finds the shortest “specified % of All Curves” in
the model (For example, if set to 5, it will find the bottom 5% of
curves, based on length) and loads them into the Entity Locator.
This value can be set from 0 to 25 using the “slider bar” or a value
can be entered directly (if value is higher than 25, loads all curves
satisfying that criteria into the Entity Locator, then returns to 25).
•Free Edges - Locates all edges in a Solid which are not stitched to
another surface. “Free Edges” in a Solid usually indicate “gaps” or
“holes” in the geometry, meaning the Solid does not fully enclose a
volume and is probably not viable for solid meshing (tet or hex). If
multiple surfaces are “stitched” together but do not enclose a volume
(Sheet Solid) or “joined” using the Geometry, Surface, Non-
Manifold Add command (General Bodies), then “free edges” may
also indicate “gaps” or “holes” between surfaces. Of course, “free edges” in this type of geometry may be internal
holes/loops or the outside edge of the stitched/joined “part”, which are normal.
“Free Edges” of set of surfaces
“Stitched” together
“Free Edges” of surfaces joined using “NonManifold Add”
• NonManifold Edges - Locates all “NonManifold” edges in the geometry. Only geometry that has been joined
using the Geometry, Surface, NonManifold Add command (General Bodies) will have any of these edges. Typical
“NonManifold Edges” are found where surfaces come together at “T-junctions” or a surface has been “Non-
Manifold added” to a Solid.
Two Examples of
“NonManifold Edges”
Surfaces joined using “NonManifold Add”
Surface and Solid joined using “NonManifold Add”
• From Group - Loads all Curves in a specified Group into the Entity Locator.

10.0-8
Finite Element Modeling
Show ‘#’ Curves button - By default, when you initially place Curves in the Entity Locator, ALL of the “found”
Curves will be highlighted in the graphics window using the display options currently set in the Style portion of the
Windows, Show Entities command (See Section 6.3.2.3, "Window, Show Entities..."). Like Windows, Show Entities
and the “Show When Selected” capabilities of the Data Table and Model Info tree, once the view has been redrawn
or regenerated the “highlighting” is removed and the view is restored to how it appeared before the “show” command.
If you want to “highlight” the curves again, simply click the Show ‘#’ Curves button.
Locator fields and buttons when Search For is set to Surfaces:
Search Method - Specifies the method the Entity Locator will use to “search and locate” specific Surfaces in the
model. Depending on the Search Method, other options may become available.
Here are descriptions of the different Search Methods:
• Surface Geometry - This method is used in conjunction with any combination of the Small Surfaces, Slivers,
Spikes, and By Area options. If none of these options are turned on (checked), no surface geometry will be
loaded into to the Entity Locator.
Small Surfaces (Fit In Radius value) - Surfaces which completely fit inside a sphere with a specified radius
(defined by Fit In Radius value) will be loaded into the Entity Locator. Enter the Fit In Radius value directly or
click the “Measure Distance” icon button to specify the sphere radius by picking two locations graphically. Default
value is equal to the default Merge Tolerance in the model.
Slivers (Sliver Tolerance value) - Surfaces which have high aspect ratios and small areas are known as “Slivers”.
Examining a surface’s “maximum width” is often a good indication of whether a surface is a “sliver” or not. Surfaces
with a “maximum width” smaller than the Sliver Tolerance will be loaded into the Entity Locator. Enter the
Sliver Tolerance value directly or click the “Measure Distance” icon button and choose two locations graphically to
specify a distance. Default value is equal to the default Merge Tolerance in the model.
Spikes (Spike Width value) - Much like “slivers”, Surfaces with “spikes” also have high aspect ratio and small area.
The main difference is that only a portion of the surface fits this criteria, not the entire surface. When this option is
on and a “spike” on a surface is detected (smaller than Spike Width), FEMAP will try and remove the “spike”,
while keeping the rest of the surface intact. Enter the Sliver Tolerance value directly or click the “Measure Distance”
icon button and choose two locations graphically to specify a distance. Default value is equal to the default
Merge Tolerance in the model.
By Area (Area Less Than value) - Surfaces which have an Area Less Than the specified size will be loaded into the
Entity Locator. Enter the Area Less Than value directly or click the “Measure Area of Surface” icon button to specify
an area by choosing a surface graphically. Default value is equal to 1/1000 of the “model box diagonal”.
• From Group - Loads all Surfaces in a specified Group into the Entity Locator.
Show ‘#’ Surfaces button - By default, when you initially place Surfaces in the Entity Locator, ALL of the
“found” Surfaces will be highlighted in the graphics window using the display options currently set in the Style portion
of the Windows, Show Entities command (See Section 6.3.2.3, "Window, Show Entities..."). Like Windows,
Show Entities and the “Show When Selected” capabilities of the Data Table and Model Info tree, once the view has
been redrawn or regenerated the “highlighting” is removed and the view is restored to how it appeared before the
“show” command. If you want to “highlight” the curves again, simply click the Show ‘#’ Surfaces button.
Locate Options:
• Only In Group - The Locator will only attempt to “locate” entities which meet the specified criteria in the
selected group.
• Not In Group - The Locator will only attempt to “locate” entities which meet the specified criteria and are
NOT in the selected group.
Note:
A group based on any number of solids can be “generated” directly from the Locator by clicking the
“Select Solids for Group with Related Entities” icon button next to the Only In Group or Not In Group
drop-down list.
• Ignore If - Instructs the Locator to “ignore” entities which meet the specified criteria which are either Suppressed
or Combined. If you want to change the options, simply expand the Ignore If portion of the Locate
Options and check or uncheck Suppressed or Combined accordingly.

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-9
• Auto Locate - When this option is on, the Locator will automatically be loaded with the entities that meet the
criteria currently specified. If it is turned “off”, you will need to click the Locate button which is now visible.
• Update Selector - If this option is checked, the “Selection List” (usually created using the Select Toolbar) will
be cleared, then updated with the entities currently placed in the Locator.
Note:
If you have entities currently in the “Selection List” before the Locator is filled with entities, they will
be cleared and replaced once the Locator is filled with entities.
Show Options:
• Show All On Locate - When “on”, entities loaded into the Locator will be highlighted on the screen immediately.
The “highlighting” is controlled by the options currently set in the Style portion of the Windows, Show
Entities command (See Section 6.3.2.3, "Window, Show Entities..."). If this is set to “off”, you will have to
click the appropriate Show button to highlight the entities in the graphics window.
• Auto Rotate - When this option is “on”, the view will be automatically rotated to align the current entity in the
Locator on the screen. For surfaces, the view will align so the “normal” of the surface is pointing “out of the
screen” and centered about the CG of the surface. For curves, the vector tangent to the curve, at the curve’s midpoint,
will be used to align the view to the horizontal screen axis. The midpoint of the curve will be centered in
the view and the “normal” vectors of all the surfaces to which the current curve is attached will be averaged
together and that “averaged normal” will point “out of the screen”.
• Auto Zoom- If this option is checked, FEMAP will zoom in to the current entity in the Locator a specified
amount. The size of the current entity is used in conjunction with the Zoom Factor, which is a percentage of
graphics window size, to determine how far FEMAP zooms in to the entity. The Zoom Factor can be set from
“1” to “100” (using the “slider bar” or entering a value directly), with “1” essentially zooming in as far as possible,
while still being able to see the entire entity in the graphics window, and “100” making the length of the
entity 1/100 the width of the graphics window.
Note:
If the Entity Locator is filled with very small entities, FEMAP may only be able to zoom in so far
before it reaches the “magnification limit”, which is 1/10000 of model box size.
Mesh Quality Toggle - Toggles a plot of mesh quality on and off for all of the currently visible elements. Please
see the section regarding the Mesh Quality tool below for more information on the different quality “types” and
plotting options.
Jacobian check shown with 2 distortion levels
Jacobian check shown with 4 distortion levels
Elements shown in red are above the specified Max Allowable Value for the Jacobian distortion check
set to 0.4
Remesh Modes menu - This menu contains several “modes” for remeshing the model when using all tools except
the Mesh Locate tool. There are three separate “modes”: Auto Remesh, Disable Remesh, and Track Meshing
Changes. The fourth option on the menu, Remesh Entities, is only used when using the Track Meshing Changes
mode. Essentially, only one mode can be active at any given time.
When Auto Remesh is on, the mesh will be updated every time a change is made using one of the tools in the Meshing
Toolbox.
Note:
Once Disable Remesh or Auto Remesh has been chosen, the icon will persist at the top of the Remesh
Modes menu. You can now toggle back and forth between these two modes by simply clicking the icon.

10.0-10
Finite Element Modeling
Disable Remesh does not track any of the changes made using the tools in the Meshing Toolbox. Any changes made
with the tools are applied to the model, but you will need to delete and remesh the model using the commands on
the Mesh, Geometry... menu or switch to Auto Remesh mode and make a change with any tool.
Note:
Having the model Auto Remesh after every single change may not be the efficient way to use the tools
in the Meshing Toolbox, especially for larger models. You may want to use the Disable Remesh mode,
make changes to your model using the Meshing Toolbox, then remesh the model.
Track Meshing Changes will “track” all of the changes made using the different tools in the Meshing Toolbox, but
the model will only be remeshed by clicking the icon for the Remesh Entities command, which will be at the top of
the Remesh Modes menu whenever you are in Track Meshing Changes mode.
Note:
Sometimes in larger models, tracking the meshing changes can be quite computationally intensive. You
may want to turn Track Meshing Changes off, which is accomplished by going to Disable Remesh.
Select Entity - Many of the tools in the Meshing Toolbox require you to select entities. Depending on which tool is
currently “active” and how the options for that tool are currently set, will determine the type of entity you will be
able to select when Select Entity is toggled “on”. When “on”, you can graphically choose entities from the graphics
window one at a time or use box/circle picking to select multiple entities (hold down the Shift key to make a pick
“box” or the Ctrl key to make a circular picking area). Depending on which tool you are using and the current
Remesh Mode set, you will be able to see the mesh update “real time” as you choose entities.
For example, if you are using the Add “Operation” in the Mesh Sizing tool, and have Auto Remesh “on”, every time
you select a curve or curves (box/circle pick) in the graphics window, the mesh will be updated “real time”.
Dialog Select - Very similar to Select Entity, except it allows you to use the typical Entity Selection dialog box to
choose entities. See Section 4.3.1, "Entity Selection" of the FEMAP User Guide for more information on the different
selection methods available.
Feature Suppression Tool
This tool allows you to use the “manual” options available in the
Mesh, Mesh Control, Feature Suppression command interactively.
You may suppress loops, curves (usually relatively small in size),
and surfaces (usually sliver surfaces, not fillets or chamfers). Suppressed
geometry still exists in the model and can be “restored” at
any time.
Feature Type - Choose which entity type you would like to suppress/restore.
When using Select Entity or Dialog Select in the
Meshing Toolbox, only the selected entity type will be available
for selection.
•Loops - Usually curves of internal holes on surfaces and solids or
“base curves” of bosses and extrusions on solids.
•Curves - In this case, “curves” usually refers to curves which are
relatively small in size compared to the rest of the geometry.
•Surfaces - Like “curves”, “surfaces” to be suppressed are usually
small in size compared to the rest of the geometry, thus creating
the possibility of meshing issues.
Action - This option specifies what action will take place when
entities are selected using Select Entity or Dialog Select. When
either Suppress or Restore is set, all entities selected will either be
“suppressed” or “restored”. When Toggle Suppression is set,
selecting an existing entity the first time will “suppress” the entity,
while selecting it again will restore the entity.
Limit Size - When used, this option limits the entities which can be chosen based on size. Only “loops” that are
Smaller Than the specified size, curves that are Shorter Than the specified length, and surfaces with Area Less
Than the specified area will be available to suppress/restore. This can be helpful to “filter” what is included when
choosing multiple entities with Select Entity or Dialog Select.

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-11
Update Colors - When a loop, curve, or surface is suppressed, the color of the entity will be changed to the color
specified here. This allows you to easily see which entities have been suppressed. Click the “Color Wheel” icon
button to bring up the Color Palette dialog box to choose different colors for suppressed entities.
Show Suppressed (Curves and Surfaces buttons) - Highlights either suppressed curves or suppressed surfaces in
the graphics window using the display options currently set in the Style portion of the Windows, Show Entities command
(See Section 6.3.2.3, "Window, Show Entities..."). Like Windows, Show Entities and the “Show When
Selected” capabilities of the Data Table and Model Info tree, once the view has been redrawn or regenerated the
“highlighting” is removed and the view is restored to how it appeared before the “show” command.
Restore All (In Solids and In Model buttons) - Restores all features on either selected solids by clicking the In
Solids button or all the features in the model by click in the In Model button.
For example
Original Solid Part with “stepped hole” Curve chosen for “loop” to “Suppressed” Resulting Solid Mesh
See Section 5.1.1.16, "Mesh, Mesh Control, Feature Suppression..." for additional examples
Feature Removal Tool
This tool is used to permanently remove geometric entities interactively to simplify geometry. Most of this tool’s
functionality is offered in other FEMAP commands. Removing “Loops” basically mimics the functionality of the
Geometry, Surface, Remove Hole command, while removing “Surfaces” essentially uses the same process as
Geometry, Solid, Remove Face. Finally, removing “Curves” uses portions of the Geometry, Solid, Cleanup command
along some other methodology to try and remove redundant curves.
Feature Type - Choose which entity type you would like to remove.
When using Select Entity or Dialog Select in the Meshing Toolbox,
only the selected entity type will be available for selection.
•Loops - Usually curves of internal holes on surfaces and solids or
“base curves” of bosses and extrusions on solids.
•Curves - In this case, “curves” usually refers to curves which are relatively
small in size compared to the rest of the geometry.
•Surfaces - Surfaces to remove can be all the surfaces of a hole, fillets,
chamfers, and “cutouts”. In some cases, you may have to remove
more then one surface at a time for this command to be successful.
Limit Size - When used, this option limits the entities which can be
chosen based on size. Only “loops” that are Smaller Than the specified
size, curves that are Shorter Than the specified length, and surfaces
with Area Less Than the specified area will be available to
remove. This can be helpful to “filter” what is included when choosing
multiple entities with Select Entity or Dialog Select.
Aggressive Removal - If you have attempted to remove a curve or surface and FEAMP was not successful, then
you may want to try using this option.
For curves, Aggressive Removal uses functionality from the “Parasolid Bodyshop” to try and remove curves and
then “heal” the geometry, which may change the topology of the geometry.

10.0-12
Finite Element Modeling
For surfaces, instead of using the process used by Geometry, Solid, Remove Face, the Aggressive Removal option
instructs FEMAP to take a completely different approach. The chosen surface is deleted from the model and the
remaining surfaces are stitched together using a stitch tolerance which is slightly larger the chosen surface.
Note:
Selecting relatively large surfaces while the Aggressive Removal option is on can have very adverse
effects on the geometry. Because the stitch tolerance is set so high, other surfaces may be removed during
the stitching process and the resulting solid may not really be very similar to the original solid.
There may also be times when this process creates an invalid solid.
Examples
Here is an example of removing “Loops” from a surface.
Choose one curve on each
“interior hole” and all of the
curves making up the “loop”
will be found and removed
from the surface
All internal holes have been
removed from the surface
Surface with several “interior holes”
In this example, the hole feature is removed differently from this solid geometry by choosing different “Loops”.
Original Solid Part with “stepped hole” Curve chosen for “loop” in Remove Face Resulting Solid Geometry
Original Solid Part with “stepped hole” Curve chosen for “loop” in Remove Face Resulting Solid Geometry

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-13
In this example, the features can be removed from this solid geometry by either removing “Loops” or “Surfaces”.
Original solid geometry
The holes in the solid along with the boss and the post can
be removed from the geometry by removing “loops” and
choosing one curve on each “feature”.
Alternatively, the features can be removed by selecting all of
the surfaces of each individual feature.
Geometry shown with holes and boss removed
Here is an example of removing a curve with the Aggressive Removal option turned “on”.
Original solid geometry
Small curve to Remove
Modified geometry without curve

10.0-14
Finite Element Modeling
Here is an example of removing a surface with the Aggressive Removal option turned “on”.
Original solid geometry
Modified geometry without surface
Small surface to Remove
Combined/Composite Curve Tool
In some cases, combining several smaller curves along the edge of a surface
will allow you to create a higher quality mesh on the surface. This tool
allows you to combine curves by choosing the curves themselves or a point
that two curves share. A “Composite Curve” will be created in FEMAP,
which will be used for mesh sizing purposes instead of the underlying
curves.
Action - This option specifies how individual curves may be combined to
form Composite Curves (Add by Point or Add Curves) and how Composite
Curves can be partitioned (Split At and Remove). You can also delete Composite
Curves completely using Delete, which may be more convenient than
using Delete, Geometry, Curve.
•Add by Point - Combines two curves connected to a selected point into a
Composite Curve. If you are creating a Composite Curve along the edge of a
surface with many small curves, you can watch the Composite Curve “grow”
simply by starting at one end and choosing the points in sequence.
Combine Surfaces - When this option is checked, a Boundary Surface will
automatically be created from the surfaces connected to the “underlying
curves”. As additional curves are added to the Composite Curve by choosing
points, more surfaces will be combined into Boundary Surfaces.
• Add Curves - Creates a Composite Curve by allowing you to choose individual curves. There are also several
options which can be used to make the process of creating Composite Curves more automatic.
Merge to Existing - When checked, each curve selected will be added to an existing Composite Curve, unless the
selected curve is not within Max Tangent Angle to the existing Composite Curve.
Add Short Curves - Automatically includes any Curve Shorter Than the specified length that is adjacent to a
selected curve in the Composite Curve. You may type the value in directly or specify the value by clicking the
“Select Curve to Set Length” icon button, then choosing any curve on the screen.
Add to Branch - Allows you to choose one curve and have a Composite Curve created by simply “branching out”
from that curve until it reaches the “corner” of a surface.
Combine Surfaces - When this option is checked, a Boundary Surface will automatically be created from the surfaces
connected to the “underlying curves”. As additional curves are added to the Composite Curve, more surfaces
will be combined into Boundary Surfaces
• Split At - Allows you to choose points to “partition/break” a single Composite Curve into two.

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-15
• Remove - Allows you to remove any of the “underlying curves” from a Composite Curve. It you remove a
curve from the end, the Composite Curve will get shorter, but otherwise remain intact. If you a curve is removed
from the middle, the Composite Curve will be split into two with a gap in between.
Note:
The appearance of Composite Curves can be controlled via the Combined Curve option in the Labels,
Entities and Color category of the View, Options command (See Section 6.1.5.3, "View, Options...").
Original Surface (9 individual curves on front edge of surface)
Small curves on edge of surface create a skewed mesh
The 9 curves of the “front edge” have been combined to
create one Composite Curve.
The quality of the mesh has been improved by using a
Composite Curve.
• Delete - Allows you to delete a Composite Curve completely from FEMAP. The “underlaying curves” of the
Composite Curve will be available for picking again once it has been deleted.
Combined/Boundary Surface Tool
Much like creating “composite curves” to improve mesh quality, it may be a
good idea to combine several surfaces into a Boundary Surface. This tool
uses the same concept as the Geometry, Boundary Surface, From Surfaces
on Solid command. This can be especially helpful when there are “sliver surfaces”
next to a much larger surface. By combining the selected surfaces into
one “boundary surface”, all of the internal curves can be ignored during the
meshing process.
Action - This option specifies how individual curves may be combined to
form Boundary Surface (Add by Curve or Add Surfaces) and how Boundary
Surface can be partitioned (Split Along and Remove). You can also delete
Boundary Surface completely using Delete, which may be more convenient
than using Delete, Geometry, Surface.
•Add by Curve - Combines two surfaces sharing a single curve into a
Boundary Surface. If you select a curve that a regular surface shares with a
Boundary Surface, the regular surface will simply be added as another
underlying surface for the existing Boundary Surface.
•Add Surfaces - Creates a Boundary Surface by allowing you to choose
individual surfaces. Using the Merge to Existing
• Split Along - Allows you to choose curves to “partition/break” a single Boundary Surface into two.
• Remove - Allows you to remove any of the “underlying surfaces” from a Boundary Surface.

10.0-16
Finite Element Modeling
• Delete - Allows you to delete a Boundary Surface completely from FEMAP. The “underlaying surfaces” of the
Boundary Surface will be available for picking again once it has been deleted.
Note:
The appearance of Boundary Surfaces can be controlled via the Boundary option in the Labels, Entities
and Color category of the View, Options command (See Section 6.1.5.3, "View, Options...").
Original Geometry (11 individual surfaces make up the “bump”)
Quad mesh on the individual surfaces of the “bump”
Boundary Surface created using all 11 individual surfaces of the “bump”
Quad mesh on boundary surface
Mesh Sizing Tool
Combines the options used to set mesh sizing and node spacing on curves (Mesh, Mesh Control, Size on Curve)
with the “Add, Subtract, and Set To” functionality of the Mesh, Mesh Control, Interactive command. When using
the Auto Remesh option in the Meshing Toolbox you will be able to see the mesh update “on the fly” after each
change to sizing or node spacing, while you also monitor the element quality update (Mesh Quality Toggle “On”).
There are also options for matching any number of selected curves to a “Master Curve”, as well as setting biasing
and length based sizing without changing the number of elements on the curve.

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-17
Sizing Option - This switch is used to specify which method,
Size Curve(s) or Match Curve(s), is currently set for updating
the mesh size on curves.
•Size Curves - When selected, this method uses the option
currently set in Operation along with the specified Spacing
options to dynamically change the mesh sizing on curves.
With Select Entity on in the Meshing Toolbox, every time you
click on a curve the “Mesh Size” will be updated. You can
also change the size on multiple curves all at once using a
“box pick” or Dialog Select.
•Match Curves - With this method, a Master Curve ID may
be entered directly or selected graphically after clicking the
“Select Master Curve” icon button. Once the “Master Curve”
is specified, turn on Select Entity in the Meshing Toolbox to
match curves to the “Master Curve” one at a time by selecting
them or change multiple curves all at once with a “box pick”
or using Dialog Select.
Operation - Allows you to select the current operation for
the Mesh Sizing tool. You can choose to Add or Subtract the
specified Number of Nodes from the selected curve(s), update
the sizing on any curve(s) to the Number of Nodes using Set
To, or simply change the Spacing options (“Bias” and if
Length Based Sizing should be used) without changing the
number of nodes along the curve(s) with Set Spacing Options.
Manual Update - When this option is on, the specified
“Operation” and other options will not be used to update the
mesh size and spacing until the Apply Operation button is pressed. Using a “box pick” while Select Entity is active
or using Dialog Select in the Meshing Toolbox, is a very efficient method to update multiple curves at one time.
Pressing the “‘#’ Curve(s) Selected” button will “highlight” the selected curves in the graphics window. Pressing
Clear Selection sets the number of selected curves currently ready to be updated to “0”.
Spacing - This drop-down allows you to specify biasing options. By default, this option is set to Equal, which will
place a uniform distance between each node along a curve. The other options allow you to “bias” the mesh size and
the level of “biasing” will be controlled by the Bias Factor. here is a breakdown of the biasing options:
• Biased using Pick Location - The node spacing on the curve is biased using the location of the cursor when the
curve is selected. The “smaller distances between nodes” will be positioned by the selection location. When
working in a model that is not “planar”, which is quite common, it is a good idea to have the “snap mode” set to
either Snap to Node or Snap to Point. This will allow FEMAP to use the point or node related to the curve closest
to “pick location” to determine where the biasing should occur.
Note:
When the “snap mode” is set to Snap to Point, you will only be able to “bias” towards one end of the
curve or the other. When it is set to Snap to Node, you will be able to bias towards either end of the
curve or towards the center, much like you can using Biased Small at Center in the Spacing options.
• Biased Small at Ends - The “smaller distances between nodes” will be positioned at each end of the curve with
the “larger distances between nodes” being at the center.
• Biased Small at Center - The “smaller distances between nodes” will be positioned at the center of the curve
with the “larger distances between nodes” being at the at each end of the curve.
Bias Factor - This factor is a ratio of the “largest distance between nodes” to the “smallest distance between nodes”
along a given curve. For example, when it is set to “2”, the “largest distance” equals the “smallest distance” multi-

10.0-18
Finite Element Modeling
plied by “2”. All of the “distances between the other nodes” along the curve are defined using a linear interpolation
of the large and small distances.
Mesh Elements = 10
Bias Small towards this end
Bias Factor = 3
Mesh Elements = 10
Bias Small towards this end
Bias Factor = 4
Mesh Elements = 10
Bias Small at Ends
Bias Factor = 2
Mesh Elements = 10
Bias Small at Ends
Bias Factor = 2
Mesh Elements = 8
Bias Small at Center
Bias Factor = 3
Mesh Elements = 8
Bias Small at Center
Bias Factor = 2
Mesh Elements = 10
Bias Small towards this end
Bias Factor = 3
Mesh Elements = 10
Bias Small towards this end
Bias Factor = 4
Length Based Sizing - Allows you to choose whether mesh locations will be located in parametric or length coordinates
along the curve. For lines, arcs and circles, these options make no difference since the parametric and
length coordinates are equivalent. For spline curves however, parametric coordinates are typically much different.
In most cases, choosing parametric spacing is the preferred method. It results in a finer mesh in areas of high curvature,
which is often desirable. However, if you have two spline curves side by side, which happen to have different
parametric coordinates, checking Length Based Sizing will allow you to match the meshes on those two curves (this
can also be accomplished using a matched custom mesh size on one of the curves - see Section 5.1.1.7, "Mesh,
Mesh Control, Custom Size Along Curve...".
Propagate Mapped Approach - This option, which is on by default, will update the mesh sizing accordingly on
all appropriate curves of a surface which has a “mapped” approach set using Mesh, Mesh Control, Approach on
Surface, in order for the approach to remain valid. Also, any other surfaces with a mapped approach which would
be effected by changing the size will also have their sizing updated as well. For more information on setting mesh
approaches, see Section 5.1.1.15, "Mesh, Mesh Control, Approach On Surface".
Note:
If this option is turned “off”, there is a good chance that changing the mesh sizing on only one curve
of the surface will create inappropriate sizing for FEMAP to create a mapped mesh on the surface.
For Example, this geometry is three surfaces stitched together. Each surface has a “Mapped-Four Corner” meshing
approach specified and has been sized with the default mesh size.
3 Surfaces with
Mapped - Four Corner
Approaches Set
Mesh using default
Mesh Size
2 Nodes “Added” to sizing
on either of these Curves
Two “Subtracted”
from this Curve
Three Nodes “Added”
from this Curve
Change is “Propagated” through entire Model
as all surfaces effected by new mesh size.
Changes only “Propagated” locally to individual
surface where meshing sizing was changed.
Show Free Edges - Simply highlights the nodes of any free edges in your model. This can be helpful for confirming
the mesh is still fully connected after sizing has been updated.

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-19
Mesh Locate Tool
There may be times when you would like to make small changes to an existing mesh simply by moving one or several
nodes without changing the number of elements. This tool will allow you to do this while making sure that as
you move the node(s) dynamically, they remain attached to specified solid(s), surface(s), and curve(s). If you have
no geometry, there is an option to have the nodes follow the “overall topology” of the selected standalone mesh as
they are moved. There are additional options to move the selected nodes by a defined amount, continually smooth
the mesh as the nodes are moved, and allow the moved nodes to no longer be projected to a surface or remain along
a curve. Much like the Mesh Sizing tool, you can also turn on the Mesh Quality Toggle and monitor the element
quality “real time” as the nodes are moved. Finally, once the mesh locations have been updated, you have the
choice to Save the new mesh or Discard the updated mesh and revert to the original mesh.
Select Mesh to Edit - Limits the elements whose nodes will be
allowed to move in this command. Simply choose an option, then
click the “...” icon button to choose the entities. Only elements and
nodes connected to the selected entities will be visible and available
for update of nodal locations.
Note:
You must use the Select Mesh to Edit first in order for the
other options in this tool to become available.
•Attached to Surface - Allows you to choose surfaces in the model
to limit the nodes and elements for possible update.
•Attached to Solid - Allows you to choose solids in the model in the
model to limit the nodes and elements for possible update.
•Standalone Mesh - When no geometry is available, this option
allows you to choose any number of elements from the model and use
the “overall topology” of the selected mesh to limit where the nodes
can be moved, when the Project option is on.
Note:
To create the “overall topology”, the existing mesh is
“facetted”, much like a surface. This allows the node(s)
to be projected back onto “pseudo geometry” in order to
maintain the general shape of the model.
Locate Multiple - When this option is checked, it enables you to move more than one node at a time. To select
multiple nodes to move, turn on Select Entity in the Meshing Toolbox and then choose the nodes one at a time, with
a “box pick” (hold down Shift key), or “circle pick” (hold down Ctrl key). Once the nodes are selected, they will
move in unison based on the chosen Locate Method. Press the “X” icon button to choose different nodes to move.
Locate Method - You may choose to move the node(s) “dynamically”, based on screen position, or “manually”,
using a vector. If you have the Mesh Quality Toggle on, you will likely want to use the Dynamic option and move
the node(s) around until the attached elements reach the desired quality. On the other hand, if you would like to
move the nodes a precise distance, it is probably better to use the Manual, Vector option.
Original Mesh
Dynamically
modified Mesh
with improved
Jacobian element
quality values
When using the Dynamic method, simply
choose the node(s) using Entity Select in the
Meshing Toolbox and then “drag” the node(s) to
the desired location.
Note:
It is best to have the “Snap Mode”
set to Snap to Screen when using the
Dynamic method to allow for
“smooth” movement of the selected
node(s). This allows the most flexibility
when positioning the node(s).

10.0-20
Finite Element Modeling
When using the Manual, Vector method, the Move Along Vector
fields will appear. You may use the “Select Vector” icon button
to choose a vector graphically using any method available in
the Select Vector dialog box. Another option is to enter a “Base
Point” for the vector or use the “Select Coordinates” icon button
to pick it graphically, then enter the distances in each direction
(dX, dY, and dZ) manually. Once the vector has been
specified, click the Apply Vector button to complete the move to
the new location.
Smooth - When this option is checked, the selected mesh will
constantly be “smoothed” as nodal locations are updated. If you
want to only have the elements directly connected to the
selected node(s), turn this option off.
Project - When this option is enabled, the selected nodes are
constantly projected back to the surface to which they are attached. When the Standalone Mesh option for Select
Mesh to Edit is used, the nodes are projected back to “pseudo geometry” created using the “overall topology” of the
selected elements.
Constrain to Curve - Nodes which are attached to curves will only be allowed to move along the attached curve,
when this option is on. This is the default configuration and is usually the desired behavior, as it attempts to prevent
undesired “holes” from accidentally being introduced into the mesh.
Save and Discard buttons - Once the mesh locations have been updated, you have the choice to Save the new
mesh or Discard the updated mesh and revert to the original mesh.
Note:
If you choose to use the “Undo” command (Tools, Undo or Ctrl+Z) after pressing the Save button, ALL
changes to the mesh since the Save button was last used will be “undone”, not the movement of individual
nodes. Also, if you use “Undo” before choosing Save or Discard, the “original mesh” will be
restored.
Mesh Quality
When the Mesh Quality Toggle in the Meshing Toolbox is set to “on”, this tool allows you to graphically see element
quality values plotted on each element similar to a contour/criteria plot. There are several different element
quality types which can be selected and each type has default automatic values. User-defined values can also be
specified. Also, the minimum and maximum distortion values for the specified “quality type” are listed in the bottom
fields of the tool.
Quality Type - There are 8 different “types” of element quality checking
available through the Meshing Toolbox. They correspond to the element
distortion checks of the Tools, Check, Distortion command.
The element checks are:
•Aspect Ratio
•Taper
•Alternate Taper
•Internal Angles
•Warping
•Nastran Warping
•Jacobian
•Combined Quality
See Section 7.4.5.6, "Tools, Check, Distortion..." for more details on the
individual element checks.

Meshing Toolbox 10.0-21
Depending on which element check is currently set, the name of the element check will appear along with a Max
Allowable Value field in the Mesh Quality tool.
When Quality Type is set to Combined, all of the other individual Quality Types will also be displayed in the Mesh
Quality tool. The Max Allowable Value for each element quality type can be modified or individual types can be
turned on or off to modify which will be included when calculating the Combined element quality.
To specify customized default values for all of the element distortion checks, use the Element Distortion button in
the Geometry/Model tab of File, Preferences. See Section 2.6.2.6, "Geometry/Model" for more information.
Note:
When the Mesh Quality tool is used on models containing solid elements, the distortion plotted on the
visible element face(s) is the quality of the quadrilateral or triangular element face, NOT the solid
element. This is important to remember, especially for element distortion checks which can be used
for solid elements, such as Jacobian and Aspect Ratio.
Number of Distortion Levels - Simply indicates the number of levels to use in the plot of the current element
quality set in Quality Type. Choose between 2 levels or 4 levels.
When the Number of Distortion Levels is set to 2, all elements with element distortion values above the Max Allowable
Value for the specified Quality Type will be plotted “Red”, while all other elements will be “Green”.
When the Number of Distortion Levels is set to 4, all elements with element distortion values above the Max Allowable
Value for the specified Quality Type will be also be plotted “Red”. The remaining elements will be plotted
from 0 to the Max Allowable Value in the following manner:
Distortion value = 0.0 to (1/3 * Max Allowable Value) are plotted “Green”
Distortion value = (1/3 * Max Allowable Value) to (2/3 * Max Allowable Value) are plotted “Yellow”
Distortion value = (2/3 * Max Allowable Value) to Max Allowable Value are plotted “Orange”
Smooth Contours - When on, the colors on the contour legend “blend” from low to high, similar to a Contour plot.
When off, the plot resembles a Criteria plot.
Internal Angle check shown with 2 distortion levels
Internal Angle check shown with 4 distortion levels
Elements shown in red are above the specified Max Allowable Value for the Internal Angle distortion check
Same values as above, Smooth Contours “On”
Same values as above, Smooth Contours “On”
This plot allows you to see which elements may be close to passing the distortion check.
Min Distortion and Max Distortion - Simply lists the best and worst element quality in the selected mesh.

10.0-22
Finite Element Modeling
Model Info tree
Data Table
• Updated Show When Selected functionality. Entities already chosen will now highlight when Show When
Selected is turned on and un-highlight when turned off.
• Added “Transformed To” capability for listing nodal and elemental output.
• Updated Show When Selected functionality. Entities already chosen will now highlight when Show When
Selected is turned on and un-highlight when turned off.
• Added “Save to a File” command (FEMAP 10.0.1).
Entity Editor
• Added “Transformed To” capability for displaying nodal output and elemental output.
• Added support for Load Definition and Constraint Definition information.
• Added support for Rotor Region information.
• Added support for Layup ID information.
• Added "is suppressed" fields for curves and surfaces
• Enhanced Loads and Coordinate Systems so they are displayed in definition CSys, transformed on the fly, then
saved in global or definition system.

API Programming 10.0-23
API Programming
• Changed the default lines of code when a new API is created from scratch to:
Status Bar
Graphics
Astroid
Meshing
This change allows the API Programming dockable pane in that particular instance of FEMAP to connect directly
to FEMAP to run APIs in that instance. Previously, APIs could only be used from the API Programming window in
the first instance of FEMAP which was currently open on the machine. Any *.bas files in the Custom Tools directory
or added to the menus or toolbars using this mechanism for attachement will also run in the current instance of
FEMAP.
• Added the ability to customize what entity types appear on the Status Bar.
Right clicking anywhere on the status bar will bring up the Customize Status Bar menu, which allows you to turn
any entity type in the “Tray” on or off with a left mouse click. When an entity type is on, it will be designated with
a “check mark” next to the entity type name.
Improved Curve and Surface facetting to more accurately display geometry.
Implemented support of the Astroid 3D controller from Spatial Freedom.
The focus of version10 was to improve the overall mesh capabilities in FEMAP.
"General Meshing", "Surface Meshing", "Solid Tetrahedral Meshing"
Updates and improvements were made in the areas of surface meshing, solid tetrahedral meshing, mesh sizing, and
specifying mesh attributes. A substantial change for version 10 is that once a surface has been meshed, the “mesh
attributes” are automatically set on that surface. See Using Mesh Attributes in the Surface Meshing section below
for more details. Also, the Meshing Toolbox was introduced to offer an interactive “toolbox” which consolidated
functionality used during the meshing process. Tools for feature suppression and removal, creating combined
curves and boundary surfaces, specifying mesh sizing on curves, dynamically updating nodal positions, and plotting
mesh quality can all be accessed in one place with the ability to remesh “on the fly” as changes are made. See
Meshing Toolbox in the User Interface section of this document.
General Meshing
• Added 3 new patterns to Mesh, Editing, Interactive
• Added “Offset from Reference Point” option to Modify, Update Elements, Line Element Offsets.
• Added “Spring Elements” option to the Connection Type section of the Mesh, Connect, Unzip and Mesh, Connect,
Coincident Link commands.
• Removed “Quad Mesh Layer Options” option from Mesh, Mesh Control, Size on Solid.

10.0-24
Finite Element Modeling
• Updated Mesh, Remesh, Convert Facets command to included capability to associate facets/nodes with the
original geometry.
• Updated Mesh, Extrude, Element Face command to automatically delete plot-only elements that it creates on
the selected element faces
Surface Meshing
• Added “Suppress Short Edges” option to Mesh, Mesh Control, Size on Surface.
• Removed “Quad Mesh Layer Options” option from Mesh, Mesh Control, Size on Surface. This capability was
improved and is now the Quad Edge Layers “mesh attribute” which can be specified before meshing using
Mesh, Mesh Control, Attribute on Surface or during the meshing process using Mesh, Geometry, Surface.
• Added and updated many options found in the Mesh, Geometry, Surface command. All of the options set when
the surface is initially meshed are now automatically specified as “mesh attributes”. Additions include the new
“3-D Tri” triangle mesher, new mapped meshing options, the ability to specify mesh offsets on the surface,
automatic node merging when meshing surfaces connected to surfaces which have already been meshed, and a
“Post-Meshing Cleanup” option which improves the mesh by eliminating certain patterns and collapsed holes.
Automesh Surfaces dialog box
When you select the Mesh, Geometry, Surface command, you must select the surfaces to mesh. After they are
selected, the Automesh Surfaces dialog box appears.
After choosing the appropriate property, you can decide to press OK to accept default options or click the More
Options button to set up additional meshing controls. See More Options section below.
The Mesher section allows you to choose between meshing the surfaces with quadrilateral surface elements, where
possible (Quad option), or all triangular surface elements (Tri option). When using the Tri option, you may choose
to use Auto, which will examine each surface one at a time and attempt to choose the Tri mesher which will create
the best overall triangular mesh on each individual surface. If you want FEMAP to use a particular Tri mesher,
uncheck Auto and choose one of the three triangle meshers. See the "Element Shape" section below for details.
Checking the Midside Nodes option will create parabolic surface elements instead of linear surface elements, while
turning the Mapped Meshing Options will attempt to create a mapped mesh on the surface, if possible using the
options currently set.
Node and Element Options
These options control parameters that are assigned to the nodes and elements that you will create. The CSys option
does not control the mesh in any way. It is just assigned as the definition coordinate system of each node. The property
is most important. You must choose a property which corresponds to a planar element.
Using Meshing Attributes
If the surfaces that you are meshing have mesh attributes defined, you will see an additional property (0..Use Meshing
Attributes) in the list. If you choose that “property”, FEMAP will use the attributes to define the property, type
of elements that will be created, and which meshing options will be used during the meshing process. If you wish to
ignore the attributes, simply pick a different property from the drop-down list or create a new property.
If you wish to use the property specified in the attribute, but set different meshing options, check the Use Property
Attribute Only option, which is only available when Property is set to “0..Use Meshing Attributes”.

Surface Meshing 10.0-25
More Options
When the More Options... button has been pressed, the Automesh Surfaces dialog box will expand to offer many
more meshing options. Depending on which options are selected in the Mesher section, certain portions of the dialog
will “gray” and “un-gray” to only allow you to choose appropriate options for the selected Mesher.
Mesher
The Mesher section allows you to choose between meshing the surfaces with quadrilateral surface elements, where
possible (Quad option), or all triangular surface elements (Tri option). When using the Tri option, you may choose
to use Auto, which will examine each surface one at a time and attempt to choose the Tri mesher which will create
the best overall triangular mesh on each individual surface. If you want FEMAP to use a particular Tri mesher,
uncheck Auto and choose one of the three triangle meshers. See the "Element Shape" section below for details.
Pre-v10 Meshing
The surface meshing in FEMAP has dramatically changed for version 10. This switch allows you to use the “prev10”
surface meshing if you feel more comfortable with pre-version 10 meshers. This box will be checked by
default if you have “Pre-v10 Surface Meshing” checked on the “Geometry/Model” tab in the “Preferences” dialog
box (See Section 2.6.2.6, "Geometry/Model").
Note:
Only options available is versions of FEMAP before version 10 will be available when Pre-v10 Meshing
is checked. Notice, Quad Edge Layers is now set in the Automesh Surfaces dialog box when using
the Mesh, Geometry, Surfaces command instead of in the Automatic Mesh Sizing dialog box, which
appears when using the Mesh, Mesh Control, Size on Surface command.
Node Options
Midside Nodes
Checking the Midside Nodes option will create parabolic surface elements instead of linear surface elements. By
default, “midside nodes” are created along the element edge between the corner nodes of an element. You project
the midside nodes onto the geometry by using the Move to Geometry option. In some cases, you may want to limit
the distortion of elements created by projecting the midside nodes. If this is the case, check Max Distortion Angle
and enter the max allowable distortion angle.

10.0-26
Finite Element Modeling
Connect Edge Nodes
When this option is turned on, FEMAP will use existing nodes on edges of adjacent surfaces instead of creating
new nodes when at least one of the adjacent surfaces has already been meshed. This option is only applicable when
the adjacent surfaces are stitched together to form a solid (or sheet solid) or joined together into a “general body”
using Geometry, Surface, Non-Manifold Add
.
Three Surfaces stitched together using
Geometry, Solid, Stitch command
Surfaces 1 and 3 meshed at the same time
Free Edge Plot of existing mesh on
Surfaces 1 and 3
Edges surface 2 shares with previously
meshed adjacent surfaces 1 and 3
Free Edge Plot after meshing surface 2 with
“Connect Edge Nodes” turned ON
Free Edge Plot after meshing surface 2 with
“Connect Edge Nodes” turned OFF
Smoothing
These options are the same as those described in the Mesh, Smooth command. After an initial mesh is generated, it
is automatically smoothed to reduce element distortions. You will usually just want to accept the default values for
these options. For more information, see Section 5.3.4, "Mesh, Smooth...".
Offset
Allows you to automatically offset the surface mesh so the Top Face (Face 1) or Bottom Face (Face 2) of shell elements
will be aligned with the surface(s) currently being meshed. There is also an option to simply offset the mesh
away from the Centerline of the elements (default) a specified amount. Entering a positive number will offset the
mesh towards the Top Face (Face 1) of the elements, while entering a negative value will offset towards the Bottom
Face (Face 2).
Note:
The best way to determine which face is the Top Face and which face is the Bottom Face is to view the
normal direction of the elements. This can be accomplished by setting options for the Element - Direction
option in the Labels, Entities and Color category of the View, Options command (See Section
6.1.5.3, "View, Options..."). To see the “normal vector” on each element, choose “1..Normal Vectors”
from the Normal Style list, check the box next Show Direction and then click Apply or OK. The arrow
representing the normal vector points towards the Top Face of the element.
For Example, the “thicker” Black lines represent a Surface. Elements are shown with Normal Vectors “on”.
Mesh with no offsets
(Centerline of Elements
Aligned with Surface)
Mesh Offset so “Top
Face” of elements Aligned
with Surface
Mesh Offset so “Bottom
Face” of elements Aligned
with Surface
Mesh Offset from element
Centerline a specified
“positive” distance from
surface
Mapped Meshing Options
When Mapped Meshing is set to Off, FEMAP will simply mesh the selected surface(s) with a “free mesh”, unless a
“Mapped Meshing Approach” is set. If Mapped Meshing is On, FEMAP will attempt to create a “Mapped Mesh”.

Surface Meshing 10.0-27
FEMAP uses the values set for Max Angle Deviation and Min Corner Angle to determine “corners” it can use to
attempt a mapped mesh on surfaces.
There are several other options available:
• Equal Sides Only - FEMAP will only attempt a mapped mesh on surface(s) with equal mesh sizing on opposing
“sides” of the surface(s). The “sides” are the curve(s) between the “corners” the mesher locates.
• Map Subdivisions - As the “subdivision” meshers “subdivide” the geometry during the meshing process, the
mesher will determine if each “subdivision” can by mapped meshed. If possible, that portion of the surface will
be mapped meshed and then “smoothed” using the current Smoothing settings to create the overall surface
mesh.
• Split Quad Map - Only available when using the Tri option in the Mesher section. FEMAP will actually create a
quad mesh first and then split the quads into the best possible triangles using the same approach as the Modify,
Update Elements, Split Quads command.
Triangle Mesh using Split
Curved Geometry
Default Triangle Mesh Quad Map Option
• Alternate - Only available when using one of the Tri options in the Mesher section. The mesher will attempt to
alternate the direction of triangles which are side by side instead of having them all go in one direction.
• Right Bias - Only available when using one of the Tri options in the Mesher section. The mesher uses the opposite
direction to start when choosing the direction of the triangles.
Triangle Mesher Mapped Off Mapped On
Mapped On
Alternate On
Mapped On
Right Bias On
Mapped On
Alternate and
Right Bias On
Subdivision
Fast Tri
3-D Tri
Subdivision Options (Tri Mesher set to Subdivision, Quad Mesher only)
These options control the size and shape of the mesh inside the boundary. The elements along the boundary edges
are defined by the mesh sizes that you choose and are unaffected by these settings. Those mesh sizes also have substantial
impact on the interior of the mesh, but these options give you additional control.
Post-Meshing Cleanup
This option, which is on by default, attempts to eliminate specific “patterns” in a mesh in an effort to create an
overall higher quality mesh. It also does additional element checking in an attempt to eliminate meshing situations
which may cause problems with surface and/or solid meshing.

10.0-28
Finite Element Modeling
Additional clean-up includes inserting extra mesh points on long cylindrical surfaces with course mesh sizing. This
eliminates the possibility of elements “bridging the gap” resulting in a “collapsed” hole.
Note:
In almost all cases, this option should be turned “on”, as it will usually create a better overall mesh. The
only potential drawback to using this option is the possibility that the “clean-up” will replace “patterns”
with less elements and therefore create a slightly courser mesh than expected.
Here are a few examples of mesh patterns which will be recognized and the resulting mesh after the “clean-up”.
Patterns
“Diamond” elements eliminated
Original After Clean-up
Quad Edge Layers
This option specifies the number of layers of quadrilateral elements that FEMAP will attempt to place around every
boundary curve on a surface. You can choose to have either 1, 2, or 3 layers of quads around each boundary curve
of a surface, including internal curves from the drop-down list. Additionally, you may enter a number higher than 3
directly into the field and the mesher will attempt to create the specified number of quad element layers. If there is
not enough room for the requested number of layers based on the mesh size, FEMAP will try to put as many layers
of quads in as possible. The process goes one layer at a time, meaning that one layer of quads will be placed around
all boundary curves (external curves first, internal curves second) before a second layer of quads will be attempted.
In many cases, more layers will produce a higher quality mesh, but on some pieces of geometry using only 1 or 2
layers may produce better overall mesh quality than using 3 or more layers.
0 Layers 1 Layers
2 Layers
3 Layers 5 Layers
Min Elements Between Boundaries
As a boundary is being meshed, groups of elements are often generated between two opposite edges of a boundary.
Sometimes, the mesh sizes that you have defined are large enough that a single element will span the distance
between surfaces. Since this may not be enough refinement for the model that you are creating, you can control this
behavior by setting a minimum number of elements that must be created between any boundary edges.
Setting this parameter does not guarantee that you will get that number of elements between every edge. But wherever
possible (based on compatibility with your surface mesh sizes) that number of elements or greater will be created.
It is usually best to leave this parameter set to 1 initially, then if the results are undesirable, undo the mesh and try it
again with the number increased. Setting this number greater than 1 can greatly increase the number of elements
that are generated.

Surface Meshing 10.0-29
You will usually only have to set this option if you are meshing a
Min Elements = 1
surface that is long and thin relative to the mesh size, or one that has
long, thin “appendages”, as this example demonstrates.
Max Element Aspect Ratio
Min Elements = 3 (or 2)
Like the Min Elements setting described above, this option controls
the elements inside the mesh. In this case however, control over the
number of elements is only a secondary effect of this option. Primarily,
this number is used as a guideline for how “long” elements can
be relative to their “width”. You must always specify a value that is greater than or equal to 1.0. Smaller numbers
usually create slightly more uniform meshes with elements that are better shaped. Large numbers can lead to
severely distorted elements. If you make a mesh that contains long, thin or distorted elements, try again with a
smaller aspect ratio.
Quick-Cut boundaries with More Than “n” Nodes (n = 300 by default)
Meshing large non-uniform surfaces can often take some time. Turning this option on shortens the time required
while usually having minimal impact on the overall mesh quality. If you want the best possible mesh, and are willing
to wait, turn this option off. You can also control the threshold by setting the number of nodes to a smaller or
larger number. Do not reduce the number of nodes too much, or mesh quality will substantially decrease.
Cut Quads with Angle Deviation Above “n” deg (n = 60 degress by default)
Typically, quadrilateral elements with an angle deviation above 60 degrees will have poor element quality. Triangles
are created wherever a quadrilateral would be severely distorted. You can override the default 60 degree allowable
distortion with any value that you want. Lower distortion values will result in more triangles in your mesh.
Element Shape
Quad Mesher
Although the mesher is called Quad, it is physically impossible on some surfaces with certain mesh sizing to create
a mesh using “all quads” without some being highly distorted. The Quad option will generate quadrilateral elements
whenever possible using a “subdivision” approach in the “parametric space” of each surface being meshed.
Note:
You must always get at least one triangle if you specify an odd number of nodes on the surface.) Triangles
are created wherever quadrilaterals cannot meet the specified boundary mesh sizes and wherever a
quadrilateral would be severely distorted.
Tri Meshers
These options control the creation of triangular elements in your mesh. If you want to create all triangles (Tri
option), you may choose from the Subdivision, Fast Tri, or 3-D Tri options. Use the Auto option to have FEMAP
choose which Tri meshing option should be used on each surface.
• Subdivision - FEMAP’s original triangle mesher. It creates triangle elements by making subdivisions of a surface
based on “parametric space”. It works very similar to the Quad mesher, but instead of making 90 degree
“splits” to create quadrilateral elements, it makes 60 degree “splits” to make triangles. In a few cases, it may
produce better quality mesh than the Fast Tri or 3-D Tri meshers.
• Fast Tri - creates large triangles in “2-D parametric space” of a surface (U and V directions) then creates the
final mesh through a process of splitting and improving the shape of the triangles based on where they are positioned
in each surface’s “parametric space”. The Fast Tri mesher generally produces fewer triangles with better
aspect ratios than the Subdivision mesher. This technique works particularly well if you have a long thin surface
with holes.
• 3-D Tri - uses the “facets” of each surface as a “triangular seed mesh”, then uses a similar “splitting and
improving triangle shape” technique as the Fast Tri mesher, except it evaluates the shape of the triangles in true
“3-D space” instead of the surface’s “parametric space”. Also, the nodes are constantly projected back to each

10.0-30
Finite Element Modeling
surface to match the actual shape of the surface as closely as possible. In many cases, this will produce the best
quality mesh and is the recommended option for meshing “boundary surfaces” created from surfaces which are
part of a solid or stitched sheet solid.
Note:
One of the only drawbacks to using the 3-D Tri mesher, is when trying to mesh surfaces which “wrap
around” with a large amount of curvature over a short distance. When using a relatively course mesh
size on this type of surface, the mesher may create elements which do not follow the curvature of the
surface properly, as a better shaped element can be created without following the curvature based on the
positions of the nodes in 3-D space.
Meshing a surface which has already been meshed
If you choose a surface to mesh which has already been
meshed, FEMAP will give you three options:
•Delete Existing Mesh and Remesh - Simply deletes the
mesh and remeshes the surface.
•Skip Meshed Surfaces - If you have chosen a number of surfaces
to mesh, some of which have already been meshed,
only the surfaces which currently are not meshed will be
meshed.
•Create Duplicate Meshes on Meshed Surfaces - Usually
used when you want to “skin” a solid mesh with a shell mesh.
Surface Mesh Attributes dialog box
... is used to assign meshing attributes to one or more surfaces. Simply choose a surface element property to be
assigned to the surface(s) and specify the desired mesh options. The mesh options are identical to the ones which
can be specified when using the Mesh, Geometry, Surface command (See "Automesh Surfaces dialog box" section
for descriptions of the meshing options). Press the New Property “icon button” if you have not already created the
property that you need.
Once attributes have been defined, surfaces can be easily meshed with elements, as properties (thicknesses, materials...)
will be automatically assigned. Attributes are automatically assigned once a surface has been meshed.

Solid Tetrahedral Meshing 10.0-31
If you want to assign offsets to the planar elements (typically plates only), specify an option in the Offset portion of
this dialog box. You can offset the mesh to align the “Top Face” (Face 1) of the elements to the surface, align the
“Bottom Face” (Face 2) to the surface, or enter an offset from the “Centerline” directly (Positive values offset the
mesh towards Face 1, negative values offset towards Face 2).
By default, both the property and mesh options will be set for all of the selected surfaces. If you only want to
change the property of a number of surfaces but leave each surface’s meshing options intact, make sure that Update
Property is “checked” and Update Other Attributes is “unchecked”. Vice versa, if you only want to change the
mesh options, but leave the properties assigned to each surface intact, uncheck Update Property and check Update
Other Attributes.
If you would like to clear all of the attributes from the selected surface(s), click the Remove Attributes button.
Solid Tetrahedral Meshing
FEMAP’s tetrahedral mesher uses a triangular surface mesh as the basis for creating the solid mesh. Improved surface
meshing, discussed in the previous section, has a lot to do with improved solid tetrahedral meshing in version
10. Other options for initial sizing, using a “recovery mesher”, sending element quality to the Data Table, and locating
problem areas which have caused the tet mesher to fail have also been added.
Also new for 10, if the tet mesher fails, FEMAP will ask “OK to Update Selector and Data Table with # nodes
causing errors?”. If you answer Yes, the “problem” nodes will be sent to the selection list and Data Table for easy
identification using the Show When Selected tool in the Model Info tree and Data Table.
• Added Initial Size Ratio option to the Automesh Solids dialog box. The Initial Size Ratio is another meshing
control you can use to change the number of elements the tetrahedral mesher creates. The default value of
“0.5001” should give you the best “mesh quality” with the least number of elements possible.
• Updated Adjust Nodal Precision option is to be on by default.

10.0-32
Finite Element Modeling
• Added Recovery Mesher (Use only if Standard Mesher fails) option to the Solid Automeshing Options. This
option should ONLY be checked if the standard mesher has already failed. The tet-mesher contains a special
“boundary recovering” mesher which will attempt to create a volume mesh starting from extremely poor quality
surface mesh (almost flat triangles on the surface, high density propagation, extreme aspect ratios, etc.) which
fail with the standard mesher. The resulting volume mesh will likely have a very poor quality and this mesher
should only be used when a volume mesh is absolutely required, regardless of element quality,
Note:
If the surface mesh is invalid or not watertight (it contains holes, overlaps, gaps, self intersections, etc.)
this “boundary recovering” mesher will not repair the surface mesh and not create a volume mesh.
• Added Update Data Table with Mesh Quality option to the Solid Automeshing Options. The Data Table needs
to be open in FEMAP for this option to be available. If the Data Table is locked, FEMAP will ask if you want to
unlock it when leaving the Solid Automeshing Options dialog box. When this option is checked, every element
created in the current meshing operation will be added to the Data Table along with corresponding values for
“Tet Collapse” and “Jacobian” element quality checks.
• Updated the feedback sent to the Messages window during tet-meshing. FEMAP will produce status messages
while the tetrahedral meshing is occurring and provide feedback on element numbers and quality. The table in
the Surface Mesh Quality section of the listing displays the number of elements which fall into each range of
values using FEMAP’s “Minimum Angle” element quality check, while the table in the Tetrahedral Mesh
Quality section contains similar listings of values for “Tet Collapse” and “Jacobian”. For more information on
how FEMAP calculates element quality, please see Section 7.4.5.6, "Tools, Check, Distortion...".
The following is a sample of a typical status message list sent to the Messages window during the tetrahedral meshing
process:

Mesh Associativity 10.0-33
Mesh Associativity
Modify, Associativity, Automatic
There is a new command under the Modify, Associativity menu. It contains the Automatic command which is
designed to automatically associate a solid mesh with solids or shell mesh with surfaces (sheet solids).
This command will attempt to associate the nodes of
selected elements with selected solids (Tet or Hex Elements)
or surfaces/sheet solids (Shell Elements). In addition
to the nodes and elements being associated to the main
entity (solids or surfaces/sheet solids), they will then also be
associated to the surfaces of solids, curves on those surfaces,
and points on those curves allowing you to use geometry
based commands in FEMAP (i.e., Loads and
Constraints on geometry, any selection method using a geometric
entity, etc.).
There are a few options in the Automatic Geometry Associativity
dialog box. The Search Tolerance is used as a tolerance
for attachment. If a node from a selected element is not
within this distance to any of the selected geometry, it will
not be attached. By default, the Search Tolerance is the
Merge Tolerance set in Tools, Parameters.
The Remove All Previous Associativity is on by default and should be on if you are taking an entire finite element
model and trying to attach it to selected geometric entities.
Check Solid Element Containment in Multiple Solids is only available when tet or hex elements have been selected.
This first runs a check of all the element centroids to determine which elements are “inside” which solid. FEMAP
then goes about attaching the nodes of those elements to each solid one at a time. On by default and should probably
remain on when you have chosen multiple solids, although command will run faster when this option is off.
Attach Midside Nodes Even if not in Tolerance option will attach any
midside nodes on elements that have been attached, even if these midside
nodes are not within the distance specified in Search Tolerance.
Group Nodes/Elements not Associated will create a group with all of the
selected nodes and elements which were NOT attached to any geometry
during the command and turning on Detailed Associativity Summary
will create a summery of the attached entities to the Messages window.
This command is very useful if you have an analysis model and the
original geometry from which the model was created. Also, if you try to
attach nodes and elements to geometry which is completely different,
chances are the command will not be very successful.
Properties
• Added Section Evaluation option to Cross Section Definition dialog box for Beam, Bar, and Curved Beam
Properties (FEMAP 10.0.1).
• Added PBEAML/PBARL to Section Evaluation for use with Nastran PBEAML/PBARLs. The PBEAML/
PBARL evaluation method is always used whem importing a Nastran input file that contains PBEAMLs and/or
PBARLs (FEMAP 10.0.1).
• Modified the Weld property to be the Weld/Fastener property.
• Added switch to specify if the property will used with CWELD (Weld) or CFAST (Fastener) elements. All Weld
property inputs are the same as before.
• Added property inputs for CFAST (Fastener) elements.

10.0-34
Finite Element Modeling
CFAST
Options in the Define Property - WELD/FASTENER Element Type dialog box when CFAST is chosen.
Diameter - This value represents the diameter of the virtual fastener, which is used to locate the virtual grids
(nodes) on the shell element patch.
Mass - Mass of the fastener.
Struc Damping - Structural damping of fastener
Material CSys - Material Coordinate System in which translational (KTX, KTY, and KTZ) and rotational stiffness
(KRX, KRY, and KRZ) are applied. This option is unchecked by default and Nastran uses a predefined method to
determine the x, y, and z-axis of the fastener element. Please see Note below
Note:
When unchecked, the x-axis of the fastener element will be colinear to a vector from the location the
fastener intersects “Patch 1” (Element ID or Property ID) to the location the fastener intersects “Patch
2”, which is defined when creating the element. The y-axis will then be perpendicular to the element x-
axis and oriented to the closest basic coordinate axis (in case of identical proximity, basic x-axis first,
then y, then z will be chosen for orientation). Finally, the z-axis is the cross product of the element x-
axis and z-axis.
Absolute - When checked, specifies the Material Coordinate System is an “Absolute” Coordinate System.
Unchecked specifies the Material Coordinate System is a “Relative” Coordinate System.
KTX, KTY, and KTZ - These values represent the translational stiffness of the fastener in the x, y, and z-axis
specified for the element.
KRX, KRY, and KRZ - These values represent the rotational stiffness of the fastener in the x, y, and z-axis specified
for the element.

Functions 10.0-35
Functions
• Added dynamic XY plotting of functions to the Function Definition dialog box.
Loads and Constraints
• Modified Directional Pressure loads to no longer be affected by choosing a particular element face. Older models
with these types of loads will be converted to the new standard, but will be modified in the version 10 in
such a way to create the same analysis input file as FEMAP 9.3.1 and earlier.
• Added option to apply nodal constraints using the “-1..Use Nodal Output System” option when choosing a
coordinate system. Allows you to NOT force the nodal output CSys to be updated to the constraint CSys.
Connections (Connection Properties, Regions, and Connectors)
• Updated Connection Regions to support 2-D contact in NX Nastran Solution 601.
Connection Regions for 2-D contact in Solution 601 of NX Nastran (usually in conjunction with axisymmetric elements)
must be defined using nodes only and are written out to the Nastran file as BLSEG entries. The nodes must
be selected in proper order with contact occurring to the “left side” of the region. The BCTSET entry is used to
specify which BLSEG entries are in contact with one another. If a BLSEG is specified as “Rigid”, it must be the
“target” in the Connector (Contact Pair). BLSEG entries in Nastran input files for solution sequences other than
Solution 601 represent “slideline” elements.
There were several enhancements to the NX Nastran Connection Properties:
NX Linear tab
• Moved Normal Penalty Factor and Tangential Penalty Factor from the Contact Property (BCTPARM) section
to the Common Contact (BCTPARM) and Glue Parameters (BGPARM) section.
• Moved Shell Z-Offset from Glued Contact Property (BGSET and BGPARM) section to Contact Property (BCT-
PARM) section.
• Removed Penalty Factor from Glued Contact Property (BGSET and BGPARM) section.
• Replaced Num Allow Contact Changes with Convergence Criteria and Num For Convergence in the Contact
Property (BCTPARM) section. Together, these two values create the NCHG field on the BCTPARM entry.

10.0-36
Finite Element Modeling
• Added Contact Inactive to the Contact Property (BCTPARM) section. Creates the CSTRAT field on the BCT-
PARM entry.
• Added Penalty Factor Units to Common Contact (BCTPARM) and Glue Parameters (BGPARM) section. Creates
the PENTYP field on the BCTPARM or PGPARM entry.
NX Adv Nonlin tab
• Added Glued Contact Property (BGSET) section with Extension Factor option. Extension Factor enters a value
in the EXTi field specified on the BGSET entry for the contact pair “i”. Specifies an “extension factor” for the
target region.
• Removed the Time Activation section and moved Birth Time and Death Time options to the General section.
• Added Friction Delay option to Standard Contact Algorithm section.
• Moved all options found in the Rigid Target Contact Algorithm section except Normal Modulus to a the Old
Algorithm (RTALG=1 on NXSTRAT) section of the NX Adv Nonlin Rigid Target Algorithm dialog box, which is
accessed by clicking the Rigid Target Options button. Normal Modulus is found in Common Options.
• Added Penetration Cutback and Max Penetration options to the Old Algorithm (RTALG=1 on NXSTRAT) section
of the NX Adv Nonlin Rigid Target Algorithm dialog box.
• Added Max Tensile Contact Force (TFORCE), Max Sliding Velocity (SLIDVEL), Oscillation Check
(OCHECK), Contact Gap (GAPBIAS), and Offset Method (OFFDET) options to the Current Algorithm
(RTALG=0 on NXSTRAT) section of the NX Adv Nonlin Rigid Target Algorithm dialog box.
NX Explicit tab
• Renamed Rigid Contact Algorithm section to Old Rigid Contact Algorithm section.
• Added Current Rigid Target Algorithm section with Max Sliding Velocity (SLIDVEL), Contact Gap (GAP-
BIAS), and Offset Method (OFFDET) options.
Geometry
• Updated Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Update Surfaces flag to be on by default.
• Added Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Offset Curve/Washer command.

Geometry 10.0-37
Washer mode should only be used for circular holes on planar surfaces, while Offset Curves is a more “general”
mode that can be used for oblong holes, slots, and other “general shapes” on many different types of geometric surfaces.
In either mode, once you click OK in the Define Washer or Offset Curves dialog box, FEMAP will ask you to select
the appropriate curves to offset. For Washer mode, only curves that make up circular holes will be eligible for
selection and only one curve per hole is required. In Offset Curves mode, all types of curves are eligible for selection
and you will want to select all curves to be offset.
Clicking Cancel in the Entity Selection - Select Edges dialog box FEMAP will return you to the Define Washer or
Offset Curves dialog box. You can now change the mode and size options, then click OK and choose different
curves. Click Cancel in the Define Washer or Offset Curves dialog box to exit the command.
Washer Mode
In Washer mode you will first want to enter an Offset, then choose whether or not to Save Split Lines. By saving the
“split lines”, a line will be created from the end points of each curve in the circular hole to the end points of the new
offset curves, which will create an individual surface set-up for mapped meshing.
With “Save Split
Lines” Checked
Without “Save Split
Lines” Checked
Offset Curves Mode
In Offset Curves mode you also enter an Offset, but in this mode you have more choices. Again, you can choose
whether or not to Save Split Lines, but this time every selected curve will get an individual surface set-up for
mapped meshing.
Without “Save Split
Lines” Checked
With “Save Split
Lines” Checked

10.0-38
Finite Element Modeling
AutoSelect Surfaces will automatically offset the selected curves to ALL of the surfaces connected to those curves.
If you would like to choose which surfaces get the new offset curves, uncheck AutoSelect Surfaces. You will be
prompted for the surfaces after you have selected the curves and clicked OK.
With “AutoSelect
Surfaces” checked
With “AutoSelect
Surfaces” unchecked
and only top surface
selected.
When Extend Splits is on, FEMAP will try to extend all offset curves that do not meet up with another offset curve
to the closest edge of the surface onto which the curve was offset. In most cases, this should be checked if Save
Split Lines has not been checked.
With “Extend Splits” unchecked
Curve does not extend
Enough to break surface fully.
With “Extend Splits” checked
Curve extends to
fully break surface

Geometry 10.0-39
If Update Surfaces is on, the affected surface will also be partitioned by this command.
Note:
Due to the process used in the Offset Curves mode, the specified Offset can not be larger than the radius
of any of the chosen curves. If you receive the message “Error sweeping along edge curves, offset not
possible”, try again using an Offset value reduced the by 25 %.
Also, many times a larger offset can be used in conjugation with the Save Split Lines option turned on.
• Added Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Pad command.
Requires you to choose a circular edge on a surface to create a “pad” pattern around the hole. The “pad” pattern
essentially creates a square a specified distance away from the center of the circular edge and then connects the
midpoints of each line of the square to four points on the circle (usually located at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees).
The distance the curves of the pad are positioned from the selected hole
is determined by the Pad Size Factor.
The Pad Size Factor uses the diameter of the hole to calculate the size of
the pad. If it is set to “1”, the pad will extend out half the length of the
diameter (the radius) in all directions. If it is set to “1.25”, it will create
the lines 0.625 times the radius in all directions, while setting it to “0.75”
will create the lines 0.375 times the radius.
When Setup Mapped Meshing is on, the four newly created surfaces will
automatically have a “Four Corner” mesh approach set on them. For more information on mesh approaches, see
Section 5.1.1.15, "Mesh, Mesh Control, Approach On Surface".
Pad Size Factor = 0.75 Pad Size Factor = 1.0 Pad Size Factor = 1.25
If only a portion of a hole has been selected (a curve which is not 180 degrees or a full 360 degree curve), you will
also be prompted for a Pad/Width Length, select a point as the Pad Center, then specify an Pad Alignment Vector.
If Update Surfaces is on , the affected surface will also be partitioned by this command.
• Added Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Point to Point command.
Creates a parametric curve along a surface by choosing a start point and an end point.
If Update Surfaces is on, the affected surface will also be partitioned by this command.
• Added Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Point to Edge command.

10.0-40
Finite Element Modeling
Creates a parametric curve along a surface by choosing a point and then a curve on the same surface. The location
of the newly created point on the chosen curve is created by projecting the chosen point onto the selected curve
using the shortest possible distance.
Selected Curve
If Update Surfaces is on, the affected surface will also be partitioned by this command.
• Added Geometry, Curve - From Surface, Edge to Edge command.
Creates parametric curves along a surface by choosing a single curve (To Curve) on a surface and then a choosing
any number of curves also on that surface (From Curves). The locations of the newly created points on the “From
Curve” are created by projecting the end points of all the “To Curves” onto the “From Curve” using the shortest
possible distance and then joining the two sets of points with parametric curves.
“From Curves”
“To Curve”
If Update Surfaces is on, the affected surface will also be partitioned by this command.
• Added “Measure Distance” icon button to Geometry, Midsurface, Automatic command.
• Added Geometry, Midsurface, Offset Tangent Surfaces command.
This command is for use on solids of constant thickness only. You will be prompted for a “seed surface”, then a
“tangency tolerance”. All of the surfaces tangent to the “seed surface” within the “tangency tolerance” will be chosen
and highlighted. Next a “Mid-Surface Tangent Offset” value needs to be entered. This value is the distance
used to offset the selected surfaces towards the middle of the solid part. FEMAP will attempt to calculate this value
automatically and will fill the value in if successful. The offset surfaces will be automatically stitched together and
finally you will be asked if you want to delete the original solid.

Geometry 10.0-41
Original geometry
Surface selected as “Seed Surface”
Tangent Surfaces Selected
Resulting midsurface geometry
(original Geometry deleted)
• Added “Ok to Consolidate Properties by Thickness?” question to Geometry, Midsurface, Assign Mesh
Attributes command after the material has been chosen.
If you answer No, each selected surface will have an individual property created representing the thickness of that
portion of the model and assigned to that surface only. If you answer Yes, you will also be prompted for a “thickness
percentage tolerance” and any surfaces which have the same thickness, within the specified tolerance, will
have a single property created for all of them, then assigned. Along with the property information, the mesh options
on each surface will set to use the Quad surface mesher
• Added Geometry, Surface, NonManifold Add command.
Allows you to create “Non-Manifold Solid Geometry”, an option in the Parasolid modeling kernel which creates
“General Bodies” as opposed to regular solids (FEMAP solids) and sheet solids (FEMAP surfaces). The command
allows you to Boolean Add sheet solids to one another, as well as add “sheet solids” to Parasolid “solids”.
The use of Non-Manifold Geometry can be very useful in creation of mid-surface models with “T-Junctions”, models
where shell elements (2-D) and solid elements (3-D) need to be connected and portions of the shell mesh are
embedded into the solid mesh, and “solids” with internal “surfaces” used in certain types of analysis.
Note:
When bodies have been added together using “NonManifold Add”, many of the other commands on the
Geometry, Solid... menu will not function as they did before the geometry was changed from regular
geometry to “general body” geometry. A good idea is to have both the surfaces and solids “ready to go”
before using the “NonManifold Add” command.
If you need to stitch or add more bodies into those that have been put together with this command, you
will want to use the Geometry, Surface, Recover Manifold Geometry command to recover component
solids and sheet solids, which will allow you to use the commands on the Geometry, Solid... menu.
• Added Geometry, Surface, Recover NonManifold Geometry command.

10.0-42
Finite Element Modeling
Essentially the opposite of the Geometry, Solid, NonManifold Add command. The command will take all selected
“general bodies” in your model and separate them into component “Manifold” parasolid solids (FEMAP solids)
and sheet solids (FEMAP Surfaces). Once the “Manifold” solids and sheet solids have been recovered, the commands
on the Geometry, Solid... menu will be available to modify and operate on the geometry again.
Note:
To break a “general body” into individual sheet solids for each and every surface, use the Geometry,
Solid, Explode command.
• Added “Cleanup Mergable Curves” option to Geometry, Solid Stitch command\
When Cleanup Mergeable Curves is “on”, which is the default, FEMAP will remove all internal curves which are
redundant. The “stitched” geometry will contain as few surfaces as possible by removing curves which are not
needed to define the overall topology of the geometry. When “off”, all of the surfaces being stitched together will
remain in the geometry.
Original Geometry
Stitched Geometry
Cleanup Mergeable
Curves “On”
Stitched Geometry
Cleanup Mergeable
Curves “Off”
• Added Modify, Update Other, Solid Facetting command.
• Added option to Modify, Project, Point along Vector and Modify, Project, Node along Vector commands to
project in both directions along the vector.
Groups and Layers
Views
• Improved Group, Operations, Add Related Entities to include coordinate systems used as definition coordinate
systems for Coordinate Systems in the selected group and include reference nodes on beams when the nodes are
related to elements, properties, or materials in the selected group.
• Added options for Combined Curve, Element - Coordinate System, Combined - Eliminated Points, Combined -
Eliminated Curves, Combined - Eliminated Surfaces to the View, Options command.
• Added Rotate Around option to the View, Rotate, Model command (F8 key).

Output and Post-Processing 10.0-43
Using Rotate Around option
You may choose any defined coordinate system in FEMAP to Rotate Around (default is 0..Basic Rectangular).
This includes local coordinate systems and the chosen coordinate system will be used by both the scroll arrows and
the standard orientation buttons.
You may also choose -1..Screen Axes to have rotation via the scroll arrows occur using the screen axes where the
“screen” X axis is always horizontal to the right, Y is always upward, and Z is always a vector perpendicular to
your monitor (i.e., “out of the screen”). When -1..Screen Axes has been selected, the standard orientation buttons
default to using 0..Basic Rectangular.
• Updated Default Direction of the Mouse Wheel for Zoom to match direction of mouse movement.
Output and Post-Processing
Transforming Output (on the fly)
Added Transformation buttons for the Deformation output vector and the Contour output vector to the Select Post-
Processing Data dialog box. The Select PostProcessing Data dialog box is accessed by pressing the Deformed and
Contour Data button in the View Select dialog box, clicking the Post Data icon on the Post Toolbar, right-mouse
clicking in the graphics window and choosing Post Data from the menu, or choosing Post Data from the contextsensitive
menu when a results set is highlighted in the Model Info tree.
The Deformation and Contour Output Vectors can be transformed into different directions or coordinate systems
using the Transformation buttons. The transformed output can then be viewed using any of the options in Deformed
Style and/or Contour Style (except Beam Diagram and Contour Vector). This option is for display purposes only as
additional output vectors are not created, as they are when using the Model, Output, Transform command. Also, the
Post Titles will include information regarding the transformed output currently being displayed.
Displacement Output Vector Transformation
The Deformation Transformation dialog box
allows you to choose a Destination to transform the
chosen nodal output vector into and also which
Active Components should be displayed in the plot
of the deformation.
The Destination options are:
•None - no transformation (default)
•Into CSys - transforms the output vector into an
existing coordinate system
•Into Output CSys - transforms the nodal output
vector into each node’s specified output coordinate
system.
In Active Components, choose which component(s) of the transformed output vector should be displayed. For
instance, if you are showing “1..Total Translation” in the “2..Basic Spherical” coordinate system, you can choose to
deform the model in only the “Theta” component of the translated vector (no “R” or Phi” components).

10.0-44
Finite Element Modeling
Contour Output Vector Transformation
The Contour Transformation dialog box allows you
to transform output that references global X, Y, Z
components (like Total Translation, Reaction
Forces, etc.) into any chosen coordinate system or
into the nodal output coordinate system at each
node.
You may also transform plate element forces,
stresses, and strains into predefined “material directions”,
a selected coordinate system, or along a
specified vector from the standard output orientation
direction.
Finally, solid element stresses and strains can be
transformed into a single chosen coordinate system
or the current material direction (Material Axes)
specified on the solid properties of the solid elements
currently being displayed.
Nodal Vector Output
In the Nodal Vector Output section, you will find
these options:
•None - no transformation (default)
•Into CSys - transforms the nodal output vector into
an existing coordinate system.
• Into Node Output CSys - transforms the nodal output vector into each node’s output coordinate system.
Plate Forces, Stresses and Strains
The options for Plate Forces, Stresses and Strains are:
• None - no transformation (default)
• Into Matl Direction - transforms output using the predefined “material angle” specified for each element. You
can set the “material angle” when creating plane properties (in Define Property dialog box, choose Elem/Property
Type, then click Element Material Orientation) or at anytime using the Modify, Update Elements, Material
Angle command (for more information, see Section 4.7.3.13, "Modify, Update Elements, Material Angle..."),
which has several options.
• Into CSys - transforms the output vector to align the X-direction of output vector to the chosen X, Y, or Z component
of an existing coordinate system.
• Along Vector - transforms the output vector to align the X-direction of output vector to a vector specified by
clicking the Vector button, then using the standard vector definition dialog box.
Note:
Before using the “Into Matl Direction” method, be sure to refer to your analysis program documentation
to see how material orientation angles are used and to find any limitations.
The other input required for the proper transformation of plate element output is the definition of the original component
data, which can be selected using the Output Orientation button. Please see the Output Orientation section
below.
Solid Stresses and Strains
Stresses and Strains for solid elements are returned to FEMAP from the solver in a direction specified using the
Material Axes for each solid property prior to running the analysis (for more information, see the Solid Element
Properties heading in Section 4.2.2.3, "Volume Elements").
For Solid Stresses and Strains, you may pick from these options:
• None - no transformation (default)

Output and Post-Processing 10.0-45
• Into CSys - transforms the standard component solid stresses and strains into an existing coordinate system.
• Into Matl Direction - transforms standard component solid stresses and strains from the analysis into the current
setting for Material Axes for each solid property.
As with plate elements, the other important input needed to properly transform the output is the definition of the
original component data orientation, which can be selected using the Output Orientation button. Please see the
Output Orientation section below for more information.
For Example, model run using three different options for solid element material axis..
Solid Element Output recovered in
Global Rectangular Coordinate System
Solid Element Output recovered in
Global Spherical Coordinate System
Solid Element Output aligned to
Individual Elements
Each material axis option transformed into a specified coordinate system.
Solid Element Output recovered in
Global Rectangular Coordinate System
transformed into Global Spherical
Coordinate System.
Solid Element Output recovered in
Global Spherical Coordinate System
transformed into Global Rectangular
Coordinate System
Solid Element Output aligned to
Individual Elements transformed into
Global Spherical Coordinate System
Output Orientation
The Current Output Orientation dialog box contains the “default” output orientation for both Plane and Solid elements.
For Plane elements, there is an option for each type of output data to transform (Stress, Strain, and Force),
for each Plane element shape that may appear in the model (Tria3, Tria6, Quad4, and Quad8).
There are two options for triangular elements (“0..First Edge” or “1..Midside Locations”) with the default being
“0..First Edge”, while there are three options for quadrilateral elements (“0..First Edge”, “1..Midside Locations”, or
“2..Diagonal Bisector”) with “2..Diagonal Bisector” being the default.
For Solid elements, there are three orientation options (“0..Material Direction”, “1..Global Rectangular”, or
“2..Element”) for different material types associated with Solid properties (Isotropic, Anisotropic, or Hyperelastic).

10.0-46
Finite Element Modeling
Pressing the Reset button when the Current Output Orientation dialog box is accessed through either the Deformation
Transformation or Contour Transformation dialog box will reset all of the output orientation options to the values
currently set in the Preferences.
For more information about these various orientation options, please see the Output Orientation portion of Section
2.6.2.6, "Geometry/Model".
Consult your analysis program’s documentation concerning the original coordinate system definition.
Transforming Output (new output vectors)
You may also transform plate element forces,
stresses, and strains into the material direction, a
selected coordinate system, or along a specified
vector from the standard output direction.
Solid element stresses and strains can also be
transformed into a ca single chosen coordinate
system or the current material direction specified
for the solid properties of the selected elements.
When you choose this command, you will see the
Transform Output Data dialog box. There are
seven transform options available:
•Vector Output (into CSys)
•Vector Output (into Node Output CSys)
•Plate Forces, Stresses and Strains (into Matl
Direction)
•Plate Forces, Stresses and Strains (into CSys)
•Plate Forces, Stresses and Strains (along Vector)
•Solid Stresses and Strains (into CSys)
•Solid Stresses and Strains (into Matl Direction)
Vector Output
When you choose the Vector Output (into CSys) option:
1. Use the Into CSys field to choose the coordinate system that you want to transform into.
2. Select the output set and output vector that you want to transform. Typically you will want to pick the “Total”
vector, (like Total Translation), not a component vector (like X or T1 Translation). If you want to transform just
the vector that you select, make certain that All Sets is not checked. If you want to transform that vector in every
output set, turn on All Sets.
When using the Vector Output (into Node Output CSys) option, you will only have to do step 2 above. FEMAP will
transform the selected output vectors into each selected node’s specified output coordinate system.
What You Get - Vector Output
This command creates 12 new output vectors from the single vector that you select. These vectors are the three
transformed components of the original global data, and nine additional vectors that are the global X, Y, Z components
of the transformed components. FEMAP needs these additional nine vectors so that you can use the transformed
component vectors for deformed plots, arrow plots, or other post-processing options that work with global
components.
Plate Forces, Stresses, and Strains
These options allow you to transform standard component plate forces, stresses, and strains to a specified “material
angle”, a chosen axis of an existing coordinate system, or by simply specifying a vector.
If you want to see component stresses output using the “into Matl Direction” option, you will first want to set the
“material angle” for the elements using the Modify, Update Elements, Material Angle command (for more information,
see Section 4.7.3.13, "Modify, Update Elements, Material Angle..."), which has several options. FEMAP then

Geometry Interfaces 10.0-47
uses the material angle for each output and the standard output vectors in the selected output set (unless you select
All Sets) to transform the components into the material angle coordinate system for each element.
Note:
Before using the “into Matl Direction” method, be sure to refer to your analysis program documentation
to see how material orientation angles are used and to find any limitations.
When using the “into Csys” option, the vector and resulting angle are simply defined along a selected coordinate
direction (X, Y, or Z) of an existing coordinate system selected from the Into CSys drop-down list. This method is
especially useful if you want to align the material axes to the radial or tangential direction in a cylindrical or spherical
coordinate system.
If you choose the “along Vector” option, you will want to click the Vector button to also specify a vector. The standard
vector definition dialog box will appear to allow you to assign a vector direction. FEMAP will transform the
output for each element and align the X-direction of the output vector with the specified vector.
The other input required for the transformation of plate element output is the definition of the original component
data, which can be selected using the Output Orientation button. Please see the Output Orientation section below
for more information. The new component plate forces, stresses, and strains will be placed in the user defined output
vector numbers (9,000,000+).
Solid Stresses and Strains
These options allow you to transform standard component solid stresses and strains from the Material Axes specified
for each solid property prior to running the analysis (for more information, see the Solid Element Properties
heading in Section 4.2.2.3, "Volume Elements") to a specified existing coordinate system or the current setting for
Material Axes for each solid property.
As with plate elements, the other important input needed to properly transform the output is the definition of the
original component data orientation, which can be selected using the Output Orientation button. Please see the
Output Orientation section below for more information. The new component solid stresses and strains will be
placed in the user defined output vector numbers (9,000,000+).
Output Orientation
The Current Output Orientation dialog box contains the “default” output orientation for both Plate and Solid elements.
For plane elements, there is an option for each type of output data to transform (Stress, Strain, and Force),
for each plane element shape that may appear in the model (Tria3, Tria6, Quad4, and Quad8).
There are two options for triangular elements (“0..First Edge” or “1..Midside Locations”) with the default being
“0..First Edge”, while there are three options for quadrilateral elements (“0..First Edge”, “1..Midside Locations”, or
“2..Diagonal Bisector”) with “2..Diagonal Bisector” being the default.
For solids, there are three orientation options (“0..Material Direction”, “1..Global Rectangular”, or “2..Element”)
for different material types associated with solid properties (Isotropic, Anisotropic, and Hyperelastic).
Pressing the Reset button when the Current Output Orientation dialog box is accessed through either the Transform
Output Data dialog box will reset all of the output orientation options to the values currently set in the Preferences.
For more information about these various orientation options, please see the Output Orientation portion of Section
2.6.2.6, "Geometry/Model".
Geometry Interfaces
• Added support for direct geometry import of SolidWorks parts and assemblies.
• Changed CATIA V5 direct geometry translator. CATIA V5 versions R7 to R18 are supported. Reading of CAT-
Parts and CATProducts created using versions prior to R7 is not supported
The following FEMAP interfaces have been updated to support newer geometry formats:
FEMAP Interface
Latest Supported Version
Parasolid Parasolid 20.0
Solid Edge Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology (V 21)
NX NX 6
Pro/Engineer Wildfire 4

10.0-48
Finite Element Modeling
For details, see “Geometry Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
Analysis Program Interfaces
Several of the analysis program interfaces have been improved. These changes include:
• “Analysis Set Manager Enhancements” on page 48
• “FEMAP Neutral File Interface” on page 48
• “NX Nastran Interface” on page 48
• “Nastran Interfaces (NX and MSC/MD)” on page 49
• “MSC/MD Nastran Interface” on page 49
• “NEi Nastran Interface” on page 49
• “ANSYS Interface” on page 49
• “ABAQUS Interface” on page 50
• “DYNA Interface” on page 50
Analysis Set Manager Enhancements
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
• Added Analyze Multiple option. This accesses a multi-select dialog box which allows you to pick any number
of Analysis Sets and run them one after another.
FEMAP Neutral File Interface
• Removed option for choosing Binary and Formatted in File Format Section. All Neutral files are Formatted.
• Updated Neutral Read and Write for v10.0 changes
NX Nastran Interface
FEMAP Interface
ACIS ACIS 19 Service Pack 1
CATIA V5 V5 release 18
SolidWorks SolidWorks 2009
Latest Supported Version
A number of bugs were corrected
• Added support for triangle and quadrilateral axisymmetric elements (CTRAX3, CTRAX6, CQUADX4, and
CQUADX8), which were new for NX Nastran version 6.
• Added option for “Extended Solution Status Monitoring”. Writes SYSTEM(442)=-1 to the *.dat file. This
option is on by default and the feedback it produces is used by the NX Nastran Analysis Monitor
• Added BOLTFACT to the PARAM section of the NASTRAN Bulk Data Options dialog box.
• Added “Gaps as Contact” to the “Plate, Beam, and Rigid” section of the NASTRAN Bulk Data Options dialog
box. Writes out a BCSET entry in Case Control.
• Added Support for CQUADR and CTRIAR Composite Stress and Strain output from the op2.
Solution 601 updates
• Added “Large Strain Form” (ULFORM), “Incompatible Mode for 4 Node Shells” (ICMODE), “Max Disp/Iteration”
(MAXDISP), and “Drilling DOF Factor” (DRILLKF) options to the Analysis Options section of
NXSTRAT Solver Parameters dialog box.
• Added “Bolt Force Increments” (BOLTSTP), “Convert Dependency to True Stress” (CVSSVAL), and “Allow
Element Rupture” (XTCURVE) options to the Other Parameters section of NXSTRAT Solver Parameters dialog
box.

Nastran Interfaces (NX and MSC/MD) 10.0-49
• Added “Line Search Lower Bound” (LSLOWER) and “Line Search Lower Bound” (LSUPPER) options to the
Line Search Setting section of NXSTRAT Iterations and Convergence Parameters dialog box.
• Added “Do not allow Consistent Contact Forces” (TNSLCF) and “Use Old Rigid Target Algorithm”
(RTALG=1) options to the Contact Control section of NXSTRAT Iterations and Convergence Parameters dialog
box.
• Changed “Segment Type” (CSTYPE) options from “0..Old” and “1..New” to “0..Linear Contact” and “1..Element
based” in the Contact Control section of NXSTRAT Iterations and Convergence Parameters dialog box.
• Added support for 2-D Contact, usually used in analysis with axisymmetric elements.
• Added support for Glued Contact.
Solution 701 updates
• Added Contact Control section to NXSTRAT Solver Parameters dialog box. Added “Segment Type”
(CSTYPE) and “Use Old Rigid Target Algorithm” (RTALG=1) to this section.
• Added Other Parameters section to NXSTRAT Solver Parameters dialog box. Added “Convert Dependency to
True Stress” (CVSSVAL) and “Allow Element Rupture” (XTCURVE) options to this section.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
Nastran Interfaces (NX and MSC/MD)
• Added support for “-2..Automatic(Statics)” for INREL to the PARAM section of the NASTRAN Bulk Data
Options dialog box.
• Added support for SUPORT1 to the Boundary Conditions dialog box.
• Added support for Fastener elements (CFAST) and properties (PFAST).
• Added support for spring/damper elements (CELAS1 and CDAMP1) which use a property (PELAS and
PDAMP). How the spring/damper elements are exported to the Nastran input file is controlled via the element
formulation.
• Added Beam/Bar Cross-Section Dimensions as comments when Nastran input file is written. When a Nastran
file with these comments is imported into FEMAP, the Beam/Bar Cross-Section Dimensions will be filled-in.
• Added support for reading Nastran Free-Field Auto Continuation (long entries with or without embedded continuation
fields and large-field free field).
• Changed SESTATICS to SESTATIC, which is correct for Nastran
• Supported reading results from multiple subcases (and not overwriting) from modal frequency and nonlinear
(static and transient)
A number of bugs were corrected
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
MSC/MD Nastran Interface
A number of bugs were corrected.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
NEi Nastran Interface
A number of bugs were corrected.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
ANSYS Interface
• Added support for MPC184 rigid beam/link elements. Specified using element Formulation.
• Added support for output from rigid elements (Rigid Axial Force, Rigid Y Moment, Rigid Z Moment, Rigid Y
Shear Force, Rigid Z Shear Force, and Rigid Torsional Moment)

10.0-50
Finite Element Modeling
A number of bugs were corrected.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
ABAQUS Interface
A number of bugs were corrected.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
DYNA Interface
Tools
• Added support for 10-noded tetrahedral elements. Also, added “16..10 Node Tetrahedron - EQ 16” and “17..10
Node Composite Tetrahedron” formulations.
• Added support for Rigid and Interpolation elements. Writes *CONSTRAINED_NODAL_RIGID_BODY
(Rigid) and *CONSTRAINED_INTERPOLATION (Interpolation) entries.
A number of bugs were corrected.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
Check, Coincident Elem...
• Added choice between Quick Check (Just Corners) and Full Check and added Check Rigid Element option.
Quick Check (Just Corners)
FEMAP will only compare elements with the same number of “end” or “corner” nodes to one another to determine
if they are coincident. This option will find a linear element and parabolic element coincident if the two elements
share all corner nodes. You can only use the Check Elements with Different Types and/or Check Mass Elements
options with this procedure.
Full Check
This method checks all nodes of all elements to determine coincidence based on the options selected. Also, two
additional options, Check Elements with Different Shape and Check Rigid Elements are only available when using
this method.
Check Rigid Elements
This option includes Rigid elements in the check. Of course, if a rigid element shares all of the same nodes with
another rigid element, those elements are considered coincident. Also, if a single “leg” of a rigid spider element
(independent node to dependent node) is shared with a “leg” of another rigid spider element, those elements will be
considered coincident. Finally, when the Check Elements of Different Types and Check Elements of Different Shape
are both on, a “line element” (bar, beam, tube, etc.) which shares both nodes with a “leg” of a rigid spider element
will be considered coincident.
Check, Distortion
• Added Permanent and Reset buttons to the Check Element Distortions dialog box. Pressing the Reset button
will set the values to the default values currently specified for each distortion check in the Element Distortion
Preferences dialog box, which is accessed from the Geometry/Model tab of File, Preferences command. Pressing
the Permanent button will take the values currently specified in this dialog box and make them the default
values for Element Distortion Preferences.
• Added “Nastran Warping” and “Combined” Element Checks
Nastran Warping Checking...
... evaluates the planarity of element faces, using the same equations Nastran uses when using the GEOMCHECK
option “Q4_WARP”. This check only looks at quadrilateral faces. Internally, the Nastran Warping factor is defined
by determining the distance of the corner points of the element to the “mean plane” of the nodes divided by the
average of the element’s diagonal lengths. For “flat” elements, all of the corner nodes lie on a plane, therefore the
Nastran Warping factor is zero.

OLE/COM API 10.0-51
Combined (Quality) Checking...
The combined element quality ranges from 0.0 (good) to 1.0 (bad). Any values outside this range will return a
value of 1.0 and therefore indicate the element quality is not adequate. Combined Quality is useful as it provides a
single value that attempts to indicate “overall” quality while dynamically modifying nodal locations or changing
mesh sizes. It is not a guarantee that a model will solve.
The value for Combined Quality is determined using the maximum value of these seven values: Aspect Ratio,
Taper, Alternate Taper, Internal Angle, Warping, Nastran Warping, and Jacobian. Only element checks which are
currently “on” and applicable to the element shape will be used when calculating the Combined Quality. Also, the
values currently specified in the Check Element Distortions dialog box for each quality check are used by the Combined
Quality calculation.
Note:
Customized default values for each of the element distortion checks can be set in File, Preferences on
the Geometry/Model tab by pressing the Element Distortion button. See Section 2.6.2.6, "Geometry/
Model" for more information.
If the “distortion check” calculated for Combined Quality is less than 0.75 times the value specified for a particular
“distortion check”, the corresponding value is set to 0.0. If the calculated “distortion check” value is more than the
value specified for a particular “distortion check”, the corresponding value is 1.0. The Combined Quality values are
linearly interpolated between 75% and 100% of the specified value for each distortion check.
Here is a plot of “% of distortion” value vs. “Combined Quality” value:
OLE/COM API
New API Objects and Attributes
• Added NasExecSolutionMonitor, NasBulkInrelVal, NasBulkGapsAsContact, NasBulkBoltFact, and NasBulk-
BoltFactVal to AnalysisMgr object
• Added NasNXStratMaxDisp, NasNXStratBoltstp, NasNXStratCvssval, NasNXStratXtcurve, NasNXStratRtalg,
NasNXStratTnslcf, NasNXStratDrillkf, NasNXStratLslower, and NasNXStratLsupper to AnalysisMgr
object.
• Added InternalToBoundary and InCombinedCurve to Curve object.
• Added InternalToBoundary, attrTopology, attrMesher, attrMappedLevel, attrMapSubdivisions, attrMapEqualOnly,
attrMapAltTri, attrMapRightBias, attrMapSplitQuads, attrMapAngleDeviation, attrMapMinCornerAngle,
attrMidsideGeom, attrMidsideAngle, attrMinBetween, attrMaxAspect, attrQuickCutNodes,
attrQuickCutAngle, attrSmoothLaplacian, attrSmoothIter, attrSmoothTolerance, attrConnectEdgeNodes, attr-
ConnectEdgeNodeTol, attrOffsetFrom, attrInitialized, and attrPostMeshCleanup to Surface object

10.0-52
Finite Element Modeling
• Added RotateCSys, TransformDeformMode, TransformDeformCSys, TransformDeformX, TransformDeformY,
TransformDeformZ, TransformNodalMode, TransformNodalCSys, TransformPlateMode, Transform-
PlateCSys, TransformPlateDOF, vTransformPlateVector, TransformPlateVector, TransformSolidMode, and
TransformSolidCSys to View object.
• Added Info_OrientSolidIsoOutput, Info_OrientSolidAnisoOutput, Info_OrientSolidHyperOutput,
Info_OrientTria3StressOuput, Info_OrientTria3StrainOuput, Info_OrientTria3ForceOuput,
Info_OrientTria6StressOuput, Info_OrientTria6StrainOuput, Info_OrientTria6ForceOuput,
Info_OrientQuad4StressOuput, Info_OrientQuad4StrainOuput, Info_OrientQuad4ForceOuput,
Info_OrientQuad8StressOuput, Info_OrientQuad8StrainOuput, Info_OrientQuad8ForceOuput to the Global
Properties of the main FEMAP application object.
• Added Pref_ReadTabSize, PickBoundaryInternalMode, and PickCombinedCurveInternalMode to the Global
Properties of the main FEMAP application object.
New API Methods
• Added SelectID, NextInSet, FirstInSet, and Count methods to the Common Entity Properties object
• Added OutputVectors method to the OutputSet object
• Added AnalyzeMultiple method to AnalysisMgr object
• Added GetMeshLoc, GetMeshLocXYZ, IsSmoothEdge, Surfaces, SurfacesAsSet, ElementsAsSet, NodesAs-
Set, Normal, IsCombinedCurve, GetCombinedCurves, CombineCurves, CombineCurvesAsSet, and Facets
methods to Curve object
• Added AddOutput method to DataTable object
• Added GetCentroid, GetEdgeNodes, GetFaceNodes, and IsParabolic methods to Elem object
• Added Add method to Group object
• Added GetPly, SetPly, GetAllPly, and SetAllPly methods to Layup object
• Added InCombinedCurve, NodesAsSet, Curves, CurvesAsSet, and SurfacesAsSet methods to Point object
• Added SharedDelete, JumpToEnd, Size, Time Created, TimeWritten, and TimeAccessed methods to Read
object
• Added RemoveNotCommon, RemoveNotCommonToGroup, RemoveGroup, Debug, IsSetAdded, Convert-
ToAllSurfaces, ConvertToBoundarySurfaces, ConvertToBoundarySurfacesOnly, ConvertToInternalSurfaces,
ConvertToAllCurves, ConvertToCombinedCurves, ConvertToCombinedCurvesOnly, ConvertToInternal-
Curves, IsArrayAdded, HasCommon, and RemoveArray methods to Set object
• Added CurvesAsSet, SurfacesAsSet, ElementsAsSet, and NodesAsSet methods to Solid object
• Added Current method to Sort object
• Added NormalAtXYZ, NormalBox, BoundarySurfaces, AdjacentSurfaces, BoundarySurfacesAsSet, Adjacent-
SurfacesAsSet, CurvesAsSet, PointsAsSet, EndPointsAsSet, ElementsAsSet, NodesAsSet, and Solid methods
to Surface object
Updated and Corrected API Methods
• Updated Curves and Surfaces methods of Solid Object.
• Updated Curves and Points methods of Surface Object.
The following functions have been added:
• feAppModelDefragment
• feGetElementEdges
• feElementFreeEdge
• feElementFreeFace
• feSurfaceNormalDeviation
• feAddToolbarSubmenuSubmenu

Preferences 10.0-53
• feBoundaryAddSurfaces
• feCoordVectorPlaneIntersect
• feSurfaceConvert
• feGroupMoveToLayer
• feBoundaryFromPoints
• feAutoMeshAssociativity
• feSolidStitchNoCleanup
• feAppVersion
The following functions have been fixed, changed or removed:
• feFilePictureSave has been modified to support new file types available in File, Picture, Save.
• feOutputTransform has been modified to support new options available in Model, Output, Transform.
• feRenumber has been modified to allow renumbering of Layups, Connectors, Regions, Connection Properties,
Functions, Analysis Sets, and Layers.
• feDelete has been modified to allow deleting of Layups, Analysis Sets in the Analysis Manager, Connection
Properties, and Connectors.
Preferences
Views
• Removed preference for Autoplot Created/Modified Geometry. FEMAP needs to do this in order to function
properly.
Render
• Added preference for XOR Picking Graphics.
XOR picking effects how entities are highlighted when graphically picking in FEMAP. This was the only picking
graphics method in FEMAP before version 10. With the advent of Windows Vista, picking was not able to draw to
the screen image directly which made XOR picking much less efficient (slower) on some graphics cards. If XOR
picking is “off”, FEMAP basically draws a bitmap of the screen image and then determines the color that is the
“XOR” of the entity color and draws the entity twice, once with the “XOR” of the entity color but larger or thicker
and once with the entity color. Un-highlighting is done by redrawing the bitmap of the screen. In non Vista hardware,
turning XOR picking “on” will likely give better clarity but for Vista, performance is better with it “off”.
• Added preference for Dialog Refresh.
With certain graphics cards, the view will not be redrawn behind open dialog boxes, thus if the dialog box is moved
after the model has been dynamically rotated the display may not be correct. When this option is “on”, FEMAP
will force a redraw of the graphics window.
• Added preference for Block Size.
The block size determines the size of “blocked data” in “collectors” used by FEMAP internally. If you have a few
large “collectors”, a larger block size should provide better performance. On the other hand, if you have a large
number of small collectors (i.e., often happens with laminates), you might use a great deal of memory with too
large a block size, so selecting a smaller block size should be beneficial.
User Interface
• Updated how Load Layout works when loading a layout from an older version of the software into a newer version.
If a *.LAYOUT file is loaded into a newer version of the software, only “Shortcut Keys” and “User Commands”
will be updated, while “Menus and Toolbars” and “Panes” will not.
Geometry/Model
• Added “Construction Geometry - when used” preference.
Allows you to choose how “construction geometry” will be handled in FEMAP after the construction geometry has
been used by another geometry command. In simplest terms, “construction geometry” is a curve used to create a

10.0-54
Finite Element Modeling
surface using certain methods on the “Geometry, Surface...” menu (Edge Curves, Aligned Curves, Ruled, Extrude,
Revolve, and Sweep) or a surface or boundary surface used to create a solid via extruding or revolving. Construction
geometry also includes any curves used by a “construction surface” and all points on “construction curves”.
FEMAP has three options for handling “construction geometry”:
0..Delete (default) - All “construction geometry” will be automatically deleted from the model after use by one of
the geometry commands specified above.
1..Move to NoPick Layer - Moves all “construction geometry” to layer “9999..Construction Layer”. Layer “9999”
is always the default “NoPick Layer”. When an entity is on the “NoPick Layer” and that layer is visible entities can
be seen but not graphically selected from the graphics window. You will need to change the “NoPick Layer” to
“0..None” in order to select these entities graphically if you would like to use them again for any reason.
2..Do Nothing - “Construction geometry” will not be moved to Layer “9999..Construction Layer” and will also not
be deleted from the model. All “construction geometry” will remain in the model on the original layer and be available
for graphical selection when the layer containing the geometry is visible.
Note:
The only option available for “construction geometry” in FEMAP prior to version 10, was “1..Move to
NoPick Layer”, so set this option to have FEMAP handle construction geometry as it has in the past.
• Added Output Orientation button which accesses the Current Output Orientation dialog box.
This dialog box allows you to choose the default orientation of the “X”
direction for different types of output for different element types. The
options set in this dialog box will be the default values set for all new
models. These options can be changed “on the fly” for a particular
model when using the Model, Output, Transform command (see Section
8.5.8, "Model, Output, Transform...") or when using the “Transformation”
functionality of the View, Select command (see Section
8.2.2.2, "Selecting Data for a Deformed or Contour Style").
The Current Output Orientation dialog box contains the “default” output
orientation for both Plate and Solid elements. For plane elements,
there is an option for each type of output data to transform (Stress,
Strain, and Force), for each plane element shape that may appear in
the model (Tria3, Tria6, Quad4, and Quad8).
Defaults are for Nastran. Consult your analysis program’s documentation
concerning the original coordinate system definition.
There are two options for triangular elements (“0..First Edge” or
“1..Midside Locations”) with the default being “0..First Edge”
First Edge
Midside Locations
Node 1 Node 2 Node 1 Node 2
“0..First Edge” orients the element X-direction to a vector between “Node 1” and “Node 2” of the element, while
“1..Midside Locations” orients the element X-direction to a vector from the “midpoint” between “Node 1” and
“Node 3” to the midpoint between “Node 2” and “Node 3”.
There are three options for quadrilateral elements (“0..First Edge”, “1..Midside Locations”, or “2..Diagonal Bisector”)
with “2..Diagonal Bisector” being the default.

Preferences 10.0-55
First Edge Midside Locations Diagonal Bisector
Node 3 Node 3 Node 3
Node 4 Node 4 Node 4
Node 1 Node 2 Node 1 Node 2 Node 1 Node 2
“0..First Edge” orients the element X-direction to a vector between “Node 1” and “Node 2” of the element, while
“1..Midside Locations” orients the element X-direction to a vector from the “midpoint” between “Node 1” and
“Node 4” to the midpoint between “Node 2” and “Node 3”. “2..Diagonal Bisector” orients the X-direction of the
elements to a vector originating from the point where a line from “Node 2” to “Node 4” intersects a line from
“Node 1” to “Node 3” and extends out following a vector which bisects the angle from “Node 2” to the “Intersection
point” to “Node 3”.
For solids, there are three orientation options (“0..Material Direction”, “1..Global Rectangular”, or “2..Element”)
for different material types associated with solid properties (Isotropic, Anisotropic, and Hyperelastic).
Pressing the Reset button when the Current Output Orientation dialog box is accessed through the Preferences will
reset all of the output orientation options to the default values set when FEMAP is first installed.
• Added Element Distortion button which accesses the Element Distortion Preferences dialog box.
This dialog box allows you to set default values used when checking
element distortions. Also, you may choose which element
checks will be “on” by default when using the Tools, Check, Distortion
command.
The Element Distortion checks are:
•Aspect Ratio
•Taper
•Alternate Taper
•Internal Angles
•Warping
•Nastran Warping
•Tet Collapse
•Jacobian
•Combined
See Section 7.4.5.6, "Tools, Check, Distortion..." for descriptions
of the individual element distortion checks.
The values set in this dialog box will be used for element distortion every time FEMAP is opened. If you change
the values while FEMAP is open, those values will persist until that session of FEMAP has been closed. Pressing
the Permanent button when using the Tools, Check, Distortion command will update these default values.
• Added Pre-v10 Tet Meshing and Pre-v10 Surface Meshing preferences. The tetrahedral and surface meshing in
FEMAP has dramatically changed for version 10. You will find in the “options” of several of the Mesh, Geometry...
commands, there are check boxes to use the “pre-v10” meshers. These two switches in the preferences
allow you to always use the “pre-v10” tetrahedral and/or surface meshing if you feel more comfortable with
these meshers and the associated default values they use.

10.0-56
Finite Element Modeling
Interfaces
• Added Improve Single Field Precision option. When this option is on, FEMAP will write all values specified
using “scientific notation” or longer than 8 characters to the Nastran input file without the “E” designation. For
instance, a value such as “4.86111E-4” in FEMAP would appear in the Nastran input file as “4.8611-4” when
this option is on instead of “4.861E-4”. Small field only.
Colors
• Added preference for setting the default color of Combined Curves.
Spaceball
• Added preference for Print Debug Messages.

What’s New for version 9.3.1 10.0-57
What’s New for version 9.3.1
User Interface
General
"General", "Menu", "Spaceball", "Data Table", "Entity Editor", "Model Info Tree", "Data Surface Editor"
• FEMAP is now available as both a 32-bit and 64-bit application. The 64-bit version is able to take advantage of
the of the benefits of running on a 64-bit platform, such as being able to use more than 2GB of memory.
• A function to compute memory usage percent was added to the preferences and sets better default values for the
amount of RAM on a particular machine. Previously, you would need to specify a number of parameters in the
preferences based on the amount of memory on a machine.
Menu
• List, Output, Force Balance Interface Load added to List menu.
Spaceball
Data Table
Entity Editor
• A tab has been added to the preferences to allow more precise use of a Spaceball
• The Data Table can now be accessed via the FEMAP API in order to create customized tables in the Data Table.
• Coefficient of Thermal Expansion on rigid elements is now displayed in the Entity Editor and Data Table
Model Info Tree
• Added Group commands to tree menus for Solids, Properties, and Materials
• Added Automatic Add to the Group Menu in Model Info tree
• Added context menu to the root of the Connections branch in Model Info tree.
• Added Show to the Layup Menu in Model Info tree.
• Added support for editing Data Surface titles from the tree.
Data Surface Editor
• Added New interpolation commands for row column and to force weighted or bi linear interpolation.
Interpolate - This command will perform the initial interpolation on a “Tabular Data Surface” which is currently
active in the Data Surface Editor. This allows you to enter only certain portions of data into the Data Surface, then
have FEMAP interpolate between those points for you. This also allows you to see the “populated” values which
FEMAP has calculated in the table of values.
Automatic - Automatically switches between a linear or distance
weighted interpolation method. A linear approach is used unless points
internal to the data surface have been defined.
Linear - Uses a linear interpolation method.
Distance Weighted - Uses a Distance weighted method.
Linear Row - Linearly interpolates each independent row.
Linear Column - Linearly interpolates each independent column.

10.0-58
Finite Element Modeling
.
Note:
Automatic interpolation is identical to the first step which is performed when a tabular data surface
is evaluated to find variation locations.
Meshing
• Table copy from Data Surface editor
• Messages added indicating when location evaluated to zero.
Enhancements to meshing include:
• Added "Copy in Same Location" to all Mesh, Copy... commands
• Added 4 new patterns to Mesh, Editing, Interactive
• Added 1 new pattern to Mesh, Editing, Split
New Patterns
• Added Regenerate display at end of Mesh, Editing, Interactive command
• Added the Radial method to Mesh, Extrude... commands
For the Radial method, you will be asked a question:
Clicking “Yes” allows you to choose a location which defines the center of the radial extrusion. Clicking “No”
prompts you to choose a vector for constant extrusion of all elements from that vector. Finally, you must specify the
radial offset length, the radial distance between the original curve and the “end” of the extrusion.
When using the “Extrude Around Point/Spherical” option, FEMAP will compute an extrusion vector for each element
which runs from the center that you chose, to the entity.
In a three dimensional case, this actually produces a spherical extrusion, since the extrusion vector is computed
from the “center of the sphere”
When using the “Around Vector/Cylindrical” option, FEMAP will compute an extrusion vector for each element
which runs from the closest point on the defined vector, to the entity.
Note:
If you have a number of “stacked” curves which you would like extruded to create “stacked” parallel
layers of elements, you will want to use the Radial Method with the Around Vector/Cylindrical option.

Meshing 10.0-59
The figure shows one example of extruding a set of “stacked” curves
Three Curves extruded
using the Radial Method
Around Point/Spherical
Option
Three Curves extruded
using the Radial Method
Around Vector/Cylindrical
Option
• Added Bias to Standard Extrusion in the Mesh, Extrude... commands
You can set a Bias which will create smaller elements (values > 1.0) or larger elements (values < 1.0) near the
“start” of the extrusion, which is the “Base” of the vector for Vector method or “closest” to the specified point in
space or defined vector for the Radial method.
Bias Set to 2.0 Bias Set to 0.5
• Updated Radial Copy of Nodes/Elements to do either spherical or cylindrical about a vector.

10.0-60
Finite Element Modeling
Layups
• Total Thickness is now displayed in the Layup Manager Dialog box.
Thickness Displayed
Layup Viewer Button
• New Layup Viewer helps in during the creation of layups.
The Layup Viewer allows you to graphically visualize the current layup being created or edited. Each ply currently
in the layup will be shown and labeled with Ply Number, Thickness, Orientation, and Material in the Layup Viewer.
The ply at the top of the viewing area always represents the “top” of the layup. Initially, all of the plies are shown in
the viewing area, with all plies being scaled based on the size of the largest ply. In layups with a large number of
plies or plies with large variation of thickness, this can create a somewhat cluttered display. The entire Layup
Viewer can be resized and the viewing area scaled and scrolled to allow in-depth examination of specific plies.

Layups 10.0-61
General Controls and Options
The layup display can be scaled using the Scale slider bar. When the slider is all the way to the left, this represents
the default display and the “middle” of the layup will always be returned to the “middle” of the display area.
Once the layup has been scaled, you can explore different sections of the layup by moving the scroll bar up and
down on the right side of the Layup Viewer.
Note:
When using the scroll bar, you will notice that the “top line” of the “top ply” and the “bottom line” of
the “bottom ply” will stop at the “middle” of the display area.
There are several options in the Layup Viewer which enable you to choose how the layup should be displayed.
Also, the display can copied to the clipboard then pasted into other windows programs.
The options are explained in greater detail below.
Thickness
Allows you to choose if each ply should be displayed based on a scaled representation of the ply thickness or if
each ply should be shown with a Constant thickness.
Note:
The “constant thickness” is determined by dividing the available display area height by the number of
plies (when the layup display is NOT scaled).
Ply Angles
When this box is Checked, the ply orientation angles will be displayed graphically on each ply. This option is ON
by default.
Titles
When this box is Checked, the Title of the ply material will be displayed instead of only the ply material ID. This
option is OFF by default.
Display Color
• Material Color - Uses the material color assigned to each material. If you have not specified any special material
colors, all of your plies will be the same color.
• Random Color - Assigns a random color to each material in the model for Layup Viewer purposes only. If you
have not defined material colors, this is an easy way to see differentiation between layers of different properties.
• Monochrome - Changes the layup display to Monochrome (Grayscale) which can be useful if copying the
layup display to another program for printing purposes.
Copy to Clipboard button
Copies the layup display to the clipboard. By default, the Visible Only option is checked, which means only the
plies currently in the display area will be copied to the clipboard. When unchecked, the entire layup will be copied
to the clipboard.
Note:
On 32-bit operating systems, if the image of the entire layup becomes larger than 13,500,000 pixels,
the Visible Only option will NOT be available to uncheck and can NOT be turned OFF. You will still
be able to copy the visible portion of the layup, but not the entire thing at once.
In certain cases, another program (such as Microsoft Word) may not be able to paste the image from
the clipboard. If this is the case, try scaling the image less. One way to do this and still get a useful
image of the layup may be to use the Constant Thickness option.
This is not a restriction when running FEMAP on 64-bit operating systems.

10.0-62
Finite Element Modeling
Geometry
• Added "Copy in Same Location" option to all Geometry, Copy... commands
• Improved Solid Add to work with various combinations of adjacent solids that previously did not fully add
because of the order they were combined.
• Updated Radial Copy of Points/Curves/Surfaces to do either spherical or cylindrical about a vector
• Updated Geometry, Scale, Solid and Modify, Scale, Solid commands to allow scaling in X, Y, and Z directions
instead of using 1 uniform scale factor.
Groups and Layers
• Added option to Group, Operations, Generate Material, Generate Property, and Generate ElemType to create
either one group with all selected entities or multiple groups, one for each selected entity.
Geometry Interfaces
The following FEMAP interfaces have been updated to support newer geometry formats:
For details, see “Geometry Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
Analysis Program Interfaces
Several of the analysis program interfaces have been improved. These changes include:
• “FEMAP Neutral File Interface” on page 62
• “Nastran Interfaces” on page 62
• “NX Nastran Interface” on page 62
• “MSC/MD Nastran Interface” on page 62
• “NEi Nastran Interface” on page 63
• “ANSYS Interface” on page 63
• “ABAQUS Interface” on page 63
FEMAP Neutral File Interface
• Added Read Groups and Read Views options to File, Import, FEMAP Neutral command
Nastran Interfaces
• Added reading CBUSH to ground.
A number of bugs were corrected for all of the Nastran interfaces.
For details, see “Analysis Program Interfaces” in the FEMAP User Guide.
NX Nastran Interface
• Added support for the Shell Thickness (OSHT1) output from Solution 601/701
• Added support for Linear Contact in Modal Analysis (SOL 103).
MSC/MD Nastran Interface
FEMAP Interface Latest Supported Version
Parasolid Parasolid 19.0
• Added support for reading CTE on rigids
• Added support reading MSC RBAR1 as RBE2 and

NEi Nastran Interface 10.0-63
• Added support reading RIGID=LAGRAN case control commands. Changed a few items specifying MSC.Nastran
to MSC/MD Nastran
NEi Nastran Interface
• The DPHASE entries for frequency response analysis are now generated properly when translating to NEi Nastran
ANSYS Interface
• Added support for reading major Poisson’s ratio PRij from Ansys
A number of bugs were corrected.
ABAQUS Interface
Tools
A number of bugs were corrected.
Stress Wizard
• Added the ability to choose an assembly made up of multiple solids for use with the Stress Wizard. The Connect,
Automatic command is run after import with the default values for contact detection and Glued Contact.
m the material library to be applied to those solids.
Note:
In some cases, the default settings for automatically detecting glued contact in an assembly will not be
able to detect all of the required connections between the different parts. In this case, you must exit the
SW, and use other FEMAP capabilities located on the Connect menu to create connections between the
various solids in the assembly, where required.
• Added the ability to change the material associated with any desired solids of an assembly in Step 1
In the case of a multi-solid assembly, if the parts do not have any materials assigned to them from the geometry
being imported, the SW will prompt you to choose a single material for all the parts in the assembly. This will
effectively complete “Step 1”.
You can later change the materials of individual parts in an assembly from inside the
SW by clicking the Step 1 button. Once the SW dockable pane has changed to show
the Step 1 options, clicking the Update Material for Solid(s) button will prompt you to
select any desired solids and choose a different material from the material library to
be applied to those solids.
• Added a button to Step 4 which allows the use of the View, Advanced Post, Dynamic Cutting Plane command
OLE/COM API
New API Objects and Attributes
• DataTable object to the API
• CoordDialogMethod, VectorDialogMethod, PlaneDialogMethod parameters and zCoordDefinition, zVector-
Definition and zPlaneDefinition
New API Methods
• Added CurrentID property to Set object.
• Added GetFromSet and FindMaxMin methods to the Output object.
• Added GetOutputListAtSet, GetScalarAtNodeSet, GetVectorAtNodeSet, GetScalarAtElemSet and GetElem-
WithCornerSet to the Output object

10.0-64
Finite Element Modeling
• Added GetRowValues() to the DataTable Object
• Added IsEmpty to Set object
• Added MaxNormalDeviation method to the surface object
• Added MapOutputFromModelToLocation() to the MapOutput Object
• Added MaxNormalDeviation method to the surface object
• Added Total Thickness to the Layup object.
• Added AddAllExcept method to the Set object
• Added BoundingBox methods to Curve, Surface and Solid objects
Updated API Methods
• Updated ApiVariantSize( ) to handle variants that were created by the WinWrap Basic Array statement
• Updated ArcCircleInfo method of Curve object to work with Solid curves
• Updated SelectID set method to properly handle case of requesting CSys when no user-defined CSys exist,
even though Global CSys always exist.
Corrected API Methods
• Corrected problem that caused curve object to generate custom mesh sizes unless you explicitly set MeshMax-
Param(0) = 1.0
• Corrected error in NextEmptyID and PrevEmptyID for CSys object - previously could return CSys 1 and 2 as
empty IDs, when they are reserved.
• Corrected bug in API Set Object when adding rule by element topology.
The following functions have been added:
• feSelectOutput method to the application object
• feConnectAuto method for automatic connection generation
• feMeshAttachNodes
• feOutputProcessConvert
• feCoordPickByMethod, feVectorPickByMethod, fePlanePickByMethod
• feFileReadNeutral2( ) API method
• feAppModelContents( ) api method
Preferences
Render
• Added multi-model memory setting for OpenGL
Multi-Model Memory
If this option is on (default) then FEMAP will use memory for the active window of each model currently open in
the interface. This improves performance when graphically clicking from one model to another, but uses more of
your machine’s memory. When turned off, only the active view from the model currently active in the FEMAP
interface will be using memory. This will decrease performance when graphically switching between models, but
use less memory. For users with a relatively low amount of memory dealing with very large models, this option
should be turned off.
Note:
This option does not effect performance when clicking between different views of one model.
User Interface
• Updated Layout and Shortcut Key save/load to use XML format (*.LAYOUT file) and allow for options in data
to transfer

Preferences 10.0-65
Database
• The Database Performance portion of this preference has been completely changed to offer better default values
for memory usage
Database Memory Limit
The Database Memory Limit sets the maximum amount of system memory that FEMAP will use to hold parts of
your model and results in memory. If your model is larger than the amount of memory that you choose, FEMAP
will automatically read data from your disk as it is needed, replacing data that is not being used. While this “Swapping”
process can slow down overall performance, it does let you work with much larger models than would otherwise
fit into your available memory.
The Database Memory Limit DOES NOT control the total amount of memory that FEMAP will be using. FEMAP
uses memory for many different operations – this is just one of them. Almost every command temporarily uses
some small amount of additional memory. Some commands, like meshing, node merging and reading results can
temporarily use fairly significant amounts of memory. Other operations, like loading large amounts of data into the
Data Table require memory for a longer period of time – in this case as long as the data is in the table. Finally, the
largest use of additional memory, and one which normally persists the entire time you have a model open is for
drawing your model. For optimal performance, FEMAP uses OpenGL graphics, and keeps copies of the data to be
drawn in memory at all times. You must always have sufficient free memory available for all of these uses, or the
operations will not be able to execute properly. In the very worst case scenario, running out of memory could cause
FEMAP to crash. It is for this reason that the default Database Memory Limit is set fairly low – 20% of the memory
in your computer (The 32-bit version is also restricted by the 2 GByte limit for any program). This does not mean
that you can not increase the limit beyond its default, but the further into the yellow and red zones you push the
slider, you are increasing the chance of running out of memory.
Note:
Changing the Database Memory Limit does not change the amount of memory used for the current session.
For this selection to take effect, you must exit and restart FEMAP.
Using the Control
The slider control allows you to choose the amount of memory to use for the database. Move the slider to the left to
reduce the limit, to the right to increase it. As you move the slider, the memory limit is updated and displayed
above the slider.
The colored bar below the slider gives you an indication of the risk
of running out of memory if you use this setting. The yellow and
red regions should be used with caution since there is a good
chance of causing problems with other operations like meshing and
graphics. The small line along the top edge of the green section
indicates the default memory limit. It is simply displayed to make it
easy for you to go back to that limit if you try other settings. The
blue bar along the bottom edge indicates the amount of memory that the database is currently using.
Note: The blue bar in the above figure shows the amount of memory used by a 1,000,000 element model (4-
noded plate elements) on a 32-bit machine with 2 GB of RAM. Most potential problems with exceeding
the 2 GB memory limit only occur with very large models.
With this option, you are simply setting the maximum amount of memory available for the database. If you are
working with a smaller model, FEMAP will not use memory that it does not need and the blue bar will not extend
the entire way to the slider setting. If you look at this control with an empty model, or if you have a small model
and a large amount of memory in your system, the blue bar may not be visible – because it is too short to be seen
along the bar.
Max Cached Label
Sets the largest label that FEMAP will reserve memory for. This option must be set to a ID higher than any entity in
the model. Default value is 5,000,000.
Blocks/Page
This value sets the “page” size. The optimum setting of this number often depends on the speed of your disk and
controller.

10.0-66
Finite Element Modeling
Note:
The default value of “4” was determined via testing to produce the best performance over a wide range
of values for Database Memory Limit and using the default settings for a number of different types of
disk drives. You may want to try other values from 1 to 15 if you have changed any speed/caching settings
on your drive or have “high-speed” drives to determine if performance is improved.
Interfaces
• Turned preference to always read nonlinear stress/strain from Nastran OFF by default.
Spaceball
• This section outlines the options located on the Spaceball tab of the Preferences dialog box:
The six values in Scale Factors enable you to control the relative sensitivity of each degree of freedom.
For example:
•if rotation about the screen x-
axis is slow, increase the x
rotation scale factor. If you
increase it too much, the
motion in that degree of freedom
will not be smooth.
•if zooming is too fast, reduce
the z translation scale factor. If
you reduce the value too far, it
will take a long time to zoom
in or zoom out in the model
Sometimes, when moving the
spaceball in one degree of
freedom, it is difficult to prevent
motion in another degree
of freedom.
On the 3Dconnexion driver
dialog, you can switch Dominant
Axis on. This suppresses
all motion except the largest. If
this is off, you can effectively
control the same thing with the
Directional Sensitivity slider.
Moving the slider to the right
makes the largest axes dominant
and moving the slider to the left allows all the axes to effect the motion. The default position is in the middle.