1 Installation and configuration

1.1Introduction: hardware and software requirements

System requirements for running SIMPLAS on a PC or Server are:
The SIMPLAS software package makes use of the following external Software:

1.2 License request

1.3 Installation

1.4 Post-installation tests

To start the post-installation tests, invoke GiD by writing, in the terminal, “SimGid.sh. A screen similar to the one seen in Figure 1.1↓ should appear. The complete manual of GiD is available from the Help menu. Make sure you have either purchased the License from CIMNE or requested a free one-month password to use the unrestricted version.
figure screenshotgid.png
Figure 1.1 GiD initial screen (after invocation of SimGid.sh).

1.5 SimPre

The purpose of the SimPre program is to assist the user to insert the relevant data for the simulation, which is performed by the program SimPlas (SimPlas is part of SIMPLAS). SimPre is the preferred way to invoke SimPlas. The SimPre GUI can be invoked either by using the Gid menu Calculate->Calculate or by invoking the command “SimPre.exe”. The following tabs are used to organize the input data:
figure simpremanual.png
Figure 1.2 SimPre GUI.

2 Tutorials and examples

2.1 Worked examples

This step-by-step worked examples are also available in the user’s directory “SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexamples” for convenience. We begin with a gantry structure

2.1.1 Geometrically nonlinear gantry structure modeled as shells with multiple intersections

We use a HE140A section modeled with triangles to build a gantry structure loaded by a vertical distributed load on the top edge. Total height is 2000 mm and with is also 2000 mm. Beams are arranged with explicit intersections.
  1. Open Gid by invoking SimGid.exe from the command line. Define the gantry geometry using surfaces as the highest topological entities (i.e. using points, lines and surfaces). After this, the following image should appear:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/gantrygeo.png
  2. It is useful to inspect the orientation of the surface normals, View->Normals->Surfaces->Normal. If some normals are not consistent, right-click follow the Contextual menu and swap the incorrect surfaces.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/normals.png
  3. Use menu Data->Conditions->NODEGROUPS and define, selecting all the bottom edges, a set named “clamped” and assign to the lower edges of the gantry.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/clampedbottom.png
  4. Set mesh criteria flag for the top middle edges. These edges will be later used to apply a distributed load.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/meshedges.png
  5. Assign flange section by using Data->Materials and introducing a new material “Flange”. Assign to the flange surfaces. Repeat the procedure for the web.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/flange.png
  6. Assign load section by using Data->Materials and introducing a new material “load”. Assign to the load lines, as depicted:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/loadtop.png
  7. Check that all entities are assigned to materials by using Data->Materials->Draw->All Materials. A similar figure should appear:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/allmaterials.png
  8. Generate a triangular mesh by using GiD menus and verify the correctness of the partition. Please note that every modification performed with GiD requires the generation of a new mesh.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/aftermeshing.png
  9. Now use the menu calculate (calculate->calculate). This will invoke SimPre, and the following screen should appear:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/aftersimpre.png
  10. Create a new transformation and then use transformscale with 0.001 to convert the mm units to m. This should be performed since CAD software typically uses mm and SimPlas uses m as length units.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/geometry1.png
  11. Switch to the Basic data tab. Set the readreactions to the only available group. Then insert a new op (ordered pair) and insert the values for the load program:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/loadprogram.png
  12. Switch to the Analysis tab and create a new analysis (an). Create a new increase analysis and use the following values:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/nonlinearsolution.png
  13. Switch to the Materials tab and define two materials (Elastic and Elastic2) and two elast materials with the same elastic properties:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/material.png
  14. Switch to the Direct loading tab and insert a new barload with a vertical (Distributed load Z [N/m]) load:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/barload.png
  15. Switch to the Elements tab and define the web (with 5.5 mm thickness) trishell elements:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/element1.png
  16. Define the flange elements with 8.5 mm thickness. Note that each material should be in a one-to-one relation with each element:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/element2.png
  17. Switch to the Constraints tab and use imposeddof to clamp the bottom edges:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/constraints.png
  18. Run SimPlas by clicking the play button (figure SimPlas/play.png ) in SimPre. Wait for the solution to complete and click the magnifier glass (figure SimPlas/view.png ) to invoke ParaView and see the results. Consult the ParaView manual for further details.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/gantry.gid/halfresult.png

2.1.2 Combined structure: a more complete example with elasto-plasticity and linear control

Using the previous gantry structure, we now include plasticity and join two gantry structures with plates. We copy the gantry structure 3 m along the x axis and join the inner flanges by three plates.
  1. Two new materials (horizontal_plate and vertical_plates) are introduced in GiD, because the horizontal plate will have a normal pressure applied:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/materialsgid.png
  2. Introduce and assign a new node group (loweredges) corresponding to the bottom edges of the vertical plates:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/loweredges.png
  3. A new ordered pair (op) is introduced in SimPre, corresponding to the hardening law:
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/hardening.png
  4. Two new elasto-plastic materials are introduced, corresponding to the vertical plates and the horizontal plate
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/plastic.png
  5. The elements corresponding to the vertical plates have to be specified (with 20 mm thickness):
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/verticalplates.png
  6. The elements corresponding to the horizontal plate have to be specified (with 25 mm thickness):
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/horizontalplate.png
  7. Introduce a constraint corresponding to the lower edges previously identified as a node group in GiD (loweredges)
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/loweredgesdef.png
  8. Run SimPlas by clicking the play button (figure SimPlas/play.png ) in SimPre. Wait for the solution to complete and click the magnifier glass (figure SimPlas/view.png ) to invoke ParaView and see the results. Consult the ParaView manual for further details.
    figure SimPlas/postinstallation/workedexampless/combinedstructure.gid/results.png