FEMAP - API Programming to linearly combine output sets 1

[MrFlow]

Hello,

As a calculation structural engineer my job consists in approving the mechanical behaviour of structures according to several loads (wind, snow or seismic loads). I've got several independant loading conditions and need to linearly combime them according building standards.

With FEMAP the calculation is made by the Output/Process/Linear Combination method. However, building standards impose a multitude of combinations.

Is there a API program to calculate all of them?

Just looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Florent.

 

[APav]

Hi,

Here is something which might help. The most important thing to remember is that output processing quickly becomes complicated.

Here's what you need to know:
- this macro requires a text file describing the various combinations you want to do

- this text file gathers certain options which appear in the Model > Output > Process window. I've coded 2 methods: output combination by complete outputsets and output combination by single vectors. (FEMAP has 2 intermediate methods but I won't get into that yet)

- the first this you need to specify in the text file is the method. From what you describe I would use the complete outputset method
=> write "METHOD OS"

- then you write lines of operations, with keywords:
- operations keywords such as COMBINE, SUM, RSS, MAX, MAXABS, MIN and RENAME
- output keywords such as OSXXX
- scale factors
- name and ID keywords: toOSXXX will force numbering of new output, and nBLABLABLA will force naming of new output

- Note that the file needs to be in DOS format, I foolishly did not use FEMAP's reader...


Here are a few examples: (don't forget to write METHOD OS at the top)

SUM OS1 2 OS3 3 => 2 x outputset1 + 3 x outputset3
SUM OS1 2 OS3 3 toOS10 => same, the new outputset will be numbered 10
SUM OS1 2 OS3 3 toOS10 nMyNewOS => same, the new OS will be names "MyNewOS"

The reading is sequential, so of course you can call a new OS as you go:

SUM OS1 2 OS3 3 toOS10
SUM OS10 1.5 OS4 -3 toOS11
MAX OS11 OS5 nMyMax

I wrote this a while ago and it was quite experimental, if you have problems, suggestions, ...etc... I'm interested.

APav

 

[APav]

sorry file didn't go through

 

[APav]

last time
rough week

 

[MrFlow]

Hi Apav,

Thanks for your answer.