Femap + MSC Nastran: Where are the restart files? 1

[RealSaladsamurai]

I apologize if my question is ignorant, but I am especially new to doing dynamic analysis. I am attempting to do a modal frequency response (S0L 111) which requires a restart from a natural modes analysis.

In the 'Analysis Set Manager' under 'NASTRAN Executive and Solution Options' I have the 'Save Databases for Restart' check-box checked. I am expecting that doing so will cause a .DBALL, .DMASTER, etc. to be written to the same directory as the F06 file, but I am not seeing them anywhere.

My gut is telling me that this is an issue with the FEMAP + MSC Nastran combination since I have run into other issues that do not exist if you use NX Nastran instead. Any thoughts?

________________________
FEMAP v11.1.0
MSC Nastran v2013

 

[jbrackin]

Most likely the files were saved, but not to the directory you expect. We see this behavior sometimes when you do a "save as" to a different directory than where you first opened Femap and then submit the analysis. You should check that starting directory for the .DBALL and MASTER. Nastran is not writing a full path for these files, only a relative path that then uses the current windows directory. The windows current directory is sometimes not what we expect. So the files end up sometimes in this starting directory, sometimes in the "windows/temp" etc. We do see this with NX Nastran occasionally also.

To prevent this behavior, close Femap and open the modfem that is in the desired working directory and then submit the analysis.
If you find the original files,you should also be able to copy/move the files back to the correct directory to then submit your restart run.

Also, the way you started your question, it should not be "required" to do a restart for modal frequency response. The reason for the restart should be efficiency by not having to recalculate the modes that were previously solved for. Be aware Nastran(MSC and NXN) both have very conservative logic for what operations to perform on a restart. It takes great care on your restart setup to keep Nastran from deciding to recalculate the modes anyway. Check your f04 file carefully to be sure the restart run goes as planned.

Good Luck,

Joe

 

[RealSaladsamurai]

Thanks Joe. You are correct and I have since done a frequency response without using a restart. We use a graphical analysis manager to submit our jobs to a server which makes hunting for the files extra difficult. I will attempt what you have suggested and report back. Thank you.

________________________
FEMAP v11.1.0
MSC Nastran v2013