Importing Forces

Importing forces from a text file means importing and mapping force data from a text or excel file. This force data can be either force extrapolated on the nodes of the closest element or force directly applied on the associated node. This allows transferring light data.

This capability is only available if you installed the ELFINI Structural Analysis product.

This task shows you how to import forces from a .xls file:

	on a surface
	on a virtual part

	In the case of a surface, open sample53.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory for the task.
	In the case of a virtual part, open sample54.CATAnalysis document from the samples directory for the task.

1. Click the Imported Force icon

.
The Imported Forces dialog box is displayed.

	`Name`
	`Supports`
	`Axis System`: The `Axis System Type` combo box allows you to choose between `Global` and `User` Axis systems, for entering components of the resultant force vector. If you select the User Type, the options are the following:
	File Selection: use the `Browse` button.
	`Display Bounding Box`, if needed, on the model.

The Axis System Type combo box allows you to choose between Global and User Axis systems:

	`Global`: if you select the `Global` Axis system, the components of the force vector (in a file) will be interpreted as relative to the fixed global rectangular coordinate system.
	`User`: if you select a `User` Axis system, the components of the force vector (in a file) will be interpreted as relative to the specified rectangular coordinate system. To select a `User` Axis system, you must activate an existing Axis by clicking it in the specification tree. Its name will then be automatically displayed in the `Current Axis` field.

On a Surface

In this particular case, and as mentioned above open sample53.CATAnalysis.

Before You Begin:
Go to View -> Render Style -> Customize View and make sure the Shading, Outlines and Materials options are active in the Custom View Modes dialog box.

2. Select the surface as the Support on which you want to import the Force.

3. Click the Browse button in the Imported Forces dialog box to select the file to be imported.

The File Selection dialog box appears to let you choose the file to be imported. In this particular case, select Data.xls file.

4. Once the File name has been selected, click Open in the File Selection dialog box.

The Imported Forces dialog box is updated.

5. If needed, click the Show button to display the Imported Table box corresponding to the selected file data. In this particular case, the imported table appears as shown here:

6. Click Close in the Imported Table box.

7. In this particular case, we also decided to activate the Display bounding box (as shown in the dialog box above).

The model appears as shown here:

8. Click OK in the Imported Forces dialog box.

The resulting model appears as shown here:

The Imported Forces.1 feature is displayed in the specification tree.

For each point in the data file, the corresponding force is distributed on the three closest nodes of the selected support.

If the point coordinates correspond to a node, the force is directly applied on it.

On a Virtual Part

In this particular case, and as mentioned above open sample54.CATAnalysis.

Before You Begin:
Go to View -> Render Style -> Customize View and make sure the Shading, Outlines and Materials options are active in the Custom View Modes dialog box.

2. Select the Point as the Support on which you want to import the Force.

The Imported Forces dialog box now appears as shown here:

3. Click the Browse button to select the file to be imported.

The File Selection dialog box appears to let you choose the file to be imported. In this particular case, select Data.xls file.

4. Once the File name has been selected, click Open in the File Selection dialog box.

The Imported dialog box is updated.

5. If needed, click the Show button to display the Imported Table box corresponding to the selected file data. In this particular case, the imported table appears as shown here:

6. Click Close in the Imported Table box.

7. Click OK in the Imported Forces dialog box.

The model appears as shown here:

Note that for each point in the data file, the corresponding force is directly applied on the closest point handler of a virtual part.