CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Getting Started
Introduction
2 Getting Started

Overview of SimXpert
SimXpert is an integral component of the enterprise simulation environment. It incorporates direct
integration with SimManager and SimDesigner. SimXpert is a multi-disciplinary simulation environment
for the analyst including workspaces between which one common model can be shared. The workspaces
provide different tools appropriate to the discipline:
• Structures – linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using MD
Nastran
• Thermal – linear FEA using MD Nastran
• Motion – multi-body dynamics of rigid and flexible bodies using the Adams C++ solver
• Crash – nonlinear explicit dynamic FEA using LS-Dyna
• MD Explicit - nonlinear explicit dynamic FEA using MD Nastran
• Template Builder - Captures Simulation Procedures Consisting Of SimXpert Commands And
Macros
• Process Builder - Creating Enterprise Processes (SimProcess)

All solvers are included. Workspaces also filter the simulation model. Only the parts of the model that
have relevance to a workspace are visible.
The simulation process allows knowledge capture and re-use through the use of templates.The template
builder allows you to: define a sequence of tasks and sub-tasks, drag-and-drop existing scripts in a visual
editing environment, and publish the finished template to SimManager for re-use across an organization
 CHAPTER 3
Introduction

Starting SimXpert

Desktop icon
Depending on your local setup, you may start SimXpert by double clicking on a desktop icon similar to
the one depicted below.

Startup Screen
When you first enter SimXpert you will see the following startup screen.

Create a new database

Select an existing database to open

Select and enter a workspace. A new database

will be opened.

Access online help

4 Getting Started
 CHAPTER 5
SimXpert Interface

SimXpert Interface
6 Getting Started

SimXpert Graphical User Interface (GUI)

The following figure shows the screen layout for SimXpert. All windows can be moved and resized.
Regions that are common to all workspaces are shown. This document will describe each of these
regions.

Main menu bar

Workspace Tool Ribbon Workspace management
Toolbars

Model Browser Message region Graphics Window

 CHAPTER 7
SimXpert Interface

Main Menu Bar – Common Workspace Menus

This section covers menus from the main menu bar that are common to every workspace.

File

The File menu allows you to manipulate databases: create a new database, open an existing database,
save an open database, or save under a different name. This is also the menu you will use to print or save
images of your graphics window or exit SimXpert.

Database manipulation

Print or save image files of graphics window

Exit SimXpert

File > Import

Using the Geometry as Parasolid option, you can directly open a model or part file generated by the
CAD codes as shown in Figure 1. SimXpert will convert the CAD information ‘on the fly’ to parasolid
format. No local licenses for the CAD software are required for this option.
SimXpert can also directly access CATIA , Pro/Engineer, and Unigraphics files with no geometry
translation involved. CAD features, parameters, and geometry can be modified within SimXpert with
updates then added back to the original file. This option uses the local CAD installation directly and
therefore a license is required.
8 Getting Started

CAD geometry
translated to
parasolid
No CAD license
required

Direct CAD access

CAD license required

Figure 1 Supported Geometry Interfaces

Edit
As the name implies, the Edit menu allows you to modify your model. This menu is also one of the places
in SimXpert where you can delete, graphically hide or show entities, completely turn collections of
entities on or off, or modify their properties. This menu also updates SimXpert entities to reflect changes
in the associated CAD file. Undo and Redo commands are also available.

Allows you to select Finite Element objects to delete

Allows you to select Geometry objects to delete
Graphically hide or display entities

Modify properties (Pre-select an item first)

Update SimXpert entities from CAD

View
The view menu provides tools for displaying models and activating regions in your workspace.
 CHAPTER 9
SimXpert Interface

The View menu is used to control the appearance of your screen. There are options that control the appearance of your model in the graphics window which will be discussed in more detail in the following paragraphs. You can also use this menu to control which toolbars and regions are displayed.

Options affecting graphics window display.

Turn toolbars on or off

Turn regions of the SimXpert display on or off

Control entity display

View > Model Views

There are some pre-defined orientations that you can access from this menu. The same options are also
available from the Model Views toolbar.
10 Getting Started

Model Views toolbar

More pre-defined views are available using the View region which can be activated by selecting View >
Regions > View.

View > Display

You can fine-tune the above orientations using the Display submenu. After selecting any of the rotate,
pan, or zoom options, drag the mouse in the window to perform the action. Notice that there are also hot
keys that can be pressed to activate Rotate, Zoom, and Pan. The same options are also available from the
View Manipulation toolbar.
 CHAPTER 11
SimXpert Interface

Fit the model in the window

Drag a rectangular region for
zoom

Zooms with respect to window

center
Zooms around the point where
the mouse is clicked.

Rotates the model about its

center.
Rotates about center specified
using the Define Center Rotate
option below.

Rotate around model axes

Rotate around screen axes: X

is horizontal, Y is vertical, and
Z is pointing out of the screen
Rotate around arbitrary axis
defined below
Screen select a center of
rotation/zoom

View Manipulation toolbar Screen select two points to

define an axis to be used with
Any Axis Rotate

View > Custom Views

If you create an orientation that you would like to recall at a future time, you can save the view using
Custom Views > Create Custom View and supplying a name under which to store the view.
12 Getting Started

The view can be recalled at any time by selecting it from the Custom Views menu or the Model Views
toolbar.

Model Views toolbar

Select your custom view from

either the Custom Views menu
or the Model Views toolbar
Custom views will be saved with the database. They can be exported using File > Export > User Views
for import into other databases.

View > Render

The appearance of your finite element model is controlled from the Render option of the View menu. The
same commands are also available from the Render toolbar.
 CHAPTER 13
SimXpert Interface

Apply to
geometry Render toolbar
model
only

Apply to
Finite
Element
model
only

Toggles shaded images

between smooth and flat
shading
Toggles FE
symbols
and labels
Geometry shading is also controlled from the Geometry Graphics toolbar.

Toggles display of hatch lines

on geometry

Toggles geometry face

shading

View > Scenes

A scene consists of the current contents of the window including parts, connections, and boundary
conditions. Current view, graphics and visibility state are also saved with the scene by default.
If you isolate subsets of your model that you would like to recall as a group at a future time, you can save
them as a scene using Scenes > Create Scene and supplying a name.
14 Getting Started

The scene can be recalled at any time by selecting it from the Scenes menu or the from the list
in the Scenes tab of the Model Browser.

Select your scene name either

from Scenes menu or the
Scenes tab of the Model Browser

The built in scene All holds the entire contents of your model with no entities turned off or hidden. You
can recall your entire model to the display by selecting the Action Show scene and clicking on All in the
list of scenes.

Tools
 CHAPTER 15
SimXpert Interface

The Tools menu is used to:

1. Report model information and statistics
2. Provides options to move entities.
3. Perform calculations (also available on the Tools toolbar).
4. Record and run Macros
5. Change appearance or default functionality, establish a system of units for the model. (Options).
6. Configure SimManager Connection information.
7. Access scripts and templates.
16 Getting Started

Model information
and statistics

Tools toolbar

Menu to
move/copy
entities

Options
Editor

Scripts and
templates

Configure SimManager
connection information
 CHAPTER 17
SimXpert Interface

Tools > Options

The Options Editor provides a single dialog to set options for all applications in SimXpert. Options are
presented in a tree view branched by category.

Mouse Options
The following table shows the default mouse settings. Notice that the right mouse button in conjunction
with modifier keys is used to transform the image in the graphics window. Mouse settings are fully
customizable if Custom is selected from the View Manipulation Settings. Click the ‘?” in the upper right
hand corner to get help on available settings.
18 Getting Started

Dynamic
manipulation

Units Manager
SimXpert interprets all dimensions and input data with respect to a system of units. It is important to set
the appropriate units prior to importing any unitless analysis files (such as a Nastran Bulk Data file) or
creating materials, properties, or loads. You can control the system of units from the Options editor of the
Tools menu. If you import a file that contains units, SimXpert will convert them into those specified in
the Units Manager.
 CHAPTER 19
SimXpert Interface

Tools > Customize

Shortcut (Hot) Keys
The following figure shows the first tab of default keyboard shortcuts. You can assign frequently used
commands to function or keyboard keys in conjunction with modifier keys. Click in a key/modifier cell
to make it current then simply select the desired action from any menu, toolbar, or tool ribbon.
20 Getting Started

Window

The Window menu creates new windows or arranges existing windows on the screen.
.

Help

This menu provides access to:

1. Application online help.
2. Product tutorials.
3. Product support website.
4. Product version information.
 CHAPTER 21
SimXpert Interface

Links to
web
pages

SimXpert Assistant links to Guides

and Example Problems.

It includes links to external web

pages and, optionally, a company’s
own internal web page.
22 Getting Started

Quick Reference links to

menu/command specific
help.

You can ‘drill down’ or

Search to get help on
specific menu items.
 CHAPTER 23
SimXpert Interface

Context-Sensitive Help
Remember that you can get context sensitive help directly for displayed forms and pick panels by
clicking on the question mark icon in the upper right or by placing the focus on the form and hitting the
F1 function key.
24 Getting Started

Parts
This item is not found on the main menu but parts are used by all SimXpert workspaces so we will discuss
them briefly here.
1. A part is a collection of entities
2. Entities can be members of only one part
3. Deleting a part deletes its members also.
4. Newly created parts are made current. The current part is indicated in a bold underlined font in
the Model Browser.
5. You can make a part current by right clicking on the part either in the Model Browser or the
graphics window and selecting Set Current from the context menu.

Context Menu

Parts
Current part
 CHAPTER 25
SimXpert Interface

Switching Workspaces
To open a different workspace simply pull down the menu listing the current workspace then select the
desired workspace.

Available
workspaces
26 Getting Started

Toolbars
As seen in previous sections, toolbars provide a quick way to access commonly used commands. The
available toolbars will vary depending on the current workspace. To see the function of toolbox icons,
you can pass your cursor over them for rollover help. Toolbars can be turned on and off from the View >
Toolbars menu or from a context menu that can be displayed by right clicking in any blank part of the
toolbar region. Uncheck the box next to the toolbar name to turn off its display.

Workspace Tool Ribbon

Shown below is a tool ribbon for the Motion and for the Structures workspace. The tool ribbons provide
you with commands and options that are relevant only to the current workspace.

Motion workspace tool ribbons

Structures workspace tool ribbons

Model Browser
The model browser lists all the components of the model. When you are using a command that requires
picking, items can be selected either from the graphics window or the model browser. The current part is
 CHAPTER 27
SimXpert Interface

shown in bold underlined font. The Model Browser can be displayed in tree or list view by clicking the
appropriate tab.

Current part

Message Region
The message region is where SimXpert communicates information. Messages are color-coded as
follows:
• Black: information
• Blue: instructions
• Green: warnings
• Red: errors
28 Getting Started
 CHAPTER 25
Graphical Picking

Graphical Picking
26 Getting Started

Pick Filters
Forms that require entity selection will activate picking icons. You can control which entities to select by
choosing only the relevant icons.

Click in the
Entity
Selection
box to
activate Pick
Filters.

Pick Filters

The above example shows the Point selection Filters with only the icon at the far left selected. To select
multiple filters simply click on the desired icon. The function of the icon can be displayed by hovering
the cursor over it. A tool tip will be displayed. The icons are toggles, hence to deselect an active filter,
click on its icon.
The icons to the right of the separator are available for all picking types.
Clear Selection Select All: Picks
List: Removes all all entities of
entities from the selected type in
selection box. the current
scene

Reject Last:
‘Undoes’ the last Reverse Selection: Drops selected
selection entities and picks up unselected
entities of the specified type in the
current scene

Pick Panel
Some commands will display a pick panel that allows you to control which entities to select. The pick
panel will list only entities that exist in your model and apply to the current command. Show below is a
representative pick panel.
 CHAPTER 27
Graphical Picking

Command
buttons

Valid entities to
pick

Picks all entities Brings up a form

of selected type that allows you
in the current to select picking
scene filters
Drops selected entities
Picks all entities and picks up unselected
of selected type entities of the specified
displayed in the type in the current scene
window
‘Undoes’ the last Finalizes the
selection selection

Extended “Advanced” Picking

In addition to the Pick Filters that appear on the input forms there is also a Pick Filters toolbar that
contains some additional features. You can fine tune selections using the Advanced Pick Dialog button
on the Pick Filters toolbar or the Advanced button on a pick panel. In the following figure Parts are
selected using the form’s Pick Filters. By clicking on the Advanced Pick Dialog button you can choose
to select only parts that satisfy a certain condition, for instance: contain a specific element type (shown)
or are associated with a certain material or property type.
28 Getting Started

Brings up a form
that allows you
to select
additional
picking filters

When picking elements you can specify to select only a specific element type, only those associated with
a particular surface or node, or other filters that are relevant to your particular procedure.
 CHAPTER 29
Graphical Picking
30 Getting Started

Dynamic Highlight
If you hover the mouse in the graphics window, entities of the selected type will be highlighted as the
mouse passes over them. In the following images, we have selected to pick parts so as the cursor passes
over each part it is highlighted on the screen.

You can also pick parts by name from the Model Browser.
 CHAPTER 31
Graphical Picking

Pick Types

Single / Polygon / Sketch / Rectangular Window

You can pick multiple entities by changing the pick tool. The pick tool menu can be found on the Pick
Filters toolbar or the context menu which is brought up by right clicking in the background of the
graphics window.

Pick Filters toolbar

Context Menu

Single
Pick entities one by one

Polygon
Draw a series of piecewise linear lines.clicking wherever you would like a vertex, which completely
enclose all desired entities. Double-click to close the polygon.
32 Getting Started

Pick Region Selected Elements

Rectangular Window
Drag a box that completely encloses all desired entities. No pick style selection is required for rectangular
window picking. You can simply drag the mouse.

Pick Region Selected Elements

Sketch
Drag a freehand region that completely encloses all desired entities.
 CHAPTER 33
Graphical Picking

Pick Region Selected Elements

34 Getting Started
 CHAPTER 33
Solutions and Workflow

Solutions and Workflow

34 Getting Started

Solutions
SimXpert is a multi-disciplinary simulation environment for the analyst. Different types of simulations
can be performed in each of the four workspaces.
In the Structures Workspace, MD Nastran is used as the solver. The following types of MD Nastran
analysis solutions are available:
• Linear Static Analysis (SOL 101)
• Modal Analysis (SOL 103)
• Linear Buckling Analysis (SOL 105)
• Direct Complex Eigenvalue Analysis (SOL 107)
• Direct Frequency Response Analysis (SOL 108)
• Direct Transient Response Analysis (SOL 109)
• Modal Complex Eigenvalue Analysis (SOL 110)
• Modal Frequency Response Analysis (SOL 111)
• Modal Transient Response Analysis (SOL 112)
• General Nonlinear Analysis (SOL400)
• Implicit Nonlinear Analysis (SOL 600)

In the Thermal Workspace, MD Nastran is used as the solver. The following types of MD Nastran
analysis solutions are available:
• Steady State Heat Transfer Analysis (SOL 153, SOL 600)
• Transient Heat Transfer Analysis (SOL 159, SOL 600)

In the Motion Workspace, the ADAMS C++ solver is used. The user can perform the following types of
motion analysis:
• Dynamic Analysis
• Quasi-Static Analysis
• Static Analysis

In the Crash Workspace, LS-Dyna is used as the solver. The user can perform crash analysis for crash
worthiness and safety applications.
In the MD Explicit Workspace, MD Nastran is used as the solver. Explicit nonlinear analysis (SOL 700)
can be performed.
The Template Builder workspace in SimXpert is a graphical authoring environment for creating and
executing SimXpert Templates. Templates are processes that can automate repetitive tasks, define CAE
methods, and perform simulations.
 CHAPTER 35
Solutions and Workflow

Workflow
The following procedure shows the general recommended workflow for the Structures, Thermal , Crash,
and Explicit workspaces.
1. Designate a system of units

2. Import/create geometry

Or

3. Create material and element properties

36 Getting Started

4. Create the finite element mesh

5. Apply loads and boundary conditions

6. Set up analysis
 CHAPTER 37
Solutions and Workflow

7. Submit model to solver

38 Getting Started

8. Access results

9. Post-process