Simulation File-based Design Import

File-based design import (FBDI) of simulation data from Version 5 (V5) to Version 6 (V6) is possible, but not for all V5 analysis specifications. This section lists the simulation entities that can be translated using the FBDI mechanism.

The table below summarizes the V5 analysis entities that can be translated using the FBDI mechanism and gives the resulting V6 simulation entities:

V5 V6
CATAnalysis documents Imported with data structure modifications only if the V5 file pointed at a product or a part.

The V5 analysis assemblies are not imported.
Analysis Cases Partially imported.

Result: analysis scenarios.
Static Case Imported.

Result: static scenario. The results are not imported.
Frequency Case Imported.

Result: frequency scenario. The results are not imported.
Buckling Case Imported.

Result: buckling scenario. The results are not imported.
Combined Case Not imported.
Nonlinear Structural Case Not imported.
Explicit Dynamics Case Not imported.
Thermal Case Not imported.
Static-constrained Case Not imported.
Pre-processing Case Not imported.
Solution Case Not imported.
Envelop Case Not imported.
Assembled Solution Not imported.
Imported Solution Not imported.
Harmonic Dynamic Case Imported.

Result: harmonic dynamic scenario. The results are not imported.
Transient Dynamic Solution Imported.

Result: transient dynamic scenario. The results are not imported.
Analysis Solutions Not imported.

Workaround: simulate and generate results.
Meshes
1D Meshes Imported.
Surface Meshes Imported.
Advanced Surface Meshes Imported, except local specifications for external cracks and faces.

Result: Surface Meshes. Local specifications for internal cracks become a global parameter of the V6 surface mesher (Ignore internal cracks).
Octree 2D and 3D Meshes Imported.
3D Meshes Imported.
Transformed Meshes Imported.
Import Mesh Not imported.
Error and Warning Messages Not imported.

Workaround: update the mesh.
Mesh Operators
Offset Mesh Not imported.
Split Quads Not imported.
Move Mesh Nodes Not imported.
Groups
Point Group Imported.

Result: geometric group with point selection.
Line Group Imported.

Result: geometric group with line selection.
Surface Group Imported.

Result: geometric group with face selection.
Body Group Not imported.
Box Group Imported.
Sphere Group Imported.
Point Group by Neighborhood Imported.
Line Group by Neighborhood Imported.
Surface Group by Neighborhood Imported.
Line Group by Boundary Imported.
Surface Group by Boundary Imported.
Structural Properties
3D Property Imported.
2D Property Imported.
Local 2D Property Imported.
2D Property Imported.
Imported Composite Property Imported.
Local 1D Property Imported.
Imported Beam Property Not imported.
Mapping Property Partially imported. See Mapping Properties.
Connection Properties

Note: Connection properties that appear within the Nonlinear and Thermal Properties container in the V5 specification tree are not imported into V6.
Slider Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: face face connection property with Slider as Type option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Contact Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: face face connection property with Contact as Type option, and Sliding behavior. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Fastened Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: fastened connection property with Fastened as Type option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Fastened Spring Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: fastened connection property with Fastened-Spring as Type option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Pressure Fitting Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: face face connection property with Contact as Type option, a clearance equal to the pressure fitting overlap (with opposite sign) and No sliding behavior. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Bolt Tightening Connection Property Partially imported.

See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Rigid Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: distant connection property with Rigid as Type option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Smooth Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: distant connection property with Smooth as Type option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Virtual Bolt Tightening Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: user-defined connection property with Smooth as Start option, Rigid-Bolt as Middle option, and Smooth as End option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Connection Property Partially imported.

Result: user-defined connection property with Smooth as Start option, Spring-Rigid-Bolt as Middle option, and Smooth as End option. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
User-defined Connection Property Partially imported.

See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Spot Welding Connection Property Partially imported.

See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Seam Welding Connection Property Partially imported.

Result:

  • Seam weld connection property if no guide line was selected.
  • Curve-curve weld connection property if a guide line was selected.
See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Surface Welding Connection Property Partially imported.

See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Nodes to Nodes Connection Property Not imported.
Node Interface Property Not imported.
Analysis Connections
General Analysis Connection Partially imported as engineering connection, but general analysis connections with handler point are not imported. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Point Analysis Connection Partially imported as engineering connection. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Point Analysis Connection within One Part Not imported.
Line Analysis Connection Partially imported as engineering connection. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Line Analysis Connection within One Part Not imported.
Surface Analysis Connection Partially imported as engineering connection. See Analysis Connections and Connection Properties.
Surface Analysis Connection within One Part Not imported.
Points to Points Analysis Connection Not imported.
Point Analysis Interface Not imported.
Virtual Parts

Note: Virtual parts should not be used as connectors in V6. Importing virtual parts that were used as connectors in V5 may lead to errors.
Rigid Virtual Part Imported.

Result: virtual part with Rigid as Type option.
Smooth Virtual Part Imported.

Result: virtual part with Smooth as Type option.
Contact Virtual Part Imported.

Result: virtual part with Contact as Type option.
Spring Virtual Part Imported.

Result: virtual part with Rigid-Spring as Type option.
Spring Smooth Virtual Part Imported.

Result: virtual part with Smooth-Spring as Type option.
Periodicity Conditions Imported.
Restraints
Clamp Imported.
Surface Slider Imported.
Ball Joints Imported.

Result: user-defined restraint where the three translations are fixed.
Slider Not imported.
Pivot Not imported.
Sliding Pivot Not imported.
User-defined Restraint Imported.
Isostatic Restraint Imported.
Loads
Pressure Imported.
Enforced Displacement Imported.
Distributed Force Imported.

The results of distributed force created with no handler point can be different between V5 and V6. The algorithm to compute the geometrical center has been enhanced.
Moment Imported.
Bearing Load Imported.
Imported Force Not imported.
Imported Moment Not imported.
Acceleration Imported.
Rotation Force Imported.
Line Force Density Imported.
Surface Force Density Imported.
Volume Force Density Imported.
Force Density Imported.
Temperature Field Imported.
Temperature Field from Thermal Solution Not imported.
Combined Loads Not imported.
Assembled Loads Not imported.
Masses
Distributed Mass Imported.
Line Mass Density Imported.
Surface Mass Density Imported.
Distributed Mass and Inertia Imported.
Combined Masses Not imported.
Assembled Masses Not imported.
Dynamic Excitations
Load Excitation Imported.
Restraint Excitation Imported.
Modulation Imported.
Damping Partially imported.
Results
Solutions Not imported.
Sensors Not imported.
Images Not imported.
2D Display Not imported.
Nonlinear and Thermal Properties
Nonlinear and Thermal material properties Not imported.
Layup Not imported.
Mechanical Connection Behavior Not imported.
Thermal Connection Behavior Not imported.
Submodel Property Not imported.
Cyclic Symmetry Property Not imported.
Bolt Tension Property Not imported.
General Contact Initialization Not imported.
Spring Connection Property Not imported.
Dashpot Connection Property Not imported.
Tabular Amplitude Not imported.
Smooth Step Amplitude Not imported.

Analysis Connections and Connection Properties

A V5 analysis connection that is referenced by a connection property is imported as a V6 engineering connection with the same geometrical links as the V5 analysis connection. All connection properties lying on an analysis connection are imported with an engineering connection as a support. An engineering connection is created for each connection property that points to an analysis connection. This engineering connection is created with a deactivated status to avoid an overconstraint condition with the exception of distant connection properties (distant connection properties need information on the degrees of freedom from the engineering connection).

The following table details the engineering connection that is created when a V5 connection property lying on an analysis connection is imported.

V5 Connection Properties V6 Generated Engineering Connection
Face Face Slider Planar or Cylindrical or User-defined
Contact Planar or Cylindrical or User-defined
Fastened Rigid
Fastened Spring Rigid
Pressure Fitting Planar or Cylindrical or User-defined
Bolt Tightening Rigid
Distant Rigid Rigid
Smooth Rigid
Virtual Rigid Bolt Tightening Rigid
Virtual Spring Bolt Tightening Rigid
User-defined Rigid
Welding Spot Welding Rigid
Seam Welding Rigid
Surface Welding Rigid

For slider, contact and pressure fitting connection properties lying on analysis connections:

  • If the V5 analysis connection connects only two faces (one on each side of the analysis connection):
    • If the two faces are revolution surfaces, a Cylindrical engineering connection is created with revolution axes.
    • If the two faces are planar and parallel, a Planar engineering connection is created with a contact relation between the two faces (and with an offset if needed).
  • If the V5 analysis connection connects more than two faces, a User-defined engineering connection is created with no relation.

A V5 connection property is not imported if it lies on:

  • Assembly constraints.
  • An analysis connection within one part or analysis connection between two bodies that belong to the same product.
  • Non-migrated analysis connections.
  • Welding joints created in the Body in white Fastening workbench.
  • Joint connections created in the Ship Structure Detail workbench.

Rigid, smooth and user-defined connection properties that have specific DOF released are imported, but the DOF information is lost.

Mapping Properties

You can only select meshes as support of V6 mapping properties. If the V5 mapping property you want to import is applied to a geometric support, this support is not imported.

After the mapping property is imported in V6, you have to manually add and load the materials referenced in the XML file.

Tip: Make sure the correct local path is referenced in the XML file before importing a mapping property from V5 to V6.