Learning Forum

[Anirudh Thantry]

I have created a parameterized wing using Design Modeler. And I have created the setup for modal analysis for several wing configurations and now I want to export the Nastran input files for all these configurations (without manually exporting using GUI). Is there a possible way to automate this exporting using APDL commands or Python scripting?

[mjmiddle]

 

 

 

Within Mechcanical you can do:

analysis = ExtAPI.DataModel.Project.Model.Analyses[0]    # 1st analysis
from Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical import NastranExportOptions
nas = NastranExportOptions()
nas.NastranFilename = r"D:\Myfile.nas"
analysis.ExportNastranFile(nas)

If you have multiple analyses in the same Mechanical session, then use a python loop instead of using the first index.

If you have multiple unlinked systems in the workbench project schematic, you’ll need to loop through them and send commands to Mechanical:

loop = 1
for system in GetAllSystems():
    cmdMech = '''
analysis = ExtAPI.DataModel.Project.Model.Analyses[0]    # 1st analysis
from Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical import NastranExportOptions
nas = NastranExportOptions()
nas.NastranFilename = r"D:\\Myfile''' + str(loop) + '''.nas"
analysis.ExportNastranFile(nas)
'''
    setup = system.GetContainer(ComponentName="Setup")
    setup.Edit(Interactive=False)    # set Interactive=True for debugging
    setup.SendCommand(Language="Python", Command=cmdMech)
    setup.Exit()
    loop += 1

 

 

 

[mjmiddle]

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the word “parameterized” in the original post, so I didn’t think you were using design points. It gets a lot more complicated to have something run automatically with that. One way is to insert code into a “python code” object in the Outline and send calls up to workbench level to get the design point number. Witihin Mechanical, such as in “Python Code” object:

cmd = ”'
dp = Parameters.GetActiveDesignPoint()
dpNum = dp.Name
”'
ret_dict = ExtAPI.Application.ScriptByName(‘journaling’).ExecuteCommand(cmd, None, ‘dpNum’)
dpNum = ret_dict[‘dpNum’]

You can append this number (as a string) to the filename.

Turn on "Tools > Options  > Mechanical > Connect/Run Python Code Objects when Mechanical is Launched" from workbench project schematic.

 

[mjmiddle]

 

 

 

 

 

Another way is to send commands from workbench that work with the native design point update process. You need to use an ACT extension. The XML can look like this:

<br><extension version=”1″ name=”My Extension”><br>  <script src=”main.py” /><br>  <interface context=”Project”><br>    <images>images</images><br>  </interface><br>  <workflow name=”dp_callbacks” context=”Project” version=”1″>       <!– context must be Project –><br>    <callbacks><br>        <onaftertaskupdate>write_avg_result_data</onaftertaskupdate><br>        <onafterdesignpointchanged>dp_after_change</onafterdesignpointchanged><br>    </callbacks><br>  </workflow><br>  <interface context=”Mechanical”><br>    <images>images</images><br>    <!– empty interface here to allow Python functions in main.py to also be used inside Mechancial –><br>  </interface><br></extension><br>

And the main.py could look like this:

setup_handled = False
def write_my_data(task):
    global setup_handled
    if not task.Name == “Setup”: return
    if setup_handled == True: return    # callback is done many times for each task. Need to block all but one attempt
    dir = GetUserFilesDirectory()
    dir = dir.replace(“\\”,”/”)
    cmdprefix = ”’ExtAPI.ExtensionManager.GetExtensionByName(“My Extension”).ScriptScope.”'
    # when this function is called automatically during DP updates, through workflow callback, Mechanical will not have an extension loaded.
    dp = Parameters.GetActiveDesignPoint()
    for system in GetAllSystems():
        comp = sys.GetComponent(Name=’Setup’)
        cmdMech = cmdprefix + “write_nastran(\”” + dir + “\”,” + dp.Name + “,\”” + comp.DirectoryName + “\”)”
        setup = system.GetContainer(ComponentName=”Setup”)
        setup.Edit(Interactive=False)
        setup.SendCommand(Language=”Python”, Command=cmdMech)
        setup.Exit()
    setup_handled = True

def dp_after_change():
    global setup_handled
    setup_handled = False

def write_nastran(dir, dp, solDir):
    # executed within Mechanical
    import os
    for analysis in ExtAPI.DataModel.Project.Model.Analyses:
        path = analysis.WorkingDir    # solution directory
        d = os.path.dirname(path)
        d2 = os.path.dirname(d)    # need to do dirname() twice since the path ends in a backslash
        sysDir = os.path.basename(d2)
        if solDir == sysDir:
            from Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical import NastranExportOptions
            nas = NastranExportOptions()
            nas.NastranFilename = dir + “/” + “dp” + str(dp) + “_” + solDir + “.txt”
            analysis.ExportNastranFile(nas)
            break