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Enhancement of TCL/TK Scripting to Achieve Time Efficient Generation of Global Finite Element Model

In this study, a plug-in is built in Hypermesh software which provides a number of features in order to generate Global Finite Element Model (GFEM). The main aim of this study is to provide time efficiency by using this executable tool and to reduce the errors that may occur during GFEM modelling. In the current study, the detailed description of the features of the plug-in is included. This study also presents how to generate GFEM by using TCL/TK plug-in. GFEM is a numerical technique in order to determine the global loads results, including displacements, stresses, connection forces, and load paths, as well as creating a basis for detailed stress analysis. GFEM provides many structural activities such as predictions of strain, displacement and reaction force, estimation of bearing and bypass force to calculate fastener sizing and placements. A GFEM is generally a low-degree-of-fidelity finite element model for development of present and future aircraft structural integrity management. The supplementary method is commonly used in aerospace and many other industries due to its primary role in solving complex design challenges and ensuring structural integrity of the aircraft in order to meet with the time-line of the projects. GFEM helps visualize the stiffness and strength of an aircraft in a structural simulation. It also helps to optimize structure's weight and the cost of structures before the design is manufactured. There are many commercial computer programs available to provide assistance to structural analysts for generating GFEM. The use of GFEM has significantly reduced the time consumption in concept design of the product. Idealized frames, stringers, panels and such are represented in GFEM by relatively coarse elements (i.e., shell and bar elements). Therefore, these tools simplify the analyst’s tasks. GFEM consists of several basic steps such as creation of materials, dividing into a number of elements of surfaces, numbering of elements, nodes, components and properties in order to easily modify and edit the sub-model, arrangement of material orientation or element normals and etc. These various steps may cause human errors unless there is a step by step instructions during generation of GFEM. Graphical User Interface (GUI) is constructed with embedded plug-ins by using TCL and TK scripting. The GUI allows quick and easy access for customizing software interface and for creating new functionality. Thereby it minimizes the errors as well as increasing consistency between sub-model by using this plug-in. A simple benchmark has been performed to compare plug-in efficiency against manually generating of the model. It has shown that the plug-in reduces time spent during generating of model by at least %70. In addition to all these, it has been determined that this rate is higher in complex models. This shows that the use of this plug-in dramatically decreases the time spent in modelling of GFEM. The plug-in enables structural development teams to rapidly and consistently develop error mitigation in structural analyses.

Document Details

ReferenceNWC23-0257-fullpaper
AuthorsSancaktar. A Gözüm. S
LanguageEnglish
TypePaper
Date 18th May 2023
OrganisationsTurkish Aerospace Industries Uran Defence and Advanced Technologies
RegionGlobal

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