About the Import Process

The import process is a method for transferring data from a simulation performed outside of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform (for example, results from an Abaqus simulation) into Physics Results Explorer for high-performance visualization.

This page discusses:

See Also
Importing Simulation Visualization Data

The model data you import is available for visualization. Provided the model has the appropriate attributes defined, you can create:

  • Color code plots
  • Ply stack plots
  • Shell thickness plots
  • Display groups for supported features (for example, element types or constraints)

The results data you import is either saved to the PLM database or to a local directory. All results functionality is available for imported data except for Rendering Settings options and the By Groups functionality in Display Groups.

Note: When you import a file, experience content is not generated automatically. There is a separate action bar command for generating lightweight experience content for 3DPlay.

File Types Supported for Import

The import process supports the following file types:

File Type Extension
SIM databases Individual file .sim and .SMASim
Multi-file .SMAManifest
Abaqus output databases .odb
Abaqus input files .inp
Nastran results documents .op2
Nastran model documents .bdf, .dat, and .nas
The following prerequisites ensure successful import:
  • If you are importing a .sim format file, you can import the simulation results generated by an Abaqus job if the job is run with the resultsFormat option set to SIM or BOTH.
  • If you are importing an .odb or .op2 format file, the file must contain the finite element model data and discrete fields calculated by the solver for each step and scenario of the analysis to ensure their successful conversion to the SIM format.
  • If you are importing an Abaqus input file or a Nastran model document, the model must contain the finite element model. Optionally, the model might also contain one or more discrete fields or attributes; for example, thickness data or material assignments.

Analysis Cases and Imported Data

The first file you import into a simulation object is saved in Analysis Case 1, the default analysis case created for each simulation object. If you import another file, you can either add its simulation results as a new analysis case or you can replace the results in one of the analysis cases with the results in the new file.

When you replace the simulation results in an analysis case, Physics Results Explorer retains the other changes you have made in that analysis case: the plots created, view manipulations, and customizations made to display groups. This behavior is helpful when you replace the results in an analysis case with an updated version of the same simulation, because the plots and other changes will usually be appropriate for the updated results. If you update an analysis case using the results of a different simulation, the customizations in the analysis case can be inappropriate for your newly imported results. In general, if you have already created plots or edited display groups in an analysis case, you should replace the results in that analysis case only with an updated version of the same simulation.

Note: In the case of Nastran results documents (.op2), multiple results might be imported to a single analysis case. The results of one or several .op2 files are concatenated in the process.