D3PLOT 22.1

[WRITE] CUTDOWN D3PLOT/PTF File

[WRITE] Cutdown D3PLOT/PTF file

This figure (right) shows the menu for writing a compressed set of PTF files. There are two output options available:

ORIGINAL - the data is written to the file in the normal format (it will be able to be read by other post-processing software)
REORDERED - the file is written in a format that makes it quicker for D3PLOT to read (it will only be able to be read by D3Plot)

This option can be used to generate a new set of PTF/D3PLOT files for a model that contain only a subset of the Parts and States in the original model.

As well as reducing the size of the new PTF/D3PLOT files by reducing the number of PARTs and STATEs it is also possible to remove some of the data components from the files.

If the file is written in the REORDERED format derived components Von Mises Stress, Von Mises Strain and Engineering Major and Minor Strains can be embedded in the file. If the stress/strain tensors used to derive them are not needed they can be omitted from the file to save disk space.

LSDA (binout) data components can also be embedded in the REORDERED format file. This could be useful if the LSDA file is large as the data components cannot be plotted until it has been read in. By embedding them in the file they are available instantly.

This operation can also be performed from the dialogue interface and in batch using the following methods:

Using Dialogue prompt commands

/UTILITES PTF_COMPRESS

See Appendix E for the full set of commands.

Using the command line

(These commands may be used in non-graphical mode using the "tty" display device, making them suitable for use on a typical remote cluster.)

-ptfcut= <filename>

Where <filename> contains a list of /UTILITIES PTF_COMPRESS commands, equivalent to typing these at the command prompt

See CLINE_PTFCUT for more details

-ptfcut_batch < further options > -o= < output_filename >

This permits common cases (eg just strains for all states) to be output without having to define a file of commands

using the dialogue commands:

OUTPUT TYPE	Select whether to write out the file in ORIGINAL or REORDERED format.
SELECT PARTS	This option can be used to select a subset of the model. After selecting the PARTs that are going to be written to the new set of PTF files the PTF State Size will be recalculated to show the size of each PTF state in the new files.
SELECT STATES	This option can be used to select a subset of the STATEs in the original model for output to the new set of PTF files.
MAX FAMILY SIZE	The maximum family member size that will be written out can be specified here. By setting this high enough it can be used to fit all the states into one file. By default it will be set to the size of the maximum family member in the model that is being cut down. NOTE: If the family size is set to a value lower than the state size, when D3Plot writes out the file it will silently increase the family size so that it will create one state per family member.

As well as selecting a subset of PARTs and STATEs it is also possible to turn off the output of some data components to the new PTF files. Depending on what data componets and entity types the original model contains the table in the bottom section of the menu can be used to either select or deselect optional data components for output.

Due to the way the PTF file format works it is not always possible to turn a data component on/off for a single entity type. If for example your model contains both Shells and Thick Shells then both the Stress Tensor and Plastic Strain must be either be truned on or off for both types of elements. Similarly the Strain Tensor must apply to all Solids, Shells and Thick Shells.

As data components are turned on/off the PTF State Size will be recalculated to show the size of each PTF state in the new files.

INCLUDE NODES FOR ZTF ITEMS

The PTF/D3PLOT files only contain information for the basic Ansys LS-DYNA element types. If you also have a ZTF or XTF file then D3PLOT will use the extra information in these files to draw Springs. Joints etc.

If you select a subset of PARTs for output it is possible to select a PART that is attached to one end of a Spring without selecting the PART connected to the other end of the spring. If this option is selected then D3PLOT will automatically ensure that the nodes at the end of any springs (or any other elements) that are no-longer attached to PARTs are also output to the new PTF files so the items can be drawn correctly.

EMBED ZTF DATA IN FILE

If the file is being written in REORDERED format you can embed the ZTF data into the file.

WRITE SELECTION / READ SELECTION

These two options can be used to save and retrieve the options selected in the panel by writing a file containing the relevant dialogue commands. This file can be used as an argument on the command line (-ptfcut=<filename>) to ouput a cutdown version of the ptf file. This could be done as part of an automatic process at the end of an analysis to create files with a subset of results and/or reordered to make post-processing faster.

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