Keep in mind the following tips and limitations for a successful multistage modeling:
Stages can be assembled radially or axially.
Nodes located on the cyclic symmetry axis are not supported. The degenerate constraint equations (D) are not internally applied.
A stage modeled using axisymmetry is not supported.
When using NSEL to select edge and interface nodes, make sure the tolerance is chosen (SELTOL) to select only the edge/interface nodes.
Make sure the constraint equations created with CECYCMS and CEIMS are not modified. In particular, avoid modifying the numbering (for example, avoid NUMCMP).
The base/duplicate numbering cannot be arbitrary. The CDWRITE and CDREAD commands can be used so that the following rule is respected:
The offset between nodes on base and duplicate sectors must be positive and constant.
There can be arbitrary numbering gaps between each base/duplicate group.
The nodal rotations base sector nodes and their corresponding duplicate sector nodes must be the same.
Loading on cyclic edges is not supported.
Loading on multistage interstage boundaries (Interstage objects in the Mechanical Application) is not supported.
During each solve, any user defined constraint equations (CE, CEINTF,...) may be altered. For each solve (SOLVE), you should remove these constraints (CEDELE) and reissue them (CE, CEINTF,…).
For elements with homogeneous and layered forms, only the homogeneous forms are supported, and elements with active layers (e.g. SOLID186 with KEYOPT(3) = 1) are not supported.