To import a supported file using the Workbench External Data system:
Insert an External Data system into the Project Schematic from the Component Systems group of the Toolbox.
Right-click the Setup cell and select . This automatically opens the External Data tab
Browse to the location of the file to add.
Note: Importing files from design point folders within the same project directory (with the exception of the Current design point) is not supported.
In the Location column of the Outline of Schematic pane, select the ellipsis button (
), and select your data source files. The selected file
name, location, and identifier are automatically displayed in the Data
Source column. The identifier is a string that can be used to identify the
file in the downstream Mechanical application.When multiple files are added to the same system, each file is given a unique identifier (that is, File1, File2, and so on). These identifiers are used in conjunction with the data identifiers (Pressure1, Thickness1, and so on) to identify and apply the dataset(s) within Mechanical.
If your files contain data for the same nodal coordinates, or if only one of your files contains the nodal information, you can choose the primary option in the External Data system to designate a primary file. This option notifies the mapping utility that the group of files, defined in the External Data system, share the same nodal information. The nodal information is therefore processed and stored only from the primary file. This greatly reduces the memory usage by only allocating space for the nodes once, not once per file. It can also result in much faster import times as only one mapping operation will be required.
Mechanical APDL .cdb files can be added as a primary mesh in the External Data system; for details, see Importing a CDB File as Input in the Workbench User's Guide.
Return to the Project tab. Display the properties for the Setup cell of the External Data system by right-clicking on the cell and selecting .
Specify the Files Import Type property as needed. Options include (default) and . The option instructs the application to directly reference the External Data file instead of transferring the file to the project folder. For large size files, this action can drastically reduce disk storage requirements and improve performance.
Note: When you specify the option and wish to archive your project using the option of the Archive Options dialog, the application automatically copies the External Data files to the archived project.
Important: The option cannot be used with the System Coupling feature.
Specify additional Workbench properties as needed:
To transfer shell thickness data to Mechanical, either:
Drag the Setup cell of the External Data and drop it onto the Model cell of a Mechanical system to create the link.
Right-click the Setup cell of the External Data system and select Transfer Data to New > . This creates a link to the Model cell of a new Static Structural system and a connection to the Setup cell. Remove the unwanted connection to the Setup cell.
To transfer load data to Mechanical, drag the Setup cell of the External Data system and drop it onto the Setup cell of an applicable Mechanical system.
Alternatively, you can right-click the Setup cell of the External Data system and select Transfer Data to New > . This creates a link to the Setup cell of a new Static Structural system and a connection to the Model cell. Remove the unwanted connection to the Model cell.
When an External Data system is connected to a system using the Samcef or ABAQUS solver, the following quantities cannot be used: Body Force Density, Stress, Strain, Heat Flux, and the Emag Condition.
When an External Data system is connected to a system using the ABAQUS solver, the ABAQUS system does not support the import of Forces.
Attach the geometry to the analysis system and open Mechanical. Right-click the Setup cell of the analysis system and select . You can also double-click the Setup cell to open the application.