Configuration File Options
Mechanica stores several internal settings in configuration files associated with your session. You use the config.pro file to store configuration options. Configuration options are an important tool that can help you make your Mechanica sessions more efficient by ensuring that meshing and solver settings are consistent, your display is the same from session to session, and so forth.
See the following topics for more information about these files and the options you can set in them:
config.pro Overview
config.pro Options
config.pro Overview
The settings in config.pro control various aspects of your Mechanica session. This discussion covers all config.pro options supported for integrated mode. Here are some guidelines to consider when creating or amending a config.pro file:
In general, configuration file options and values are not case sensitive.
In both UNIX and Windows, the actual file names on disk must use lowercase characters only.
In both UNIX and Windows, directory names can contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase characters. However, if Mechanica encounters two or more directories in the same path that have the same parent and the same name except for a different mix of uppercase and lowercase characters, it accesses only the directory with the earliest uppercase characters (since their ASCII values are lower.) This is true if you enter the full path with correct case sensitivity. For example, if it encounters directories named aBc, ABc, and Abc, it only looks in/through directory ABc.
A config.pro line should not exceed 80 characters. You cannot continue a search path or mapkey on a second line.
In Windows, you should specify the drive at the beginning of the path, so as to avoid problems if you change your working directory to another drive.
You can set these options from the Tools>Options menu, or you can manually edit your config.pro file using a text editor.
config.pro Options
Here are the config.pro option categories available for Mechanica:
Mechanica Unit Settings Option
Simulation Display Options
General Modeling Options
FEM Mode Modeling, Meshing, and Output Options
Fatigue Options
Run Options
Result Display Options
Miscellaneous Options
Options in each category begin with the keyword or attribute name in boldface type, followed by a brief paragraph describing the option and a list of valid value types. The options in each category appear in alphabetical order.
Mechanica Unit Settings Option
Use this option to control the default units setting for your model.
PRO_UNIT_SYS
Customizes your units settings by controlling the default principal system of units for your model.
PROE_DEF —
length = in
mass = lbm
time = sec
temperature = F
In this system, the unit of force is in x lbm/sec (inch lbm second), which is not a common unit.
MKS — meter kilogram second
CGS — centimeter gram second
mmNs — millimeter Newton second
FPS — foot pound second
IPS — inch pound second
Simulation Display Options
Use these options to control which icons are on by default for your session. For most of the following options, the settings are TRUE or FALSE.
SIM_DISPLAY_AGEM_CONTROLS
Toggles display of AutoGEM controls.
SIM_DISPLAY_ARROW_SCALE
Toggles automatic arrow scaling.
SIM_DISPLAY_ARROW_TAIL_TOUCHING
Toggles display of load and reaction force arrows to have tails or heads touching.
SIM_DISPLAY_BEAM_RELEASES
Toggles display of beam release icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_BEAM_SECTIONS
Toggles display of beam section icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_BEAMS
Toggles display of beam icons.
sim_display_contact_regions
Toggles display of contact region icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_FASTENERS
Toggles display of fastener icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_GAPS
Toggles display of gap icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_IN_SPIN
Toggles display of icons when a model is spinning.
SIM_DISPLAY_INTERFACES
Toggles display of interface icons.
sim_display_load_colors
Toggles display of individual colors.
SIM_DISPLAY_LOAD_DISTRIBUTION
Toggles display of distributed load vectors over entire entity.
SIM_DISPLAY_LOAD_ICONS
Toggles display of load icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_LOAD_VALUE
Toggles display of load value tags.
SIM_DISPLAY_MASSES
Toggles display of mass icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_MATL_ASSIGNEMNTS
Toggles display of material assignment icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_MEASURES
Toggles display of Simulation Measure icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_AND_MODEL
Toggles display of geometry and mesh models.
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_CONTROLS
Toggles display of Mesh Control icons in FEM mode.
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_ENTITIES
Toggles display of all mesh entities.
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_MODE
Determines the initial state of the mesh display mode. You can set the initial state so that it displays your mesh as wireframe, hidden line, visible line (no hidden lines), or shaded. You can also set the initial state to display the geometry only.
NO_MESH
WIREFRAME (default)
HIDDEN
NOHIDDEN
SHADING
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_QUALITY
Specifies the display refinement for mesh viewing.
COARSE (default)
FINE
MEDIUM
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_SHELLS_THICK
Determines whether Mechanica displays shells meshes with zero thickness or the thickness that you defined for the shell. When this option is set to no, Mechanica displays the shell mesh with a zero thickness. If you set this option to Yes, Mechanica displays the shell mesh using the actual thickness.
NO (default)
YES
SIM_DISPLAY_MESH_SHRINK_ELEMS
Specifies the size of displayed mesh elements. Enter a value between 0 and 100. If you do not want Mechanica to shrink the elements, you can use the default value, which is 0. Note that, for complex models that have very high element counts, shrinking the elements can degrade performance.
SIM_DISPLAY_NAMES
Toggles display of icon name tags.
SIM_DISPLAY_RIGID_CONNECTIONS
Toggles display of rigid connection icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_RIGID_DOF
Toggles display of DOF icons for rigid links.
SIM_DISPLAY_RIGID_LINKS
Toggles display of rigid link icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_SHELLS
Toggles shell boundary highlighting.
SIM_DISPLAY_SPOT_WELDS
Toggles display of spot weld icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_SPRINGS
Toggles display of spring icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_STRUCT_CONSTRAINTS
Toggles display of all Structure constraint icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_STRUCT_LOADS
Toggles display of all Structure load icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_THERM_BCS
Toggles display of Thermal constraint icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_THERM_LOADS
Toggles display of Thermal load icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_WEIGHTED_DOF
Toggle display of DOF icons for weighted links.
SIM_DISPLAY_WEIGHTED_LINKS
Toggles display of weighted link icons.
SIM_DISPLAY_WELDS
Toggles display of weld icons.
General Modeling Options
Use these options to control various aspects of model definition and handling.
SIM_ASM_MODELING
For assembly models with shells defined as midsurfaces, determines whether Mechanica automatically creates links to connect midsurfaces of mated assembly components. If you set this option to "yes," Mechanica automatically creates these links, and you do not need to manually create welds, beams, or rigid connections to simulate mated connections. When you set this option to "no," Mechanica does not create links. In this case, you must manually create idealizations to simulate the behavior of the mated components.
YES (default)
NO
SIM_BEAMSECTION_PATH
Specifies the path for the beam sections directory, which contains the beam section library files. You must use the full path.
SIMULATION_PRODUCT
Specifies the product that you want to use as the default when you enter Mechanica. If you set this option to "prompt," the Model Type dialog box appears whenever you enter Mechanica with a new model. This behavior persists until you save your model while working in a Mechanica product. After the save occurs, Mechanica assumes that you will continue working in the selected product and no longer displays the Model Type dialog box upon entry.
However, if you set this option to one of the product types, the software assumes that all models you bring into Mechanica are 3D, will use the specified product type, and, unless you specify otherwise through the SIMULATION_FEM_MODE config.pro option, will use native mode. In this case, Mechanica does not display the Model Type dialog box on entry. It simply applies the appropriate assumptions. If you want to use a different product, mode, or model type, you need to select the Edit>Mechanica Model Type command after you enter Mechanica.
PROMPT (default)
STRUCTURE
THERMAL
FEM Mode Modeling, Meshing, and Output Options
Use these options to control a variety of settings in FEM mode.
FEM_ALLOW_NAMED_MESH_FILES
Determines whether Mechanica prompts you to enter a name of a mesh file when saving a mesh, and to select a mesh file when loading a mesh. When this option is set to "no," Mechanica automatically assigns the name of model_name.fmp(a) to the mesh file when you use the File>Save FEM Mesh command, and automatically retrieves the mesh from the model_name.fmp(a) file when you use the File>Open FEM Mesh command.
If you set this option to "yes," Mechanica adds the Open Named FEM Mesh and Save Named FEM Mesh commands to the File menu. When you click one of these commands, Mechanica prompts you to either select the mesh file to load, or to enter the name for the mesh file to store.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_ANSYS_ANNOTATIONS
Enables Mechanica to output notes as ANSYS annotations.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_ANSYS_GROUPING
Determines your ability to group ANSYS commands. When you set this option to "yes," you can use ANSYS CM commands for grouping nodes and elements on a part-by-part basis. Group names must be shorter than 8 characters. If the component name is longer than 8 characters, the software generates a default name.
A part in part mode is not a group because you can select its elements and nodes. An element or a node may be part of more than one group. An element defined on a feature mentioned in a layer appears in the layer group and in the parent group. Bar elements connecting two assembly members do not belong to any group.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_ASP_RATIO
Sets the value against which FEM mode compares the aspect ratios of the elements it creates. The value type is numeric and the default value is 7.
FEM_DEFAULT_SOLVER
Specifies the path to one of the solvers.
ANSYS (default)
MSC/NASTRAN
FEM_DIST_INDEX
Sets the value against which FEM mode compares the distortion indices of the elements it creates. The value type is numeric and the default value is 0.4.
FEM_EDGE_ANGLE
Sets the angle between two adjacent element edges. Enter a value between 0 and 90. The value type is numeric and the default value is 30.
FEM_IGNORE_UNPAIRED
Determines whether Mechanica notifies you of unpaired surfaces when you test shell compression. If you set this option to "no," Mechanica alerts you when it encounters unpaired surfaces during a compression test. In this case, the software shows you the entire model and highlights the unpaired surfaces.
If you set this option to "yes," Mechanica does not notify you of unpaired surfaces. Instead, it displays your model without the unpaired surfaces.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_MESH_OPERATIONS
Activates the OPERATIONS menu, which enables you to perform specialized operations on NASTRAN files and the finite element mesh for NASTRAN. When you set this option to "yes," the Operations command appears on the Mesh menu. If you set the option to "no," the Operations command does not appear.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_MESH_PRESERVE
Determines whether Mechanica should automatically store the mesh in a model_name.fmp(a) file. The storage location is the current directory, and Mechanica overwrites any existing model_name.fmp(a) file in that directory without warning.
If you set this option to "yes," Mechanica assumes that you want to use retained meshes rather than transient meshes. The use of retained meshes has a number of implications that affect how FEM mode behaves, the assembly meshing methods you can use, and so forth. To learn more, see Transient and Retained Meshes.
With FEM_MESH_PRESERVE set to "yes," the software automatically retrieves the mesh from the model_name.fmp(a) file when you reopen the model in Structure or Thermal for FEM mode, provided the model has not changed. If the model has changed, a warning message appears.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_MESH_SOLID_SHELL_AUTO_CONSTRAINT
Determines whether Mechanica constrains rotation for shell nodes. When you set this option to "yes," Mechanica adds rotational constraints to shell nodes at the interface between shell and solid elements at the shell node. These additional constraints prevent unwanted degrees of freedom (DOFs) in shell elements at the interface. Unwanted DOFs occur because the solid elements typically have 3 translational DOFs whereas shells have 3 translational DOFs plus 3 rotational DOFs. With FEM_MESH_SOLID_SHELL_AUTO_CONSTRAINT set to "yes," the software freezes the rotational DOFs, creating a more consistent interface between the shells and solids.
If you do not want Mechanica to add the rotational constraints for you, you can set this option to "no." In this case, you are responsible for ensuring that the nodes at the interface are not underconstrained. You can also set the option so that Mechanica asks you whether you want automatic constraints or plan to constrain the nodes yourself.
YES (default)
NO
ASK
FEM_MID_RATIO
Sets the value against which FEM mode compares the mid ratios of the elements it creates. The value type is numeric and the default value is 0.1.
FEM_NEUTRAL_VERSION
Specifies the version number of the FEM neutral file.
1
2
3 (default)
FEM_REMOVE_UNOPPOSED
Defines the default state of the UseUnopposed toggle. The UseUnopposed toggle determines whether Mechanica will keep or ignore unopposed surfaces during compression.
If you set this option to "yes," the system ignores unopposed surfaces when meshing the model; the system also deselects the UseUnopposed toggle. When you set this option to "no," the system uses the unopposed surfaces in the shell model.
NO (default)
YES
FEM_SKEW_ANGLE
Sets the maximum acceptable default skew angle value, measured in degrees. Enter a value between 0 and 90. The value type is numeric and the default value is 45.
FEM_SOLVER_TIME_LIMIT
For MSC/NASTRAN solutions, this option interrupts the solver after the specified time limit. The default value is 60, and you specify values for this option in minutes.
FEM_TAPER
Sets the minimum acceptable default taper value. Enter a value between 0 and 1. The value type is numeric and the default value is 0.5.
FEM_TWIST_ANGLE
Sets the maximum acceptable default twist angle between opposing element faces. Applies to brick and wedge elements only. Enter a value between 0 and 90.
FEM_WARP_ANGLE
Sets the maximum acceptable default warp angle value, measured in degrees. Enter a value between 0 and 90. The value type is numeric and the default value is 10.
FEM_WHICH_ANSYS_SOLVER
Specifies whether Mechanica uses the Frontal, Iterative, or Powersolver ANSYS solver.
FRONTAL (default)
ITERATIVE
POWERSOLVER
FEM_Y_DIR_COMPRESS
Specifies the Y direction based on compressed and uncompressed geometry. The default value is "no," which indicates that Mechanica will use uncompressed geometry.
NO (default)
YES
PRO_ANSYS_PATH
Specifies the path to the ANSYS executable.
PRO_NASTRAN_PATH
Specifies the path to the MSC/NASTRAN executable (nastran).
PRO_SOLVER_NAME
Specifies the name of the user-defined solver to be included in the Run FEM Analysis dialog box.
PRO_SOLVER_PATH
Specifies the path to the user-defined solver whose name is included in the Run FEM Analysis dialog box.
SIM_ADDITIVE_MASS
Adds any masses that reference the same geometrical entity or resolve to the same mesh node. If you set this option to "yes," FEM suppresses the precedence rules that apply to masses.
NO (default)
YES
SIM_FEM_NASTRAN_USE_PSHELL
For MSC/NASTRAN solutions, this option determines the form that FEM mode uses to output laminated composite shell properties to the solver. When you set this option to "no," FEM outputs laminated composite shell properties using PCOMP cards that reference MAT8 material cards. If you set this option to "yes," FEM outputs laminated composite shell properties using PSHELL cards that reference MAT2 material cards.
NO (default)
YES
SIM_NASTRAN_USE_COUPMASS
For MSC/NASTRAN solutions, this option enables you to enforce consistent mass matrix generation. When you set this option to "yes," FEM adds PARAM,COUPMASS,1 to the NASTRAN deck to ensure that the solver generates a consistent mass matrix. If you set this option to "no," FEM does not add this statement, and NASTRAN generates a lumped mass matrix.
NO (default)
YES
SIM_OUTPUT_OBJ_NAMES
Output beam sections name, analyses name, coordinate systems names as comments.
SIM_OUTPUT_IDS_FOR_LAYERS
Determines whether Mechanica will generate an XML file containing layer data when you output a NASTRAN deck. If you set this option to "yes," Mechanica generates the XML file that provides a listing of node and element IDs for any idealizations—such as beams, shells, and masses—that you place on layers. The file provides lists for all layers that contain simulation entities.
The filename for the XML file is outputfilename_layers.xml, where outputfilename is the name that you specified for the .nas file on the Run FEM Analysis dialog box. Mechanica places the file in the same directory as the .nas file.
NO (default)
YES
SIM_REGEN_ON_ENTRY
Determines whether Mechanica regenerates your model when you initiate a session.
YES (default)
NO
SIM_SMOOTH_ASPECT_RATIO
Determines the element aspect ratio criterion that Mechanica will use when smoothing a FEM mesh during mesh optimization. You must specify a real number for this option, and the default setting is 7.0. As a general rule, you should not change the default setting unless the first optimization pass shows that the overall element quality has degraded such that setting a new aspect ratio criterion would result in better shaped elements.
SIM_SMOOTH_EDGE_ANGLE
Determines the element edge angle criterion that Mechanica will apply to quadrilateral elements when smoothing a FEM mesh during mesh optimization. You must specify a real number in degrees for this option, and the default setting is 30. As a general rule, you should not change the default setting unless the first optimization pass shows that the overall element quality has degraded such that setting a new edge angle criterion would result in better shaped elements.
SIM_SMOOTH_SKEW
Determines the element skew angle criterion that Mechanica will apply to quadrilateral elements when smoothing a FEM mesh during mesh optimization. You must specify a real number in degrees for this option, and the default setting is 45. As a general rule, you should not change the default setting unless the first optimization pass shows that the overall element quality has degraded such that setting a new skew angle criterion would result in better shaped elements.
SIM_SMOOTH_TAPER
Determines the element taper criterion that Mechanica will apply to quadrilateral elements when smoothing a FEM mesh during mesh optimization. You must specify a real number for this option, and the default setting is 0.5. As a general rule, you should not change the default setting unless the first optimization pass shows that the overall element quality has degraded such that setting a new taper criterion would result in better shaped elements.
SIM_SMOOTH_WARP_ANGLE
Determines the element warp angle criterion that Mechanica will apply to quadrilateral elements when smoothing a FEM mesh during mesh optimization. You must specify a real number in degrees for this option, and the default setting is 10. As a general rule, you should not change the default setting unless the first optimization pass shows that the overall element quality has degraded such that setting a new warp angle criterion would result in better shaped elements.
SIMULATION_FEM_MODE
Determines the initial state of the FEM Mode check box on the Model Type dialog box. The default is "prompt," indicating that the Model Type dialog appears when you enter Mechanica with a new or unsaved model and the check box is unchecked.
If you select "No," the software assumes you always want to work in native mode, and the check box is unchecked. If you select "Yes," the software assumes you always want to work in FEM mode, and the check box is checked. In either case, if the SIMULATION_PRODUCT config.pro option is set to a specific product, the software bypasses the Model Type dialog box altogether when you enter Mechanica with a new or unsaved model.
PROMPT (default)
NO
YES
STD_NASTRAN_TEMPLATE
Sets the file path of a NASTRAN deck template. Use the full path to avoid problems.
Fatigue Options
Use these options to control fatigue analysis. You can also access some of these options on the Fatigue Analysis Definition dialog box. For more information on each of these settings, see Fatigue Analysis.
SIM_FATIGUE_BIAXIALITY_CORRECT
Controls the use of biaxiality correction. The value types are as follows:
YES (default)
NO
SIM_FATIGUE_BIAXIALITY_METHOD
Specifies the method Mechanica uses to model biaxiality: Klann-Tipton-Cordes, Hoffman-Seeger, or the most conservative (WORST) of the two methods. The value types are as follows:
WORST (default)
KTC
HS
SIM_FATIGUE_CONFIDENCE_LEVEL
Specifies the percentage confidence in the predicted life result value. The value type is numeric and may range from 0.1 to 99.9. The default value is 90.
SIM_FATIGUE_EXTERNAL_MATDATA
Controls the use of external material data. The value types are as follows:
NO (default)
YES
SIM_FATIGUE_HYSTERESIS_GATE
Specifies the gate Mechanica applies to cycle counting as a percentage of peak load. The value type is numeric and may range from 0 to 50. The default value is 1.
SIM_FATIGUE_INFINITE_LIFE_VALUE
Specifies a value for the lives beyond cutoff. The value type is numeric and may range from 1e15 to 1e30. The default value is 1e20.
SIM_FATIGUE_MEAN_STRESS
Controls the application of the mean stress correction. The value types are as follows:
YES (default)
NO
SIM_FATIGUE_MEAN_STRESS_METHOD
Specifies the method Mechanica uses to model mean stress: the Smith-Watson-Topper Approach, Morrow Correction, or the most conservative (WORST) of the two methods. The value types are as follows:
WORST (default)
SWT
MORROW
SIM_FATIGUE_SAFETY_MARGIN
Specifies the factor Mechanica uses to determine the Life Confidence quantity. The value type is numeric and may range from 1.1 to 100. The default value is 3.
SIM_FATIGUE_USER_DIRECTORY
Specifies the directory for user files, for example, external materials files. The value is the path to the directory. The default value is the current directory.
SIM_FATIGUE_WRITE_SURF_STRESS
Controls the writing of surface stresses to a neutral file. The value types are as follows:
NO (default)
YES
Run Options
Use these options to control the engine run. You can also access many of these functions through the Analysis>Mechanica Analyses and Design Studies command and the associated dialog box. For more information on each of these settings, see Setting Up a Run.
SIM_MAX_MEMORY_USAGE
Specifies the maximum amount of memory that the Mechanica mesher and solver or the FEM mesher can use for the run. The value type is a numeric value that is measured in megabytes and should be greater than 0. The default value is 128. Be aware that, if you are a FEM user and enter a value of 0, the FEM mesher will assume that it can use all available memory.
SIM_RUN_COPY_FEM_NEUTRAL_FILE
Controls whether Mechanica copies the FEM neutral file (.fnf extension) into the study directory. The value types are as follows:
YES (default)
NO
SIM_RUN_OUT_DIR
Specifies the directory for output storage. The value type is a complete path name. By default, Mechanica uses the current directory.
SIM_RUN_TMP_DIR
Specifies the directory for temporary file storage. The value type is a complete path name. By default, Mechanica uses the current directory.
Result Display Options
Use these options to control the results display.
BMGR_PREF_FILE
Specifies the path to a text file that you create to control the default settings for your graphs.
SIM_PP_BACKGROUND_COLOR
Specifies the background color of the work area for the results display. The value types are as follows:
PROE (default)
BLUE
BLACK
WHITE
SIM_PP_PATH_ABSOLUTE
Controls whether Mechanica uses an absolute path for study directories when it writes an .rwd file for results. When you create an .rwd file, Mechanica includes the results windows currently defined in the results session. Further, it includes path information on that indicates where the study directories for the results windows are located. The path for the study directories can be either absolute or relative, depending on how you set this config.pro option.
If you set this option to "yes," Mechanica uses absolute paths for study directories when it writes the .rwd file. When you set the option to "no," Mechanica writes relative paths in the .rwd file. If you use this configuration option, you should be sure you have a thorough understanding of your operating environment and sharing needs. Setting this option to "no" can be beneficial if you plan to share the entire file structure with another location or plan to move the file set in the future. The value types are as follows:
YES (default)
NO
SIM_PP_VRML_EXPORT_FORMAT
Specifies the VRML export format that Mechanica uses when exporting VRML reports:
VRML2.0 (default)
VRML1.0
SIM_PP_VRML_FEATURE_EDGES
Specifies that the VRML file will represent feature edges. By default, no feature edges are represented in the VRML file. The value types are as follows:
NO (default)
YES
Miscellaneous Options
These options are not a part of any other larger category.
SIM_MAT_POISSONS_NOTATION
Specifies the convention used for defining Poisson's ratio for anisotropic materials as being either Tsai (column-normalized) or Jones (row-normalized). This option affects only the labels for Poisson's ratio on the Material Definition dialog box. The value types are as follows:
TSAI (default)
JONES
SIM_USE_LAYERS
Specifies that Mechanica allows Pro/ENGINEER layers to transfer as groups into independent mode. When set to "no," Mechanica transfers components as groups, but does not transfer layers as groups. When set to "yes," Mechanica transfers each relevant layer to a group. Note that Mechanica transfers blanked or hidden layers as invisible. Also, if a Pro/ENGINEER coordinate system resides on a blanked layer that transfers to independent mode, the corresponding Mechanica UCS entity will be invisible.
NO (default)
YES
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