Patran is an analysis software system developed and maintained by MSC.Software Corporation. The core of the system is Patran, a finite element analysis pre- and post-processor. The Patran system also includes several optional products such as advanced postprocessing programs, tightly coupled solvers, and interfaces to third party solvers. This document describes one of these interfaces.

The Patran PAMCRASH Application Preference provides a communication link between Patran and PAMCRASH. It also provides customization of certain features that can be activated by selecting PAMCRASH as the analysis code “Preference” in Patran.

The PAMCRASH Preference is fully integrated into Patran. The casual user will never need to be aware separate programs are being used. For the expert user, there are two main components of the preference: a PCL function, load_pamcrash(), which will load all PAMCRASH specific definitions, like element types and material models, into the currently opened database, and the pat3pam program used to convert model data from the Patran database into the analysis code input file, and to translate model topology from the analysis code input file into the Patran database.

Selecting PAMCRASH as the analysis code under the “Analysis Preference” menu modifies Patran forms in five main areas:

The PCL function load_pamcrash() can be invoked by simply typing its name into the Patran command line. This will load PAMCRASH specific definitions into the Patran database currently opened. PAMCRASH specific definitions can be added to any Patran database (which does not already contain PAMCRASH specific definitions) at any time. Obviously, a Patran database must be open for load_pamcrash() to operate correctly. See PAMCRASH Preference Integration with Patran for complete information and a description of how to create a new template database.

The pat3pam program translates model data between the Patran database and the analysis code-specific input file format. This translation must have direct access to the originating Patran database when PAMCRASH input file is being created.

The pat3pam program also translates model topology data from the analysis, code-specific input file into the Patran database. When reading an existing PAMCRASH input file the Patran database must be initially empty.

This release of the Patran PAMCRASH Preference provides support for reading PAMCRASH input files. Nodes, elements, materials, LBCs, Property Sets, and coordinate systems from keyword based input files only are supported.

No Postprocessing of PAMCRASH analysis results is currently available in Patran. It is recommended to use PAMCRASH postprocessor PAMVIEW for this purpose.