GTSTRUDL Training Import DXF File

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GTSTRUDL TrainingImport DXF File

• Kenneth M.(Mac) Will
• CASE Center
• GTSUG 2003
• June 2003

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File Import - DXF

• To import an existing DXF file into GTSTRUDL,
  select File, Import, then DXF

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Import DXF dialog

• Click on the Read button and select the DXF file

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After Reading the file, you will be informed of
the number of lines and polygons in the file
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The Properties button will bring up the following
tabbed dialog
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Properties Dialog

• The Properties dialog allows you to control the
  numbering of joints and members/elements, units,
  layers and GTSTRUDL groups, member and finite
  element types, and establish settings which
  control the intersection tolerance and block
  information.

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Properties DialogUnits Tab
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Properties DialogLayers and Group Tab

• You can specify layers as being non-structural
  which will mean that the information is ignored
• You can also assign information in the layers to
  a GTSTRUDL Group

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Creating a GTSTRUDL Group from a Layer

• Enter the Group Name and click on the Create
  button
• Select the Layer Name and the Group Name
• Then click on the Add Layer to Group button

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Finite Element creation

• Two dimensional finite elements can be created
  from a DXF file which contains closed polylines,
  3Dfaces, and polygon mesh entitities (Edge
  surfaces in AutoCAD). In AutoCAD, you can
  specify the uniform mesh spacing using SURFTAB1
  and SURFTAB2 commands.

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Element Type Tab
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Settings Tab

• You can specify various control parameters such
  as line intersection detection and tolerances
  using the Setting Tab

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Convert button

• After specifying all of the optional information
  in the Properties dialog, click on the Convert
  button
• Specify the name of the file to be created
• You will then be told how many nodes (joints),
  members, and elements were created

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Exiting or finish and reading the input file into
GTSTRUDL

• Click on the Exit button and the following pop-up
  will appear

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Reading the file into GTSTRUDL

• Select Yes and the file will be read into GTSTRUDL

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Clean-up

• You probably want to enter GTMenu and check for
  duplicate joints or members. You can also check
  for any zero length members and eliminate them or
  start the Import DXF process over with a
  different tolerance.