Formalisation of STEPTAS and STEPNRF, STEPSPE

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Formalisation of STEP-TAS (and STEP-NRF,
STEP-SPE)

• Hans Peter de Koning
• (ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands)

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STEP-NRF

• STEP-based application protocol Network-models
  and Results Format
• Exchange of discrete network-model
  representations and results
• Supports hierarchical network-model breakdown
  (sub-models to any depth)
• Suitable for analysis / simulation / test /
  operation models and results for any engineering
  discipline
• Designed for efficient exchange of large amounts
  of results data
• Supports definition of runtime-loadable
  dictionary to configure for specific application
  domains
• NRF dictionary is a kind of reference data
• Allows efficient and backwards compatible
  extension of NRF-based standards
• Full implementation of SI (ISO 31) as well as
  non-SI quantities and units
• Real, complex, integer, string and enumeration
  scalar quantity types
• Tensor quantity types of any rank generalised
  for string/enumeration valued elements
• Generic module for STEP-TAS and STEP-SPE

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STEP-TAS

• STEP-based application protocol Thermal Analysis
  for Space
• Exchange of thermal-radiative/conductive models
• surface geometry, material properties,
  kinematics, orbit/attitude, mission timeline
• target tools ESARAD, THERMICA, CIGAL, RADCAD,
  TMG, TSS, TRASYS,
• Thermal network models and results
• target tools ESATAN/FHTS, SINDA-G, SINDA/FLUINT,
  
• Thermal test models results
• test environment and run identification
• sensors/channels
• association with location in geometric model
  possible
• measurements

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STEP-SPE

• STEP-based application protocol Space Environment
  and Effects
• Exchange of analysis models for
• micro-meteorites and debris
• atomic oxygen
• particle radiation
• contamination
• electric surface discharge
• plasma interaction
• target tools ESABASE, SYSTEMA, GEANT4,
• Re-uses and extends STEP-TAS

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Iterative, incremental development scheme
Currently with STEP-TAS at increment (version)
5.3 (May 2006) v5.2 released June 2005
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STEP-TAS standard - two parts
Actually a STEP-TAS file itself

• Application Protocol contains core data model
  formalized in EXPRESS schema
• Run-time Loadable Dictionary contains pre-defined
  instancesAllows for backwards compatible
  extensions of standardwithout costly updates to
  protocol and implemented interface software

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STEP-TAS v5.3 updates

• STEP-TAS protocol split into 4 modules
• Network-models and Results Format (NRF)
• Meshed Geometric Model (MGM)
• Space Kinematic Model (SKM)
• Space Mission Definition (SMD)
• No more thermal-specific terms in the modules
• All configuration for thermal analysis done in
  STEP-TAS Dictionary
• Modules can be re-used in STEP-SPE
• Meshed Geometric Model updated to support both
  surface and solid geometry
• Current STEP-TAS implementations only use surface
  geometry
• NRF tensor quantity types simplified and made
  more generic at the same time

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STEP-TAS converter architecturewith areas of
responsibility
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STEP-TAS software (1)

• Python libraries generated by pyExpress (ESA)
• Used and validated in TASverter and
  CIGAL/STEP-TAS interface by Alcatel Alenia Space
• TASverter (ESA)
• Converts thermal-radiative models between ESARAD,
  THERMICA, CIGAL
• Full TRASYS import/export developed, expected
  release May 2006
• Export of ESATAN model snapshot and results data
  implemented, used for testing ESATAP
• Experimental C libraries generated by expressik
  (University of Manchester, ESA)
• Prototype re-implementation of TASverter support
  module and THERMICA VIF reader succeeded
• ESATAP Thermal Analysis Post-processor
  (Silogic, DOREA, Alcatel Alenia Space, ESA)
• Development in progress
• Initial post-processing of ESATAN STEP-TAS export
  works

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STEP-TAS software (2)

• HDF5 exchange file implementation of STEP-TAS
  (DOREA, ESA)
• First phase completed April 2006 with working
  prototype
• BagheraView (CSTB, CNES)
• Beta version released April 2006 for STEP-TAS
  v5.2
• AP203/AP214 CAD to STEP-TAS conversion (Hanop,
  CSTB, ESA)
• Triangulated meshing of complex shapes works
  (using OpenCascade)
• Automatic simplification works

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Formalisation schedule

• 2005 STEP-NRF and STEP-TAS were approved as ECSS
  new work items
• May 2006 Finalise ECSS E-10-07 WG membership
• June 2006 First ECSS WG meeting and start-up of
  ISO TC184-SC4 formalisation
• 2006 Q3, Q4 Completion for public review of ECSS
  standard STEP-NRF and STEP-TAS
• ISO formalisation currently TBD, expect clear
  picture by September 2006
• Schedule STEP-SPE is TBD, first complete current
  development activity

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Industrial implementation schedule

• ESA TRP activity on industrial implementation of
  STEP-TAS interfaces
• For European tools ESARAD, THERMICA, CIGAL
• Transfer of TASverter modules from ESA to tool
  vendors
• Expected start summer 2006
• ESA funds initial implementation, thereafter
  maintenance/upgrades by tool vendors as integral
  parts of software products
• Additional activity in preparation for TMG (Maya
  HTT, Canadian Space Agency)

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STEP-TAS real model conversion gallery TASverter
GUI and log
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STEP-TAS galleryIntegral
THERMICA
ESARAD
PATRAN
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STEP-TAS galleryIntegral
BagheraView
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STEP-TAS galleryMETOP stowed solar array
THERMICA
ESARAD
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STEP-TAS galleryStudy model
BagheraView
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STEP-TAS galleryAeolus (stowed)
BagheraView
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STEP-TAS gallerySMOS
BagheraView
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STEP-TAS / TASverter team (ESA)

• Simon Appel
• Duncan Gibson
• David Alsina Orra
• James Etchells
• Hans Peter de Koning

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References

• ISO 10303 (STEP) standardshttp//www.tc184-sc4.or
  g
• STEP-NRF and STEP-TAShttp//mechanical-engineerin
  g.esa.int/thermal/tools/?pstandards
• TASverterhttp//mechanical-engineering.esa.int/th
  ermal/tools/?ptasverter
• European Cooperation for Space Standardizationhtt
  p//www.ecss.nl