Hi,

I am interested in incorporating imperfection into my model. Is there a way to do this through the CAE? Or is there a way, when doing the post-buckling analysis to automatically import the modes as imperfections?

Currently how I am doing it is this:

1. Setup model for eigenvalue buckling.

2. Write input and then modify by adding:

*NODE FILE

U,

to the input file and then submitting the input file for analysis.

3. Replace the eigenvalue step with a Riks step and make corresponding changes in boundary conditions and loadings.

4. Write the input file

5. Modify the input file to include the following after *END ASSEMBLY:

*IMPERFECTION, FILE = results_from_eigenvalue, Step = Step-1

Mode#, Scaling factor

etc.

6. Submit the modified input file for analysis.

I'm wondering if there is any way to do some of this automatically through the CAE to make this process faster?

Thanks,

Steven