Users:HowToUseCarat

Contents 1 Step 1: Get Carat++ 1.1 User 1.2 Developer 2 Step 2: Run Carat++ via Shell or Command Line 3 Input File 3.1 Input Blocks 3.2 Use of Multiple Input Files 3.3 Parameter Input Files

Step 1: Get Carat++

User

Carat++ will be available as a precompiled executable here (for academic use, for exercises to specific courses, etc.). Just download the version that you need: (If you do not have a tool to unzip the file, go e.g. to http://www.7-zip.org/)

• Windows, academic version (tested on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7):
  • TODO request executable
• Linux, academic version:
  • TODO Ubuntu request executable
  • TODO other Linux distributions

Developer

• Windows
• Linux

Step 2: Run Carat++ via Shell or Command Line

1. Start the shell (in case of Linux) or the command line (in case of Windows):
   • Hint for Windows 7: Go to "Start"(Windows Icon), type "cmd" in the search window, press "Enter".
2. Browse to directory of your input file
3. Start Carat++:
   • on Windows: "CARAT_EXE_PATH\Carat.exe INPUT_FILE_NAME.DAT" (CARAT_EXE_PATH stands for the path to the Carat++ executable, INPUT_FILE_NAME.DAT is a placeholder for the input file name)
   • on Linux: user@machine:~/INPUT_FILE_DIRECTRORY> CARAT_EXE_PATH/carat.exe INPUT_FILE_NAME.DAT
     if CARAT_EXE_PATH is exported in .bashrc (export PATH=CARAT_EXE_PATH:$PATH) it can be omitted in the input line
   • Hint for Windows: You can also drag and drop the input file onto the Carat++ executable.

Input example for simple linear static analysis. TODO LINK TO FILE

Input File

A Carat++ input file can be generated manually or with a plug-in

Here a overview of the Carat++ input file will be given.

Carat++ offers an own input file format. This makes sense, as Carat++ offers methods and algorithms that are not available in any other code. In general, this wiki describes all examples in the Carat++ format.

• Information in the input file is grouped in input blocks
• Input blocks consist of:
  • an block type name (optional with an specification)
  • an block ID (in general)
  • an list of parameters with an assigned value
• In general, the order of the blocks in the input file(s) does not matter.

It is recommended to add comments in the input file since they support readability and comprehensibility. Comments can be added starting with '!'.

! cantilever modeled by shell elements with tipload.
!===================================================================
PC-PROBLEM
  MASTERJOB = PC-ANALYSIS 1 ! Analysis with ID 1 is used

Input Blocks

• PC-BLOCK
  • Master Job
  • Analyses
  • Equation Solvers
  • Data Output
• ND-BLOCK
• EL-BLOCK
  • Parts
  • Topologies
  • Element (Properties)
  • Materials
• NURBS-BLOCK
• DESIGN-BLOCK
  • Design Elements
  • Design BRep Elements
  • Design Refinement
  • Design Loads
  • Design Supports
  • Design Overview
• BC-BLOCK
• LD-BLOCK
• OPT-BLOCK

More info still to come.

Use of Multiple Input Files

Carat++ can treat multiple input files. A PC-INCLUDE Block has to be added to the PC-BLOCK.

Hint: For better readability of large examples, the lenghty blocks of node coordinates or element topology can be written in a separate file.

The following shows a separation of input data into 4 additional files:

PC-INCLUDE
  mesh.dat
  boundaryConditions.dat
  loads.dat
  nodeSets.dat 

Parameter Input Files

Carat++ input files give also the possibility to define a parametric simulation. In order to add some parameters, PC-PARAMETERS has to be added. It defines the name and the value. The value can either be directly defined or by a placeholder. This placeholder can be replaced in a parameter study, e.g. by a python-script. Some templates for that are provided on the server F_Users\statik\Forschung\_Carat++\UsefulScripts\RunCarat.

PC-PARAMETERS
  PAR=par1      		VAL= 2
  PAR=par2      		VAL= VAR_PAR2  

!  APPLICATION in input {@par1* 2.0}    {@par2}

! e.g.: 

!PC-PROBLEM
!  MASTERJOB = PC-ANALYSIS {@par2}

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