Users:HowToUseCarat

Contents 1 Step 1: Download a Carat++ executable 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: Download a Carat++ executable

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

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.

Input Blocks

• PC-BLOCK
  • Master Job
  • Analyses
  • Equation Solvers
  • Data Output
• ND-BLOCK
• EL-BLOCK
  • Elements
  • Materials
• NURBS-BLOCK
• DESIGN-BLOCK
  • Design Elements
  • Design BRep Elements
  • Design Refinement
  • Design Loads
  • Design Boundaries
  • 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  
!===================================================================
!example of syntax for how to use it in the input file 
PC-PROBLEM
  MASTERJOB = PC-ANALYSIS {@par1}

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