Basic selection rules example

This example shows the basic usage of selection rules, which enable you to select elements through geometrical operations and thus to shape plies. The example only shows the PyACP part of the setup. For more advanced selection rule usage, see Advanced selection rules example. For a complete composite analysis, see PyMAPDL workflow.

Import modules

Import the standard library and third-party dependencies.

import pathlib
import tempfile

Import the PyACP dependencies.

from ansys.acp.core import ACPWorkflow, LinkedSelectionRule, launch_acp
from ansys.acp.core.extras import ExampleKeys, get_example_file

Start ACP and load the model

Get the example file from the server.

tempdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
WORKING_DIR = pathlib.Path(tempdir.name)
input_file = get_example_file(ExampleKeys.MINIMAL_FLAT_PLATE, WORKING_DIR)

Launch the PyACP server and connect to it.

acp = launch_acp()

Define the input file and instantiate an ACPWorkflow instance. The ACPWorkflow class provides convenience methods that simplify file handling. It automatically creates a model based on the input file. This example’s input file contains a flat plate with a single ply.

workflow = ACPWorkflow.from_acph5_file(
    acp=acp,
    acph5_file_path=input_file,
    local_working_directory=WORKING_DIR,
)

model = workflow.model
print(workflow.working_directory.path)
print(model.unit_system)

/tmp/tmpr1sio566
mks

Visualize the loaded mesh.

mesh = model.mesh.to_pyvista()
mesh.plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Create a Parallel Rule

Create parallel selection rule and assign it to the existing ply.

parallel_rule = model.create_parallel_selection_rule(
    name="parallel_rule",
    origin=(0, 0, 0),
    direction=(1, 0, 0),
    lower_limit=0.005,
    upper_limit=1,
)

modeling_ply = model.modeling_groups["modeling_group"].modeling_plies["ply"]
modeling_ply.selection_rules = [LinkedSelectionRule(parallel_rule)]

Plot the ply thickness.

model.update()
assert model.elemental_data.thickness is not None
model.elemental_data.thickness.get_pyvista_mesh(mesh=model.mesh).plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Create a Cylindrical Rule

Create a cylindrical selection rule and add it to the ply. This will intersect the two rules.

cylindrical_rule = model.create_cylindrical_selection_rule(
    name="cylindrical_rule",
    origin=(0.005, 0, 0.005),
    direction=(0, 1, 0),
    radius=0.002,
)

modeling_ply.selection_rules.append(LinkedSelectionRule(cylindrical_rule))

Plot the ply thickness.

model.update()
assert model.elemental_data.thickness is not None
model.elemental_data.thickness.get_pyvista_mesh(mesh=model.mesh).plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Create a Spherical Rule

Create a spherical selection rule and assign it to the ply. Now, only the spherical rule is active.

spherical_rule = model.create_spherical_selection_rule(
    name="spherical_rule",
    origin=(0.003, 0, 0.005),
    radius=0.002,
)

modeling_ply.selection_rules = [LinkedSelectionRule(spherical_rule)]

Plot the ply thickness.

model.update()
assert model.elemental_data.thickness is not None
model.elemental_data.thickness.get_pyvista_mesh(mesh=model.mesh).plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene

Create a Tube Rule

Create a tube selection rule and assign it to the ply. Now, only the tube rule is active.

tube_rule = model.create_tube_selection_rule(
    name="spherical_rule",
    # Select the pre-exsting _FIXEDSU edge which is the edge at x=0
    edge_set=model.edge_sets["_FIXEDSU"],
    inner_radius=0.001,
    outer_radius=0.003,
)

modeling_ply.selection_rules = [LinkedSelectionRule(tube_rule)]

Plot the ply thickness.

model.update()
assert model.elemental_data.thickness is not None
model.elemental_data.thickness.get_pyvista_mesh(mesh=model.mesh).plot(show_edges=True)

Static Scene

Interactive Scene