FORMAT

I/O Options EntryUsed to indicate the format in which results are to be output.

Format

FORMAT = option

Definitions

Argument Options Description
option <ASCII, OS, OPTI, HM, HYPER, BOTH, H3D, FLX, NASTRAN, PUNCH, PATRAN, APATRAN, O2, OUT2, OUTPUT2, PLOT,HDF5, KPI, NONE>
ASCII, OS, OPTI
OptiStruct ASCII results files are output.
HM, HYPER
The HyperMesh binary results file (.res file) is output.
BOTH
Same as defining both HM and OPTI.
H3D
Hyper3D binary results file (.#.h3d file) and an HTML report (.html file) are output.
FLX (Default)
Same as defining both HM and H3D.
NASTRAN, PUNCH
The Nastran punch file format (.pch file) is output.
PATRAN, APATRAN
A number of Patran ASCII results files are output. APATRAN outputs the same files using an alternative file naming convention.
O2, OUT2, OUTPUT2
Nastran binary output2 file format (.op2 file) is output.
PLOT
Results are output in Nastran output2 format (.op2 file) when PARAM, POST is defined in the Bulk Data section.
HDF5
Results are output in the Hierarchical Data Format, Version 5 (.h5 file). 4
KPI
Controls the output of Key Performance Indicators to .kpi file (ASCII). 5
NONE
Analysis output is not required. Cannot be used in combination with other FORMAT commands.

Comments

  1. Information provided on OUTPUT entries take precedence over information provided on FORMAT entries. If neither of these entries are defined, the output formats defined in the Configuration File are used. If a format is not defined by the Configuration File, then both the HM and H3D formats are active by default.
  2. Multiple FORMAT commands are allowed.
  3. It is recommended to use the OUTPUT command instead of the FORMAT command since it is more flexible and allows different frequencies of output for different formats during an optimization.
  4. The HDF5 output is printed to a .h5 binary results file. The current support of HDF5 output format is:
    1. In case of Linear Static and Normal Modes analysis,
      • The supported element types for element-based results (in .h5 format) are:
        Result Elements Supported
        FORCE/ELFORCE CBAR, CBEAM, CONROD, CTRIA3, CTRIA6, CQUAD4, CQUAD8
        STRESS CROD, CBAR, CBEAM, CONROD, CELAS1, CELAS2, CBUSH, CTRIA3, CTRIA6, CQUAD4, CQUAD8, CTETRA, CHEXA, CPENTA
        STRAIN
      • Corner results are also available for the above results with CQUAD4 and CQUAD8 elements.
    2. In case of Nonlinear Static analysis,
      • The supported element types for STRESS and STRAIN results (in .h5 format) are:
        Result Elements Supported
        STRESS,

        STRAIN

        		 CROD, CELAS1, CBAR, CBEAM, CTRIA3, CTRIA6, CQUAD4, CQUAD8, CHEXA, CPENTA, CTETRA
      • Corner results are also available for CQUAD4 and CQUAD8.
      • DISPLACEMENT, STRESS and STRAIN results are also available on-the-fly during the analysis, if the NLOUT entry is defined in the subcase.
    3. In case of Linear Buckling analysis, only DISPLACEMENT result is available in .h5 format.
  5. KPI output includes maximum value for Displacement, Stress, Strain, and Plastic Strain with respect to the corresponding property. It is supported for linear and nonlinear static analysis only. Stresses and Strains are supported only for shells and solids. This output can also be activated from the corresponding I/O Options Entry (DISPLACEMENT, etc).