Altair Simsolid V2021: User Interface

© Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Altair SimSolid, v2021
ALTAIR SIMSOLID V2021

USER INTERFACE
1
SimSolid - Agenda
Altair Processing Structural

User Modal Post-
SimSolid Design Connections Linear
Interface Analysis Processing
Introduction Geometry Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7

Basic
Loads and Structural

Design Dynamic Thermal Fatigue Capstone
Boundary Non-linear
Studies Analysis Analysis Analysis Project
Conditions Analysis
Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14

Basic Advanced
2
SimSolid - Agenda
User Interface
• User Interface
• View Manipulation
• Entity Selection
• Standard & Custom views
• Main menu toolbar
• Graphics window
• Project tree
• Context Menus
• Workbench toolbars
• Bookmark Browser
• Shortcut Keys
• How To Customize The SimSolid User
Interface
• Interface Synchronization
• Specifying units and type of
analysis
3
User Interface
1 1. Main Toolbar - is used to
access the most commonly
used tools.
2. Project Tree - is used to view

and manage individual model
entities.
2
3. Bookmark Browser - is a
convenient way to record the
simulation and result images.
5 4. Workbench toolbar - every

workbench has a
corresponding vertical
workbench toolbar.
3 5. Graphics Area
4
4
User Interface
Main Menu Toolbar
Show sectioning
plane
Project tree Box zoom Precise
Import from on/off on/off rotation Show hidden
PDM system Showparts parts asghosts Measurements
Highlight Fit geometry shaded Show hidden tool Help
items with to window Showpart parts window
Import
comments edges Show spots on/off
from file
Open, close, Create new analysis -

save project User defined Showparts Box selection static, modal, thermal,
views translucent on/off nonlinear static, fatigue,
Bookmark structural superposition or
browser thermal superposition
Standard Show part in Toggle hiding in Selection
on/off
views random colors all design filter
studies
Show
boundary
5 conditions
User Interface
Altair SimSolid Documentation
Access Altair SimSolid Help in the following ways:

• In the pull-down menus click Help > Help.
• In the Main Menu Toolbar click on
• Click F1.
6
User Interface
Altair SimSolid Documentation
View new features, learn the basics and discover the workspace, also with interactive tutorials.
7
User Interface
View Manipulation
• Model Rotation: click and drag to rotate model.

• Model Translation: click and drag to pan model.
• Model Zoom: rotate to zoom the model.
• Model Zoom Extents (Fit):
• Pick on the main toolbar.
• Click in the window background with and select Fit geometry to
window.
• Click F.
• Box Zoom:
• use from the main toolbar then click and drag box, using .
• Hold .
• Alternative CAD system mouse mappings are available from
Settings > Mouse settings menu.
8
User Interface
Entity Selection
• Single select - Select a single entity, using .

• Multiple select - Select multiple entities, by holding down and select with .
• Box select - Holding down and drag to select items within the box.
• Drag box down - any entities partial enclosed within the box will be selected.
• Drag box up - all entities must be fully enclosed within the box to be selected.
9
User Interface
Standard & Custom Views
SimSolid has a number of ways to save and restore model views.
10
User Interface
Standard views
• In SimSolid, Standard views are accessible from the main toolbar.
• They mimic the views used in CAD systems.
• By selecting main axis X, Y or Z arrowheads.
Custom views
• In addition, custom views are available.
• These allow you to set orientation, pan and zoom values for the view.
• Select the User defined view button on the main toolbar to open
the dialog.
• Picking Add will save the current graphics
display as a custom view.
on the name to edit it.
• Custom views are added to the bottom of the standard views pull-down menu.
11
User Interface
Y
Select arrowhead to point Y
Custom views axis normal to screen
• Z-up or Y-up definition

• Defined in the Settings > Screen coordinate system menu.
Z
Select arrowhead to reverse
( Z into screen)
• Differences between Views and Bookmarks

• Views can also be saved using Bookmarks, but with one important difference. Bookmarks also save the
graphics state. This includes part visibility, visualization style (shaded, wireframe, transparent, etc.) and result
quantity.
• Together, SimSolid Views and Bookmarks provide a great way to look at your structural analysis model.
12
User Interface
Graphics Window
Immovable
constraint Loaded part
on part face face
Entity context menu -

select part with .
to select
multiple parts
13
User Interface
Project Tree
A workbench is a related set of Project tree entities to

which certain actions can be applied.
Select
• Entities in the workbench will be bolded when active and a Assembly to
Workbench toolbar will appear to the right of the Project tree. set
workbench
• Entity selection can be made in Project tree or directly on focus
object in graphics window:
• Single select with .
• Group select with or .

• Display entity context menu using selection in either the
graphic window or project tree.
• Project tree entity to open Edit Dialogs.
Note: The Project tree is the primary way to manage all SimSolid entity interaction.
14
User Interface
Context Menus
The context menu updates depending on the entity that is selected on the project tree.
• These are a couple of examples:
Design Study Menu Assembly Menu
Note: The toolbar displayed is based on the currently selected workbench in the Project tree.
15
User Interface
Workbench toolbars
Assembly toolbar Connections toolbar
Apply material
Automatic connections
Resume suppressed property
Add/edit part
parts connections
Set rigid part
Create Spot or Laser Welds
Create liquid body Create Seam Welds
Create local
Create adhesives
coordinate system Create spot or import
Create virtual connectors
Create line on part datum point
Find and Show
Review part disconnected
Check for geometry
groups of parts Review Connections
defects Review similar
parts Check connections
location
Note: The toolbar displayed is based on the currently selected workbench in the Project tree.
16
User Interface
Workbench toolbars
Immovable support
Structural analysis toolbar
Sliding support Run the
Hinge support analysis
Spring support
Create result
contour plot
Pressure load Result point
Uniform load or probe
displacement Gravity load Advanced
options
Inertia load
Remote load
Thermal load
Bearing load
Hydrostatic load
Distribuited mass
Bolt tightening
Nut tightening
Volume expansion/srinkage
17 Note: The toolbar displayed is based on the currently selected workbench in the Project tree.
User Interface
Bookmark Browser Save images and
Create new
animations to
media files bookmark
select thumbnail to
Saves the current graphics state display context menu
along with any overlaid windows Increase/decrease
thumbnail size
(such as summary dialogs).
Update bookmark with
Triangle indicates contents of current
animation bookmark graphicswindow
Bookmarks are saved in the
Project file. Adds onscreen caption.
on name to edit Drag caption to reposition
in graphics area
Bookmark images and

animations can be exported to
To save animation,
media files to use in reports. create new bookmark
Select any thumbnail to
restore graphics view
Files are saved in .png and .mp4 while animation is
active
formats.
18
User Interface
Shortcut Keys
File management: Interface:

Shortcut Keys Function Shortcut Keys Function
+I Import CAD file F Fit View

H Hide selected parts
+O Open project
R Reverse displayed parts
+S Save project
Isolate selected parts (hide all other
I
+W Close project parts)
S Suppress selected parts
+Q Quit application
U Suppress unselected parts
D Delete selected parts
A Show all parts
B Create new bookmark
Cancels any open dialog
19
User Interface
Shortcut Keys
Show/hide: View:
Shortcut Keys Function Shortcut Keys Function
+ drag box Box zoom

+ F1 Show/hide hints & tips
+1 + F7 Front view
F1 Show/hide help
+2 + + F7 Back view
F2 Show/hide project tree panel
+3 + + F8 Left view
Show/hide bookmark browser
F3
panel
+4 + F8 Right view
F4 Show/hide project comments
+5 + F6 Top view
+6 + + F6 Bottom view
+7 + F9 Isometric view
20
How To Customize The SimSolid User Interface
SimSolid works very well right out of the box, but there are still a few user
preferences that you may want to be aware of.
• All are accessible from the main Settings menu.
• The simplest is the Appearance settings.

This allows you to set the color schemes for the user interface.
• Two icon themes (Navy blue and Asphalt grey) and three background colors are
available.
21
Background color can be changed in Set Appearances window.
Background color is set immediately. Icons pallets are applied when the application is restarted.
22
Next you may want to consider the Screen coordinate system settings.
This allows you to set the direction of the standard views such as Top,
Front, etc.
• Two settings are provided:

• Type 1 has the global Y-axis pointing toward Top.
• Type 2 has the global Z-axes pointing toward Top.
• These are the two most common systems used in CAD systems today.
Select Set as default to save your preference for future SimSolid sessions.
23

One common preference are the mouse settings for model view
manipulation (pan, zoom and rotate).
• Mouse settings can use the SimSolid default or mimic the settings used in the
partner application, Onshape, SolidWorks, Autodesk Fusion, Creo, Unix, Catia v5
• Select Set as default to save your preference for future SimSolid sessions.
• Browse the rest of the settings on your own.
24
Interface Synchronization
The Project tree, bookmark

browser and graphics window
states are always synchronized. Project tree
workbench will
synchronize aswell
• The focus will be consistent for all

user interface controls.
• Select any one and the others will

update.
Graphics area will

synchronize with
bookmark
Select
bookmark
25
Specifying Units
to Units: SI , in the Project Tree to open units dialog.

• Both input and output units can be set.
• You can also set the number of digits and format of result output:
• Engineering
• Scientific
• Concise mix.
• Check Set as default to make these

settings the default for new projects.
Note: SimSolid manages all units, these are the

default values only.
They can still be overridden on most data
input forms.
26
Specifying Type Of Analysis
Structural analysis Fatigue analysis

• Structural linear • SN Time
• Structural non-linear • SN Sequential
• Multi-Loadcases • EN Time
• EN Sequential
Modal analysis
Thermal analysis
Dynamics analysis
• Transient Post-Study
• Frequency response • Structural Superposition
• Random response • Thermal Superposition
27
Demo and Exercise - Practice With GUI And Project Tree
File Name and Location

…\STUDENT-EXERCISE\CH2\Foot_Bridge.x_t
Demo and Exercise Goals

1. Import geometry, create connections
2. Practice with Project tree and Standard view
3. Measurement icon
28
Step 1: Import geometry, create connections

a) Import geometry from …\STUDENT-EXERCISE\CH2\Foot_Bridge.x_t.
b) Click on Import from file.
c) Change the values of Gap and Penetration in Automatic connections.
29
Step 2: Practice with Project tree and Standard view

a) Project tree > Assembly - select the single part to Show or Hide or Isolate and to view the Property Editor.
b) Click on Standard views icon to change the model view.
30
Step 3: Measurement icon

a) Distance - Pick two points to measure distance.
b) Ray probe - Pick a point to lunch a new ray or select two ray segments in list to measure gap/overlap.
31
Step 3: Measurement icon

c) Coordinates - Pick a point to check its coordinates in global coordinate system.
32
Demo and Exercise (Optional) - Practice With GUI And Project Tree
File Name and Location

…\STUDENT-EXERCISE\CH2\Pullup_bar.step
Demo and Exercise Goals

1. Import geometry
2. Practice with Project tree and Standard view
4. Views, Define Screen System, User Views
• Model Tree
• Main Toolbar and Workbench Toolbar 5. Graphics: Hide Part; Shaded, Edges, Color; Ghost
• Graphic Zone and Bookmarks Hidden Parts
3. Mouse controls: 6. Model Tree

• Right/left click • Assembly: Model Info, Specific Workbench, Active Entity,
Auto Entity Category, Zoom
• Zoom, Fit Zoom and Box Zoom
• Automatic/ Manual Connections: Review Connections
• Settings
• Materials: Assign, Default, Review Parts by Material, Create
• Select
New Material
• Control + Select
7. Suppress/Delete part
33
Questions & Answers
34
THANK YOU
altair.com
#ONLYFORWARD

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© Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.

Altair SimSolid, v2021

ALTAIR SIMSOLID V2021

Altair Processing Structural

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7

Loads and Structural

Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14

2. Project Tree - is used to view

5 4. Workbench toolbar - every

Open, close, Create new analysis -

Access Altair SimSolid Help in the following ways:

• Model Rotation: click and drag to rotate model.

• Single select - Select a single entity, using .

SimSolid has a number of ways to save and restore model views.

• Z-up or Y-up definition

• Differences between Views and Bookmarks

Entity context menu -

A workbench is a related set of Project tree entities to

• Single select with .

• Group select with or .

• Project tree entity to open Edit Dialogs.

Design Study Menu Assembly Menu

Assembly toolbar Connections toolbar

Bookmark images and

File management: Interface:

+I Import CAD file F Fit View

+ drag box Box zoom

How To Customize The SimSolid User Interface

• All are accessible from the main Settings menu.

• The simplest is the Appearance settings.

How To Customize The SimSolid User Interface

Background color can be changed in Set Appearances window.

How To Customize The SimSolid User Interface

• Two settings are provided:

How To Customize The SimSolid User Interface

• Browse the rest of the settings on your own.

The Project tree, bookmark

• The focus will be consistent for all

• Select any one and the others will

Graphics area will

to Units: SI , in the Project Tree to open units dialog.

• Check Set as default to make these

Note: SimSolid manages all units, these are the

Specifying Type Of Analysis

Structural analysis Fatigue analysis

• Structural non-linear • SN Sequential

• Frequency response • Structural Superposition

• Random response • Thermal Superposition

Demo and Exercise - Practice With GUI And Project Tree

File Name and Location

Demo and Exercise Goals

2. Practice with Project tree and Standard view

Demo and Exercise - Practice With GUI And Project Tree

Step 1: Import geometry, create connections

Demo and Exercise - Practice With GUI And Project Tree

Step 2: Practice with Project tree and Standard view

Demo and Exercise - Practice With GUI And Project Tree

Step 3: Measurement icon