CAEfatigue Software (Cf)

RELEASE NOTES

This document provides a brief description of the New Features and Feature Improvements added to the latest
release of the software. The document also provides a brief description of defects (errors) that were corrected.

Disclaimer
CAEfatigue Limited reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other information contained in this
document without prior notice.
The concepts, methods, and examples presented in this text are for illustrative and educational purposes only and
are not intended to be exhaustive or to apply to any particular engineering problem or design. CAEfatigue Limited
assumes no liability or responsibility to any person or company for direct or indirect damages resulting from the use
of any information contained herein.
User Documentation: Copyright © 2021 CAEfatigue Limited.
This notice shall be marked on any reproduction of this documentation, in whole or in part. Any reproduction or
distribution of this document, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of CAEfatigue Limited is
prohibited.
Please consult the Release Notes file that comes with the installation package for latest software updates.
CAEfatigue is a trademark or registered trademark of CAEfatigue Limited. MSC and MSC Software logo are the
trademarks or registered trademarks of MSC Software Corporation. The Hexagon logo is a trademark or registered
trademark of Hexagon AB. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
CAEF:V2021.4:Z:Z:Z:DC-REL-PDF

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 RELEASE NOTES

V2021.4

New Features or Feature Improvements:

• PSDM Offset Loading: CAEfatigue will now read the mean load offsets from a PSDM file and automatically
create a STATIC vFTGLOAD entry for each channel using the mean offsets as scale factors on the Static
loads. This eliminates the tedious burden of entering the data manually into a Solver static analysis.
• CAEfatigue has added a surface treatment entry KTDATA to allow the User to add material property KT
scaling and offset factors to element groups for a Time Domain analysis. This can also be found in the
ADVANCED FEATURES section as a box called LOCAL SCALING.
• CAEfatigue has improved the interoperability with Digimat SN. User can now apply a Digimat SN with any
Time Domain analysis method and equivalent stress combination. Note: the CF mean stress correction is
ignored in favor of the Digimat mean stress correction method.

• Process Flow enhancements

o An improved TIMEOUT capability has been added to the ADVANCED FEATURES section. The
capability is now called Stress Time History and permits the output of response time histories at
User Defined elements or the output at the worst elements determined by the software.
o FILTER by Top Damage (%)is now supported in ADVANCED FEATURES section for a Time
Domain analysis.
o A 2D critical plane polar plots is available for both Time Domain.

• Output Plotter enhancements

o Event Plotter: MAX column is now a differ color from remaining event columns.
o Critical Plane Plotter: Damage output is now available for Frequency Domain.

• CAEfatigue will now read the SEe and SEp material properties from the XML file, if they exist.

• Documentation updated

o New User Guide examples for wheel fatigue (TPL314), sine sweep on random PSD (TPL17_B)
and Narrow Band on random PSD (TPL17_C).
o TPL57_Unity has been updated to use the new MEANLDS feature that automatically creates the
mean offset loading from a PSDM file.
o TPL177 has been updated (headlamp Surrogate Loading example) to obtain better results by
increasing the FRF range up to 60Hz for the full FD car model.

Defect Fixes:

• Corrected error when importing a Control File into a Process Flow. There was an issue if control file had
blank lines. Also, added warning if something did not import correctly.
• Corrected NEF Deck Generator error when using Multi SN curve definition.
• Corrected NQSTATIC intermittent solver crash when using a Nastran results via an H5 file.
• Fixed reported crash event when reading in CSV file with more than 100 channels.

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V2021.3.1

New Features or Feature Improvements:

• Reliability Mode:

o Added new command line option “-max-jobs” to cap the number of simultaneous jobs allowed in
Linux run. Also, the JSON parameter “licensePerJob” has been added. If set to true, this parameter
flag will not pre-allocate the number of licenses to be used for a Linux run. Default for this
parameter is true. If false, the Linux run will grab all the licenses it needs upfront for the job.
o Added Surface Correction parameters box to Database material after selection.
o Added Local Scaling (vFTGLOAD> Scale) and Static Load Offset (vFTGLOAD> OFFSET) as
additional input variables.
o Discrete distribution inputs can now be entered from a file.

• LQSTATIC: Added ability to read multiple subcases in the Ansys RST file.

• Material Box: Added Surface Correction entries in Process Flow for all material types, not just Custom
materials.

• Documentation: Added NEF section and example to User Guide Examples document along with additional
TPL57_Unity example to show the process for applying mean offsets from in a PSDM file via multiple Static
load entries in the CF run.

Defect Fixes:

• Corrected display issue with SN Material Plotter.

• Clarified the error message when running an LMTRANS what does not have a LCID numbers.
• Corrected Hotspot SET output file by adding missing comma in first line.
• Corrected Fringe Plotter display when using Probe feature and changing between process flow boxes.
• Corrected small issues with Reliability Mode including exact completed jobs update and crash for M0
output when not available.

V2021.3

New Features or Feature Improvements:

• Reliability Mode has been improved to allow the User to define a list of discrete data points for evaluation.
Hence, the User can control which data is used in the Reliability Mode evaluation.

• Time2PSD: Added option to do a Bounding Diagonals calculation, which provides an averaged single PSD
result instead of a multiple result PSDM file. This file can then be scaled to closely match the results from
test. Hence, multiple PSDs can be simplified to a single PSD.

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 RELEASE NOTES

• Time2PSD: Added feature to generate Surrogate Target files for both acceleration and stress using the
spectral moments of the converted PSDs. This additional capability help the User more easily conduct a
Surrogate loading analysis, which replaces a complicated PSDM loading with a single PSD or sine loading.

• Ansys Files: The code has been altered to speed up the RST file reading. A significant improvement should
be seen by the User when reading these files in their analysis.

• Material: Multiple SN curves extended to include Haigh Life, Mean Stress or R-Ratio SN curve.
• Loading: Multiple Static loads in an Event are now allowed in a Frequency Domain analysis. This allows,
for example, offsets from a Time2PSD analysis to be applied as scale factors within static loads.
• Interoperability with Hexagon / MSC Software products has been improved. Example: the NEF Deck
Generator now supports Global and Local scaling from the CF analysis to the Nastran analysis. Other
improvements have been made with our connections to Marc, Digimat and VGStudio Max.
• Seam Weld: The standalone algorithm within CF has been improved to generate results that more closely
match the Nastran Embedded Fatigue results.

• Fringe Plotter:
o Top Menu icon additions include:
▪ Added Set Rotational Center icon to allow a new location to become the rotational center
of the model.
▪ Added Rubber Band Zoom icon to allow faster visualization of the model.
▪ Added Mouse Handling icon to quickly see mouse options. Also added Ctrl Right Mouse
click on model to identify Property Sets.
▪ Added Probe icon to allow quick identification of element / node numbers.
▪ Adjusted Max/Min icon to show values for only those parts of the model that active. Hidden
parts of the model will not be considered for viewing Max / Min values.
o Lower Menu items added:
▪ Added an Ambient Light option to the Fringe Plotter > Display tab. This can be used to
shadows caused by the default light source.
▪ Added a Scale option to the Fringe Plotter > Viewport > Legend Scale tab. Min / Max
values will be multiplied by the Scale factor for quick modifications to the Legend Scale.
• Additional Results Options:
o Added option to plot rainflow cycle data (RCC) from a frequency domain analysis (i.e., when
LOGLVL=2).
o Added option to plot SN data generated when vFTGPARM> Optional is set to MATOUT.
• Documentation:

o Added MultiSN and AutoSN/AutoEN examples to User Guide with detailed explanation of entries.
See TPL160 and TPL163.
o Added Time2PSD Bounding Diagonals example. See TPL85_BD.
o Added section that described the defining of multiple mean offsets as Static Loading in multiple
Events. See TPL56.
o Add better description of User Welds. See TPL218

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Defect Fixes:

• Corrected issue that TIME2PSD sometimes crashed when using certain RSP files.
• Corrected RESTART option in Frequency Domain so that it is properly toggled off when deselected.
• Corrected error in results values for TD fatigue analysis using Hotspots or Top stress filter with 3D
elements and absolute max principle equivalent stress.
• Removed erroneous reference to AutoSN/EN properties from appendix table in User Guide and Quick
Reference Guide.
• Crash issue has been fixed in Fringe Plotter when legend was changed before model was loaded.
• Corrected issue with Confidence Level formula when dealing with EN Material data. Standard error for
elastic and plastic regions is not being applied correctly.
• Corrected issue related to CSV Merger Utility. Files containing Neuber stresses will now merge properly.
• Corrected issue that sometimes occurred when reading MNF stress values. Results were correct but
visualization in Fringe Plotter required correction.

Defects Known

• Use of vMATSTAT fails to produce filenamePSD.csv file. This means that the PSD Plotter is unavailable.

======

V2021.2

New Features or Feature Improvements:

• Reliability Mode – CAEfatigue now lets you apply a distribution to the values of a number of input variables
and automatically run multiple analyses to see the effect of these variable changes on stress and damage.

• NEF Deck Creator – CAEfatigue now lets you create a NEF control file for later use in Nastran or the User
can also run the Nastran job while still in CF.

• CF now supports the use of RESTART in the Process Flow Run box.

• Spot weld and seam weld now fully implemented within the Time Domain.

• CF now permits the running of a time domain linear transient (LTRANS) analysis in the Process Flow.

• CF now supports time domain linear transient (LTRANS) for Abaqus. Also supported for Ansys but without
Hotspot filter or addition of mean load.

• CF now support the use of MULTIPE SN curves. A simple table of SN material properties is provided via
the vMATFTG>Table entry.

• CF now support the FKM mean stress correction approach.

• CF has increased inoperability with existing MSC Software products.

o CF has a connection to Digimat to obtain SN information for short fiber composites – Windows
ONLY.

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 RELEASE NOTES

o CF now support the reading of Marc nonlinear results.

Defect Fixes:

• Error using Abaqus ODB files in LMTRANS analysis has been corrected.
• Error plotting Max Event Results 3D for a single event has been corrected.
• Material property limits has been expanded to allow for plastic type material definitions.
• Error in the vFTGMAT Certainty of Survival calculation with EN material data has been corrected.
• Error importing Material vTABRND entry into Process Flow has been corrected.

Defects Known

• Use of vMATSTAT fails to produce filenamePSD.csv file. This means that the PSD Plotter is unavailable.

======

V2021.1

New Features or Feature Improvements:

• TIME2PSD is now available via the Process Flow interface. Hence, the User can now use either the
Process Flow interface or the Control File interface when conducting a TIME2PSD analysis.

• MAPPING of TD channels to Solver subcases has been expanded to allow the User to map any channel to
any subcase regardless of the number of channels in the loading file or subcases in the stress file.

• 2D/3D Critical Plane option has been added to the Frequency Domain solver. Note: CRITOUT feature is
not yet supported.

• MATERIAL:

o The internal CAEfatigue Materials Database has been significantly improved with new interface
that permits viewing of the material data and plots as well as the ability to compare multiple SN/EN
curves on the same plot.

o Default values for Standard Error (SE) have been updated for spot welds and seam welds to align
with the defaults in Nastran Embedded Fatigue. SE is used to adjust the SN curve to a certain
probability of failure / survival.

• FRINGE Plotter: A right mouse click output on a Property Sets has been improved to provide both FSET3
format output and SET format output (which can be used in Nastran). As well, there is now an option to
output the free face (boundary) elements and / or nodes instead of the entire Property Set(s).

• SPOT WELD:

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 RELEASE NOTES

o The Spot Weld feature been improved to provide more output options. Output can now be
requested as a single value for the worst damage, as 3 outputs for worst damage at the 3 layers,
as outputs for all angles and as output as outputs for all angels and all layers.
o Significantly improved memory management for Spot Weld analysis. Less memory now required to
run analysis.
o Auto Spot Weld selection has been significantly improved to ensure more robust selection of
welds.
• FILTER: New fields added to support Time Domain analysis: TOPDMG = xx will return the top XX percent
of the model element based on max damage.

• UG: New TPL examples added for TD full car model, TIME2PSD in Process Flow, Abaqus/Ansys
examples in Process Flow, etc.

• COMPABILITY:

o CF now supports the reading of element and/or nodal sets in Nastran SET format along with the
current FSET3 format.
o A connection with MSC Material Center has been added to the options for material selection.
o Support for Centos Linux 7 has been added to the installer.
o Supports Abaqus 2020, 2021 and Adams 2021 results.
o Added the Soderberg mean stress correction option.
o Added additional supported control file fields to Process Flow view.
o Added support for Ansys TD analysis in Process Flow view.
o Added ability to see maximum Neuber stress output in Fringe Plotter for Frequency Domain.
o Extended disconnection from server Timeout Error to 60 minutes from 10 minutes. Requested from
Users working at home offices. Also added license Timeout function in batch mode to allow a CF
job to wait in a queue until a license becomes available.
o Replaced references to TIME101, TIME103 and TIME112 with new labels LQSTATIC, LMTRANS
and LTRANS, respectively, in documentation.
o The field TOPSTR has been introduced into vFTGDEF for time domain use only. TOPSTR will filter
the output based on User specified parameters. See QRG for more information.

Defect Fixes:

• Error writing of H3D files via the Utility for Time Domain analysis has been corrected.
• Error reading Abaqus OBD stress results in the Time Domain has been corrected.
• Error running seam welds in the Time Domain with large number of elements and time steps has been
correct.
• Error with responsiveness of Fringe Plotter when switching on/off Property Sets has been corrected.
• Error plotting material curves from Materials box in Process Flow has been corrected.
• Error converting DeltaT value to SRate value corrected in Time Load Scheduler.

Defects Known

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 RELEASE NOTES

• Use of vMATSTAT fails to produce filenamePSD.csv file. This means that the PSD Plotter is unavailable.

======

V2021

New Features or Feature Improvements:

• RANDOM package added to CF offering. The RANDOM package is for random analysis (DVA) only, i.e.
no fatigue analysis can be done. CF is now available in the standalone packages RANDOM, TIME,
FREQUENCY and PREMIUM.

• PSD Loads Database now available when defining PSD loading. The database contains varies predefined
PSDs shapes and allows for comparisons between PSD profiles and the ability to add a PSD profile to the
database.

• Pseudo Damage solution type added to software. This analysis allows an estimate of the damage change
when the input loading is changed, i.e. how might the damage change if input A is switched to input B?
This can be done without an FEA model.

• 3D Critical Plane option has been added to the Quasi-Static and Modal Transient Time Domain solver.

• Time Domain maximum stress output is now provided as Neuber Stress as default.

• Process Flow Additions

o Random Analysis solution type added (i.e. no fatigue calculations).

o Allow for multiple FSET3 definitions within the same text file is now supported.
o Allow for PSD Type = Multi Uncorrelated, i.e. using only direct PSD from PSDM file.
o Allow for INP file to be defined as a Resource.
o Allow for the use of AUTOSN/EN.
o Allow the use of FE Load Magnitude (FE_L_MAG) for LQSTATIC and LMTRANS.
o Provide single input PSD images in Frequency Load Schedule.
o Allow for zooming in/out of the Process Flow working view.

• Time2PSD FFT Plotter now provides Envelope Data:

o Allow for viewing of all events at the same time.

o Allow for viewing of “envelope” surrounding all events.
o Allow for viewing of “envelope” over event.

• Improved Fringe Plotter with:

o Label above legend for plotted results.

o Viewport: Opacity setting that hides/shows part of the model that do not have results.
o Pick: Ability to view User specified element data via Pick box.
o Pick: Ability to select element and request PSD information to be displayed for that element in the
PSD Plotter.

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• Improved PSD Plotter with:

o the capability to plot multiple PSDs at the same time

o the capability to plot a Cumulative RMS for Response PSD plots.

• Support for Nastran Pyramid element (CPYRAM) added to solver.

• Improve CSV Merger Utility tool to allow renaming of JOB ID’s.

• Main CSV file now contains max/min stress data on the summed/max line when using multiple events.

• Several Process Flow examples have been added to the Test Problem Library (TPL).

Defect Fixes:

• Entries for Gy.yyy, Ry.yyy and Sy.yyy in the vFTGDEF>PARAM1 have been converted to % input instead
of decimal input. This action permits 2 additional integers to be used within the permitted 8 character field
definition. Hence, an entry like R0.01 is now R1.0, meaning 1%. Software and documentation have been
updated.

• Fixed possible issue with DVA for situations where some subcases in OP2 may not be referenced in
OP2MAP.

• Static stress handling modified for spot welds in frequency domain. Faster and more accurate solution
obtained.

• Fringe Plotter visualization issues with RBE3 elements has been resolved.

• Fringe Plotter will now default to corner results when first opened (if corner results exist).

• Fringe Plotter Max/Min button modified to show actual results regardless of the modified Legend Scale.

• Previously known issue now corrected: Spot weld image layer in Fringe Plotter is above Legend layer and
will hide the legend scale if the 2 layers overlap. Spot weld image layer will also not disappear if spot weld
property set is unchecked.

• Fixed TD spotwelds issue when MPCForces are missing for spotweld.

• Time Data plotter now shows events with new label if events have been renamed.

• FSET3 selection boxes now update prior to rerun of analysis.

• Fixed solver issue that would not allow ABSRESP, RELRESP and DIAGNOS to run together in some
cases.

• Fixed Load Scheduler to allow time discretization to decimals of a second.

Defects Known

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 RELEASE NOTES

• vIBFAT> GIDOUT> NODAV is not properly supported for Time Domain analysis. Use of NODAV will
produce the same results as CORNER.

• vMATSTAT fails to product the filenamePSD.csv file. This means that the PSD Plotter is unavailable.

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