January 20, 2012

NASGRO v6.21 Release Notes

Additions and Changes (NASFLA):
Crack growth properties for 5083-O Aluminum (ID: M5BA12LA2) at -452F were added to the NASFLA (single- and multi-temperature) materials files. For elastic-plastic mode (EPFM) processing, the Material Tab parameter labels "C" and "m" have been changed to "C0" and "m0", to clarify that these are the Paris equation parameters. Crack case TC11: For symmetric cracks ("Symmetric crack with symmetric stressing" checkbox checked), the entry in the Geometry Grid for "Crack ctr offset B" will now be grayed out, uneditable, and set equal to one-half the width ("Width W"/ 2). The equation "B=W/2" has also been added to the TC11 symmetric crack bitmap image. (Also in NASSIF, NASCCS & NASGLS.)

NASFLA Fixes
For elastic-plastic mode (EPFM) processing, material parameter values were not being read from input files. Corrected a format error with printing variables related to crack size limits, which caused an abnormal termination. For elastic-plastic mode (EPFM) processing, the output window was not updated with the analysis results and continued to show only the temporary message: Loading...". Material Basic fit plots were missing their plot titles. "Set crack size limit(s)" checkbox was incorrectly shown on-screen for Elastic Plastic (EPFM) mode. Error of endfile record encountered when shakedown was triggered. The problem occurred when the stress at the last point of the stress gradient was zero. The NASFLA GUI was incorrectly allowing all load interaction models on the Material tab with 3D and 4D crack cases (BE03, EC02, EC04, EC05, SC17 (symmetric) and SC18 (symmetric). Only the "Non-interaction" choice should be allowed for these crack cases. The NASFLA GUI was crashing on start-up when the NASGRO material file "NASMFC" was missing.
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Crack cases SC17, SC18, TC11: The correct number of tips will be shown for the "Set crack size limit(s)" checkbox for symmetric and non-symmetric conditions. Fixed an error in calculation of stress intensity factors caused by limit stresses for 1-D weight function cracks when tension/compression capabilities are enabled, and for crack cases TC11 and EC05. General crack cases with automatic shakedown feature: fixed a bug where the residual stress variation in OUT1 was in terms of point index instead of physical coordinates. The modification enables the output of residual stress variation in terms of both coordinates and point index. Corrected the ID for 17-4PH H1050, changing it to G2CF13AB1 from G2CE13AB1. The letters "CF" correctly indicate the alloy and heat treatment of the listed material. Corrected the ID for Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, changing it to P4MB20AB1 from P4MB20IB1. The letters "AB" correctly indicate the environment: laboratory or 50% relative humidity air, in which the crack-growth testing was done. Crack cases CC09, CC10, CC12, EC04, SC19: User-supplied tension and compression stress files could not be plotted or used in an analysis. (Also in NASSIF.) Crack case TC11: Corrected a Fortran compiler-related error ("cannot find root") that was issued during an analysis. (Also in NASSIF.) Crack case SC18: Fixed an error in net section stress calculation with two symmetric cracks. (Also in NASSIF & NASCCS.) Crack case CC08 bitmap incorrectly showed in-plane bending. NASCCS & NASGLS.) (Also in NASSIF,

When running multiple input files in batch mode, if any of the files contained temperature data, a warning message was erroneously issued, which stated "Missing data in input file...grid cell data for manual block...may be misaligned or missing.

NASGLS Fixes
The optional "Session title" on the Output Options tab will now be saved and loaded from input file. The "Run" button's label will now be immediately updated to read: "Save+Run" when the following three fields are updated: "Load Blocks" tab: "Stress schedule description", "# of blocks"; and "Output Options" tab: "Session title [optional]".
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Incorrect memory allocation for the load spectrum arrays caused a program crash. Changed output format for the duration of sustained stress to output small amount of time properly.

NASMAT Fix
A formatting error in the NASMAT data file which caused K-control values for the set, or subset, of material IDs in the range [M2IF12AB01F to M2IFE1AB01C] to not be displayed on a partial ID search. This problem has been corrected and all K-control values will now be properly displayed, regardless of the search criteria entered.

Configuration Control Fixes

Added the option of locking material parameter Bk, while retaining the file values. Previously, if Bk was locked or hidden, a default value would be assigned, overriding the material file values. Restored the material parameter Cth-, such that it can now be locked or hidden. This parameters configuration control functionality was deactivated in version 6.20 beta, due to a change in NASFLA version 6.20 beta, in which its value was frozen at a constant value of 0.1. (Cth- was then restored to editability in NASFLA 6.20 final, but (erroneously) not in Config Control 6.20 final.)

User Data File Migration Utility

A utility was developed to make it easier for a user to copy user data files from an older installation when upgrading to a newer version of NASGRO, without having to manually find and copy these files. Some users install new NASGRO versions in the same location as older ones; this utility is useful for those who install new versions in different locations. In addition, with version NASGRO 6.2, the suggested installation location for NASGRO data files has changed from the C:\Program Files path to the My Documents path due to increased restrictions in newer versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system on accessibility to files placed in the C:\Program Files and C:\Windows paths. In this situation, this utility will allow a user to copy user data files from a pre-6.2 installation that was in the C:\Program Files path to the new path used for v6.2 (and up) installations. The user data files this utility applies to include the following: 1. NASFLA material files: USREEM, USRETM,USREWM, USRMFC, USRMFM, USRMTC, USRMTM, USRMXC, USRMXM, USRTBC, USRTBM, USRTTC, USRTTM 2. NASFLA spectrum files: BLOCKS, BLOCKT 3. NASMAT files: userdata.dat, userdkeffdata.dat, userdkeffhead.dat, userhead.dat, usrkcdata.dat Similar to the other NASGRO modules, the utility is called up from the NASGRO main window by clicking on the Migrate User Data button, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Invoking the data migration utility from the NASGRO main window.
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The utilitys on-screen directions make the file migration process fairly self-explanatory. As shown in Figure 2, the utility presents a list of all still-existing prior NASGRO installations from which to choose the source (or copy from) location. The target (or copy to) location is also displayed; this location corresponds to the data files location of the current NASGRO version.

Figure 2. The utility displays a list of prior NASGRO versions from which to choose the files to copy. After selecting the data files location to copy and clicking on the Continue button, the utility displays the actual data files that were found and which will be copied, shown in Figure 3. Finally, as shown in Figure 4, the utility displays a confirmation when the file copying process is complete.

Figure 3. The utility displays the actual data files that were found and which will be copied.

Figure 4. Confirmation displayed when the file copying process is complete.