displacements output on the whole finite-element mesh via RF-COM interface

[andy]

Hello,
I'm trying to obtain, with the RFEM5 COM api, all the nodal displacements for a given load case, via a VB script inside excel.
I'm especially interested in getting displacements in all the FE MESH nodes.
The following script works properly but outputs the displacements ONLY on the "model" nodes, and not the displacements in the "internal" nodes that are generated during meshing.
My question is the following: how can I have access to the whole mesh displacement data?

'------------------
Sub GetNDInFENodes()

    Range("A3:D3000").ClearContents
    
    Dim model As RFEM5.model
    Set model = GetObject(, "RFEM5.Model")
    model.GetApplication.LockLicense
    
    On Error GoTo e
    
    Dim results As IResults
    Set results = model.GetCalculation.GetResultsInFENodes(LoadCaseType, common.GetSelectedLoadType)
    
    Dim deformations() As NodalDeformations
    deformations = results.GetAllNodalDeformations()
    
    Dim r, pos As Long
    pos = 3
    
    For r = 0 To UBound(deformations)
        Cells(pos, 1) = deformations(r).NodeNo
        Cells(pos, 2) = deformations(r).Displacements.X
        Cells(pos, 3) = deformations(r).Displacements.Y
        Cells(pos, 4) = deformations(r).Displacements.Z
        pos = pos + 1
    Next
    
e:  If Err.Number Then MsgBox Err.Description, , Err.Source
    
    Set results = Nothing
    model.GetApplication.UnlockLicense
    Set model = Nothing

End Sub
'------------------

Thank you,
Andy

[Thomas Günthel]

Hello Andy,

the method GetAllNodalDeformations gives back all Deformations of nodes and not of the surfaces FE-Mesh points.
If you want the displacement of the surface FE-Mesh points, please use the following method for surface 1:

deformations = results.GetSurfaceDeformations(1, AtNo, True)

Best Regards
Thomas

[andy]

OK, thank you, understood.
The approach of separating the deformations based on the element type (node, member, surface, solid) is rather unusual if compared to standard FEA software (usually the displacement field is a vector field defined on all the mesh nodes, independently of the element, being the direct result of the "K.u=f" structural problem). Clearly internal efforts, stresses (...etcetera) are defined based on the element type (being obtained after further postprocessing), but not the displacement field.
Anyway, I see no problem with your (i.e. dlubal) approach.

Thank you again,
Andy.