ModelX software

Quick start
Users Guide

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Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................4
1.1. NOTE ...................................................................................................................................4
1.2. ABOUT THE MODELX SOFTWARE ................................................................................4
2. STARTING WITH THE MODELX SOFTWARE ..........................................................5
2.1. STARTING THE APPLICATION ............................................................................................5
2.2. MAIN WINDOW DESCRIPTION ...........................................................................................7
2.3. CREATING A MODELX DOCUMENT ..................................................................................8
2.4. OPENING A MODELX DOCUMENT ..................................................................................10
2.5. SAVING A MODELX DOCUMENT .....................................................................................11
2.6. EXPORTING A MODELIZATION A TEXT FILE ..................................................................12
2.7. MODELX MAIN WINDOW DESCRIPTION.........................................................................13
3. MODELX............................................................................................................................14
3.1. PARAMETERS INPUT ........................................................................................................14
3.1.1. PHYSICAL VALUES ........................................................................................................14
3.1.2. ANALYSIS PARAMETERS ...............................................................................................18
3.2. CALCULATION .................................................................................................................19
3.3. DIFFERENT VIEWS ...........................................................................................................20
3.3.1. 2D MAIN VIEW...............................................................................................................21
3.3.2. 2D FIRST AXIS VIEW......................................................................................................23
3.3.3. 2D SECOND AXIS VIEW..................................................................................................25
3.3.4. 3D VIEW.........................................................................................................................25
3.3.5. POINT VALUES VIEW .....................................................................................................28
3.3.6. STRAIN CURVE VIEW ....................................................................................................29
3.4. OPTIONS ...........................................................................................................................30
3.4.1. PHYSICAL UNITS ...........................................................................................................30
3.4.2. PRINT CHOICE ...............................................................................................................30
4. PLAYING WITH THE MODELX DOCUMENT WINDOW ......................................32
4.1. MANAGING THE DOCUMENT WINDOWS .........................................................................32
4.2. USING THE TABS...............................................................................................................32
4.2.1. HOW TO SEE THE DESIRED GROUP ..............................................................................32
4.2.2. HOW TO SEE THE DESIRED DATA .................................................................................32
4.2.3. MANAGING A GROUP OR A DATA (INSERT, CUT, COPY, PASTE, DRAG AND DROP) ...32
4.2.4. TOGGLING A GROUP OR A DATA AS RELEVANT ..........................................................33
5. PRINTING A DOCUMENT .............................................................................................34
5.1. PRINTER CONFIGURATION ..............................................................................................34
5.2. TO PRINT A DOCUMENT ...................................................................................................34
5.3. PRINT PREVIEW ...............................................................................................................35

1. Introduction
1.1. Note
The analytical solutions used to represent stresses in this software have been
taken in the paper by G M Hamilton:
G M Hamilton, Explicit equations for the stresses beneath a sliding spherical
contact, Proc. Instn. Mech. Engrs., Vol. 197C (1983) 53-59.
They have been developed for the stresses beneath a sliding, normally loaded
Hertzian contact. They are restricted to the case of the contact between a ball (or
spherical indenter) and an isotropic and homogeneous semi-infinite half-space.
Equations are obtained for the complete stress field due to a circular contact
region carrying a hemispherical Hertzian normal pressure and a proportional
distributed shearing traction.

1.2. About the ModelX software

The equations are illustrated by graphs and other representations: iso-stresses,
2D and 3D views.
The radius of the indenter, the mechanical properties of the two bodies in
contact, the normal load applied and the coefficient of friction define the contact
conditions.
Depending of these contact conditions, the software calculates the Hertzian
contact radius and the maximal pressure.
Different graphs can then be selected for a complete view of the stress field. The
values of the stresses can be dimensional or as a function of the contact radius for
length and displacements and as a function of maximal pressure for the stresses.

ModelX software Users guide

2. Starting with the ModelX software

2.1. Starting the application
To start the ModelX application, open the Start menu from the Windows task
bar and click on the application name or click on the ModelX icon in the Windows
Desktop, as follows:

fig. 1 : Launching the ModelX application from Microsoft Windows Start menu.

If your software is not registered, the following dialog box appears:

fig. 2 Registration dialog box

ModelX software Users guide

To obtain a License code, contact the customer service at CSM Instruments S.A.
The software will automatically prepare an e-mail containing the personal key needed
to obtain the License code that is specific to your computer and instrument
combination. If a mail service is available on the computer where the software is
installed, you can generate the mail simply by pressing the
icon. You will be
presented with a completed e-mail which you can send straight away or to which you
may wish to add comments. If there is no mail service available on the computer
where the software is installed you can save the personal key data directly to a floppy
disk by clicking on the
icon. This can then be sent as an e-mail to register@csminstruments.com. Likewise the License code may be obtained by sending the personal
key information as a fax or by telephone.
Then, click on >> Registration >> then in the boxes marked activation code
enter the License code as supplied. Click Register.

fig. 3 Enter the license code to activate the software

If your license code was accepted, a message will appear to tell you that the
registration was successful. If you select the About item from the Help menu, the
license number can be seen in the bottom left corner of the software information box.
If you have made a mistake in entering the license code, a message will warn
you, and you will have 2 more attempts to enter the correct code or you will be
required to restart the entire registration process.
Important note: the license code that is supplied is specific to version of
the software, the computer used and the instruments to be used. If you change
any of these items you may need to re-register your software. Unregistered, the
software will not work.

ModelX software Users guide

2.2. Main window description

fig. 4 : The main window

The main window appears a few seconds after the application starts. The
organization of this window is similar to most Microsoft applications: you will find a
title bar, command menus and an icon bar. On the bottom of the screen, a status bar
displays help messages and values measured on the curves.
The concept of a document window is very common in data word processing
applications and you may already be familiar with it.
Five menus are accessible from the main window. The file menu contains the
classical file management and general options command. The Edit menu has many
commands to manage the information stored in the documents. The Window menu is
the classical method to control the document window format. The Help menu allows
you to open the About box.
Depending on the context, the menus and the buttons in the icon bar may
change dynamically. All the possible commands are described in the following
sections.

ModelX software Users guide

2.3. Creating a ModelX document

fig. 5 : The command menu and button to create a new document

To create a new ModelX document, you can use the New command from File
menu, or click on the New button in the icon bar. This will open the New document
dialog box shown below.

fig. 6 : The New document dialog box.

Set your document and group names and click OK. A new document window is
created.

ModelX software Users guide

fig. 7 : The command menu and button to insert a new modelization

Then choose the Insert command in the Edit-Data menu or click on the Insert
button in the icon bar. Select Spherical Contact and click OK. This will open the
Insert new dialog box.

fig. 8: The Insert new modelization dialog box.

Select the Spherical Contact icon and click OK. The Modelizations properties
dialog box appears.

fig. 9: The Insert Modelizations properties dialog box.

ModelX software Users guide

Then set your modelization name and click OK. The main ModelX window
appears.
Creating a document, you can mark your Group and Modelization relevant or
not, so that you will be able to sort your documents from their relevance.

2.4. Opening a ModelX document

fig. 10 : Opening a ModelX document

To open a ModelX document, you can use the Open command from File menu,
or click on the Open button in the icon bar. This will open the Open a data file dialog
box.

fig. 11 : The Open a data file dialog box

This standard dialog box allows you to browse in the directories and to select
one or several files. To open the selected files, click on the Open button. A document
window will appear for each selected file.
The files must have the extension IXF (meaning InstrumX File).

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2.5. Saving a ModelX document

fig. 12 : The command menu and button to save a document

To save a document in a new file, use the Save as command from File menu, or
click on the Save button in the icon bar. If the document has already been saved in a
file, use the Save command in the File menu.

fig. 13 : The Save a data file dialog box

The Windows standard dialog box allows you to browse in the directories and
fill in a file name. To save the file, press the Save button.

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2.6. Exporting a Modelization a text file

fig. 14: The command menu to export a document

To export a modelization in a text file for a further analysis, you may use the
Export command from Edit->File menu, or with a right-click on the name of
document you want to export. The dialog box shown below will prompt you for a file
name and for a file format.

fig. 15: The exportation dialog box

This Windows standard dialog box allows you to browse in the directories and
fill in the file name. To save the file, press the save button.
The exported file contains the sample information and parameters on the first
lines. The rest of the file is composed of the values from the acquisition, organized as
defined in the selected format.
Note : To export a single modelization or a group, select Export in the
corresponding tab popup menu.

fig. 16 : Exporting a single modelization or a group

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2.7. ModelX Main window description

fig. 17 : The main window

Parameters

Visualization

The main window appears a few seconds after the application starts. The left
side of the window contains the physical parameters values (on the top) and the
analysis options. The right side contains the visualization of the results, with different
views.

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3. ModelX
3.1. Parameters input

Physical values

Results: contact radius,

contact area and
maximal pressure values.

Analysis parameters

fig. 18 : Parameters input field

Default values are selected when the application starts. How to change them?
3.1.1. Physical values
You have to input the indenters and samples parameters, the normal loads
and the friction coefficients values:

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fig. 19 : Physical values input field.

Click on this button to input indenters and samples properties. This will open
the Material database dialog box.

fig. 20 : Material database & Material record dialog boxes.

Then select an existing material. If you want to create one, click on the Add
button. The Material record dialog will appear. Then enter the materials properties.
The Comment field is optional, you can let it empty.
You can also change the properties of an existing material: select it and click the
Edit button. The Material record dialog will appears and you can change the old
values.
To remove a material, select it and click the Delete button.
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fig. 21 : Material list filter

You can choose to see only a certain type of material in the Filter field:
materials are sorted from their category and their relevance.
You can import an existing material database as shown:

fig. 22 : Importing a material database

Click on the Import button. The Open dialog appears. Set the text file containing
the database you want to load and click Open.

The material database must be a text file (*.txt) with a particular format:
Name1 Category1

Young Modulus1

Poisson Ratio1

(Comment1)

Name2 Category2

Young Modulus2

Poisson Ratio2

(Comment2)

Name3 Category3

Young Modulus3

Poisson Ratio3

(Comment3)

Different data must be separated with tabulations. Comments are optional. You
can generate a database with an external word processor or a spreadsheet.

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fig. 23 : Exporting a material database

To export a material database, click on the Export button. The Save as dialog
appears. Set the name of the text file in wich you want to save the database and click
Save.

When the material is chosen, you have to set the indenter radius value in the
input box of the physical values field. The sample can be spherical or plane:

fig. 24 : Choosing a spherical or plane sample.

For a plane sample, the radius is fixed infinity. For a spherical one, you have to set
the radius.
Set also the Normal Loads and the Coefficient of friction values.

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3.1.2. Analysis parameters

the analysis

fig. 25 : Analysis selection field

Choose here the analysis you want to realize:

. sx

XX Stress

. sy

YY Stress

. sz

ZZ Stress

. sVM

Von Mises Stress

.txy

XY Stress

.tyz

YZ Stress

.tzx

ZX Stress

the plane of visualization

fig. 26 : Plane selection field

Choose here the visualization plane of your analysis. In the x-y plane, for
example, curves will be function of x and y. You have to set the third parameters
value (here z), to fix the plane of calculation.

the scales parameters

fig. 27 : Scale definition field

Set the graphics bounds (minimal and maximal abscise and ordinate). You can
choose an adaptive scale: for each curve, the scale is optimized. If the adaptive scale
is disabled, the scales minimum and maximum are the minimum and maximum of
the plane, not of the curve itself. The Symmetrical button set the ratio between
abscises and ordinates for the representation to respect the reality: a circle will be a
circle for example. The Default Scale button set the default values of minimums and
maximums.
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the representation mode

fig. 28 : Representation selection field

Values can be dimensioned or reported on Pmax (maximal pressure) for the

stresses and a (contact radius) for the distances.
Curves can be colorized or not. This option is also available when results are
printed.
If curves are colorized, you can choose colors of the main graph:

To change a color, click on the corresponding button select the wanted color and click
OK.

3.2. Calculation

Some buttons launch the calculation automatically (Analysis, Third parameter

value, Default scale, Dimensional, Colorized, Iso-values, Grid). Others only change
the parameter without carrying out the calculation. This enables changing a number of
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complex parameters before the calculation. In that case, graphics are not updated, and
the following symbol appears:
To update graphics, click on this symbol.

3.3. Different views

To select a particular view, click the corresponding button in the toolbar.

fig. 29 : View selection

2D main view
2D first axis view
2D second axis view
3D view
Point values view
Strain curve view

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3.3.1. 2D main view

fig. 30 : 2D main view

This is the selected view in a new document. It contains the main graph,
representing the stress in the selected plane (here z-x) and the two extracted profiles:
at the bottom the x-function, at the right the z-function. For a profile, the value of the
second parameter is set with the corresponding track bar.
In colorized mode, Stress values in the main graph are represented by a
gradient of colors, blue for the minimal stress, red for the maximal. You can read the
position of the cursor and the corresponding value of the stress in the status bar:

fig. 31 : Cursor value

The main view parameters field contains the properties of the main graph.

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fig. 32 : Main view parameters field

The main graph can be represented in continue (black to red gradient) or with
iso-values. You can choose the representation mode clicking the Iso-Values or the
Continue button.

fig. 33 : Iso-Values mode

You can also change the mode with a double-click on the graph.
Use the track bar to choose the number of Iso-values.

fig. 34 : Number of Iso-Values selection

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You can choose to put a grid on the graph or not, clicking the Show Grid or the
Hide Grid button.

fig. 35 : Grid option

3.3.2. 2D first axis view

fig. 36 : 2D first axis view

This view represents the bottom-extracted profile of the 2D main view. You
can zoom on the curve with the mouse (left click, drag and release) or selecting a ratio
in the zoom box:

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fig. 37 : Zoom on a curve

fig. 38 : the Zoom box

You can read the position of the cursor and the corresponding value of the stress
in the status bar:

fig. 39 : Cursor value

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3.3.3. 2D second axis view

fig. 40 : 2D second axis view

This view represents the right-extracted profile of the 2D main view.

3.3.4. 3D view

fig. 41 : 3D view

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The 3D view shows the three-dimensioned curve of the main graph. The vertical
axis represents the stress, the two others the plane of calculation. You can change the
zoom factor, the amplitude and the step of calculation using the track bars. You can
choose also different options:

Color mode option:

fig. 42 : Different color modes in 3D view

Mesh mode:

fig. 43 : Mesh mode

Light position adjustment:

fig. 44 : Light position adjustment

Scale adjustment:

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fig. 45 : 3D scale adjustment field

fig. 46 : 3D scale adjustment

To adjust the 3D scale, select the coordinate you want to change and use the
track bars to set the minimum and maximum values. In 3D mode, bounds are only
given non-dimensioned.
To make the curve move, click the left button or press Ctrl and move the mouse;
the curve turns with it.

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3.3.5. Point values view

fig. 47 : Point values view

fig. 48 : Point value calculation field

This function permits you to calculate and save specific values of the stress and
to print them. The coordinates input field appears when the point values view is
selected. Parameters and analysis are set as before. Values can be given with
dimensions or not, clicking the Dimensional or the Non-Dimensional button in the
toolbar. To add a new value, click on the Add Value button. You can erase the last
value clicking on the Undo button.

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3.3.6. Strain curve view

fig. 49 : Strain curve view

This curve represents the strain on the samples surface. It is functioned of the
abscise chosen for the calculation (x for x-y and x-z planes, y for y-z plane). Abscise
bounds are the same as the other curves. The strain calculation is always done with a
friction coefficient of zero (in normal load). The two vertical lines represent the limit
of the contact between the indenter and the sample (-a and +a).

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3.4. Options
Choose the Options command in the File menu.

fig. 50 : Options menu comand

3.4.1. Physical units

You can change distances, loads and stresses units: in Modelization Units,
select units for each dimension and click OK.

fig. 51 : Units selection dialog box

3.4.2. Print choice

You can choose what you want to print: in Document Model, you can edit an
existing document model or create a new one.

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Then, in the Modelization field, choose what you want to print and click OK.
Only the selected data will be printed.

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4. Playing with the ModelX document window

4.1. Managing the document windows
The title field is used as the title of the displayed and printed document. See
section [7. Printing a document; page 40] to get more information about print features.

fig. 52 : The command menu to define the title

The document windows are moveable and resizable in the normal fashion.
Moreover, the Windows menu allows you to easily reorganize the document windows
in cascade or in tile.

fig. 53 : The Window menu

4.2. Using the tabs

4.2.1. How to see the desired group
To see the desired group, simply click on its corresponding group name on the
tab control. Clicking on a tab changes the current page viewed.
4.2.2. How to see the desired data
To see the desired data, simply click on its corresponding data name on the tab
control. Clicking on a tab changes the current page viewed.
4.2.3. Managing a group or a data (insert, cut, copy, paste, drag and
drop)
You can manage a data using the manage area in the Edit menu. For example to
delete a data, select first the data to be deleted by clicking on its tab. Click then on the
Delete command from the Edit menu.

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It is also possible to manage a group or a data using the popup menu on a tab.
To do this, click on a tab with the right button of the mouse. A popup menu will
appear, containing the for example, the Delete command to be used.
4.2.4. Toggling a group or a data as relevant
A group or a data can be defined as relevant or not. This feature is useful in
association with the print function. The print function will allow printing of all the
data or solely those chosen as relevant.
To toggle the relevant attribute of a data, click the relevant line in the Edit menu
of the application. You can also use the popup menu of the tabs. For this, just click on
a tab with the right button of the mouse, and then click on the relevant line.
The relevant groups and data tabs are marked with a small star.

fig. 54: Stars on the relevant group

and data tabs

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5. Printing a document
5.1. Printer configuration

fig. 55 : The command menu and button to

configure the printer

The printer configuration allows you to select and configure a printer and to
define the paper orientation and size. Note that the software has been designed to print
on A4 210 x 297 mm paper in the Portrait orientation.

fig. 56 The printer configuration dialog box

Black and white and color printers are supported.

5.2. To print a document
The choice of what to print is described in the Options part.

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fig. 57 : The command menu and button to print a document

To print the current document opened in the application, you can use the Print
command from the File menu, or click on the Print button in the icon bar. These
commands are only available when a document is opened in the application.
The Print dialog box will let you define the print type you want.

fig. 58 : The Print dialog box

The Printer menu allows you to change the destination printer.

Note : To print a single modelization, select Print in the corresponding tab popup
menu.

fig. 59 : Print a single modelization

5.3. Print preview

fig. 60: The command menu and button to preview the print of a document

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To preview the current document opened in the application, choose the Print
Preview command from the File menu or click on the Print Preview button in the icon
bar. These commands are only available when a document is opened in the
application.
This command will open the full screen print preview window shown below.

fig. 61 : The print preview window

An entire page is visible in this window. On the top, several commands are
available in an icon bar.
Close the print preview
Zoom to fit an entire page in
the screen
Zoom to fit the page width in
the screen
Zoom out

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Zoom in
See first page
See last page
See previous page
See next page
Page count

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