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Multibody Modeling
MotionView is a general pre-processor for Multibody Dynamics.
Flexible Bodies
MotionView has many pre-processing and post-processing capabilities with regards to flexible bodies, or flexbodies, for multibody dynamics models.
Using Multibody Dynamics Flexbodies
MotionView has many pre-processing and post-processing capabilities with regards to flexible bodies, or flexbodies, for multibody dynamics models.
Generating Flexbody H3D Files
MotionView works with a neutral file called H3D to represent the flexible body. This compact file format stores the necessary information for visualizing the flexbody in the pre-processing window and the modes and interface nodes in the post-processing window. It also stores the modal and nodal information.

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Multibody Modeling
MotionView is a general pre-processor for Multibody Dynamics.
- MotionView Overview
  MotionView is a general pre-processor for Multibody Dynamics.
- Model Browser
  The Model Browser allows you to view the MotionView model structure while providing display and editing control of entities.
- MotionView Ribbons
  The MotionView ribbons allows you to quickly access tools and standard functions, and is located along the top of MotionView.
- MotionView CAD Interfacing
  MotionView supports the importing of several types of CAD and FE formats.
- Flexible Bodies
  MotionView has many pre-processing and post-processing capabilities with regards to flexible bodies, or flexbodies, for multibody dynamics models.
  - Using Multibody Dynamics Flexbodies
    MotionView has many pre-processing and post-processing capabilities with regards to flexible bodies, or flexbodies, for multibody dynamics models.
    - Generating Flexbody H3D Files
      MotionView works with a neutral file called H3D to represent the flexible body. This compact file format stores the necessary information for visualizing the flexbody in the pre-processing window and the modes and interface nodes in the post-processing window. It also stores the modal and nodal information.
      - FlexBodyPrep Overview
        The FlexBody Prep wizard (or simply FlexPrep) allows you to create a flexible body H3D file using Optistruct, as well as translate an ADAMS MNF file or a mirrored H3D file. The FlexPrep also takes other types of input files, such as Nastran BDF.
      - Flexprep Usage
      - OptiStruct Flexbody Generation
        MotionView generates an H3D flexbody neutral file directly from a Nastran or OptiStruct FEA input deck. The only FEA model preparation required is to identify the node IDs that will be used for interfacing and sensors.
    - Visualizing H3D Flexbodies
      Once an H3D file is created, it can be visualized in HyperView.
    - Using H3D Flexbodies in MotionView
    - Flexbody Post-processing
      MotionView models solved in MotionSolve or Adams can be animated in HyperView. In addition, the plots for these models can also be viewed in HyperGraph.
    - Translation of Flexbody Files
    - Flexbody Theory and Flexbody Flow
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- Tcl/Tk Reference Guide
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- MDL Reference Guide
  Reference materials for the MotionView MDL Language, Tire Modeling, and the MDL Library.
- MotionSolve Reference Guide
  Reference material detailing command statements, model statements, functions and the Subroutine Interface available in MotionSolve.
- Templex and Math Reference Guide
  Reference material for Templex (a general purpose text and numeric processor) and additional mathematical functions and operators.
- MotionView Python Reference Guide
  Reference materials for the MotionView Python Language.
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Generating Flexbody H3D Files

MotionView works with a neutral file called H3D to represent the flexible body. This compact file format stores the necessary information for visualizing the flexbody in the pre-processing window and the modes and interface nodes in the post-processing window. It also stores the modal and nodal information.

The H3D file can be used in:

MotionView to represent a body as flexible body.
HyperView to visualize the mode and mode shapes.
MotionSolve during solution to extract mode, mode shape related data, and to write graphic information related to the flexible body into the result file.

H3D flexbody file generation through MotionView uses a utility called Flexprep. Flexprep can be executed by accessing the FlexbodyPrep dialog from the Analyze ribbon, Tools tool set, FlexPrep icon or through the command line.

Refer to the Flexprep Usage topic to learn more about running flexprep through the command line.