TASverter-r2013-06-30: Release notes

What is TASverter?

Firstly, TASverter is NOT a converter for STEP files from CAD!

TASverter is a general converter for models used in Thermal Analysis for Space. It has "reader" modules for converting information from the native file formats of a number of [space] thermal analysis tools into an intermediate, internal STEP-TAS representation, and "writer" modules to convert this internal representation into the native file formats of a number of [space] thermal analysis tools.

TASverter was developed to replace some older tool-to-tool converters that involved a lot of duplicated code and were difficult to maintain.

TASverter became a cutting-edge technology demonstrator to show the reality of model data conversion and exchange using STEP-TAS. TASverter has been used extensively within ESTEC/TEC-MTV to verify and validate the development on the underlying STEP-TAS protocol using real-world models written for different thermal analysis tools. TASverter paved the way for the implementation of STEP-TAS interfaces in the commercial analysis tools.

What is new in this version [r2013-06-30]?

The main changes for this version are:

• Updated to run on Windows 7

• Converted to STEP-TAS v6, as used in ESATAN-TMS and THERMICA.

  Note: STEP-TAS v6 is not backwards compatible with STEP-TAS v5, so TASverter-r2013-06-30 is not able to read STEP-TAS v5 files produced by TASverter-r2007-03-19, and vice versa.

• Rescheduled dataset validation when reading STEP-TAS file.

• Bug fix to create useful dataset name (instead of 'TASverter').

• Updates to the STEP-TAS protocol and dictionary to include the Space Kinematic Model (SKM) Module and various corrections.

• Upgrade of ESARAD 5.1 geometry reader and writer to allow basic ASSEMBLY handling, but without mission pointing.

  Note: ESARAD ASSEMBLY statements are converted to fixed shells in the other output formats.

Which tool formats are supported?

Note: TASverter development has been "on-hold" since the last release in 2007, and all of the tool formats have evolved since then. TASverter will need some time to catch up!

TASverter is able to both read and write the following formats:

• STEP-TAS Part21 files. These files conform to the ISO 10302-21 format, the official ASCII text encoding for the exchange of STEP data. Note that although every effort is being made to maintain compatibility as the STEP-TAS standard evolves, until the STEP-TAS protocol is completely frozen it may not be possible to guarantee the use of these files as long-term archive data.

  Note: STEP-TAS Part21 files use the same building blocks as the STEP AP203 and AP214 files used in CAD, but are not compatible, in the same way that many western European languages use the Latin character set but are not understood everywhere.

• ESARAD 5.1 Geometry (erg) files. TASverter now handles cutting operations using dedicated cutting solids rather than approximating them using normal geometric primitives. TASverter can now convert ASSEMBLY statements using the new Space Kinematic Model capabilities, but does not yet handle mission-related orientation and pointing.

• THERMICA 3.2 Geometry (SYSBAS) files - but no kinematics.

• TRASYS Geometry (inp) files - but no kinematics.

In addition, TASverter is able to read the following formats:

• THERMICA 3.2 Geometry (VIF) files.

• MSC.NASTRAN 2005 Geometry (BDF) files. A partial implementation relating to space thermal analysis needs.

• ESATAN 8.9 results (GFF) files. Note that this was only a proof-of-concept prototype to validate the STEP-TAS protocol.

TASverter is also able to write the following formats:

• PATRAN session (ses) and nodal result (nod) files. A partial implementation relating to space thermal analysis needs.

• Comma separated values (csv) file. Note that this was only a proof-of-concept prototype used to help verify the GFF-reader.

Which tool formats will be supported in the future?

Due to resource limitations it is not possible for the TASverter development team to provide fully updated "reader" and "writer" modules for all new features of the tools in the short term.

The next release(s) will address the following areas which meet the internal needs to the TASverter development team anyway:

• Update to read ESATAN-TMS r5 erg files and not fail on:

  DEFINE_OPTICAL, optical["prop_env"], mainShell:subShell, label1/label2, thick1, bulk1, composition, through_cond, emittance, conductance, CONDUCTOR, CONDUCTIVE_INTERFACE, NON_GEOMETRIC_THERMAL_NODE

• Update to read THERMICA v4 SYSBAS files and not fail on:

  cutting operations, numeric shell identifiers, $C_PROPERTY, $D_PROPERTY, $SKFORCES

• Addition of a simple, human-readable, "spreadsheet" geometry format for use by people who do not have the main thermal tools such as small instrument or cubesat developers in universities.

• Removal of prototype GFF reader

• Removal of prototype CSV Writer

The relative priority for implementing other modules will need to be established in consultation with project groups within ESA that might have specific requirements, and with the representatives of the wider space thermal analysis community.