Building the Structural Hierarchy

The structures that you add to an MPC project for aircraft structural analysis are arranged in a tree-based structural configuration called the structural hierarchy. To access the configuration, click the Structural Hierarchy tab on the System panel.

In the Structural Hierarchy tab, there can be no more than four levels in the hierarchy (structure, substructure, sub-substructure and structural item), and the first two levels must be selected from a predefined list of ATA chapters (systems) and sections (subsystems) that are stored in the database.

Each item has properties associated with it, which are viewed and edited on the Properties tab of the Analysis panel when the item is selected.

Available Columns

The following columns are displayed in the structural hierarchy:

  • ATA # displays the item number. For structures and substructures, this is the ATA-assigned number. For sub-substructures and parts, this is the value given in the item properties.
  • Description displays the name and/or description of the structure or structural item.
  • SSI displays an SSI icon if the structural item is considered to be a structurally significant item (SSI) that requires accidental damage (AD) and/or environmental deterioration (ED) analyses. (See SSI Selection Questions.)
  • Status Updates displays if the item contains any status update notes.
  • Attachment displays a paper clip icon if one or more files or URLs have been attached to the corresponding item. It displays if a Description and Operation (D&O) document is one of the attached files.
  • Flag displays a flag for the structure/structural item, if desired. The available flags are: Complete (indicated by a green flag), In Progress (indicated by a yellow flag) and Incomplete (indicated by a red flag). In all ReliaSoft applications, flags are displayed in the interface only and do not affect analysis results or reports.
  • User Access displays an icon when the item is inaccessible. (See Status Indicators.)
    • If the item is in use by another user, an in use icon will be displayed. Point to the in-use icon to display the name of the user who is accessing the item.
    • If you do not have the item permissions needed to edit the item, a restricted access icon will be displayed.
  • Depending on the setting in the Configurable Options for Structural Analysis window, there will be three or four columns that display icons to indicated which environmental deterioration (ED), accidental damage (AD) and/or fatigue damage (FD) analyses have been created for each structural item. The icons are:
    • indicates an environmental deterioration (ED) analysis for metallic materials.
    • indicates an environmental deterioration (ED) analysis for non-metallic materials.
    • indicates an accidental damage (AD) analysis for metallic materials (or for any type of material of you have selected to not perform separate analyses).
    • indicates an accidental damage (AD) analysis for non-metallic materials.
    • indicates a fatigue damage (FD) analysis for the item.

Adding Structures and Substructures

For compliance with the ATA numbering guidelines, the available structures and substructures have been predefined for the database. (See Managing ATA Chapters.)

  • To add a new top-level structure, choose Structures > Add > Add Structure(s).

  • To add a new substructure, select the structure and then choose Structures > Add > Add SubStructure(s).

Both commands open windows that display the list of structures/substructures that have been predefined for this database. Use the check boxes to select one or more items to add to the structural configuration and click OK.

Note that each structure/substructure can be used only once per project. So if the item already exists in the current system configuration, the text will be grayed out and you will not be able to select it.

Adding Sub-substructures and Structural Items

Sub-substructures and structural items have not been predefined for the database. Instead, you have the flexibility to create these records as needed for your particular analysis.

  • To add a new sub-substructure, select the substructure and choose Structures > Add > Add SubSubStructure.

  • To add a new structural item, select any item and choose Structures > Add > Add Structural Item.

Note the following:

  • The command(s) to add substructures and/or sub-substructures will be disabled if:
    • At least one structural item has already been defined for the parent item. Structural items can be added under any type of record (structure, substructure or sub-substructure), but they must always be the lowest level in any particular branch of the hierarchy.
    • You have answered "Yes" to at least one SSI selection question for the parent item. This action signals that the parent item is an SSI.
  • Because of the ATA numbering guidelines, you cannot add more than 9 sub-substructures for the same parent. The ATA numbers for all sub-substructures must begin with the same number as the parent. For example, if the substructure’s ATA number is 10, you can define sub-substructures with any or all of the following numbers: 11, 12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19.
  • There is no limit to the number of structural items that you can add for the same parent, and you can use any number for the # field as long as it is unique among the structural items associated with that item.

Deleting

To delete an item from any MPC hierarchy, select the hierarchy item and press DELETE. The hierarchy item will be deleted, along with all dependents and all associated attachments. There is no undo for deleting an item or the entire hierarchy.

Cutting/Copying

You can cut or copy items in any MPC hierarchy and paste them to the same project or to another project within the same database. (Please note that if you want to share hierarchy items between different databases, you must use the import/export functionality instead.) To select multiple hierarchy items for cut or copy:

  • Click the first hierarchy item and then press CTRL and click additional hierarchy items at the same level of the hierarchy.

or

  • Click the first hierarchy item, then press SHIFT and click another hierarchy item to select all hierarchy items at the same level of the hierarchy between and including the two.

After you select the hierarchy items, you can use the standard keyboard shortcuts for cut/copy (CTRL+X and CTRL+C) or you can choose Home > Clipboard > Cut and Home > Clipboard > Copy. When a hierarchy item is cut or copied, all dependents will also be cut or copied, along with any attachments.

Pasting

To paste items that you have cut or copied from any MPC hierarchy, press CTRL+V or choose Home > Clipboard > Paste. Note the following:

  • For the top two levels in the hierarchy (i.e., systems/subsystems, structures/substructures or major zones/major sub-zones), each item can be used only once per project. If an item with the same number already exists within the project you are pasting to, you will be prompted to decide if you want to replace the existing hierarchy item or cancel.

  • If a hierarchy item is cut or copied but then deleted from the project, the copied data will also be deleted from the Clipboard. In addition, once a hierarchy item has been cut or copied, any edits that are made to the original will also be applied to its copy in the Clipboard. In other words, if there are changes to the original hierarchy items after you cut/copy them but before you paste them somewhere else, this will affect the data that can be pasted. Also note that you will not be able to cut or copy a hierarchy item in a project that is locked by another user.

Importing

It is easy to import any entire hierarchy (or selected items) from any project in the same database or another selected database. (See Importing MPC Hierarchies Between Projects.)

Related Topics and Links