[Gmsh] .Step import to GMSH for use in PC-Crash

[Aaron Kiefer]

Hello GMSH Aficionados,

I'm a novice attempting to develop some basic GMSH ability to use the program to import .STEP geometry to create a .msh file for use in PC-Crash simulation software for a vehicle crash test.  I'm an accident reconstruction engineer who has limited FE experience so I apologize in advance for the basic questions.
     Primarily, I need some guidance on whether or not it is possible to use GMSH to import solid geometry (.STEP) from Solidworks to create a functional mesh?  I receive zero or negative area errors when meshing in 2D and importing to PC-Crash, and the 3d mesh has contact detection problems in PC-Crash.   Please advise the geometry that I'm dealing with is extruded aluminum profiles.  I'm open to learning how to use GMSH to specify a planar geometry for a 2D mesh, but I'm a little wary of the learning curve.

Thanks,

Aaron J. Kiefer MSME, PE
Accident Research Specialists, PLLC
1631 NW Maynard Road, Suite 101
Cary, NC 27513
Phone:  (919) 467-8134
Fax:        (919) 678-1261
Cell:        (919) 810-8429
Email:    akiefer at accident-research.com<mailto:akiefer at accident-research.com>
Web:      www.accident-research.com<http://www.accident-research.com/>
Email Confidentiality Notice:  The information contained in this transmission is confidential, proprietary, and/or privileged.  The message is intended for the sole use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed.  If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that any use, distribution, or copying of the message is strictly prohibited and may be subject to penalties,  If you received this transmission in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete this material from any computer.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://onelab.info/pipermail/gmsh/attachments/20160126/09efc4dc/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Aluminum Extrusion Model.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 71431 bytes
Desc: Aluminum Extrusion Model.JPG
URL: <http://onelab.info/pipermail/gmsh/attachments/20160126/09efc4dc/attachment-0003.JPG>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PC-Crash Error @ Shell Element.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 128273 bytes
Desc: PC-Crash Error @ Shell Element.JPG
URL: <http://onelab.info/pipermail/gmsh/attachments/20160126/09efc4dc/attachment-0004.JPG>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PC-Crash Error.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 77398 bytes
Desc: PC-Crash Error.JPG
URL: <http://onelab.info/pipermail/gmsh/attachments/20160126/09efc4dc/attachment-0005.JPG>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: GussetSimulation12together.step
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 561773 bytes
Desc: GussetSimulation12together.step
URL: <http://onelab.info/pipermail/gmsh/attachments/20160126/09efc4dc/attachment-0001.step>