def METHOD_NAME(cart3d_triq_filename):
    """tests getting the normal groups"""
    cart3d = Cart3D(log=None, debug=False)
    result_names = []  # read the mesh only
    cart3d.read_cart3d(cart3d_triq_filename, result_names=result_names)
    points = cart3d.points
    elements = cart3d.elements
    celements = elements.copy()
    normals, groups = get_normal_groups(points, celements)
    tris, quads = normal_groups_to_quads(celements, normals, groups)
    write_nastran_quads_tris(points, tris, quads, bdf_filename='tris_quads.bdf')