non spatial fields

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Patran Reference ManualFields Forms

244

Fields Create (Non-Spatial, Tabular Input)

This form is used to create Non-Spatial time and frequency-dependent fields. It is also used to create new

fields which are modifications of existing fields.

Action Select the Create action.

Object Select Non-Spatial as the type of field to be created.

Method Select theTabular InputMethod.

Existing Fields Existing Non-Spatial fields are displayed here.

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245Ch. 6: Fields ApplicationFields Forms

Fields Create (Active Independent Variable, Input Data)

Use this form to input tabular data into a one-dimensional data table. The default maximum table length

is 30. This can be changed in the Options submenu in the main fields application form. The first column

will show the Active Independent Variable (Time, Frequency, Temperature, Displacement, or Velocity),

and the second is the associated field value.

Field Name Enter a unique field name here. Or, to create a new field using attributes of

an existing field, highlight the existing field and type the new name here.

Scalar Field Type Select the desired Scalar Field Type. This switch is available only for the

MSC Nastran Analysis Preference. For all other Analysis Preferences, all

Non-Spatial Tabular fields are real valued scalar fields.

Active IndependentVariables

Select the desired independent variable. Up to three variables may be

selected for real-valued fields, but you cannot select both time and

frequency. For complex fields, the independent variable must be

frequency.

Input Data... Displays the table input form.

Options... Allows you to change the maximum table size (default is 30). Also, the

treatment of points which lie outside of the table range may be specified.

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246

Fields Create (Input Data, Map Function)

This form permits a dependent field to be defined by a PCL expression or function. The PCL expression

is evaluated either at Independent variable points specified in the input table or at equally spaced intervals

as defined in this form.

Map Function ToTable

Select this option if you want to use a PCL expression or function to define

the data points. The Independent variable points used can either be those

input in the above table, or be equally spaced values as defined in the Map

Function submenu.

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Non-Spatial Field 2D Data Input Table

This form is used to input tabular non-spatial property data into a two-dimensional table. The default

maximum table size is 30 in both dimensions. This can be changed in the Options submenu in the main

Fields Application form.

PCL Expression f(t) Input the PCL expression you want to use to define the time dependence.

Use t for the time variable.

Use Existing TimePoints

Select this option if you want to use the points specified in the input table.

The expression will be evaluated at those points. The Start Time, End

Time, and Number of Points databoxes will be grayed out if you select this

option.

Start Time

End Time

Number of Points

To evaluate the expression at equally spaced time points, input the starting

time, ending time and number of points here. The number of points is one

plus the number of intervals.

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248

Non Spatial Field 3D Data Input Table

This form is used to input tabular data into a three-dimensional table. The default maximum table size is

30 by 30 by 10 in the first, second, and third independent variables, respectively. This can be changed in

the Options submenu in the main Fields Application form. The independent variables can be any three

of Time (t), Frequency (f), Temperature (T), Displacement (u), Velocity (v), and User-Defined (UD),

except that Time and Frequency cannot be selected simultaneously.

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Non-Spatial Complex Scalar Field Data Input Table

This form is used to input tabular complex non-spatial property data into a one-dimensional table. The

default maximum table size is 30. This can be changed in the Options submenu in the main Fields

Application form.

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250

Complex Data Format Select the format in which you would like to enter your complex data

Input Data Select this box and type in the desired value. Pushing the Return key puts

this value in the selected cell. If you have selected cells from the 2 right-

hand columns, then you may enter complex pairs. Both columns will then

be loaded simultaneously. Complex pairs may be entered as space-

delimited constants. Real-imaginary pairs may, in addition, be entered in

the form of expressions like 1+2i, -3i-5, -i, or-3.14159.

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Fields Create (Input Complex Data, Map Function)

This form permits the components of a complex field to be defined by a PCL expression or function. The

PCL expression is evaluated either at Independent variable points specified in the input table or at equally

spaced intervals as defined in this form.

Data Select a cell you wish to input a value for or a cell you wish to modify. The

selected cell frame is highlighted. If you select cells from the 2 right-handcolumns simultaneously, then you may enter complex pairs.

Map Function ToTable

Select this option if you want to use a PCL expression or function to define

the data points. The Independent variable points used can either be those

input in the above table, or be equally spaced values as defined in the Map

Function submenu.

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252

Complex Component Select the complex component that your PCL expression will represent.

The component choices are consistent with the Complex Data Format

selected on the parent form, Non Spatial Complex Scalar Table Data.

PCL Expression f(f) Input the PCL expression you want to use to define the frequency

dependence. Use f for the frequency variable.

Use Existing FrequencyPts

Select this option if you want to use the frequency points specified in the

input table. The expression will be evaluated at those points. The Starting

Frequency, Ending Frequency, and Number of Points databoxes will be

grayed out if you select this option.

Map Function to Table

Complex Component

Real

Imaginary

PCL Expression f('f)

Use Existing Frequency Pts.

Starting Frequency

Ending Frequency

Number of Points

Apply Cancel

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Fields Create (Non-Spatial, Discrete FEM) (SAMCEF Only)

This form is used to create a discrete FEM Field (formerly known as an LBC Field).

Starting Frequency

Ending Frequency

Number of Points

To evaluate the expression at equally spaced frequency points, input the

starting frequency, ending frequency and number of points here. Thenumber of points is one plus the number of intervals.

Apply When you hit Apply, the parent form spreadsheet column corresponding to

the selected complex component is updated. If the Use Existing

Frequency Pts. toggle is not selected, then the abscissa column is also

updated. Finally, the alternate Complex Component switch item is

automatically selected in preparation for defining the remaining complex

component.

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254


Object Select Non-Spatial.

Fields

CreateAction:

Non SpatialObject:

Discrete FEMMethod:

field_3field_2field_1

Existing Fields

Field Name

Time (t) Frequency (f)

Active Dynamic Variable

-Apply-

Input Data ...

[Options...]

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Non-Spatial Discrete FEM Field Tabular Input (SAMCEF Only)

This form is used to input Discrete FEM Tabular data. The default table length is 30. This can be changed

by adding and deleting rows. The default number of layers is 10. This can be changed by adding and

deleting layers. The Input Data Box changes depending on whether entities or values are selected and

what is selected on the main form.

Method Select the Discrete FEM Method.

Existing Fields Existing fields are displayed here. Select one if the new field is to be a

modification of an existing field. The field name will appear in the box

below.

Field Name Alternatively, enter a unique field name here.

Entity Type Select Node for nodal entities or Element for element entities (for element

select menu options, seeFEM Select Icons(p. 41) in thePatran Reference

Manual).

Active DynamicVariable

Select the dynamic variable.


Options... The Options Menu allows you to change the treatment of points that lie

outside the dynamic variable range.

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256

Discrete Space/Time Field Table Data

Select Entities (Nodes)

Delete selected row(s)Clear Selected Cells

Number to Insert (from selected)

3

5

4

2

1

7

9

8

6

Entity Values

InsertAction: 1

Number of Layers to Delete (from current) 1 Delete

Layer: 10 Time Value:

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Fields Create (General Field)

This form is used to create fields for any Fields object. It is also used to create new fields which are

modifications of existing General Fields.

Select Entity Nodes The select databoxes allow you to pick either nodes or elements off theviewport or enter them manually. The main form determines whether you

are using Nodes or Elements and they cannot be mixed. The entities will

be highlighted in the viewport.

If more than one entity is in the select databox, the spreadsheet will be

filled out starting at the first selected cell.

The databox allows you to enter Scalar values.

Entity

Values

select a cell. If an Entity cell is chosen a select databox will appear and if

a Value cell is chosen a databox will appear.

Time Value Select the layer and set the time or frequency value here.

Number to Insert Define the number of rows or layers to be inserted or appended. Defaults

to 1.

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258


Object Select one of the three objects (Spatial, Material Property, Non Spatial) as

the type of field to be created.

Method Select the General Method.

Existing Fields Any existing fields are displayed here. Select one if the new field is to be

a modification of an existing one. The selected field name will appear in

the box below.

Field Name Alternatively, enter a unique field name here, or change the name of the

existing field selected.

Entity Type Select Node for nodal entities or Element for element entities (for elementselect menu options, seeFEM Select Icons(p. 41) in thePatran Reference

Manual).

Coordinate SystemType

Select Real, if the field is in X,Y,Z space. Parametric space is not enabled

for the General Field.

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Fields Create (General Field, Input Data)

This form is used to compose the function defining a General field. The terms of the function may be

constants, independent variables or functions and appear in the textbox at the bottom of the form. The

function expression is composed using the widgetsin the Select Function Term and Arithmetic

Operator frames.

Coordinate System Input or select the desired coordinate frame if the default is inappropriate.


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260

Function Term Type This menu allows choice of term type, function or independent variable.

Term Sub-Type This menu allows choice of term subtypes. For function terms, this is user

defined.

Select Function Term The term choices are listed here. Selecting a function displays its argument

input form; selecting an independent variable appends it to the expression.

Select ArithmeticOperator

Selecting an operator appends it to the expression.

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Fields Create (General Field, Generic Function)

This form lists the input arguments (and data types) for a General Field Function. It is displayed when

there is no custom PCL form supplied for a General Field Function. Because it provides the user little

information about the argument requirements, it is best used with functions having self-evident argument

requirements.

Function Expression The Function Expression is displayed here. Typing the expression into this

form in PCL syntax is acceptable for all but function terms. Function termsmust be composed via the menus to maintain the integrity of the argument

input data.

Modify HighlightedFunction

Select this button to modify the argument data for an existing term which

is a function. Highlight the desired function (double clicking will do) and

select Modify Highlighted Function. This will display the functions

input form, and all its current data. This buttonworks only for terms which

are functions (terms preceded by an integer prefix). Attempting to modify

terms which are functions in the textbox via the keyboard will result in an

error.

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262

Fields Create (Spatial, Discrete FEM)

This form is used to create a discrete FEM Field (formerly known as an LBC Field).

Function Name This line displays the nameof the function.

Allowable IndependentVariables

This is the list of allowable independent variables for this function. Note

temperature is not allowed for Spatial fields, and Theta is not allowed for

Material Property fields.

Function ArgumentList

This is the list of arguments for the functions; one databox per argument.

The expected datatype is given to the left. Inputs to the databoxes must be

valid PCL syntax, all independent variables must be preceded with a ' .

This example is a function requiring three integer arguments.

OK Select the OK button when you are satisfied with the arguments. This

will store the argument data and append the function name (and list of its

independent variables) to the Function Expression textbox in the General

Field Input Data form.

General Field Generic Function

Function Name: some_test()

'X 'Y 'Z 'e 'er 't 'f 'RAD

Allowable Independent Variables:

Integer

Integer

Integer

Function Argument List:

OK Cancel

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non spatial fields

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