Patran Reference Manual

Fields 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 the Tabular Input Method.
Existing Fields Existing Non-Spatial fields are displayed here.
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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 Independent
Variables
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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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 To
Table
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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Fields Forms
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 Time
Points
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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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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Fields Forms
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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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 Forms
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-hand
columns simultaneously, then you may enter complex pairs.
Map Function To
Table
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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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 Frequency
Pts
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 Forms
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. The
number 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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Action Select the Create action.
Object Select Non-Spatial.
Fields
Create
Action:
Non Spatial Object:
Discrete FEM Method:
field_3
field_2
field_1
Existing Fields
Field Name
Time (t) Frequency (f)
Active Dynamic Variable
-Apply-
Input Data ...
[Options...]
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Fields Forms
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, see FEM Select Icons (p. 41) in the Patran Reference
Manual).
Active Dynamic
Variable
Select the dynamic variable.
Input Data... Displays the table input form.
Options... The Options Menu allows you to change the treatment of points that lie
outside the dynamic variable range.
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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
Insert
Action:
1
Number of Layers to Delete (from current) 1
Delete
Layer: 10
Time Value:
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Fields Forms
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 the
viewport 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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Action Select the Create action.
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 element
select menu options, see FEM Select Icons (p. 41) in the Patran Reference
Manual).
Coordinate System
Type
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 Forms
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 widgets in the Select Function Term and Arithmetic
Operator frames.
Coordinate System Input or select the desired coordinate frame if the default is inappropriate.
Input Data... Displays the table input form.
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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 Arithmetic
Operator
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 terms
must be composed via the menus to maintain the integrity of the argument
input data.
Modify Highlighted
Function
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 button works 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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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 name of the function.
Allowable Independent
Variables
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 Argument
List
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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