Extracting Properties in StressCheck

StressCheck provides a convenient means for checking the distortion, as well as computing the undeformed and/or deformed area (or volume), for all elements in the model or a specific group of elements/element faces in the model. In addition, centroidal location data (in global x,y,z coordinates) and object-specific property data may be computed for selected bodies, surfaces, curves, points, labels, systems or nodes.

To perform property extractions for a solved StressCheck model, select the Properties tab in the Results dialog and specify the desired Properties extraction options (Figure 1).

After specifying the Properties extraction options, click on Accept to perform the extraction. After the extraction is completed, a graph will appear displaying the property extraction results.

Specifying the Solution ID(s) and Run(s)

To extract property values for a solved StressCheck model, select the Properties tab in the Results dialog, set the Object combo-box of the C/A/O/M to the desired object type (discussed in the following), click on the Solution ID in the scrolling listbox and enter the range of Run numbers for which you wish to compute property values. For example, you may enter Run: 8 to 8 if only Run number 8 is of interest.

Solution Run Wildcards

Entering a max Run number of “0” will automatically extract using the solution with the maximum DOF.

Specifying the Properties Object

If the Object combo-box is set to “All Elements”, “Any Element”, “Face” or “Face Surface”, then the property extraction options include distortion checking (“Distortion” button), computation of the undeformed area/volume (“Area/Volume” button), and/or computation of the deformed area/volume (“Deform” button).

All other objects (“Any Body”, “Any Curve”, “Any Surface”, “Label”, “Node”, “Point” and “System”) are limited to the centroidal location extraction option (“Location” button).

Selecting Objects for Extracting Property Values

If the Object combo-box is not set to “All Elements”, then in the Model View simply left-click on the objects on which the property or properties will be extracted.

• If the extraction is on a group of elements, for example, then left-lick and drag the cursor to enclose the desired group of elements in a marquee selection. The selected elements will be highlighted and ready for extraction. Note: it is important to disable the Wetted Faces toggle if internal elements are to be included in the marquee selection.
• If you wish to add one or more elements to the selected group, hold the Shift key down and left-click on the elements to be added to the group.
• If you wish to remove one or more elements from the selected group, hold the Ctrl key down and left-click on the elements to be removed from the group.
• If you wish to cancel the current selection of objects, simply right-click on the Model View.

For example, to extract the deformed area for a group of element faces, change the Object combo-box to “Face”, select the element face(s), toggle on “Deformed Area/Volume” and click Accept.

Specifying the Display Format

You may input the precision with which you wish to display data values (“Format:” field, in C standard format). The default format is in scientific notation and any C language format specification can be used. For example, the number Pi (3.141592654…) will be displayed as: 3.141592654e+00 in format %16.9e or 3.14 in format %5.2f.

Specifying the Auxiliary/Independent Variable

Use the auxiliary variable input field (“Aux. Variable”) if you want to include a variable parameter in the
results. Switch the “Aux. Variable” toggle to “Indep. Var.” and enter a parameter name if you want the auxiliary variable to be the independent variable of the graph.

For example, if graphing the results of a Design Study analysis where one or more parameters is varied across a range of values.

Specifying the Property Extraction Options

Several buttons/toggles exist to enable property extractions. The buttons/toggles available will depend on the selected Object type (as described above in Specifying the Properties Object).

Distortion

Enable the “Distortion” button if you want to know the minimum and maximum angles of the element(s). This feature is specially useful when performing geometric nonlinear analysis because it provides feedback on the degree of distortion of the elements in the deformed configuration.

Area/Volume

Enable the “Area/Volume” button to compute the area (or volume) and the centroidal location (in global x,y,z coordinates) of the undeformed configuration.

Deformed Area/Volume

Enable the “Deformed Area/Volume” button to compute the area (or volume) and the centroidal location (in global x,y,z coordinates) of the deformed configuration.

Location

Enable the “Location” button to compute the centroidal location (in global x,y,z coordinates) of the selected object(s).

Performing the Property Extraction

Once all selections have been made, and options specified, click on the Accept button. The Properties extraction will be performed for the selected Solution ID(s), Run(s) and property extraction option(s), and a graph pane will be produced containing exportable details on the Properties extraction. A new Properties extraction may be performed at any time, resulting in a new graph pane.

The below animation demonstrates extracting the deformed area/volume for the selected elements: