Engineering Solutions

Vectors panel

Vectors panel

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Vectors panel

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Use the Vectors panel to create a vector entity.  A vector represents a three dimensional direction.

In the graphics area, vectors are displayed as an arrow with the letters VEC and their vector size value at the tail end. By default, vectors are displayed using a representation of 100% of their actual length. You can change this percent by entering a different value in the vector size % = field.  You can also use the uniform size option to have all loads displayed as the same size.

 

Panel Usage

The panel consists of two subpanels, one for creating vectors, and one for updating existing vectors.

vector_panel

Multiple ways for vector creation are offered in the panel. You can create several vectors at a time by selecting nodes and either a magnitude, or by deriving them from a line tangent or surface normal. Single vectors can be created by selecting two nodes or by deriving them from the cross product of two existing vectors.

The size of the displayed vector can be changed using the vector size % /uniform size toggle.

 

Subpanels and Inputs

The Vectors panel contains the following subpanels and command buttons:

hmtoggle_arrow1Create

The Create subpanel offers four vector creation modes.

Using base and magnitude, select one or more nodes at which to place vector entities. Specify the vectors by entering x, y and z components or by using the vector method. For the vector method a user needs to specify a magnitude and a direction. The direction is determined with a standard plane and vector selector  by choosing two or three nodes (N1, N2, and N3), selecting a global axis, or picking another vector. When using the N1, N2, and N3 option, two nodes specify a vector along the selected nodes, while three nodes specify a vector that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the selected nodes (using the right hand rule).

A vector can also be created by simply selecting two nodes using the vector creation method two nodes. No additional input required in this case.

The cross product option derives a vector from two existing vector entities. The vector will be perpendicular to these vectors. The length can be entered or taken from either one of the selected vectors.

Vectors can also be created using the on geometry option. You can choose to create a vector as a tangent of a line or along a normal of a surface. The resulting vector(s) will be created on all nodes selected in this panel. The length of the vector needs to be entered in vector size % = field or can be calculated automatically using parameterization. For a curve tangent this is the value of parametric curve derivative; for a surface normal the value is defined by the length of the cross product of the surface parametric derivatives.

vector_panel_ongeom_line

This picture shows a vector created on a line. The vector represents the tangent of the line in the node selected by the user. In some cases it can be helpful to activate the Show line directions option in the Visualization Options  (visualization-24) when using this functionality.

vector_panel_ongeom_surf

This picture shows a vector created on a surface. To predict the direction of the vector you can use the Normals panel.

 

Panel Inputs

Input

Action

vector creation method

This option offers four settings:

•base and magnitude
•two nodes
•cross product
•on geometry

 

Depending on your selection the appearance of the panel will change, as described above.

base node: nodes

This entity selector is only available if the base and magnitude creation method is selected. Select all nodes where you want a vector to be created.

Click the switch to change the selection mode.

nodes

Select individual nodes.

faces_edges_nodes

faces

Select all of the nodes on 2D and 3D faces.

If there are discontinuities on a 2D face, then only the nodes inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.

faces_edges_faces_nodes

2D faces ext

Select all of the nodes on a 2D face that contain discontinuities.

faces_edges_2d_face_ext_nodes

loops

Select all of the nodes on continuous free edges that make a closed loop simultaneously, such as the perimeter of a hole.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

faces_edges_loops_nodes

free edges

Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements.

If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the free edges inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

faces_edges_free_edges_nodes

free edges ext

Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements that contain discontinuities.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

faces_edges_free_edges_ext_nodes

edges

Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements.

If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the edge inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

faces_edges_edges_nodes

edges ext

Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements that contain discontinuities.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

faces_edges_edges_ext_nodes

face angle / individual selection

Face angle

Value used to determine which of the selected elements are to have vectors applied. For vectors applied to faces, once the starting face has been identified, the normals of the adjacent remaining faces are tested. If the angle between the normals is less than the face angle, a vector is applied to the adjacent element. This process continues until all of the free faces have been tested. For a vector applied to edges, the process is similar except that the angle between edges is used instead of the angle between faces.

Only available when the selection mode is set to faces, 2d faces ext, free edges, free edges ext, edges, or edges ext.

Individual Selection

Select individual elements on a face or select individual free/shared edges of elements.

Only available when the selection mode is set to faces, free edges, or edges.

edge angle

Splits edges that belong to a given face.

When the edge angle is 180 degrees, edges are the continuous boundaries of faces. For smaller values, these same boundary edges are split wherever the angle between segments exceeds the specified value. A segment is the edge of a single element.

Only available when the selection mode is set to free edges, free edges ext, edges, or edges ext.

from node / to node

Create a vector by selecting two nodes if the two nodes vector creation method is set.

base node: node

Input for the cross product creation method: Select a node for the vector location. One vector can be created at a time.

vector A: vector

Select vector A as input for the cross product vector creation method.

vector B: vector

Select vector B as input for the cross product vector creation method.

lines/surfaces

The on geometry creation method allows deriving vectors from either lines or surfaces.

•lines:  Vectors will be created in the tangent of the line at the selected node position.
•surfaces: Vectors will be created in surface normal direction.

nodes

For the on geometry creation method, select all nodes where a vectors need to be created.

vector size % = / uniform size =

This setting does not affect the vector, only the length of its graphical representation. Use the toggle to choose between these options, then type in a numeric value.

•vector size % = sets the indicator to a percentage of the actual length of the vector (100% default).  This option produces indicators of varying lengths since it depends on the vectors length at any given element.
•uniform size = sets the indicators to a size that you specify, using the same units of measurement as the model. This produces identically-sized indicators whose length is not related to the amount of pressure.

label vector

When this checkbox is active, labels for each of the vectors is displayed in the graphics area. Further vector display options are available in the Visualization options visualization-24tab.

autoscale

Displays vectors in relation to the model size.

When enabled, the vector size fields are grayed out.

global system / local system

The global system / local system switch is only available with the base and magnitude creation method and the switch below set to vector. You can specify whether the vector is created either in the global or a local coordinate system.

Example: You select three nodes N1, N2 and N3 which define a vector in the global z-direction (normal of the plane defined by these three nodes).  If the switch is set to local, the result will be a vector pointing in the z-direction of the local system.

vector_panel_global_local

vector / components (switch)

Set this switch to either vector or components.

If set to vector you can define a vector either by three points (N1, N2, N3), using one the global axes, or selecting an existing vector entity

If set to components, the x, y, z components (relative to the base node) can be entered directly.

magnitude =  / vector A / vector B

These options specify the length of a vector created with the cross product method. Either a length can be entered directly, or inherited from one of the vectors A or B used as input.

magnitude = / use parameterization

If a vector is created on geometry, the length can be entered directly or the parametric value can be used.

•For a curve tangent this is the value of the parametric curve derivative.
•For a surface normal the value is defined by the length of the cross product of the surface parametric derivatives.

 
hmtoggle_arrow1Update

Use the Update subpanel to update all of the parameters of the vector, even its creation method.

Note:A two-noded vector that is updated using base and magnitude loses its head node association.

 

Panel Inputs

Input

Action

vectors

Use this entity selector to pick the existing vectors that you wish to modify.

vector update method

Select the method on how you want to update existing vectors:

•base and magnitude: Update magnitude, direction and system of one or more vectors.
•two nodes: Select two nodes defining the new vector direction.
•cross product: Enter a node location and two existing vectors A and B to update a vector. The new vector will be perpendicular to vectors A and B.
•on geometry: Select a line or surfaces and new nodal locations for the vector you are updating.

base node: nodes

This entity selector is only available if the base and magnitude creation method is selected. Select all nodes where you want a vector to be created.

from node / to node

Create a vector by selecting two nodes if the two nodes vector creation method is set.

base node: node

Input for the cross product creation method: Select a node for the vector location. One vector can be created at a time.

vector A: vector

Select vector A as input for the cross product vector creation method.

vector B: vector

Select vector B as input for the cross product vector creation method.

lines/surfaces

The on geometry creation method allows deriving vectors from either lines or surfaces.

•lines:  Vectors will be created in the tangent of the line at the selected node position.
•surfaces: Vectors will be created in surface normal direction.

nodes

For the on geometry creation method, select all nodes where a vectors need to be created.

vector size % = / uniform size =

This setting does not affect the vector, only the length of its graphical representation. Use the toggle to choose between these options, then type in a numeric value.

•vector size % = sets the indicator to a percentage of the actual length of the vector (100% default).  This option produces indicators of varying lengths since it depends on the vectors length at any given element.
•uniform size = sets the indicators to a size that you specify, using the same units of measurement as the model. This produces identically-sized indicators whose length is not related to the amount of pressure.

label vector

When this checkbox is active, labels for each of the vectors is displayed in the graphics area. Further vector display options are available in the Visualization options visualization-24tab.

autoscale

Displays vectors in relation to the model size.

When enabled, the vector size fields are grayed out.

global system / local system

The global system / local system switch is only available with the base and magnitude creation method and the switch below set to vector. You can specify whether the vector is created either in the global or a local coordinate system.

Example: You select three nodes N1, N2 and N3 which define a vector in the global z-direction (normal of the plane defined by these three nodes).  If the switch is set to local, the result will be a vector pointing in the z-direction of the local system.

vector_panel_global_local

vector / components (switch)

Set this switch to either vector or components.

If set to vector you can define a vector either by three points (N1, N2, N3), using one the global axes, or selecting an existing vector entity

If set to components, the x, y, z components (relative to the base node) can be entered directly.

magnitude =  / vector A / vector B

These options specify the length of a vector created with the cross product method. Either a length can be entered directly, or inherited from one of the vectors A or B used as input.

magnitude = / use parameterization

If a vector is created on geometry, the length can be entered directly or the parametric value can be used.

•For a curve tangent this is the value of the parametric curve derivative.
•For a surface normal the value is defined by the length of the cross product of the surface parametric derivatives.

 
hmtoggle_arrow1Command Buttons

The following action buttons appear throughout the subpanels:

Button

Action

create

Creates one or more new vectors based on the selected method.

reject

Reverts the most recent create action.  Does not display on the edit subpanel.

review

Click this button, then click a vector in the graphics area, to display the characteristics (for example creation method, magnitude) in the panel fields.