HV-3050: Viewing Tensor Plots

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

•	Use the Results Browser to create a tensor plot

•	Plot and view tensors

•	Select a projection rule for stress transformation and averaging to nodes

•	Create and use a Plot Style to be accessed in the Results Browser

Tools

To access the Tensor panel:

•	Click the Tensor panel button on the Result toolbar.

•	Select Results > Plot > Tensor from the menu bar.

tensor_plot_panel

The Tensor panel allows you to view tensor plots of stress and strain directions and magnitudes from elemental values.

To access the Results Browser:

•	Select View > Browsers > HyperView > Results from the menu bar.

hv-3000_browser

Exercise: Using the Tensor Panel

This exercise uses the model file, bullet_local.op2.

Step 1: Viewing tensors in the analysis system using the Results Browser.

1.	Load the bullet_local.op2 file, located in the animation folder.

2.	Open the Results Browser by selecting View > Browsers > HyperView > Results from the menu bar.

3.	Expand the Results and Tensor folders.

hv-3050_browser_tensor_example

4.	Click on the tensor icon next to Stress.

A tensor plot of stress is applied to the model in the graphics area.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example

Step 2: Changing the tensor plot settings using the Tensor panel.

1.	Click the Tensor panel button on the Result toolbar to enter the Tensor panel.

Using the Tensor panel, additional options can be changed and applied to the tensor plot.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_panel

2.	Click in the graphics area and press ‘M’ on the keyboard to display the mesh.

3.	For Result type select Stress (t).

4.	For Layers select Z1.

5.	Verify that Selection is set to Elements for the active entity type.

6.	Verify that Resolved in is set to Analysis System.

7.	Change the Tensor format to Component.

8.	Under Display options, verify that Size scaling is set to Normalize.

9.	Verify that Color by is set to Value, to view the tensors by values.

10.	Select elements either by collector type or pick them directly from the screen using the quick window selection mode.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example1

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example2

11.	Select Color by: Direction and view the direction of the vectors.

The legend changes to a category legend to reflect the colors of the directions.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example3

Step 3: Viewing tensors in the global system.

1.	Change Resolved in to Global System (proj: none).

2.	Select a projection rule to calculate in-plane stresses.

-	Click Projection Rule.

-	Select Projection (use projected axis as Sxx) to activate the axis options.

The projection rule status is designated next to the coordinate system type in the Resolved in drop-down menu. By default, no projection rule is applied.

-	For the primary axis, select the axis you want to project to the plane of the shell elements.

There are six possible combinations of axes.

If the primary axis is normal to the shell plane, the secondary axis is automatically used.

-	Click OK to accept the settings and close the dialog.

3.	Click Apply to transform all the stress tensors to the global direction using the projection rule.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example4

4.	Activate Average at node.

5.	Click Apply to average the stress tensor to the nodes.

Observe that the vectors are located at the nodes.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example5

Step 4: Create and use a Plot Style.

1.	Click the Create Plot Style… button.

Creating a plot style allows you to save the current settings in the Tensor panel so that they can be accessed later in the Results Browser.

2.	In the Create/Update Tensor Plot Style dialog, enter Global proj: x,y in the New plot style text field and click OK.

hv-3050_create_update_plot_style_dialog

3.	In the Results Browser, expand the Plot Styles folder.

Notice that Global proj: x,y is now listed as a plot style.

hv-3050_browser_plot_style_example

4.	Click on the icon next to Default Tensor (under Plot Styles) to create a tensor plot with stress results using the default tensor plot style.

A tensor plot is applied to the model with stress results that are Resolved in the Analysis System with no projection rule.

hv-3050_default_tensor_example

5.	Click on the Global proj:x,y plot style icon to return to the previous tensor plot settings (which were saved to this Plot Style).

The stress results are now being Resolved in the Global System and the x,y projection rule is being used.

hv-3050_tensor_plot_example6

6.	Click Clear Tensor in the Tensor panel to remove the vector plot.