Plot toolbar

Maximum value represented

Deformed shape scale factor to be used on the plots

 

Define the maximum result value that will be visualized.

 

In order to access this tool, it is necessary to deactivate the "reset range" option.

 

Reset the deformed shape scale factor

Average results on nodes

 

Average option provides an average result between close points or nodes.

 

Average option across structural elements provides an average result between close points or nodes for each structural element independently.

Clear the results from the model

Minimum value represented

 

Define the minimum result value the user wants to visualize.

 

In order to access this tool, it is necessary that "reset range" option is deactivated.

Reset the maximum and minimum values for the legend

Configure plot settings for color and vector plot

 

Plot settings tool allows the user to modify the plot visualization. That is, the user can design both the diagram factor, color palette and the force vector visualization.

 

PALETTE

 

Diagram factor

Factor to draw diagram results on linear elements. Thin view option must be active:

 

            

             It will scale all the diagram results (by default the factor is unity).

 

Color map

 

 

 

Color map tool allows changing the plot palette.

 

Color scale: plot is shown with the usual CivilFEM predesigned colors.

Inverted color scale: colors that take part in the plot are inverted in relation to the "Color scale".

Gray scale color: show results in gray scale.

 

If Continuous option is deactivated, it is possible to define the color interval that will be applied.

 

Other option available when continuous option is deactivated is to specify plot contour values:

 

 

VECTORS

 

Plot arrows in both principal stresses and total results from "Node result".

 

If Solid option is activated, CivilFEM will plot 3D arrows in solid or wire mode.

If Uniform option is activated, CivilFEM will plot arrows as if they had the same magnitudes.

Scale option is used for visualizing arrows scaled by a user defined factor.

 

Plot Vectors option must be activated in order to visualize the vector plot.

 

Plot the result

 

Results may be visualized either in the whole structure or in a selection of elements by using the "Plot selection" utility.

 

Entity option allows the user to pick the location where results will be plotted.

 

Entities available for selection are:

 

Structural element: CivilFEM only plots results in those structural elements that have been chosen by the user.

Mesh element: CivilFEM only plots results in those mesh elements that have been chosen by user.

Mesh node: CivilFEM only plots results in those mesh nodes that have been chosen by user.

 

 

Plot the results between two points

 

Path plot utility allows the user to obtain whatever result from a list of points. In addition, CivilFEM is not only able to provide the results of this point list but also the result in those points which belong to the line that joins the selected points . This makes available the definition of the results along any geometry, whether linear or circular:

 

When path plot tool is carried out, two new windows will appear next to the Model view chart: the Path list and the Path graph.

 

 

The concept of path distance is designed to that distance from any point of the list to that point which is considered as the first of that point list. That is, the point which has been attached in first place.

 

Another interesting utility, inside the path plot, is the spacing points. This allows to specify how many points the user would like the path list inform to come out. The criteria in order to shape these points is by means of dividing the line in equal parts, providing points with the same separation.

 

The using process will be visualized performing an example. This example consist of two beams joined in their endings, where a load of 2 Mp has been applied. In addition, both beams have been embedded at the beginning of the span.

 

 

Once the model has been solved, the path plot utility is available to be used. Results of this example will be visualized by selecting the three points, both of the embedded sides and the join between beams. The spacing points is assigned as 0, this means that the inform will only contain the points designated by the user.

The path list provides the results in every selected point. In this case, the join point has been repeated due to the fact that this shapes the lines which connect the embedded points with the join. As it can be visualized, the results are the same.

 

On the other hand, if more points are required, the user may get this by assigning a new value in the spacing points. When attaching, for instance, 3 more points, this means that besides the previously designed, the path list will come out 3 more points per each line. That is, in this example three points have been attached so, there are two lines, so 6 more points are going to perform the inform. Ten points as result.

 

The path graph does not change whatever the designed number in the spacing points due to the fact that this graph only represents those points that have been selected by clicking. CivilFEM results are attached to nodes, therefore if any of these points does not exactly match with a node, the result will be interpolated with the nearest nodes results.

 

By last, whatever the result, the output will print the value of the area that is contained between the path graph curve and the axis. For instance, the path graph of this model total displacement will be visualized along with the value of the area, printed in the output.

 

 

In another instance, if the geometry is shaped by curved surfaces or lines, it is necessary to take into account that the path plot is shaped by straight lines between points. Therefore, if any circumstance requires to know a midpoint, it will become necessary this point to be included inside the point list by a selection by picking.

 

 

In case these five points are required, it is mandatory to select them by picking and take them into the list. The spacing points will be assigned to 0.

 

 

 

 

Calculates the integral value of the result selected in the ribbon bar for a surface and prints the result in the output.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stress linearization is calculated from the following form. It is necessary to specify the solid in which to carry it out, and a plane, with a point, if possible, inside the solid and a direction.

 

 

With the first button on the toolbar, a table is shown with the values of the selected result in the first combo. The table has tools for filtering it with the expander located at the bottom:

 

 

 

With the second button on the bar, a graph is displayed with the values of the result selected in the combo. The graphic has tools for customization with the expander located at the bottom:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, with the third button on the toolbar, both the table and the graph of the selected result can be exported to an excel file.

 

 

Create history plots of the analysis results

 

History results is a tool created to review analysis results at specific locations as a function of time, frequency or any other available result. For example, user can graph results versus time in a transient analysis or graph force versus displacement results in a nonlinear analysis.

 

Select the set of result files from where results will be loaded. These result files can be sorted by load case calculation time automatically.

 

Add results data to define results and locations to graph/list. One of the result data lines must be identified as x-axis. Then select a line or several lines. The selected line/lines will be graphed against the x-axis data.

 

 

A practical example will be attached. Click on the link History plot example.