2.4.6 Property data classes

The data collected in property records can be very diverse. At times it can become quite difficult to keep these data consistent and compatible with other modules for further processing. The property module contains some data classes to help you in constructing appropriate data records for Finite Element models. The FeAbq module can currently interprete the following data types.

CoordSystem defines a local coordinate system for a node. Its constructor takes two arguments:

a string defining the type of coordinate system, either 'Rectangular', 'Cylindrical' or 'Spherical' (the first character suffices), and
a list of 6 coordinates, specifying two points A and B. With 'R', A is on the new -axis and B is on the new ' axis. With 'C' and 'S', AB is the axis of the cylindrical/spherical coordinates.

Thus, CoordSystem('C',[0.,0.,0.,0.,0.,1.]) defines a cylindrical coordinate system with the global

as axis.

ElemLoad is a distributed load on an element. Its constructor takes two arguments:

a label defining the type of loading,
a value for the loading,
optionally, the name of an amplitude curve.

E.g., ElemLoad('PZ',2.5) defines a distributed load of value 2.5 in the direction of the

-axis.

ElemSection can be used to set the material and section properties on the elements. It can hold:

a section,
a material,
an optional orientation,
an optional connector behavior,
a sectiontype (deprecated). The sectiontype should preferably be set togehter with the other section parameters.

An example:

>>> steel = {
    'name': 'steel',
    'young_modulus': 207000,
    'poisson_ratio': 0.3,
    'density': 0.1,
    }
>>> thin_plate = { 
    'name': 'thin_plate',
    'sectiontype': 'solid',
    'thickness': 0.01,
    'material': 'steel',
    }
>>> P.elemProp(eltype='CPS3',section=ElemSection(section=thin_plate,material=steel))

First, a material is defined. Then a thin plate section is created, referring to that material. The last line creates a property record that will attribute this element section and an element type 'CPS3' to all elements.