Create a Measure

Guide bar method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every pair and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Distance Between and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items to the group.

Browser Method (only)

Click the Entities button to display the Minimum Distance dialog.

Use the From and To input collectors to select, or change, the type of entity that will be added to a measure group. You can then pick entities to be measured directly from the screen, using the quick window selection, or by clicking the Elements, Components, or Nodes input collector and using the extended entity selection menu. See the Select Entities Using the Input Collector topic for more information on selecting entities.

Tip: The From collector will always pick nodes (only) on the selected part, and the To collector will either pick nodes or elements on the selected part. For faster computation, it is recommended to use to Nodes for both collectors.

When defining From or To sides, picking entities from more than one model is not allowed. A warning message will be displayed and you will have to redefine the set.

Activate the Save set check box to save the measure groups as a set. See the Sets Panel topic for additional information.

• In transient animation mode, the incremental distance is relative to the time step at which the measure is defined. The change in distance between two points is tracked relative to the time at which the measure is defined.
• In linear or modal animation mode dealing with real data, the incremental distance always gives the change in distance between two points with respect to the undeformed configuration.
• In modal animation mode with complex data, the incremental distance is relative to the frame/angle at which the measure is defined.

Guide bar Method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every pair and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Incremental Distance and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items to the group.

Guide bar Method

With Auto Create enabled, pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every entity picked and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add several measure items of this type to a single group, disable Auto Create, pick the desired entities, and click on Create button.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Position and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

Guide bar Method

With Auto Create enabled, pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for entity picked and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add several measure items of this type to a single group, disable Auto Create, pick the desired entities, and click on Create button.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Relative Displacement and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

Guide bar Method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every pair and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Relative Angle and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

Guide bar Method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every three entities picked and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Angle Between and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

• In transient animation mode, the incremental angle is relative to the time step at which the measure is defined. The change in angle is tracked relative to the time at which the measure is defined.
• In linear or modal animation mode dealing with real data, the incremental angle always gives the change in angle with respect to the undeformed configuration.
• In modal animation mode with complex data, the incremental angle is relative to the frame/angle at which the measure is defined.

The display options are True angle, X-projection, Y-projection, and Z-projection.

Guide bar Method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every pair and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Incremental Angle and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

Guide bar Method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every pair and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Circle Radius and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

Guide bar Method

Pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every pair and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add more measure items of this type to this group, you can do so from the browser, although it is not recommended.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Yaw Pitch Roll and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

For each of these measure types, you can display the nodal or elemental values of the selected nodes or elements by activating Value.

Guide bar Method

With Auto Create enabled, pick entities graphically or input the IDs. One measure item is created for every entity picked and assigned its own measure group. If you want to add several measure items of this type to a single group, disable Auto Create, pick the desired entities, and click on the Create button.

Browser Method

Create a measure group first, set the type to Nodal/Elemental Contour and then using the Pick Entities field, create and add as many items as possible to the group.

If the contour is based on a MaxLayer/MinLayer/ExtremeLayer, then the Value displayed consists of two parts: a “Value =” display that gives the actual value extracted across all layers that is a Max/Min/Extreme respectively, and a “Layer=” display that provides the layer name corresponding to the Max/Min/Extreme value. This is useful in identifying the significant ply and its value at the same time. Any curves generated from the Create Curves button will be plotting based on the number associated with “Value=”.

An additional Envelope Subcase check box is available if the contour belongs to an Envelope derived load case. This option will only be displayed in the panel if the Envelope function is not of the Range type.

Nodes on a cross-section can be selected for defining a path along the cross-sections. This is useful in measuring the variation of a result, for example the blank thickness in stamping simulation, along a section cut. There are however, certain restrictions on selection and interchangeability of paths on regular model nodes to section cut nodes.