PBEAML

Format

<PBEAML
       id       = "integer"
       mid      = "integer"
       type     = "string"
       dim1a    = "real"
       dim2a    = "real"
       dim3a    = "real"
       dim4a    = "real"
       dim1b    = "real"
       dim2b    = "real"
       dim3b    = "real"
       dim4b    = "real"
       nx       = "integer"
       ny       = "integer"
       nz       = "integer"
       ngx      = "integer"
       ngy      = "integer"
       ngz      = "integer"
       graph    = "integer"
/>

Attributes

id

Unique beam property identification number.

mid

Material property identification number.

dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a

Dimensions of the beam at the 1^st node of the element.

type

Specifies the type of cross-section for this beam.

Choose from the following options:

• BAR, BOX, BOX1
• CHAN, CHAN1, CHAN2, CROSS
• H, HAT, I, I1, L, T, T1, T2 and Z

See 4 for more details on the cross-section types.

dim1b, dim2b, dim3b, dim4b

Dimensions of the beam at the second node of the element.

nx, ny, nz

Number of integration points in the X, Y and Z directions.

Default for nx is 5, ny is 3 and nz is 3.

ngx, ngy, ngz

Number of sub-elements in the X, Y and Z directions. The default for all three is 1. 5

graph

A post-processing flag that determines how this element is represented in the animation H3D. The default is 2. 5.

Example

The example demonstrates the definition of a PBEAML property element.

<PBEAML id="1" mid="1" type="bar" dim1a="50.0" dim2a="50.0"   nx="5" ny="3" nz="3"/>

Comments

1. This type of property card is used to specify the geometric properties of the BEAM element. Each beam property element must have a unique identification number.
2. This property card defines the geometrical properties of the beam. The material properties of the beam are defined by the material specified by mid.
3. If only the dimensions at the start of the beam element are specified, MotionSolve assumes the cross section of the beam to be constant. However, if additionally, dimensions at the end of the beam element are specified, then these dimensions are varied linearly from node 1 to node 2 to represent the beam in the animation H3D.
4. The attribute type defines the type of cross section for this beam element. You may choose from the following types:

   Type Cross section Required Inputs Default BAR dim1a, dim2a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, BOX dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a BOX1 dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim5a, dim6a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a, dim5b = dim5a, dim6b = dim6a CHAN dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a CHAN1 dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a CHAN2 dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a CROSS dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a H dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a HAT dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a I dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim5a, dim6a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a, dim5b = dim5a, dim6b = dim6a I1 dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a L dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a T dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a T1 dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a T2 dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a Z dim1a, dim2a, dim3a, dim4a dim1b = dim1a, dim2b = dim2a, dim3b = dim3a, dim4b = dim4a

5. graph is a post-processing flag that determines how this element will be represented in the animation H3D file.
   • graph = "0" implies that this element will not be represented in the H3D
   • graph = "1" implies that this element will be represented as a line drawn between the two connecting nodes.

   
   
   Figure 1. The representation of a beam with graph = 1.

   Note: When using graph="0" or graph="1", you will not be able to visualize the stress, strain or displacement contours. To do this, use graph="2" or graph="3".
   • graph = "2" implies that the beam will be represented by 3D solid elements. This mode is useful when trying to visualize the stress/strain and displacement contours.

     
     
     Figure 2. The representation of a beam with graph = 2. The beam is represented by 3D elements

   • graph = "3" implies that the beam is represented both as 3D solid elements as well as a line connecting the two nodes of the beam. This is useful when you need to visualize both the center line and the 3D representation of the beam.

   
   
   Figure 3. The representation of a beam with graph = 3. The 3D elements in the middle of the beam are turned off to show the center line of the beam

   When representing the beam as a solid, the arguments ngx, ngy and ngz determine the number of elements that are used to represent the beam in the animation H3D.

   Figure 4. Effect of ngx, ngy and ngz on the 3D representation of a simple beam

   
   
   

   ngx = ngy = ngz = 1

   Figure 5.

   
   
   

   ngx = ngy = ngz = 2

   Figure 6.

   
   
   

   ngx = ngy = ngz = 3

   While increasing the ngx, ngy and ngz results in a better representation of the beam, it also increases the post-processing time taken by MotionSolve to write out the H3D. In addition, large values of ngx, ngy and ngz will increase the file size of the H3D considerably. Consider using the minimum values of these attributes that satisfy your visualization needs.