Systems Panel

Use the Systems panel to create rectangular, cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems. Use this function when you want to define nodes, loads and constraints in a different coordinate system.

Location:
  • Analysis page > Safety module
  • Analysis page
  • Tool page > HyperMorph module
  • 1D page
Reference Systems
Define entities.
For example, nodes created or assigned to a reference system are defined with respect to their reference system. Reference systems are sometimes referred to as the local input coordinate system of an entity.
Analysis System
Define analysis quantities at a node.
Analysis systems are useful for defining constraints oriented in non-global directions.

Create by Axis Direction Subpanel

Option Action
nodes selector Select nodes at which to create the system defined by the origin, x-axis, and xy-plane node selections. A system will be created at each selected node with the origin of the system at each selected node.
origin Select the node that defines the origin, either by selecting it in the modeling window, or by entering the node ID.
x-axis Select the node that defines the x direction, either by selecting it in the modeling window, or by entering the node ID.
xy-plane Select the node that defines the xy plane, either by selecting it in the modeling window, or by entering the node ID.
rectangular / spherical / cylindrical Select the coordinate system type you want to create.
relative size Specify how large, in model units, systems are displayed relative to the model size.

Whenever any of these three nodes moves, the dependent system and any node, load, or system assigned to the dependent system will move correspondingly.

Create by Node Reference Subpanel

Option Action
rectangular / spherical / cylindrical Select the coordinate system type you want to create.
origin Select the node that defines the origin by selecting it in the modeling window, or by entering the node ID.
x-axis node Select the node that defines the x direction by selecting it in the modeling window, or by entering the node ID.
xy-plane node Select the node that defines the xy plane by selecting it in the modeling window, or by entering the node ID.
relative size Specify how large, in model units, systems are displayed relative to the model size.

Whenever any of these three nodes moves, the dependent system and any node, load, or system assigned to the dependent system will move correspondingly.

Assign Subpanel

Option Action
entity selector Select the data type you want to assign to the coordinate system.
system Select the system to which you want to assign the entities.
relative size Specify how large, in model units, systems are displayed relative to the model size.

Whenever any of these three nodes moves, the dependent system and any node, load, or system assigned to the dependent system will move correspondingly.

Material Orientation Subpanel

Option Action
elems selector Select the elements to which you want to assign material angles.
material orientational method Select the method to use.
By System ID
Assign the ID of the coordinate system to the selected elements.
How each analysis code interprets this information varies. For visualization purposes, the local x-axis of the selected system is projected onto the face of the shell elements.
If you later modify the system, the element material directions change implicitly.
By System Axis
Assign a material angle to the selected elements or properties, which is defined as the angle between the node1-node2 direction and the projection of the selected local axis onto the surface of the shell element.
How each analysis code interprets this information varies. For visualization purposes, the selected axis is projected onto the face of the shell elements.
Any changes you subsequently make to the specified system has no effect on the elements.
In the Abaqus solver interface:
  • The property selector is currently only available for Abaqus user profiles.
  • If the Rebar Layer option is enabled, a system can directly be assigned to the REBAR LAYER card.
  • If the REBAR LAYER card is not enabled yet, it will be enabled throughout system assignment.
By Vector
Assign a material angle, which is defined as the angle between the node1-node2 direction and the projection of the selected vector, onto the surface of the shell element, to the selected elements.
How each analysis code interprets this information varies. For visualization purposes, the selected vector is projected onto the face of the shell elements.
By Angle
Assign the specified material angle, which is defined as an angle from the node1-node2 along the surface of the shell element, to the selected elements.
How each analysis code interprets this information varies. For visualization purposes, Engineering Solutions rotates the node1-node2 edge of the element about the element normal through the defined angle.
system Select the system you want to use.
relative size Specify how large, in model units, systems are displayed relative to the model size.

Whenever any of these three nodes moves, the dependent system and any node, load, or system assigned to the dependent system will move correspondingly.
join lines Display connected lines instead of review vectors to represent 0-degree ply directions.
color Select a color for the system.

Command Buttons

Button Action
create Create the new system.
update Update the changed system.
review For nodes, review indicates the nodes that use the selected system either as a reference system or as an analysis system by placing an 'R' or 'A', respectively, by the node. For systems or loads, review highlights the entities that use the system as a reference system.
reject Revert the recent changes to the system.
preview unused Highlight unused systems.
deleted unused Delete unused systems.
set reference Assign the reference system to the entity
set displacement Assign the analysis system to the entity.