HG-3010: Working with Complex Plots

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create complex plots from a data file and add and edit complex data curves by using mathematical functions.

The Build Plots panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
  • Click the Build Plots icon from the toolbar,
  • From the menu, bar select Curves > Build Plots

The Build Plots panel constructs multiple curves and plots from a single data file. Curves can be overlaid in a single window or each curve can be assigned to a new window. Individual curves are edited using the Define Curves panel.



Figure 1.
The Define Curves panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
  • Click the Define Curves panel icon, , from the toolbar
  • From the menu bar select Curves > Define Curves

Existing curves can be edited individually and new curves can be added to the current plot using the Define Curves panel. The Define Curves panel also provides access to the program's curve calculator.



Figure 2.

Build a Complex Data Curve from a Data File

  1. From the menu bar select File > New > Session to clear the contents of the session.
  2. From the plot type menu, select Complex Plot .
  3. Enter the Build Plots panel .
  4. Use the file browser button to open the control_arm_sol111.pch file, located in the plotting folder.
  5. Leave the X type: set to Frequency [hz].
  6. In the Y type: column, select Subcase 1 Displacements.
  7. In the Y Request: column, select Point id 2086.
  8. In the Y Component: column, select X-Rot.
  9. Click Apply to create the complex curves.
    Figure 3.

Apply the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (ifft) Math Function to the Complex Data Curve

  1. Change the current window layout of page 1 to a two-window layout .
  2. Activate the window on the right side.
    New plot windows are set to the xy plot type by default.
  3. Set the plot type for the window on the right side to XY Plot.
  4. Enter the Define Curves panel, .
  5. Add a new XY plot curve named Curve 1.
  6. Rename Curve 1 to ifft_curve.
  7. Under Source, select Math.
  8. In the x: field, enter p1w1c1.x.
  9. In the y: field, enter ifft(p1w1c1.ym,p1w1c1.yp).
  10. Click Apply to create the XY data curve.
    Figure 4.

Create a Complex Data Curve of Frequency Versus Displacement for Subcase Two, Node 2086, X-Rotation

  1. Activate window 1 (the left window).
  2. Enter the Build Plots panel, .
  3. In the Y type: column, select Subcase 2 Displacements.
  4. In the Y Request: column, select Point id 2086.
  5. In the Y Component: column, select X-Rot.
  6. Click Apply to create the complex curves.
    Figure 5.

Subtract the Subcase Two Curve from the Subcase One Curve

  1. Change the current window layout for page 1 to a three-window layout, .
  2. Make the new, blank plot window active.
  3. From the plot type menu, select Complex Plot.
  4. Enter the Define Curves panel.
  5. Click Add P/M to create a new complex curve.
  6. Rename Curve 1 to sub_disp.
  7. Under Source, select Math.
  8. In the x: field, enter p1w1c1.x.
  9. In the yp: field, enter p1w1c2.yp - p1w1c1.yp.
  10. In the ym: field, enter p1w1c2.ym - p1w1c1.ym.
  11. Click Apply to create the complex curve.
    Figure 6.