*SetBeamPreload() - beam pair

Sets the preload properties of a beam pair.

Syntax

*SetBeamPreload(beam_name, f_x_l, f_y_l, f_z_l, t_x_l, t_y_l, t_z_l, 
                                     f_x_r, f_y_r, f_z_r, t_x_r, t_y_r, t_z_r)

Arguments

beam_name
The variable name of the beam.
Data type: varname
f_x_l, f_y_l, f_z_l,
The preload force in the left beam in the X, Y, or Z directions respectively.
Data type: real
t_x_l, t_y_l, t_z_l
The preload torque in the left beam in the X, Y, or Z directions respectively.
Data type: real
f_x_r, f_y_r, f_z_r,
The preload force in the right beam in the X, Y, or Z directions respectively.
Data type: real
t_x_r, t_y_r, t_z_r
The preload torque in the right beam in the X, Y, or Z directions respectively.
Data type: real

Examples

Example 1
*BeginMDL()
  *PointPair(p_tbar_susp_att,  "Torsion bar susp att")
  *PointPair(p_tbar_frame_att, "Torsion bar frame att")
  *BodyPair(b_lca,             "LCA",    p_lca_cg)
  *BodyPair(b_frame,           "Frame",  p_frame_cg)
  *BeamPair(bm_tbar,           "Torsion bar", b_lca, b_frame, p_tbar_susp_att,                                p_tbar_frame_att)
  *SetBeam(bm_tbar,    , CIRCULAR, , , , , , , CRATIO, , , , , , , , CRATIO)
  *SetBeamPreload(bm_tbar, 0, 200, 300, 4000, 0, 0
                         , 0,-250, 300,-4200, 0, 0)
*EndMDL()
Example 2
*BeginMDL()
  *PointPair(p_tbar_susp_att,  "Torsion bar susp att")
  *PointPair(p_tbar_frame_att, "Torsion bar frame att")
  *BodyPair(b_lca,             "LCA",    p_lca_cg)
  *BodyPair(b_frame,           "Frame",  p_frame_cg)
  *BeamPair(bm_tbar,           "Torsion bar", b_lca, b_frame, p_tbar_susp_att,                                p_tbar_frame_att)
  *SetBeam(bm_tbar,             RIGHT, CIRCULAR, , , , , , , CRATIO)  
  *SetBeamPreload(bm_tbar, 0, 200, 300, 4000, 0, 0
                               , 0,-250, 300,-4200, 0, 0)
*EndMDL()

Context

*BeginMdl()

*DefineAnalysis()

*DefineSystem()

*DefineAssembly()

*BeginContext()

Comments

The default for preload in any direction is zero.

The preload is applied in the local coordinate system (J Marker) of the beam. The force and torque arguments can be real or an expression that evaluates in a real number.

Based on the symmetry flag set using the *SetBeam statement for a beam entity, the values for the preload corresponding to the slave side would be ignored. See Example 2. In this case, the left beam which is the slave will have f_y as 250 and t_x as 4200.

For a symmetric beam pair, the force and torque values on the slave side are adjusted accordingly (negated in some cases) so that the load are mirrored about the X-Z plane.