90 docs tagged with "dialogs"

The 1D element results dialog is accessible from the Analysis wizard : Envelopes, Diagram settings, Contour settings and Output settings dialogs.

This dialog is accessed from the File > Export > ADC (AdBeam file) menu command. The data exported

The Advanced Preferences dialog is available from the Miscellaneous page of the Preferences. This is where various low level settings can be set including those relating to threading and the behaviour of various view types.

The case description definition dialog is made available when an analysis case definition is required, it is not invoked directly.

All elements that refer to Beam Sections, 2D Properties or 3D Properties require an analysis material. This can either be an explicitly defined material or an implied material from a material grade. The latter are always assume to be elastic isotropic materials.

This can be accessed from the Data explorer or from the Model > Data Modules > Specification > General specification menu command. The analysis specification gives information about the analysis model as a whole.

The Animation Settings dialog box allows the parameters that govern animation to be specified.

An applied displacement allows a fixed displacement to be applied to a node in the structure and calculates the deformation of the structure which results in the specified displacement at the specified degree of freedom. Thus applied displacements may be used to investigate the stiffness of a structure by constraining certain degrees of freedom to move by a fixed amount and noting the forces involved.

The Axes dialog is accessible from the Diagram settings, Contour settings and Wizard various Sculpt dialog boxes, and the axis button on the Data options toolbar.

This feature enables new user-defined axes systems to be specified e.g. to specify an inclined roller support, to assist in interpretation of results, or to specify the construction grid. Axes systems may be Cartesian, cylindrical or spherical.

Beam Loads are a ways of applying load to beam members and elements offering the commonly used load patterns as different types. When loads are applied to members, they will be automatically expanded to load the appropriate finite elements.

As discussed in the References entry on bridge loading, there are three different ways of using the tools available for bridge loading. This specification dialogue is used to distinguish between these methods and set up the parameters for the first method.

The Bridge Options dialog box allows parameters that relate specifically to bridge analysis diagrams to be specified.

To optimise bridge loading based on an influence line analysis, any uniformly distributed load to be applied to a path needs to be specified either as a standard variable load or a user variable load.

It is often useful to combine results from more than one analysis case. This is achieved by defining combination cases, which combine a number of factored analysis cases (e.g. 1.4A1 + 0.8A3).

This one dialog box is used to connect 1D elements or members, depending on the context in which it is opened.

Constraint equations allow a node, in a particular direction to be constrained relative to a set of other nodes. Constraint equations are the fundamental building block for all other constraint types.

The Contour Settings dialog box allows the parameters that govern the display of contours to be specified.

This dialog can be accessed from the Model > Dynamics > Create CEAP modal damping file menu command. This command creates a modal damping file for use in Oasys CEAP (Civil Engineering Application Package).

This dialog can be accessed from the Model > Model tools > Create new raft model menu command. This command creates a new model from the existing model by taking the geometry and updating it with nodal support stiffnesses based on the soil stiffnesses calculated for the specified raft analysis case.

The Create user axes dialog box is used to create a user axis set which may either overwrite an existing axis set or become a new one.

When reading some file formats it is possible to have more than one set of data in a file. The curve data selection allows the user to choose the values to be read.

The Deformation settings dialog box allows the parameters that govern the drawing of the deformed image to be specified.

The design codes for both steel and concrete design, and for loading.

The Diagram settings dialog box allows the parameters that govern the display of diagrams to be specified.

The Disconnect elements dialog box is used to disconnect elements from the existing structure at a specified nodal position. New nodes are created at the original positions and the selected elements are then attached to the new nodes. Joints may be created to join the original nodes with the new.

The Display Methods page of the Labels and Display Methods dialog box is where the form and colour of the various element types may be specified and where the drawing of unattached nodes may be specified.

Distortions are used to model the effect of introducing a cut in an element and applying a translational or rotational displacement across the cut.

Edge Loads are loads applied to the edge of 2D elements. In general edge loads should be applied with care to ensure that the loading applied to the element is in a direction in which the element is stiff. Edge loads may not be applied to Flat Plate or Fabric type 2D elements.

An Element is an entity that is analysed. Its topology and position is defined using Nodes and Offsets. Its orientation is defined by the element axis set which depends on the topology of the element and the orientation node and angle. Its end fixity is defined partly by the behaviour of the Element Type and partly by the element Releases.

As discussed in the Step-by-Step guide to Environmental Impact, global environmental impact parameters may be specified in the Environmental Impact Specification dialog.

This dialog allows export of comma separated variable (CSV) data that describes the information conveyed to the code checking DLLs. It can be used with the companion program SteelDesign.exe. The data in the csv file can be manipulated with a text editor or within SteelDesign.

A set of nodes, elements or members must be selected prior to opening this dialog box, to serve as the basis of the extrusion.

Face loads on 3D members or elements are similar to face loads on 2D members or elements, with the additional requirement that the face be selected. Loads are specified as a pressure across the surface.

Face loads should be used where a load distributed over the face of a 2D member or element is required. When loads are applied to members, they will be automatically expanded to load the appropriate finite elements.

The find dialog is available from the Edit > Find (Ctrl+F) menu command and from the Find option on the Data options toolbar. This is used to find values in tables.

The nodes that are to be flexed must be selected prior to opening this dialog box.

This dialog can be accessed from the File > Export > Footfall response (CSV file) menu command. This allows control of the data written for analysis in the Footfall Response spreadsheet.

The Further Options dialog box allows less frequently used parameters that govern the display of contours and diagrams to be specified.

Generalised restraints allow a set of restraint conditions to be applied to a list of nodes, saving the effort of specifying restraints for individual nodes in the Nodes > Restraints table. The generalised restraints and nodal restraints work together to apply restrain to the model. Car must be taken to avoid conflicting constraints.

The go to dialog is available from the Edit > Go to (Ctrl+G) menu command and from the Go to option on the Data options toolbar. This is used to go to a particular line in a table.

The Fonts and Styles dialog box allows the fonts and styles of Graphic View entities to be adjusted.

Gravity loads are a special case of body loads i.e. loads that apply internally throughout the body rather than being applied externally to the body. Unlike the other load types, gravity loads are an acceleration applied to mass in the structure.

These are area loads located in space or, more precisely, on a grid surface which is located in space. The grid surface is also used to identify the elements that are considered during the grid load expansion. Refer to Specifying Grid Loading for details.

The grid line definition dialog is used to define or modify the grid lines for the model.

These are line loads located in space or, more precisely, on a grid surface which is located in space. The grid surface is also used to identify the elements that are considered during the grid load expansion. Refer to Specifying Grid Loading for details.

A grid plane defines the geometry of a surface, and the load behaviour of the grid plane is defined by a grid surface.

These are point loads located in space or, more precisely, on a grid surface which is located in space. The grid surface is also used to identify the elements that are considered during the grid load expansion. Refer to Specifying Grid Loading for details.

A grid surface is required to in order to apply grid loads to the structure. The grid surface details how the grid load is transferred on to the structure.

This dialog is accessed from the File > Import > Text (GWA file) menu command or from the Data explorer: Paste special command and specifies the options to be applied to the GWA import. Data is imported either from file or from the clipboard in text format, GWA syntax into the existing model. For details of the GWA syntax see GSA text (ASCII) file. Options that would invalidate existing analysis results are disabled.

Joints allow nodes to be tied in the specified translational or rotational directions. Unlike rigid constraints, joints do not impose equilibrium on the model.

The Labels and Display Methods dialog box allows labels to be switched on and off and the method by which entities are represented to be adjusted.

When loads are applied to the model they are assigned to a load case. Load cases should be assigned to simplify the management of the data. Load cases, when referred to in lists, are prefixed with an “L” (e.g. L2). See Lists for more details.

In most analysis no material curve needs to be defined, but for LS-DYNA analysis and for nonlinear springs material curves must be defined.

The modify dialog is available from the Edit > Modify (Ctrl+M) menu command and from the Modify option on the Data options toolbar. This is used to modify numeric values in tables. It does not apply to text or list fields.

This dialog is made available when a response curve is selected for modification. The units that apply are displayed.

This dialog box is presented in several guises depending on the context in which it is opened; it is used to move or copy nodes, elements or members.

This dialog is accessed from the File > Export > Nastran (bulk data file) menu command. For more details on Nastran export see Nastran export.

Node loads are the most fundamental type of load. A node load is a force or moment applied to a particular node or set of nodes. Node loads can be applied in local (i.e. node constraint axis), global or user defined axis directions. User axes can be Cartesian, cylindrical or spherical.

The Numeric format dialog is accessible from the Diagram settings, Contour settings and Wizard: Output settings dialog boxes, and the Numeric format button on the Data options toolbar.

This dialog is accessed from the File > Export > OpenSees (.tcl file) menu command. For more details on OpenSees export see OpenSees Export.

The Orientation settings dialog box allows the orientation, projection and associated data to be explicitly specified. There are many higher level operations that modify these settings indirectly.

The Output wizard: Further options dialog box allows less frequently used parameters that govern the output to be specified.

Path Loading can be used with the results of an influence line analysis to derive optimized bridge loading load cases.

Polylines are used mainly in conjunction with grid loading to define lines or area that are loaded. Polylines are 2D entities that are interpreted with respect to the x-y plane of a grid plane.

Prestress is a general description covering prestress loads, initial strains and initial lengths. In all cases the result is a prestress condition (set of forces and/or moments) in the member or element.

Prestress loads can be thought of either as prestress forces, tendon prestress applied to the member or element or an initial strain. When loads are specified for members, they will be automatically expanded to load the appropriate finite elements.

The preferred folders dialog is available from the Basic page of the Preferences. This is where the user can select locations for files.

The Refine quad elements dialog box is used to refine Quad4 and Quad8 elements at a specified corner by splitting the elements in the following manner:

The replace dialog is available from the Edit > Replace (Ctrl+H) menu command and from the Replace option on the Data options toolbar. This is used to find values in tables and replace with another value.

Basic definition

Rigid constraints define sets of nodes constrained to move as a rigid body. These are commonly use to model rigid diaphragms, where typically the nodes are rigid in the x-y plane but not in the z direction.

A settlement forces a node to move a specified distance in a specified global or local direction in a particular load case, where the node has been restrained in the relevant direction.

The Shade surfaces command adjusts the shade of colour filled surfaces according to the current lighting settings. The incidence of the light on the surface, the brightness and the level of ambient light all effect the shading.

This dialog is opened when a soil-structure analysis is started and keeps the user informed of the solution progress during the analysis.

This one dialog box is used to split 1D elements or members, depending on the context in which it is opened.

The Split quad elements dialog box is used to split Quad4 and Quad8 elements into a number of elements of the same type maintaining element releases and offsets as originally defined. The split is specified in terms of an equal number of elements along edges 1 and 3 and an equal number along edges 2 and 4.

The Split tri elements dialog box is used to split Tri3 and Tri6 elements into either Tri or Quad elements maintaining element releases and offsets as originally defined.

This dialog is accessible from the Tools > Storey displacements and forces and View > New chart view > Storey displacements and forces menu commands. When accessed from the Tools menu tabular output of storey displacements, drifts or forces is produced; when accessed from the View menu, storey output is displayed on charts. Output is in global axis directions.

This dialog is accessible from the Tools > Storey displacements and forces and View > New chart view > Storey displacements and forces menu commands. When accessed from the Tools menu tabular output of storey displacements, drifts or forces is produced; when accessed from the View menu, storey output is displayed on charts. Output is in global axis directions.

In many cases it is useful to consider the effect of thermal loading on a structure. Thermal loads can have two effects. A uniform temperature change causes the entity to expand axially but induces no bending. However, the thermal gradient option defines a linearly varying strain through the thickness of the entity, resulting in both axial expansion and bending. The positions of the temperatures are used to define the temperature gradient.

Thermal loads on 3D members elements can either be uniform giving rise to a uniform thermal strain across the member or element, or variable with temperature specified at each node of an element.

In many cases it is useful to consider the effect of thermal loading on a structure. Thermal loads can have two effects. A uniform temperature change causes the member or element to expand axially but induces no bending. However, the thermal gradient options define a linearly varying strain through the thickness of the member or element so resulting in both in-plane expansion and bending.

Tied interfaces allow two sets of elements that do not have connectivity to be joined without the need for complex mesh refinement. Instead the elements on one side are taken as primary and the other side as constrained. The nodes on the boundary of the constrained side are tied to the nodes on the boundary of the primary side through a set of constraint equations.

The titles dialog can be accessed from the Data explorer and from the Model > Data modules > Titles menu command.

The Unwrap option in graphic views projects the displayed structure onto the surface of a cylinder or cone and then unwraps the surface to produce a planar representation of the structure. The unwrapped image can be adorned with labels, diagrams, contours, annotation, and can be generally manipulated in the same way as the normal (wrapped) image.

The View list dialog is used for creating a new view list and for editing an existing view list. It is displayed by selecting Edit <view list name> or New view list on the right-click menu having right-clicked on a view list on the View explorer.

The Welcome to GSA dialog is displayed on entry to GSA and is designed to assist the user to get started quickly.

The Wizard: Graphic settings dialog box allows the parameters that govern the format and content of graphic views to be specified. All Graphic view settings can be specified either in this Graphic settings dialog box or in dialog boxes accessible from this.

The Wizard: Output settings dialog box allows the parameters that govern the format and content of output views to be specified. All Output view settings can be specified either in this Output settings dialog box or in dialog boxes accessible from this.