Pattern: Specify subdivision data for individual macro elements

This command is used to assign special transition patterns to individual elements or to specify subdivision data for the direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of solid elements.

Button „Apply“ assigns current settings to selected elements.

Following dialog shows the available options:

Show individual element

Clicking this button, one individual element can be selected graphically. The assigned subdivision parameters of the selected element are immediately shown in the dialog and may be changed and newly assigned by pressing “Apply”.

Pattern and number of nodes

This option has to be selected if a pattern and subdivision data for individual elements should be assigned.

Pattern ID: The pattern ID must be given. Available patterns are shown in the following chapter and can be selected out of a list box (not all available pattern IDs are shown in the list box). If you don’t specify an ID, currently defined IDs for the elements remain.

Number of intermediate nodes: Give the number of intermediate nodes for the edges of the bottom surface of the element in counter clockwise order. With elements of type 150 or 400 the ratio of largest to smallest FE edge length should not be greater than 4.

Length ratio: For some pattern it’s possible to specify the ratio between the last and first segment length for directions 1 and 2.

Change pattern ID

Using this option the assigned pattern ID may be changed for the selected elements without changing the number of intermediate nodes for the edges of the elements. The old ID and the new ID must be given. For example the ID 142 may be changed to ID 150.

3. Direction of solid elements

This option has to be used if the subdivision data for the 3. direction of solid elements should be assigned. For parameter m the number of intermediate nodes must be given, optionally also the ratio between the last and first segment length ( parameter q ) can be given.

Element selection

Select elements the pattern should be assigned to.