“Element definition” dialog

Use this dialog to define macro elements graphically. The nodes to be used must have been created before. It can freely be switched between the dialogs “Node definition” and “Element definition”. Newly defined macro elements are assigned to the active SURF element.

After clicking the button “Define elements”, the nodes of the new elements must be selected graphically. The number of nodes to be selected depends on the type of macro element. For element types with a variable number of nodes ( types 35, 45, 105, 400), node selection is finished by clicking the right mouse button. For the selection of nodes the left mouse button is used, if the “–“ key is pressed before, the ID of the selected node will get a “–“ sign ( last node of each edge of element types 35, 45 and all intermediately nodes on edges of element types 105, 400). Selected nodes are immediately marked with a colored symbol, pressing d key a wrongly selected node is removed. If with element type 35 or 45 an edge is straight, press 0 key for the intermediate node of this edge. Each newly defined macro element is plotted immediately. Macro elements may be defined repeatedly, clicking button “Undo”; the last defined macro element is removed. Finish the definition of new elements by pressing right mouse button.

After all macro elements of the active SURF element have been defined, nodes of the SURF element not used should be removed clicking button “Remove not used nodes”.

The following dialog shows the available options:

Activate SURF element

Graphically: Clicking this button, the names of the actually displayed SURF elements are plotted with an additional symbol. Using the cursor select the symbol of the SURF element to be activated. The newly activated SURF element is displayed together with the bounding CONS elements.

Name: Clicking this button, a text window pops up with the names of all SURF elements. Mark the name of the SURF element to be activated and click the “OK” button of the text window.

Plot: Clicking this button, the active SURF element and the bounding CONS elements are newly plotted.

Define new macro elements graphically

Define element: After clicking this button new macro elements are defined graphically. The type of the new macro elements must be given in the input field, possible types are 30, 32, 35, 40, 42, 45, 105, 400. Definition of elements is done as with the command “Element definition” (see chapter “Commands to generate new nodes and elements”).

Undo: Clicking this button, the last defined macro element is removed.

Plot macro elements: Clicking this button all defined macro elements of the active SURF element are newly plotted, where corner nodes are marked with the symbol “E” and intermediate nodes on edges with the symbol “Z”.

Remove all macro elements: Clicking this button, all macro elements of the active SURF element are removed.

Remove individual elements: After clicking this button, macro elements to be removed must be selected graphically.

Remove not used nodes: Clicking this button, all nodes of the active SURF element that are not used for element definition are removed.

Plot macro elements of neighbouring surfaces

Select graphically: After clicking this button, select graphically all neighbouring SURF elements of which the macro elements should be plotted. Nodes of the macro elements are marked by the symbols “E” for edge nodes and “Z” for intermediate nodes on edges. The colour index to plot the macro elements must be given. Symbols are plotted using font index 2.

Select names: Clicking this button neighbouring SURF elements are selected by name in a text window.

Approximate all segments of SURF elements by one macro element

Clicking button “Apply”, all segments of the SURF elements that are contained in the actual SURF element selection are approximated by one macro element of type 42. This option is useful when no boundary curves are given for the surfaces. To define a SURF selection, use dialog “Selection / Remove”.