Analysis Cases
A Finite Element Model can contain one or more
analysis cases. An analysis case is a template (a set of
objects sets) for defining environmental actions on a
given system and the corresponding results. You can
create a structural analysis case with the structural
workbench in Nonlinear Structural Analysis or you can
create a thermal analysis case with the thermal workbench
in Thermal Analysis.
An analysis case consists of the following:
-
an Element Assignment object that defines the
elements assigned to each mesh part
-
a Simulation History, containing a sequence of one
or more steps, each of which may contain:
-
a Field Output Requests objects set
(containing Field Output Request-type objects;
not available in the Initialization step)
-
a History Output Requests objects set
(containing History Output Request-type objects;
not available in the Initialization step)
-
a Connections objects set (containing
Connection-type objects)
-
a Loads objects set (containing Load-type
objects; not available in the Initialization
step)
-
a Boundary Conditions objects set (containing
Boundary Condition-type objects; not available in
the Initialization step)
-
a Fields objects set (containing Field-type
objects)
-
a Jobs objects set that contains the jobs you
create for the analysis case
-
optionally, one or more Masses objects sets that
contain masses you create for the analysis case
-
a Display Groups objects set that contains the
display groups you create for the analysis case
-
an Analysis Case Solution objects set that
contains the results you request for the analysis;
for example, images, reports, graphs, etc.
-
a Solution Sensors objects set that contains
sensors added to record or parameterize field or
history output results
To create a Finite Element Model with an empty
Analysis Case:
-
Select >> or >> from
the menu bar.
The New Analysis Case dialog box
appears with the default analysis case selected
(for example, Nonlinear Structural
Analysis).
-
Select the desired case, and click OK in the
New
Analysis Case dialog box to enter the
Nonlinear Structural Analysis or Thermal Analysis
workbench.
Warning: Do not select
Keep as
default starting analysis case in the
New
Analysis Case dialog box.
An empty structural or thermal Analysis document
is created.
The Finite Element Model specification tree
template displayed on the left side of the window
(see Figure 41) shows the
standard system representation object sets and an
analysis case representation consisting of the
following (empty) objects sets:
-
Element Assignment
-
Simulation History, which includes the
Initialization step and the default analysis
step for the selected case
-
Jobs, which contains a default analysis
job
-
Display Groups
-
Analysis Case Solution
To insert a new Analysis Case in a Finite Element
Model:
Select > from
the menu bar.
The most recently created or edited analysis case is
automatically set to be the current case; it is
underlined in the specification tree. All analysis case
operations you perform act on the current case; for
example, when you insert an analysis step, it appears in
the specification tree under the current case. To set a
different analysis case to be current, right-click on the
case in the specification tree and select Set As Current
Case from the menu that appears.