ajostler
Mechanical
- Mar 17, 2016
- 1
Hello,
What I'm trying to do is use variables in my model to vary the cross-section of a beam element. I have an API script created that will change the value of a variable and re-run the analysis. I do this often, where I want to plot the stresses, deflections, etc as a function of a member dimension. It would be exponentially more efficient to complete this programmatically as opposed to manually like I've been doing it.
This is a simple example explaining what I'm trying to do. I have a beam that's constrained at one end, and has a force at the other. In the model, I also have a variable 'A' set as '0.1' that I want to map to the 'Radius' field in the cross-section definition of my beam element. As you can see, I put the variable in there.
![original](https://res.cloudinary.com/engtips/image/fetch/w_800,c_lfill,q_auto,f_auto,g_faces:center/[URL unfurl="true"]http://siemensplm.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/19915i7DDF4591D9904E40/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1[/URL])
After I hit OK, and go back in, I now have the following:
![original](https://res.cloudinary.com/engtips/image/fetch/w_800,c_lfill,q_auto,f_auto,g_faces:center/[URL unfurl="true"]http://siemensplm.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/19916i94895A05FEF43052/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1[/URL])
The Radius correctly takes the value of variable 'A'. However, if I now change the value of 'A' in the variable editor, it doesn't update the Radius field.
Is this a limitation of the software? Or is there a different method for maintaining the reference to the variable?
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
What I'm trying to do is use variables in my model to vary the cross-section of a beam element. I have an API script created that will change the value of a variable and re-run the analysis. I do this often, where I want to plot the stresses, deflections, etc as a function of a member dimension. It would be exponentially more efficient to complete this programmatically as opposed to manually like I've been doing it.
This is a simple example explaining what I'm trying to do. I have a beam that's constrained at one end, and has a force at the other. In the model, I also have a variable 'A' set as '0.1' that I want to map to the 'Radius' field in the cross-section definition of my beam element. As you can see, I put the variable in there.
After I hit OK, and go back in, I now have the following:
The Radius correctly takes the value of variable 'A'. However, if I now change the value of 'A' in the variable editor, it doesn't update the Radius field.
Is this a limitation of the software? Or is there a different method for maintaining the reference to the variable?
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!