Defining User Data
To create a new User Data definition:
- Select User Data from the Interpret menu.
- You will see the Define User Data Equation dialog. This lists all of the variables, material properties, and functions which are available for defining user data equations. (Select the tabs to view all of the available variables, functions etc)
- Enter a Name for the Equation you will be creating (this can be anything you wish).
- Enter an Equation using the available variables, functions, and properties. Note that an Equation can simply be a single variable. For example, you could enter the variable sxx as an Equation, which would plot stress in the x-direction.
- The Name of the Equation you just defined will appear in the list of Existing User Data.
- To plot the user data you have just defined, select the Preview button. To save the user data without plotting, select OK. To exit without saving any changes, select Cancel.
Example
- Select the New button in the User Data dialog.
- Enter Maximum Shear in the Name field.
- In the Equation field, type (s1 – s3) / 2.0
- Select OK.
- In the User Data dialog, Maximum Shear will now appear in the list of Existing User Data, and its Equation will appear in the Equation field below the list.
- To plot Maximum Shear, make sure it is highlighted in the list of Existing User Data, and select the Preview button. A contour plot of Maximum Shear will be generated.
- Maximum Shear will also now appear in the drop-down data list in the Interpret toolbar and can be selected for plotting at any time.
There are various checks to ensure that a valid expression is entered as a User Data equation, however, the checks may not cover all possible cases, so the user should be careful to type in a valid expression, to avoid unexpected results.
User Data Configuration File
The User Data definitions are stored in a file named PH2.CFG, which you should find in your EX3 installation directory. Whenever you Add, Edit or Delete user data definitions, and then select Preview or OK in the User Data dialog, the PH2.CFG file gets updated with the latest user data definitions.
When you install the EX3 program, a few User Data definitions will already be created for you in the PH2.CFG file.