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Using Fields
In some analysis models, particular input options for element properties, material properties, or loads and boundary conditions are not constant; they vary as a function of spatial, time, temperature, and other changes. Fields are used in these situations. Examples are a shell element whose thickness varies spatially, a pressure pulse load that is timedependent, and a material property that is temperature- or stress-dependent.

The Fields Application Form

The structure of fields is flexible and generalized. You can create them from tabular input, mathematical relationships expressed in PCL, or from scalar/vector results on a collection of finite elements. The Fields application in Patran provides intuitive forms that lead you through the creation and modification of fields. Once you have created the field that you need, select it in a databox on one of the functional assignment application forms or input options forms. To use the Fields Application form: 1.Select Fields from the Patran Main form. The Fields application form appears in your viewport. 2.From the drop-down menus, select an Action, Object, and Method. The remainder of the form varies depending on these selections.

Actions The table below briefly describes the choices for Action on the Fields form. Action Descriptions Create

Show Modify Delete Objects The table below briefly describes three types of fields that you can select as Objects on the Fields application form.

Creates a new field that can be Spatial, Material Property, or Non-Spatial. You can base the new field on an existing field. Most fields are made up of tabular data or PCL functions. Displays all fields set data in a table format. Modifies the contents of an existing field. Removes selected fields.

Field Type Description Spatial Spatial fields define location-dependent pressures and temperatures in the LBCs application. You can also use them to define element property characteristics, such as thickness. They also define displacements and other loads. Spatial fields can be scalar or vector in nature. You can specify their application region in either real or parametric space, over one, two or three dimensions. You can apply multiple spatial fields at the same time. Non-Spatial Non-Spatial Fields specify time- and frequency-dependent loads and boundary conditions, and frequencydependent material properties. Material Select these fields on the Input Options form for the Materials application for properties such as modulus, Property CTE, etc. These fields can be one-, two-, or three-dimensional, with independent variables such as

temperature, strain, strain rate, time, and frequency (singly or in combination). Methods The following table briefly describes the method of data input that you may select as Method on the Fields application form. Field Type PCL Function Tabular Input General Field FEM Description Uses a PCL expression to define the field values. Extracts data from a table to define the field values. You can use the General Field to create a field for any Object type. The field data is described by a mathematical function composed in PCL. FEM Fields are associated to a finite element model. Using this method you can map data from one analysis to create LBCs for your current model.

Sample Fields Form

The form for Create/Spatial/PCL Function creates scalar or vector spatial fields in real or parametric space, using a PCL expression or externally defined PCL function. Select Apply to create the field, then wait for the new field name to appear in the Existing Fields databox.

A list of widget descriptions follows. Widgets Existing Fields Field Name Field Type Previously defined fields appear here. Select one with the Create Action if you wish to base a new field on an existing field. Select with Modify to change an existing field. The selected field name appears in the Field Name box below. Modify an existing field name, or enter a new field name here. Select Scalar or Vector. The form changes, depending on the pick.

Coordinate System Type Scalar Function

Select Real if the field is in X,Y,Z space, Parametric if it is in C1, C2, C3 space. Input a PCL command defining the field or name of the external PCL function file.