30.3.4 Probing nodes

You can use the Query toolset to obtain nodal data and results. As you position the cursor over a node in the model plot in the current viewport, ABAQUS/CAE highlights the node and displays its label in the Probe Values dialog box. In addition, you can choose to display the following:

You can also obtain a node's data by entering its node label directly, without positioning the cursor over its position in the model plot.

If the field output contains complex numbers, the value displayed and recorded is determined by the complex form specified in the Result Options dialog box. In the Probe Values dialog box, the complex form is shown in parentheses next to each selected probe value. For more information on the complex form, see Controlling the form of complex results, Section 24.5.9.

To help locate nodes in the viewport, you may want to produce a model plot with node symbols visible before using the Query toolset. For more information, see Customizing node symbols, Section 36.5.5.

To probe nodes:

  1. Locate the Probe Values dialog box.

    From the main menu bar, select ToolsQuery or click the tool in the toolbar. Select Probe values in the dialog box that appears; then click Apply. The Probe Values dialog box appears.

  2. Select the step, frame, field output variable, and result options governing the probe data and results ABAQUS/CAE will display.

    In the Probe Values dialog box, the Field Output field identifies the current step, frame, and field output variable.

    • To change the step or frame, click Step/Frame.

    • To change the field output variable, click Field Output.

    • To change the result options, select ResultOptions from the main menu.

  3. Choose Select from viewport or Key-in label.

  4. To specify the nodes that you want to probe, use either of the following techniques:

    Select the nodes directly from the viewport:

    1. Click the Probe arrow, and select Nodes.

      The types of node information available are displayed in the second column of the Probe Values table.

    2. Select the node information types that you want to include in your query.

      In the Probe Values table, click anywhere along a table row to toggle probe display of the information type listed in the second column. When an information type is toggled on, ABAQUS/CAE can display that type of data in three locations for the selected node: the third column of the Probe Values table when you mouse over the node in the viewport, the Selected Probe Values table when you choose a node, and in the probe values output file.

      Note:  Field output is available only if the current primary variable is a element-based variable, such as stress or strain.

    3. Move the cursor to probe the model plot in the current viewport.

      As you position the cursor over a node, ABAQUS/CAE displays the values of the items you have requested in the Probe Values table in the Probe Values dialog box.

      Note:  The display form of a complex-valued result is controlled by your choice in the Complex Form tab of the Result Options dialog box.

    4. To select and accumulate values of interest, and to allow subsequent writing of these values to a file, click mouse button 1 while positioning the cursor over a node.

      ABAQUS/CAE stores the data from the Probe Values table into the Selected Probe Values table. To identify your data, ABAQUS/CAE always includes the Part Instance and Node ID. The current complex form is also listed in parentheses after any complex values.

    Enter the node labels directly into the table:

    1. Click the Probe arrow, and select Nodes.

      The types of node information available are displayed in the second column of the Probe Values table.

    2. Select the node information types that you want to include in your query.

      In the Probe Values table, click anywhere along a table row to toggle probe display of the information type listed in the second column. When an information type is toggled on, ABAQUS/CAE can display that type of data in three locations for the selected node: the third column of the Probe Values table when you mouse over the node in the viewport, the Selected Probe Values table when you choose a node, and in the probe values output file.

      Note:  Field output is available only if the current primary variable is a element-based variable, such as stress or strain.

    3. Select the part instance from which you want to select node labels.

    4. Enter the node label and press Enter.

  5. Repeat the node selection steps until the Selected Probe Values table in the Probe Values dialog box includes all the nodes you want to query.

  6. To delete data from the Selected Probe Values table or to clear or sort the table, click mouse button 3. For more information, see Entering tabular data, Section 3.2.7.

  7. To save the data you have selected, click Write to File. For more information, see Chapter 35, Generating tabular data reports.”

  8. To exit probe mode, do one of the following:

    • Click the cancel button in the prompt area.

    • Click Cancel in the Probe Values dialog box.

    • Click mouse button 2.

    • Produce a plot in some other (e.g. undeformed, deformed) mode.


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