6 Replies Latest reply on Jul 16, 2014 7:48 PM by Jared Conway

    Probe Section Edge

    Paul Mark
    Paul Mark Jul 11, 2014 11:44 AM

      Hello all! I am running 2014 and have a simulation that I would like to probe the values for a linear cross-section through defined by the section plane and one face of the part. Is this still possible? I remember doing so in 2013 but it seems now I can only select individual points on the section plane and not a line or intersection of it with another face. Is it possible to probe whole section areas or borders of the same anymore? Thanks so much!

       

      EDIT: It seems like 2014 has lost its interpolation capability, since even when I set it up as a Workflow sensitive sensor of points defined by me, it only gives me node values.

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        • Re: Probe Section Edge
          Nicholas Luyster
          Nicholas Luyster Jul 11, 2014 12:50 PM (in response to Paul Mark)

          Hi Paul,

           

          I think it might be best to edit the geometry so that you have a "split line" at the location where you would like to probe.  That way, you'll get nodes along the split line.  Then, you should be able to use the "list selected" or "probe" features along that line. Selections for the probe will be at nodes unless you're using section clipping.

           

          Instructions on how to create a splitline can be found here: http://gosimulation.com/solidworks-selection-tools/

           

          All the best,

           

          Nick Luyster

          Gosimulation.com

          Online SolidWorks Simulation Training

          • Re: Probe Section Edge
            Jared Conway
            Jared Conway Jul 12, 2014 2:25 PM (in response to Paul Mark)

            List selected on edges and faces only work on model faces and edges

             

            So if you want to look at something specific, you need to split the model up first so they are selectable.

             

            Otherwise in a section, you can prove and then export as sensors. But these are manual picks.

            • Re: Probe Section Edge
              Paul Mark
              Paul Mark Jul 14, 2014 12:46 PM (in response to Paul Mark)

              Split lines are a nice tool to know about, but not a solution to this problem due to the complexities of the boundary conditions in the simulation and the requirement to reassign them all after creating split lines on the individual parts. I have tried setting up a Workflow dependent sensor, but the values for that are not interpolated to the desired points but are just nearby node locations.

               

              I guess this has become a feature request, in as much as interpolation capibilites for sensors would be nice as well as having the ability to likewise probe the edge of a section plane or possibly other arbitrary line, plane or volume in a model.

                • Re: Probe Section Edge
                  Jared Conway
                  Jared Conway Jul 14, 2014 10:32 PM (in response to Paul Mark)

                  just to be clear, i'm suggesting splitting the body. i'm not sure if that helps or hurts your reassignment problem.

                   

                  probe feature is always the node nearest by, same goes for list selected, so i'm not clear what you're looking for without improving the mesh.

                   

                  how would you make the software know what to report on if there was nothing to select? what would the workflow look like? have you seen this in other software? the only thing i've ever seen is that a software will report every node in a region or selection. you could do that by exporting to excel and building a query. could it be in the software? sure. but most people have something to select i think.

                    • Re: Probe Section Edge
                      Paul Mark
                      Paul Mark Jul 16, 2014 9:50 AM (in response to Jared Conway)

                      Splitting the face does help by putting nodes on the split surface, and since I have defined the boundary conditions on the whole body and not a face it doesnt hurt the assignment. I havent tried splitting the body as a whole yet, and I worry that that will screw up the boundary condition assignment.

                       

                      What I am looking for is the ability to select a section edge or face and have the software do a linear interpolation (hell, a cubic spline would be even better) between local nodes to get values on that edge or face. I dont want to have to click several hundred times to set sensors which are then only assigned values from nearby nodes and or whose positions can only be set by clicking and not defined precicely.

                       

                      More specifically,I want to be able to define a set of points to probe the results at, say x,y,z: 1,0,0; 2,0,0; 3,0,0, and then get the values at those points. Not at neighboring points. Not at nearby nodes. At those points. They may be on a section edge, the face of a section, or arbitrary points that I desire.


                      Like how the "fringe options" can be set to "Continuous" instead of displaying distinct colors at each node - its doing a linear interpolation on the value for pixels that lay between nodes and then looking those up in a color table.