The Gauge Definition File
All gauges that appear as selections under the Object pull-down are defined in a file called gauges.def
that exists in the main MSC Fatigue installation area for UNIX in
<install_dir>/mscfatigue_files/gauges.def
or for Windows in
x:<install_dir>\mscfatigue_files\gauges.def
where x: is the drive on which MSC Fatigue was installed.
This file is fully customizable to allow additions or changes to gauge types. You simply need to define
the gauge type (single, tee, rosette), whether it is stacked or planar, the configuration (rectangular, delta,
other), the units, and the coordinates, besides giving it a name. See the MSC Fatigue User’s Guide for
details or use the file contents as a guide to customization.
The file can exist in the local work directory, your home directory or in the installation area and will be
recognized in this order also. A variety of gauge types is shown above.
The Gauge Group
When a Soft S/G is created it appears graphically on the screen as one, two, or three quadrilateral
elements. Additionally a special group is created for each strain gauge. The name of these groups take on
the form:
Modify the Soft S/G
Our gauge that we have created thus far is not quite what we want. Change the Action to Modify in the
Gauge Tool. The gauge needs to be translated and rotated since the node where we placed it and the
orientation do not match the exact spot that it exists on the prototype.
On the prototype, the gauge was placed two millimeters to the left from the current location and the gauge
needs to be rotated 30 degrees counterclockwise.
1. Select Gauge to Modify: 001
Select 001 as the gauge to modify. We are not changing the type of the gauge but simply the
location and orientation.
2. Delta X: -2.0
This is the displacement to move the gauge in the x-axis direction of the existing gauge.
3. Delta Y: 0.0
This is the displacement to move the gauge in the y-axis direction of the existing gauge.
4. Delta Theta: 30
This is the rotation in degrees that the gauge is to be rotated relative to the current orientation.
5. Element type: 2D: Shell elements
Again select 2D: Shell elements as the means to define the surface.
6. Select Shell Elements: Elem 166 167 178 179
Select the same elements as before to define the surface where the modified gauge will be placed.
To properly modify the location and orientation, you must select a surface area that will contain
the new location and orientation of the modified gauge or an error will occur, e.g., if you translate
the gauge off of the defined area.
7. Reverse normal: OFF
If necessary you can reverse the normals of the gauges. The gauge outward normals are calculated
as the average of the outward normals of the selected elements or faces.
8. Click Apply.
Now that the gauge has been created and modified to the proper location and orientation, close the Gauge
Tool form by clicking the Cancel button.
No comments:
Post a Comment