Examining Element Stiffness Matrix

Basic usage of the function

The method of using the function is described below.

Starting the function

The element stiffness information is displayed on "Element Stiffness" window. The window is opened by choosing display "Element Stiffness" item from FEMSimulation submenu of menu. The following few steps are necessary to start displaying the element stiffness information.

	1) Create a model with elements of the desired type
	Define the geometry of the element by mesh generation or by direct creation of frame elements.
	2) Assign element properties.
	Only elements assigned with element properties are valid for displaying the element stiffness matrix.
	3) Select "Element Stiffnes item from stiffness submenu of menu.
	Then, element Stiffness window appears on the screen. The element stiffness matrix and related numerical values are displayed on this window.The window contains only “No element selected” message if no element is selected prior to starting the function.
	4) Select the element whose stiffness matrix is to be displayed.
	The items relevant to the type of the selected element are displayed in the form of a tree structure.

Ending the function

The function is terminated by closing “Element Stiffness” window. Clicking the close box of the window will close the window. The function may also be terminated by starting any other menu function.

Expanding the information tree

The element stiffness information consists of various items constructed in hierarchal tree view. An item may or may not have child items. An item with child items has or mark before it. All child items have one parent item. The root level of a tree view is the topmost level for tree view items. At the beginning, only the root level items are shown. A parent item can be expanded or collapsed by clicking or mark. Expanded items are marked with , and collapsed items with . The child items are shown or hidden by respectively expanding or collapsing its parent item.

Switching the element

Selection of an element immediately replaces the element stiffness informationwith that of the newly selected element. If the new element type is the same as the old one, the contents are updated, but the tree expansion is unchanged. Otherwise, the display will go back to the root level

Toggling numerical expression and symbolic expression

The element stiffness information may be re p resented either by numerical expression or by symbolic expression. These two expressions of each entry may be toggled by simply clicking the expression.

Scrolling, resizing and zooming the window

The contents of “Element Stiffness” window can be scrolled using horizontal or vertical scroll bars. The window may be resized or zoomed if necessary, by dragging the resize box or clicking the zoom box of the window.