When you click the
tool in the Visualization module toolbox,
Abaqus/CAE
enters probe mode and displays information in the Probe
Values dialog box as you move the cursor over the model in the
current viewport. You can also enter probe mode using the
tool in the Query toolbar. Probing a model plot displays model data
and analysis results; probing an X–Y plot displays
X–Y curve data; and probing a model from the current
model database displays the model data and the values of attributes such as
loads and predefined fields. You can write this information to a file.
The data table in the bottom portion of the Probe
Values dialog box contains two dynamic display rows (the row
immediately above the row headings and the bold data row that appears first in
the table) and a series of additional storage rows.
Abaqus/CAE
updates the dynamic rows continuously to show the probe values as you move the
cursor over the model in the current viewport, and you can change the value
displayed in the top display row by clicking a column heading.
Abaqus/CAE
updates the table with additional rows only when you select values of interest
by clicking in the viewport, specifying a node or element label, or selecting
the nodes or elements in a particular display group. Values accumulate in the
bottom portion of the dialog box until you delete them, clear the table, or
cancel probe mode. You can also add selected values to a new display group, and
you can annotate individual nodes or elements with field output values at that
location.
Probes of models or model plots
If the current viewport contains a model plot (an undeformed, deformed,
contour, symbol, or material orientation plot) or a model from the current
model database,,
Abaqus/CAE
allows you to probe results from the selected model or output database. The
Probe Values dialog box identifies the step, frame, and
field output variable for which
Abaqus/CAE
will obtain values. To learn how to change the step, frame, or field output
variable, see
Selecting the results step and frame,
and
Selecting the primary field output variable.
When you probe a model plot of a three-dimensional shell or a composite
solid, the results that
Abaqus/CAE
returns depend on your choice of active location in the Section
Points dialog box.
Abaqus/CAE
returns results from the Top Location section point when
Top is the active location and returns results from the
Bottom Location section point when the active location is
set to Bottom or Top and bottom. For
more information about section points, see
Selecting section point data.
For model plots you can choose to obtain node-based or element-based data
and results, as follows:
- Probing nodes
-
When you choose to probe nodes and position the cursor over a nodal location
in the current viewport,
Abaqus/CAE
highlights the node and displays the following information about the node in
the data table:
-
the node's label,
-
the node's original coordinates,
-
the node's deformed coordinates (using the current deformed field output
variable),
-
the elements sharing the node, and
-
the current field output variable (including component values, if the
current field output variable is a tensor or vector quantity). If a model is
selected in the current viewport, the current field output variable reflects
the value of a model attribute such as a load at the selected node.
You can display field output at the node whether the current primary
variable was originally saved to the output database at nodal, centroidal, or
integration point locations.
Abaqus/CAE
calculates nodal values for centroidal and integration point data by
extrapolating to the nodes and averaging according to options you select. If
the node refers to unaveraged element data, all element data associated with
the probed node will be displayed. For more information on averaging, see
Understanding result value averaging.
You can also display or hide annotations that appear in the viewport for
each node you select. Probe annotations show the node's label and the results
at that node for the current field output variable. You can customize the font
and color of the probe annotation text.
- Probing
elements
-
When you choose to probe elements and position the cursor over an element in
the current viewport,
Abaqus/CAE
highlights the element and displays the following information about the element
in the data table:
-
the element's label,
-
the element's connectivity, and
-
the current field output variable (including component values, if the
current field output variable is a tensor or vector quantity). If a model is
selected in the current viewport, the current field output variable reflects
the value of a model attribute such as a load at the selected element.
You can display field output at the element only if the current primary
variable is an element-based variable, such as stress or strain. You can choose
the output position at which field output results are calculated: integration
point, centroid, element node, or element face. For each of these output
positions,
Abaqus/CAE
calculates probe results on an element-by-element basis with no averaging.
You can also display or hide annotations that appear in the viewport for
each element you select. Probe annotations show the element's label and the
results at that element for the current field output variable. You can
customize the font and color of the probe annotation text.
Regardless of the render style in which the model is displayed, only visible
elements can be probed. If necessary, you can create a display group or use a
view cut to reveal otherwise unavailable interior elements.
When an element is cut through by a crack, the cracked element splits into
two parts, each part formed by a real domain and a phantom domain. When you
probe cracked elements, only the contribution from one part of the elements is
reported. For more information, see
Visualization.
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X–Y plot probes
If the current viewport contains an X–Y plot,
Abaqus/CAE
displays as probe values the X–Y curve legend text,
the sequence identification of each point within the curve, and the
X- and Y-coordinates of
curve points. You can choose to display only the curve points that comprise an
X–Y data object or to interpolate to display
arbitrary points along the curve. If the X–Y data
name differs from the X–Y curve legend text, the
Legend value in the Probe Values
dialog box displays the X–Y data name prepended to
the legend text. For more information, see
Probing X–Y plots.
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