Beam class

The Beam class gives you access to beam elements in D3PLOT. More...

The D3PLOT JavaScript API provides many class constants, properties and methods. For Arup to be able to extend and enhance the API in the future any constant, property or method names beginning with a lowercase or uppercase letter are reserved.
If you need to add your own properties or methods to one of the existing classes then to avoid any potential future conflict you should ensure that the name begins with either an underscore (_) or a dollar sign ($) or the name is prefixed with your own unique identifier.
For example if company 'ABC' need to add a property called 'example' then to avoid any potential future conflict use one of:

_example
$example
ABC_example

Class functions

BlankAll(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model])
BlankFlagged(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model], flag[Flag])
First(model[Model])
FlagAll(model[Model], flag[Flag])
GetAll(model[Model], property (optional)[string])
GetFlagged(model[Model], flag[Flag], property (optional)[string])
GetFromID(model[Model], label[integer])
GetFromIndex(model[Model], index[integer])
GetMultipleData(component[constant], items[array], options (optional)[object])
Last(model[Model])
Pick()
Select(flag[Flag])
Total(model[Model])
TotalDeleted(model[Model])
UnblankAll(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model])
UnblankFlagged(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model], flag[Flag])
UnflagAll(model[Model], flag[Flag])

Member functions

Blank(window[GraphicsWindow])
Blanked(window[GraphicsWindow])
ClearFlag(flag[Flag])
Deleted()
Flagged(flag[Flag])
ForceMoment(options (optional)[object])
GetData(component[constant], options (optional)[object])
LocalAxes()
Next()
Previous()
SetFlag(flag[Flag])
Topology()
Unblank(window[GraphicsWindow])

Beam properties

Name	Type	Description
data (read only)	real\|array	Component data for a beam passed as an argument to GetMultipleData. Note that data will only exist for the instance of the beam passed to GetMultipleData. i.e. it is a local property stored on the specific instance. It is not stored in the D3PLOT database
include (read only)	integer	The include file number in the model that the beam is in
index (read only)	integer	The internal index for the beam in D3PLOT (starting at 0)
integrationPoints (read only)	integer	The number of integration points that the beam has
label (read only)	integer	The Ansys LS-DYNA label for the beam
material (read only)	Material	The Material the beam has. This is only available if there is a ztf file for the model. If not null will be returned. If this is a PART_COMPOSITE then null will be returned. Part.GetCompositeData should be used to get material data in this case
model (read only)	Model	The Model that the beam is in
part (read only)	Part	The Part the beam is in
type (read only)	constant	The type for the beam (will be Type.BEAM)

Detailed Description

The Beam class allows you to inspect beam elements in a model. See the documentation below for more details.

Details of functions

Blank(window[GraphicsWindow])

Description

Blanks the beam in a graphics window

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) to blank the beam in

Returns

No return value

Example

To blank beam b in graphics window g:

b.Blank(g);

BlankAll(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model]) [static]

Description

Blanks all of the beams in the model

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) to blank the beams in

model (Model)

Model that all the beams will be blanked in

Returns

No return value

Example

To blank all of the beams in model m, in graphics window gw:

Beam.BlankAll(gw, m);

BlankFlagged(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model], flag[Flag]) [static]

Description

Blanks all of the beams in the model flagged with a defined flag

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) to blank the beams in

model (Model)

Model that the flagged beams will be blanked in

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) set on the beams to blank

Returns

No return value

Example

To blank all of the beams flagged with flag f in model m, in graphics window gw:

Beam.BlankFlagged(gw, m, f);

Blanked(window[GraphicsWindow])

Description

Checks if the beam is blanked in a graphics window or not

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) in which to check if the beam is blanked

Returns

true if blanked, false if not

Return type

boolean

Example

To check if beam b is blanked in graphics window g:

if (b.Blanked(g) ) do_something...

ClearFlag(flag[Flag])

Description

Clears a flag on a beam

Arguments

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) to clear on the beam

Returns

No return value

Example

To clear flag f on beam b:

b.ClearFlag();

Deleted()

Description

Checks if the beam has been deleted or not

Arguments

No arguments

Returns

true if deleted, false if not

Return type

boolean

Example

To check if beam b has been deleted:

if (b.Deleted() ) do_something...

First(model[Model]) [static]

Description

Returns the first beam in the model (or null if there are no beams in the model)

Arguments

model (Model)

Model to get first beam in

Returns

Beam object

Return type

Beam

Example

To get the first beam in model m:

var b = Beam.First(m);

FlagAll(model[Model], flag[Flag]) [static]

Description

Flags all of the beams in the model with a defined flag

Arguments

model (Model)

Model that all the beams will be flagged in

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) to set on the beams

Returns

No return value

Example

To flag all of the beams with flag f in model m:

Beam.FlagAll(m, f);

Flagged(flag[Flag])

Description

Checks if the beam is flagged or not

Arguments

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) to test on the beam

Returns

true if flagged, false if not

Return type

boolean

Example

To check if beam b has flag f set on it:

if (b.Flagged(f) ) do_something...

ForceMoment(options (optional)[object])

Description

Returns the forces and moments for the beam

Arguments

options (optional) (object)

Object containing options for getting data. Can be any of:

Object has the following properties:

Name	Type	Description
ip	integer	Integration point number to get the data at (ip >= 1)

Returns

Array containing the forces and moments [Fx, Fy, Fz, Mxx, Myy, Mzz] (or null if the value cannot be calculated)

Return type

array

Example

To return the forces and moments of beam b:

var fm = b.ForceMoment();
if (fm !== null) do_something...

GetAll(model[Model], property (optional)[string]) [static]

Description

Returns an array of Beam objects or properties for all of the beams in the model. If the optional property argument is not given then an array of Beam objects is returned. If the property argument is given, that property value for each beam is returned in the array instead of a Beam object

Arguments

model (Model)

Model that all the beams are in

property (optional) (string)

Name for property to get for all beams in the model

Returns

Array of Beam objects or properties

Return type

Array

Example

To get all of the beams in model m:

var b = Beam.GetAll(m);

To return an array containing the value of property 'foo' (for example 'label' for a beam) for each beam in model m:

var a = Beam.GetAll(m, 'foo');

GetData(component[constant], options (optional)[object])

Description

Returns the value for a data component.
Also see GetMultipleData

Arguments

component (constant)

Component constant to get data for

options (optional) (object)

Object containing options for getting data. Can be any of:

Object has the following properties:

Name	Type	Description
extra	integer	The extra data component number if component Component.SOX for solids, Component.BMX for beams or Component.SHX for shells and thick shells
ip	integer	Integration point number to get the data at (ip >= 1 or one of the constants Constant.TOP, Constant.MIDDLE or Constant.BOTTOM). If the integration point is not defined it will use the integration point defined on the current GUI "data" panel, which defaults to the middle surface for shells, thick shells, and solids, and Mag All for beams, but may vary if changed by an interactive user. If consistent output from a script is required, independent of any prior interactive activity, an explicit integration point or surface should be defined
op	integer	On plane integration point number for shells and thick shells (op >= 1 [default])
referenceFrame	constant	The frame of reference to return values in. Either Constant.GLOBAL (default), Constant.LOCAL, Constant.CYLINDRICAL, Constant.USER_DEFINED or Constant.MATERIAL. This is only necessary for directional components (eg X stress) and then only when something other than the default Constant.GLOBAL coordinate system is to be used
user	integer	The user-defined component number if component Component.UNOS, Component.UNOV, Component.USSS, Component.USST, Component.UBMS or Component.UBMV

Returns

Number if a scalar component, array if a vector or tensor component (or null if the value cannot be calculated because it's not available in the model).
If requesting an invalid component it will throw an error (e.g. Component.AREA of a node).

Return type

real|array

Example

To calculate a component and check it has been calculated (note that in the example, the argument extra is optional):

var value = b.GetData(component, {extra: 1});
if (value !== null) do_something...

GetFlagged(model[Model], flag[Flag], property (optional)[string]) [static]

Description

Gets all of the beams in the model flagged with a defined flag. If the optional property argument is not given then an array of Beam objects is returned. If the property argument is given, that property value for each beam is returned in the array instead of a Beam object

Arguments

model (Model)

Model that the flagged beams are in

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) set on the beams to get

property (optional) (string)

Name for property to get for all flagged beams in the model

Returns

Array of Beam objects or properties

Return type

Array

Example

To get all of the beams flagged with flag f in model m:

Beam.GetFlagged(m, f);

To return an array containing the value of property 'foo' (for example 'label' for a node) for all beams flagged with flag f in model m:

var a = Beam.GetFlagged(m, f, 'foo');

GetFromID(model[Model], label[integer]) [static]

Description

Returns the Beam object for beam in model with label (or null if it does not exist)

Arguments

model (Model)

Model to get beam in

label (integer)

The Ansys LS-DYNA label for the beam in the model

Returns

Beam object

Return type

Beam

Example

To get the beam in model m with label 1000:

var b = Beam.GetFromID(m, 1000);

GetFromIndex(model[Model], index[integer]) [static]

Description

Returns the Beam object for beam in model with index (or null if it does not exist)

Arguments

model (Model)

Model to get beam in

index (integer)

The D3PLOT internal index in the model for beam, starting at 0.

Returns

Beam object

Return type

Beam

Example

To get the 51st beam in model m:

var b = Beam.GetFromIndex(m, 50);

GetMultipleData(component[constant], items[array], options (optional)[object]) [static]

Description

Returns the value for a data component for multiple beams. For each beam a local property called data will be created containing a number if a scalar component, or an array if a vector or tensor component (or null if the value cannot be calculated). The data is also returned as an object.
Also see GetData

Arguments

component (constant)

Component constant to get data for

items (array)

Array of Beam objects to get the data for. All of the beams must be in the same model.

options (optional) (object)

Object containing options for getting data. Can be any of:

Object has the following properties:

Name	Type	Description
extra	integer	The extra data component number if component Component.SOX for solids, Component.BMX for beams or Component.SHX for shells and thick shells
ip	integer	Integration point number to get the data at (ip >= 1 or one of the constants Constant.TOP, Constant.MIDDLE or Constant.BOTTOM)
op	integer	On plane integration point number for shells and thick shells (op >= 1 [default])
referenceFrame	constant	The frame of reference to return values in. Either Constant.GLOBAL (default), Constant.LOCAL, Constant.CYLINDRICAL, Constant.USER_DEFINED or Constant.MATERIAL. This is only necessary for directional components (eg X stress) and then only when something other than the default Constant.GLOBAL coordinate system is to be used
user	integer	The user-defined component number if component Component.UNOS, Component.UNOV, Component.USSS, Component.USST, Component.UBMS or Component.UBMV

Returns

Object containing the data. A property is created in the object for each beam with the label. The value of the property is a number if a scalar component or an array if a vector or tensor component (or null if the value cannot be calculated)

Return type

object

Example

To calculate a component for beams in array items and use the data property (note that in the example, the argument extra is optional):

Beam.GetMultipleData(component, items, {extra: 1});
for (i=0; i<items.length; i++)
{
    if (items[i].data !== null) do_something...
}

To calculate a component for beams in array items and use the return value (note that in the example, the argument extra is optional):

var data = Beam.GetMultipleData(component, items, {extra: 1});
for (d in data)
{
    Message("Label is " + d);
    if (data[d] !== null) do_something...
}

Last(model[Model]) [static]

Description

Returns the last beam in the model (or null if there are no beams in the model)

Arguments

model (Model)

Model to get last beam in

Returns

Beam object

Return type

Beam

Example

To get the last beam in model m:

var b = Beam.Last(m);

LocalAxes()

Description

Returns the local axes of the element in model space, expressed as direction cosines in a 2D array. Beam elements must have 3 nodes to be able to return local axes.

Arguments

No arguments

Returns

array of arrays

Return type

Array

Example

To get the local axes for beam b:

var axes = b.LocalAxes();
var xAxis = [ axes[0][0], axes[0][1], axes[0][2] ];
var yAxis = [ axes[1][0], axes[1][1], axes[1][2] ];
var zAxis = [ axes[2][0], axes[2][1], axes[2][2] ];

Next()

Description

Returns the next beam in the model (or null if there is not one)

Arguments

No arguments

Returns

Beam object

Return type

Beam

Example

To get the next beam after beam b:

b = b.Next();

Pick() [static]

Description

Allows the user to pick a beam from the screen

Arguments

No arguments

Returns

Beam object or null if cancelled

Return type

Beam

Example

To pick a beam:

var b = Beam.Pick();

Previous()

Description

Returns the previous beam in the model (or null if there is not one)

Arguments

No arguments

Returns

Beam object

Return type

Beam

Example

To get the previous beam before beam b:

b = b.Previous();

Select(flag[Flag]) [static]

Description

Selects beams using an object menu

Arguments

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) to use when selecting beams

Returns

The number of beams selected or null if menu cancelled

Return type

integer

Example

To select beams, flagging those selected with flag f:

var total = Beam.Select(f);

SetFlag(flag[Flag])

Description

Sets a flag on a beam

Arguments

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) to set on the beam

Returns

No return value

Example

To set flag f on beam b:

b.SetFlag(f);

Topology()

Description

Returns the topology for the beam in the model

Arguments

No arguments

Returns

array of Node objects

Return type

Array

Example

To get the topology for beam b:

var topology = b.Topology();

Total(model[Model]) [static]

Description

Returns the total number of beams in the model

Arguments

model (Model)

Model to get total in

Returns

The number of beams

Return type

integer

Example

To get the number of beams in model m:

var total = Beam.Total(m);

TotalDeleted(model[Model]) [static]

Description

Returns the total number of beams that have been deleted in a model in the state given by its state property

Arguments

model (Model)

Model to get total in

Returns

The number of beams that have been deleted

Return type

integer

Example

To get the number of beams in model m that have been deleted in state 10:

m.state = 10;
var total = Beam.TotalDeleted(m);

Unblank(window[GraphicsWindow])

Description

Unblanks the beam in a graphics window

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) to unblank the beam in

Returns

No return value

Example

To unblank beam b in graphics window g:

b.Unblank(g);

UnblankAll(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model]) [static]

Description

Unblanks all of the beams in the model

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) to unblank the beams in

model (Model)

Model that all the beams will be unblanked in

Returns

No return value

Example

To unblank all of the beams in model m, in graphics window gw:

Beam.UnblankAll(gw, m);

UnblankFlagged(window[GraphicsWindow], model[Model], flag[Flag]) [static]

Description

Unblanks all of the beams in the model flagged with a defined flag

Arguments

window (GraphicsWindow)

GraphicsWindow) to unblank the beams in

model (Model)

Model that the flagged beams will be unblanked in

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) set on the beams to unblank

Returns

No return value

Example

To unblank all of the beams flagged with flag f in model m, in graphics window gw:

Beam.UnblankFlagged(gw, m, f);

UnflagAll(model[Model], flag[Flag]) [static]

Description

Unsets a defined flag on all of the beams in the model

Arguments

model (Model)

Model that the defined flag for all beams will be unset in

flag (Flag)

Flag (see AllocateFlag) to unset on the beams

Returns

No return value

Example

To unset flag f on all of the beams in model m:

Beam.UnflagAll(m, f);