Reference Frames

Dynamic Simulation allows you to define an exact location, called a Reference Frame, from which the Output Grapher expresses its results. Reference Frames are defined by an origin point and X and Y axes. Reference Frames are like a user-defined coordinate system.

Reference frames are placed in a folder in the Output Grapher browser. The node name includes the primary reference in parentheses. Rename the Reference Frame node by using the slow double-click method on the node.

To specify a Reference Frame you must be in simulation construction mode and do the following:

1. Start the Output Grapher.
2. Click Add Reference Frame in the toolbar to show the definition dialog box.
3. Specify the origin by selecting a vertex or circular edge. The reference frame previews at the selected location.
4. Select a face or edge to specify the coordinate system X axis. The axis is built parallel to the selection you make.
   Note: You are able to reverse the axis direction by clicking Reverse next to the appropriate selection button in the dialog box.
5. Select a face or edge to specify the coordinate system Y axis.
6. Optionally, you can cycle through the axes solutions using the Rotate Axes command.
7. Click OK to finalize the Reference Frame definition or click Apply to finalize the Reference Frame and begin making another one. The next reference frame initializes with the same coordinate style orientation as the previous Reference Frame. Reorient the Reference Frame using the commands in the dialog box.

Note: The Output Grapher caches the last simulation run results. When adding a reference frame, the new frame does not appear in the browser because it was not included in the previous run and because it does not modify the cached information. First clear the simulation run cache for the new reference frame to instantiate in the browser. The Clear command is the first command, from the left, in the Output Grapher toolbar and is enabled when a simulation runs.

To view simulation results as they relate to a Reference Frame do the following in the Output Grapher:

For Joints:

1. Expand the Joint node to expose the folders beneath it, such as Positions, Velocities, and so on.
2. Right click the Force or Moment node and select “Express results in coordinate system of” > User Defined > (reference frame list).
3. Rerun the simulation.

For Loads:

1. Expand the External Loads node.
2. Right click the load node and select “Express results in coordinate system of” > User Defined > (reference frame list).
3. Rerun the simulation.