Some of the structural element types support temperature-dependent material properties. Two temperature-dependent material models exist, isotropic and orthotropic. If one of these material models is selected, you define all of the isotropic or orthotropic material properties at multiple temperatures in a tabular format. The properties that you must specify are the same as those applicable to non-temperature-dependent isotropic or orthotropic material models.
Each row in the table contains the properties associated with a single temperature:
- You can add a row to the bottom of the table by pressing the Add Row button.
- You can delete a row from the table by selecting the row and pressing the Delete Row button.
- The temperature values must be input in ascending order.
- The data can be sorted according to increasing temperatures by pressing the Sort button.
- The temperature values must cover the range of temperatures encountered in the model.
- The material properties are linearly interpolated between temperature values.
You can also import the material properties from a CSV file (comma-separated values) by pressing the Import button.
Tip: Enter a row of data into the properties table and click the Export button to output the data as a CSV file. This will serve as a template for the proper CSV file format. Duplicate the sequence of values for each row (that is for each temperature point).
Important: The values in the CSV file are imported using the active Display Units. Change the Display Units if necessary before importing the data. For example, a value of 3.14E15 is imported as 3.14E15 psi if the Display Units are in pounds and inches, and 3.14E15 Pascals if the Display Units are in Newtons and meters.