Working with Surface-Based Properties

When the plate element properties (thickness, normal point, delta T, or so on) must vary within a single part, the Surface-based properties option is available. Using this option, you can separately define the properties for each unique surface number in a plate part. The Plate Elements page describes the two locations where you can choose between Part-based and Surface-based properties—in the browser and in the Element Definition dialog. This page discusses how to efficiently manipulate the data within the plate element properties spreadsheet that is found in the Element Definition dialog.

Note: When you switch from the Part-based mode to the Surface-based mode, a pop-up prompt appears. You are given the choice whether to copy the current properties to every surface within the part, or parts, being edited. If the current properties represent the majority of the surfaces, copying the properties to each surface as a starting point is convenient.

Editing Surface-Based Properties within the Element Definition Dialog

To use the following procedures, you must know the surface numbers of the plate element surfaces.

How to Copy and Paste Properties from One Row to One or More Target Rows:

  1. Ensure that all of the necessary properties are defined within the row that you want to copy.
  2. Select the source row by checking the box in the first column.
  3. Click the Copy Row button.
  4. In the first column, uncheck the source row box and check the box for each target surface to which you want to paste the properties.
  5. Click the Paste Row button.
  6. To clear the row selections, uncheck the boxes in the first column individually or click the checkbox in the header twice.

How to Edit Multiple Rows in a Single Operation:

  1. Select all of the rows for which you want to specify the same properties by checking the boxes in the first column.
    Tip: If you are going to edit the majority of surfaces in the part, it is more convenient to click the checkbox in the header to select all rows and then individually deselect the rows you do not want to edit.
  2. Click the Edit Selected button. A separate dialog appears for entering the properties, as described in The Complete List of Columns that Appear in the Spreadsheet section of the Plate Elements page.
  3. Select the desired options and enter the Thickness, Normal Point, Nodal Order Method, Nodal Point, delta T thru thickness, and/or Mean Temp. Difference, as needed.
  4. Click OK to accept the values and return to the Element Definition - Plate dialog. Alternatively, click Cancel to abort without altering the plate properties.
  5. To clear the row selections, uncheck the boxes in the first column individually or click the checkbox in the header twice.

Graphical Selection Method

The following method is a convenient alternative to the previously given procedures for defining or editing surface-based plate element properties. Using graphical selection, you can specify the properties for a selected set of surfaces without concerning yourself with the surface ID numbers.

How to Edit Plate Properties for One or More Graphically Selected Surfaces:

  1. Within the modeling canvas, select one or more surfaces belonging to a single part.
  2. Right-click in the display area and choose Edit Element Definition from the context menu. The Element Definition - Edit Selected Surface(s) dialog appears.
  3. Select the desired options and enter the Thickness, Normal Point, Nodal Order Method, Nodal Point, delta T thru thickness, and/or Mean Temp. Difference, as needed.
  4. Click OK to accept the values and close the dialog box.
Parent topic: Plate Elements