The Frame Analysis browser shows the mechanism’s elements. It provides access to each of them so that you can select, modify, or remove them.

In an assembly, the Frame Analysis browser displays the document name with unique simulation nodes beneath it. The component, can have multiple simulations. Each simulation node contains the subfolders for Nodes, Beams, Materials, Sections, Rigid Links, Releases, Constraints, Loads, Results, and Status.

The component node displays the assembly components based on the View Representation you specify. You can select features in the browser and apply loads and constraints to the selection. When you select a feature in the browser, the feature highlights in the model.

Each simulation can have a different set of materials, loads, constraints, and corresponding sets of results. Expand a Results node to select results you want to display. In the graphics window, you can view the outcome of the simulations and compare iterations. The browser background for inactive simulations is gray to differentiate between the active and inactive state.

Each node has a context menu with commands available for that context.

Element names

The Frame Analysis browser contains the following folders:

Browser hierarchy

Browser node context menu commands

Besides the normal context menu entries, such as visibility, the following context menu commands are unique to the Frame Analysis environment:

Browser node decorations

Beams and Nodes

You can view the nodes and beams included in the structure under the Beams and Nodes folders.

• By default, the nodes and beams are named as Node:1, Node:2, and so on. You can rename them if appropriate.
• Click the node to select, and then click again to rename the node.
• You cannot edit, delete, or exclude from simulation nodes that were converted from original assembly. Custom nodes can be deleted, edited, or excluded from simulation.
• Beams that were converted from original assembly can be excluded from simulation.

Loads and Constraints

You can view the applied loads and constraints under the Loads and Constraints folders.

• By default, the loads and constraints are named as Force:1, Force:2, and so on. You can rename the forces if appropriate.
• Click the node to select, and then click again to rename the node.
• Right-click the node, and then click Edit to open the selected load or constraint.
• Right-click any constraint node to view Reaction Forces and Reaction Moment.

Releases and Rigid Links

You can view the list of releases and rigid links under the Releases and Rigid Links folders.

• By default, the Releases and Rigid Links are named as Release:1, Release:2, and so on. You can rename the forces if appropriate.
• Click the node to select, and then click again to rename the node.
• Right-click the node, and then click Edit to open the selected release or rigid link.
• You can also delete or exclude releases and rigid links from simulation.

Results

This folder displays the various analyses the structure has undergone considering the defined conditions.

Click the desired result to be displayed in the graphics window.

When you perform modal analyses, the Modal Frequency folder is created.

Right-click the Diagrams folder to display diagrams for selected beams or adjust diagram scales.

Status

This folder displays the various analyses the structure has undergone considering the defined conditions.

When you create a simulation and assembly frame model is automatically converted to beams and nodes, the messages about insufficient beam materials and cross-sections display.

When you run a simulation, all messages about simulation display.

Right-click and select How To… to open a Help page with a list of warnings and errors that can occur when you run simulations and how to resolve them.