Managing boundary conditions in steps or subcases

You can use either the Step Manager or Subcase Manager (Nastran) command in the Simulation Navigator to:

• Manage which boundary conditions are associated with a given solution step or subcase.

• Change multiple boundary condition assignments across solution steps.

• Export information about the boundary condition assignments to an HTML page or a spreadsheet.

The Step Association Manager dialog box or Subcase Association Manager dialog box (Nastran) presents boundary condition associations in your solution in a tabular matrix, showing the active boundary conditions of each type for each step defined in the solution. For each step, the table shows the status of all boundary conditions defined in the model.

• Indicates that a given boundary condition is active for this step.

• Indicates that the boundary is not included in this step in the solution.

• Indicates that the boundary condition is not valid for this step.

Alternatively, you can click the Switch Rows and Columns button to list the steps available for each boundary condition.

The table lists only boundary conditions of a single type (loads, constraints, or simulation objects). The types of boundary conditions available vary depending on the solver language and solution type. You can use the Filter options to further restrict the boundary conditions listed. For example, you can choose Folder from the Select Type list to view only folder names for boundary conditions managed in folders. Or, enter a wildcard string to filter boundary conditions by name.

Modifying step associations for your solution

You can quickly change the status of any boundary condition for any step:

• Click a cell to quickly toggle the status between active () and inactive ().

• Right-click a column to select from a menu that lets you set the status by row, by column, or for the entire table.

Scaling loads

You can add a real number as a scale factor for individual loads and for defined load sets. To do this, click the Switch to Scaling View button. A scale factor defined for a load set applies to all static loads in that set.

After you specify a scale factor for a load-step association, you can right-click that scale factor and choose an option that applies that scale factor to other loads.

• To apply it to that same load in all steps, choose Set Scale on Column.

• To apply it to all loads in one step, choose Set Scale on Row.

• To apply it to all loads in all steps, choose Set Scale on All.

The scale factors appear in the Nastran LOAD bulk data entries.

To remove a load from a step, type N in the cell.

Documenting step associations

For very large models with complex loading, you may want to export the current step associations to an external file. For example, you can use this for your own records, as an aide to your colleagues, or in reports. You can right-click an empty area in the table and:

• Choose Export to Browser to save the current associations to an HTML file.

• Choose Edit in Spreadsheet to open the current associations in a spreadsheet application.

• Choose Export to CSV to save the current associations to a comma-separated values file.

When you export to a spreadsheet or CSV file, you can manage your boundary condition associations in a spreadsheet, and then import them back using the Import from CSV command.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A loaded Simulation file as the current work part, with at least one solution containing multiple steps or subcases.
Simulation Navigator	Right-click a selected solution→Step Manager or Subcase Manager (Nastran)

How do I

Explicitly add a boundary condition to a solution, step, or subcase

Manage solution associations

Manage boundary conditions in multiple steps or subcases

Scale loads using the Step/Subcase Manager

Edit boundary condition-step associations in a spreadsheet

Learn more

Associating boundary conditions with solution steps

Managing solution associations

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

Managing boundary conditions in steps or subcases, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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