Field occurrences

A field occurrence is a pointer to a field that you can view in the Simulation Navigator and access in dialog boxes the same way that you can view and access other fields. The source field (also called the prototype field) of a field occurrence originates in a FEM file or assembly FEM file.

The software creates a field occurrence when you do any of the following:

• Associate a FEM file and its source field with a Simulation file or an assembly FEM file

• Associate an assembly FEM file and its source field to a Simulation file.

The field occurrences are listed in the Fields node. The field occurrence name contains two parts: FEM file name and field name separated by two colons.

Example:

ExManifold_fem1-with-temp_2::Temperature_2

The Simulation or assembly FEM file that points to the source field contains information about the field’s dependent and independent variables, local coordinate system (when the independent variable is spatial), and so on. You can edit the source field and its display properties only at the level where you created the field.

You can do the following with a field occurrence:

• Plot or display information for the field at any level.

• Access the field in dialog boxes that support the entities that you selected when you created the field and that support the field’s dependent and independent variables

• Clone fields with non-spatial, independent variables on the assembly FEM or Simulation file level.

Field occurrences support the proper transformation of input spatial locations to determine the field value at the locations in the Simulation or assembly FEM file. For example, when you associate a spatial field with a component FEM and you add multiple instances of the component FEM to an assembly FEM, the software automatically transforms the spatial base of the field for each instance of the component FEM. In addition, when you update a source field, all of the field occurrences that point to that field update as well.

Note:

A linked field also allows you to efficiently adapt an existing spatial field to a different spatial location. However, the scope of the linked field is limited to the component FEM file, where the spatial field originates. Thus, although linked fields are replicated when you add multiple instances of a component FEM file, when you edit one linked field, the others do not update.

A typical application of field occurrences includes applying spatially varying constraints or loads on geometry or FE entities, such as spatially varying temperatures on an automotive manifold that are stored in a component FEM field instead of a Simulation file.

Displaying field occurrences

To control the display of field occurrences, right-click the Fields node→Filter→Show Fields from Component Parts. By default, Show Fields from Component Parts is turned on, but you can turn it off in the Customer Defaults dialog box with the Fields Display in Simulation Navigator option. Regardless of the setting, fields are still displayed in all components where the fields originate.

Also, you can individually control the display of spatial field occurrences by using the check box in front of the field occurrence node.

When you select a field occurrence in an assembly context, it is highlighted in the Simulation Navigator, graphics window (spatial fields only), and list from the Fields dialog box.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisites	A Simulation file as the work part and the displayed part, and a FEM file that contains a fieldAn assembly FEM file as the work part and the displayed part, and a FEM file that contains a field
Simulation Navigator	Expand the Fields node

How do I

Define a boundary condition using a field occurrence

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Field occurrences, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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