Discrete Fields are data tables that are used to contain data for various HyperX entities that are not represented as standard inputs in the software. The example in the image below is a single Discrete Field. For each FEM element identified, there is a corresponding vector that aligns with the fiber direction at that element's location. This is information that doesn't inherently come with the FEM for each element but is essential to several operations in HyperX.
Discrete Fields can also be used to make custom data plots, which can be viewed as an additional plotting option in the Legend.
-
Discrete Fields are Project-level entities but live outside of the model hierarchy.
-
They can reference any HyperX model entity, including Structures, Zones, Joints, Grids, and Elements. They can also reference CAD Solids or Points.
-
Data types: scalar, vector, or string.
-
Referenced by Plies for per-element fiber directions.
Several utilities are available to automate processes related to Discrete Fields.
-
Vector Projection - For an element-vector Discrete Field, projects the vector into the plane of the element.
-
Point Mapping - Projects a point entity type Discrete Field onto elements, turning it into an element entity type field.
-
Export VCP - Generates an XML file with all of the element centroids in the selected Structure.
Vector Projection
This utility projects vectors in an element-vector Discrete Field into the plane of the element. The plane of the element is defined by the normal vector of the element.
-
Specify update/copy option - This will either update the existing Discrete Field with the vector projection or create a new Discrete Field of element entity type with the mapped results.
-
Suffix (optional) - When the "copy" option is selected, this text is added to the end of the new Discrete Fields.
-
-
Select fields for projection - Specify which Discrete Fields to project.
Point Mapping
This utility projects points from a Discrete Field of point entity type onto the FEM elements. The data associated with each point becomes associated with the element to which the point projects.
-
Select the elements to be considered in the mapping - HyperX will attempt to project the points to these elements only.
-
Launch the point mapping utility from the Ribbon.
-
Specify update/copy option - This will either update the existing Discrete Field from point entity type to element entity type or create a new Discrete Field of element entity type with the mapped results.
-
Suffix (optional) - When the "copy" option is selected, this text is added to the end of the new Discrete Fields.
-
-
Tolerance (optional) - During mapping, distance is calculated between each point and the element to which it projects. If a tolerance is specified, any points with a projection distance greater than the tolerance will not be mapped. Otherwise, all points which successfully project to an element will be mapped.
-
Select fields for projection - Specify which Discrete Fields to project.
-
Press OK.
Creating a Discrete Field involves defining the data table from scratch, including the entity the Discrete Field pertains to, the type of data being defined (vector, scalar, string), and the data values themselves. The steps below outline the process in detail.
-
Open the Discrete Field Library from the Model tab of the Ribbon
-
Select the "Create" option.
-
Name the Discrete Field.
-
Define the data that will be contained in the table. This includes:
-
Selecting the entity type that this Discrete Field describes. This could be either a HyperX Entity, FEM Entity, or a CAD Entity.
-
Choosing the type of values that will be defined in the table (scalar, vector, string).
-
Add additional data columns as necessary using the "+" button.
-
-
Define the data in the table. Do this by manually entering each value or using the 'Edit in Excel' option.
-
Click 'Apply' to save the Discrete Field.
Editing a Discrete Field involves changing the name, data types, or values being defined in the table. This is done by:
-
Open the Discrete Field Library from the Model tab of the Ribbon.
-
Select the Discrete Field you'd like to edit, then click the "Edit" option.
-
Use the resulting form to edit any of the data contained in the Discrete Field table. Notice that you are also able to edit the data type, value, and number of columns shown in the table. You can also use the 'Edit in Excel' option to revise the values in the table itself if that is more convenient.
-
Click 'Apply' to save your edits.
Discrete Fields are Imported in the Discrete Field Library. Multiple Discrete Fields can be imported at once. There are several file formats from which Discrete Fields can be imported:
-
From Database - Import Discrete Fields from another HyperX Database, or from another Project in the same Database.
-
From Excel - Import tabular data from a spreadsheet.
-
From VCP - Specific to the composite fiber direction analysis workflow (see How to Map Fiber Directions to Plies) - Import 3D vectors per element, per ply from an XML file.
-
From iCPS - Specific to the composite fiber direction analysis workflow (see How to Map Fiber Directions to Plies) - Import 3D vectors per element, per ply from a
.pffile.
Discrete Fields are imported from the Discrete Field Library, which can be opened from the Model tab of the Ribbon
From Excel
Use the following guidelines for importing from Excel. It is also helpful to Export a Discrete Field to ensure compliance with format requirements.
-
If multiple sheets are present in the file, each sheet will become a Discrete Field.
-
The "Entity" type of Discrete Field is detected from the header of the first column. For example, the "Element ID" header will generate a Discrete Field with an Element type.
-
The "Data" type of the Discrete Field is detected from the subsequent headers and data fields. If only three columns are present and they are titled "dx, dy, dz", the data type will be set to vector. Otherwise, it will be set to either scalar or string, depending on the type of data found in the spreadsheet.
From VCP
This specialized option is used for importing composite fiber directions per ply, per element. The imported Discrete Fields will be set to element entity type and vector data type. The XML file from VCP typically has multiple plies, and one Discrete Field is created per Ply. See How to Map Fiber Directions to Plies once the fields have been imported.
From iCPS
This specialized option is used for importing composite fiber directions as a vector field. The imported Discrete Fields will be set to point entity type and vector data type. There is typically one .pf file per ply from iCPS, but multiple files can be selected during import. In order to map the Fields to Plies, they first need to be mapped to elements on the FEM; see How to Map Fiber Directions to Plies.
After selecting the .pf files, a prompt will appear with inputs for min and max distance allowed between the points that are imported to HyperX. The import routine traces through each machine motion path and removes or adds points to achieve the target spacing. This is done to avoid having too many or too sparse points for the subsequent mapping. It is recommended to use a min distance no smaller than the average element size and max distance no larger than 5X average element size.
To export a Discrete Field is to send the existing data table to an Excel spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is saved, and can then be manipulated and re-imported, imported into another Database, etc. To export a Discrete Field (or a selection of Discrete Fields):
-
Open the Discrete Field Library from the Model tab of the Ribbon.
-
Select the Discrete Field you'd like to export, then click the "Export" option.
-
Select where to save your spreadsheet, name your spreadsheet, and click 'Save.'