This function allows the user to calculate the shortest route between two nodes of an element and the full length of the path through these two nodes, as shown in Figure 5.1.8.
Figure 5.1.8 Shortest Curve dialog box
There are three types of projection direction for the user to choose: Z-Axis, View Direction and User Define. If the user chooses User Define, the program will pop up a Vector dialog box as shown in Figure 5.1.9.
Figure 5.1.9 Vector dialog box
- Define X coordinate of direction vector. The
user may click this button to set the default direction to be +X-Axis
direction. If clicking the button again, the direction is changed in –X –Axis direction.
The user may directly enter the known coordinate in the input box.
- Define Y coordinate of direction vector. After the user clicks this
button, the default direction is +Y-Axis direction. If the user double clicks
the button, the direction will change in –Y-Axis direction. The user may directly enter the known
coordinate in the input box.
- Define Z coordinate of direction vector. After clicking this button,
the default direction is +Z-Axis direction. If the user double click this
button, the direction will change in –Z-Axis direction. The user may directly enter the known coordinate in the input box.
Two Points/Nodes - Define vector direction by selecting two points or two nodes on the screen.
The first point is the starting point of vector and the second one is the end
point.
Three Points/Nodes Normal - Define vector direction by plane normal that
is set by three selected points or nodes. After clicking this function, system
will prompt the user to select three points or nodes.
Element Normal - Select an element to define a vector by the
element normal. After clicking this button, the user needs to select an element
on the screen. After selecting the element, the vector direction is highlighted
at the center of the element.
Existed LCS - This function allows the user to select a defined LCS X-, Y-, Z-Axis to
be the direction vector. If there is no defined LCS in the database, the button
turns gray. The user may use menu Utilities/Coordinate System to define local
coordinate system. After clicking this button, the program displays the select
coordinate system dialog box as shown in Figure 5.1.10.
Figure 5.1.10 Select LCS dialog box
The user can click the C.S.ID
button to set the X-, Y-, Z-Axis of an existed local coordinate system as the
direction vector.
View Direction - Define view direction as W-Axis direction.
Reverse Normal - Reverse the defined coordinates’ direction.
After setting of projection direction, the user can select points directly on the screen and click the middle mouse button to confirm completion of this selection. The shortest path between two points will be highlighted on the screen, as shown in Figure 5.1.11. The full length of the path will be displayed in Length option. The user can also click on Create Curve button to generate the shortest curve on the screen.
Figure 5.1.11 Displayed Path Length