The Line Bead dialog box is illustrated in Figure 10.3.1.

Figure 10.3.1  Define Line Bead dialog box

After entering the Line Bead page, click the Add button to create a draw bead. This button is automatically enabled during the first entry.

DRAW BEAD NAME

This function allows the user to define the name of draw bead. The default draw bead name is Drawbd, which is not allowed to change.

DEFAULT PROPERTY

This function allows the user to define the draw bead property. When defining a draw bead the first time, the user can only select Use Default Property illustrated in Figure 10.3.2. When defining a subsequent draw bead, the user is allowed to select an existing draw bead property as the new draw bead property, as illustrated in Figure 10.3.3. The draw bead property can be modified after the draw bead is defined.

Figure 10.3.2  Use default property

Figure 10.3.3  Use property of draw bead

DRAW BEAD LINE

This function allows the user to create the draw bead line through the following three methods. The first method is to select an existing geometric line. Click this button to display the Select Line dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.3.4, which allows the user to select one or multiple lines. The second is to import the draw bead line. Click this button to display the dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.3.5 where there are two types of file named *.cur and *.igs. The third is to create draw bead line, including Spline and Piecewise line geometry options. Click this button to display the Create Line dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.3.6. The user can create the line through four methods: Node, Point, Cursor on Element and Cursor on Surface. Below the above three defining methods, the number and defining method for the defined draw bead line will display, as illustrated in Figure 10.3.7.

Figure 10.3.4  Select Line dialog box

Figure 10.3.5  Import line dialog box

Figure 10.3.6  Create line dialog box

Figure 10.3.7  Draw bead line information

MESH PARAMETERS

The program provides three methods to define the density of points on the line, as illustrated in Figure 10.3.8.

Figure 10.3.8  Define point on draw bead line

·           BY DISTANCE

Set the density of points by assigning the distance between adjacent points on line. The default separation distance is 15mm.

·         UNIFORM

All the assigned points are uniformly arranged on each line, the default number of points is 15.

·         CHORDAL DEVIATION

The points on the line are distributed according to the chordal deviation of the line. The greater the curvature of line is and the more distributed points there are, the smaller the chordal deviation is, which means that more points will be created on the line. Figure 10.3.9 shows the difference between Unform and Chordal Deviation. The default chordal deviation is 0.25.

  

a) Uniform                         b) Chordal deviation

Figure 10.3.9  Density of points on line

DRAW BEAD LIST

After finishing the definition, click the Apply button to create the draw bead on the defined line. Different lines result in different draw beads. The program will assign a discrete ID number for each draw bead, such as Drawbd1 and Drawbd2. The corresponding ID number will display beside the draw bead, as illustrated in Figure 10.3.10.

Figure 10.3.10  Name draw bead

All the defined draw beads and their force percentages are shown in the draw bead list, as illustrated in Figure 10.3.11. Each new draw bead will be added to the bottom of the list automatically. The user can press the <SHIFT> or <CTRL> button to select multiple draw beads from the list and all the selected draw beads will be highlighted in the graphic display window. The user can toggle on List By Property to show the property of each draw bead, as illustrated in Figure 10.3.12. Click the Back button in Figure 10.3.1 to exit the Create Draw Bead page.

Figure 10.3.11  Draw bead list

Figure 10.3.12  Draw bead property list