*DIM, Par, Type, IMAX, JMAX, KMAX, Var1, Var2, Var3, CSYSID
Defines an array parameter and its dimensions.
Argument Descriptions
-
Par Name of parameter to be dimensioned. See *SET for name restrictions.
-
Type Array type:
- ARRAY --
Arrays are similar to standard FORTRAN arrays (indices are integers) (default). Index numbers for the rows, columns, and planes are sequential values beginning with one. Used for 1-, 2-, or 3-D arrays.
- ARR4 --
Same as ARRAY, but used to specify 4-D arrays.
- ARR5 --
Same as ARRAY, but used to specify 5-D arrays.
- CHAR --
Array entries are character strings (up to 8 characters each). Index numbers for rows, columns, and planes are sequential values beginning with one.
- TABLE --
Array indices are real (non-integer) numbers which must be defined when filling the table. Index numbers for the rows and columns are stored in the zero column and row "array elements" and are initially assigned a near-zero value. Index numbers must be in ascending order and are used only for retrieving an array element. When retrieving an array element with a real index that does not match a specified index, linear interpolation is done among the nearest indices and the corresponding array element values [*SET]. Used for 1-, 2-, or 3-D tables.
- TAB4 --
Same as TABLE, but used to specify 4-D tables.
- TAB5 --
Same as TABLE, but used to specify 5-D tables.
- STRING --
Array entries are character strings (up to IMAX each). Index numbers for columns and planes are sequential values beginning with 1. Row index is character position in string.
-
IMAX Extent of first dimension (row). (For
Type= STRING,IMAXis rounded up to the next multiple of eight and has a limit of 248). Default = 1.-
JMAX Extent of second dimension (column). Default = 1.
-
KMAX Extent of third dimension (plane). Default = 1.
-
Var1 Variable name corresponding to the first dimension (row) for
Type= TABLE, TAB4, or TAB5. Default = Row.-
Var2 Variable name corresponding to the second dimension (column) for
Type= TABLE, TAB4, or TAB5. Default = Column.-
Var3 Variable name corresponding to the third dimension (plane) for
Type= TABLE, TAB4, TAB5. Default = Plane.-
CSYSID An integer corresponding to the coordinate system ID number. Default = 0 (global Cartesian).
Notes
Up to three dimensions (row, column, and plane) may be defined
using ARRAY and TABLE. Use ARR4, ARR5, TAB4, and TAB5 to define up
to five dimensions (row, column, plane, book, and shelf). An index
number is associated with each row, column, and plane. For array
and table type parameters, element values are initialized to zero.
For character and string parameters, element values are initialized
to (blank). A defined parameter must be deleted [*SET] before its dimensions can be changed. Scalar (single valued) parameters
should not be dimensioned. *DIM,A,,3 defines a
vector array with elements A(1), A(2), and A(3). *DIM,B,,2,3 defines a 2x3 array with elements B(1,1), B(2,1), B(1,2),
B(2,2), B(1,3), and B(2,3). Use *STATUS,Par to display elements of array Par. You can write formatted data files (tabular formatting) from data
held in arrays through the *VWRITE command.
If you use table parameters to define boundary conditions, then Var1, Var2, and/or Var3 can either specify a primary variable (listed
in Table 120: *DIM - Primary Variables) or can be an independent parameter.
If specifying an independent parameter, then you must define an additional
table for the independent parameter. The additional table must have
the same name as the independent parameter and may be a function of
one or more primary variables or another independent parameter. All
independent parameters must relate to a primary variable.
Tabular load arrays can be defined in both global Cartesian (default),
cylindrical, spherical, or local (see below) coordinate systems by specifying
CSYSID, as defined in LOCAL.
Coordinate system CSYSID must exist prior to issuing the
*DIM command.
The following constraints apply when specifying a local coordinate system for your tabular loads:
Only Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems are supported
Angle values for Y in cylindrical or spherical coordinate systems must be input in degrees and must be positive values between 0 and 360 degrees (0
Y 
360)Angle values for Z in spherical coordinate system must be input in degrees and must be positive values between -90 and +90 ( -90
Z 
90)
If specifying a 4- or 5-D array or table, four additional fields
(LMAX, MMAX, Var4, and Var5) are available.
Thus, for a 4-D table, the command syntax would be:
*DIM,Par,Type,IMAX,JMAX,KMAX,LMAX,Var1,Var2,Var3,Var4,CSYSID
For a 5-D table, the command syntax is:
*DIM,Par,Type,IMAX,JMAX,KMAX,LMAX,MMAX,Var1,Var2,Var3,Var4,Var5,CSYSID
You cannot create or edit 4- or 5-D arrays or tables via the GUI.
For more information, see Array Parameters.
Table 120: *DIM - Primary Variables
| Primary Variable |
Label for Var1, Var2, Var3, Var4,
Var5
|
|---|---|
| Time | TIME |
| Frequency | FREQ |
| X-coordinate location | X |
| Y-coordinate location | Y |
| Z-coordinate location | Z |
| Temperature | TEMP |
| Velocity | VELOCITY |
| Pressure | PRESSURE [1] |
| Geometric gap/penetration | GAP |
| Cyclic sector number | SECTOR |
| Amplitude of the rotational velocity vector | OMEGS |
| Eccentricity | ECCENT |
| Phase shift | THETA |
| Element number | ELEM |
| Node number | NODE |
| Concentration | CONC |
The X, Y, and Z coordinate locations listed above are valid in global Cartesian, or local (Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical) coordinate systems. The VELOCITY label is applicable only to the calculated fluid velocity in element FLUID116.
When using PRESSURE as a primary variable, the underlying element must have the pressure DOF associated with it, or it must be a supported contact element.
The gap/penetration label (GAP) is only used for defining certain contact element real constants.
The frequency label (FREQ) is valid for harmonic analyses only.
The node and element labels (NODE and ELEM) allow you to use node and element numbers as primary variables, and their axis values should be integers.
The OMEGS, ECCENT, and THETA primary variables only apply to the COMBI214 element. The amplitude of the rotational velocity (OMEGS) is an absolute value, so only positive values of OMEGS are valid. The eccentricity (ECCENT) and phase shift (THETA) labels are only valid for nonlinear analyses.
If you use table parameters to define boundary conditions, the
table names (Par) must not exceed 32 characters.
In thermal analyses, if you apply tabular loads as a function of temperature but the rest of the model is linear (e.g., includes no temperature-dependent material properties or radiation ), you should turn on Newton-Raphson iterations (NROPT,FULL) to evaluate the temperature-dependent tabular boundary conditions correctly.
This command is valid in any processor.