Material properties

For each material, the user must specify its properties. It is clear that for material types corresponding with material grades of a particular technical code the properties are predefined.

The properties may be divided into two groups:

• basic material properties;

• advanced material properties.

Basic material properties

The basic properties are those that are necessary for the standard finite element calculation of the model. Without them, no analysis is possible.

The basic parameters are:

• unit mass;

• modulus of elasticity;

• Poisson’s coefficient.

Advanced material properties

The advanced parameters may be required for:

• either an advanced type of calculation (e.g. non-linear analysis, dynamic calculation, etc.);

• or checking to a particular technical code.

Examples of advanced parameters may be:

• independent G modulus;

• logarithmic decrement;

• nominal or design strength;

• ultimate strength;

• etc.

There are also special material parameters that do not affect the calculation and results, but that may help the user to make the model clearer. This is e.g. colour. The colour may be used when 1D members are displayed on the screen. Thus, all the 1D members made of the same material will be drawn in the same colour. The display style can be set inView_parameters.

Note: The units for the individual material parameters may be set in Units setup.