Creating a Solution Sensor

Local sensors record local values for field output results during an analysis step. Global sensors record values for history output results for “whole model” quantities during an analysis step. You can use the data collected by sensors to review the progression of the analysis and obtain specific results from the general output. Possible uses for sensors include the following:

Determine the relative motion of two points
Determine the minimum, average, and maximum values of the selected output variable at a point
Create an X–Y plot of the sensor values
Run the Product Engineering Optimizer

You can also use sensors to create parameters for use in Knowledgeware formulas. (For more information on Knowledgeware, see Applying Knowledgeware.) Sensors in the CATIA V5 Generative Structural Analysis User’s Guide provides an overview of sensors in CATIA V5 and includes links to topics on creating, updating, and displaying various types of sensors.

This task shows you how to create and validate a solution sensor.

Click the Create Local Sensor icon or the Create Global Sensor icon in the Postprocessing toolbar.
Select the Step object for which you want to create the sensor. The Step objects are located under the Analysis Case Solution objects set in the specification tree.
Tip: Alternatively, you can select an Abaqus results image from the main window, if one is displayed. For more information, see Generating a Results Image. Abaqus for CATIA V5 uses the solution step for which the results image was created as the support for the sensor.
The Create Local Sensor or Create Global Sensor dialog box appears, according to your selection in Step 1.
Select a result variable from the list. The available results depend on the output variables for the selected step:
- Local sensors use the field output variable results
- Global sensors use the “whole model” history output variable results
Click OK to close the dialog box and to create the sensor.
Abaqus for CATIA V5 creates the new sensor object in the Solution Sensors object set in the specification tree.
For local sensors, double-click the new sensor object to complete the sensor definition.
Abaqus for CATIA V5 opens the Local Sensor dialog box.
1. Select the Supports, Occurrences, and Post-Treatment values that you want the sensor to capture.
2. Toggle on Create Parameters to make the sensor available in Knowledgeware formulas.
3. Click OK to close the Local Sensor dialog box.
Right-click on the sensor object in the specification tree, and select Update Sensor.
Abaqus for CATIA V5 updates the value of the sensor using the model results.
If a local sensor has more than one value, you can right-click on the sensor object in the specification tree and select Generate 2D Display to plot the values.
Abaqus for CATIA V5 plots the sensor values.

Note: Due to the incremental solution technique used to analyze each step, the sensor output for parameters is a list of values. You must use formula commands that are intended for list data, such as getItem(), to access the sensor values. For example, the following Knowledgeware syntax allows you to use a displacement sensor value for the first (GetItem(1)) or last (...Size()) increment:

`Finite Element Model.1\Displacement component.1\List.1` -> GetItem(1)

`Finite Element Model.1\Displacement component.1\List.1` -> GetItem(
    `Finite Element Model.1\Displacement component.1\List.1`->Size() )

For more information on Knowledgeware, see Applying Knowledgeware.

If you update and rerun an analysis such that the output used by a sensor is no longer available, Abaqus for CATIA V5 marks the sensor (INVALID) in the specification tree when you attach the new results.