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*AMPLITUDE

Keyword type: model definition

This option may be used to specify an amplitude history versus time. The amplitude history should be given in pairs, each pair consisting of a value of the reference time and the corresponding value of the amplitude. If the parameter TIME=TOTAL TIME is used the reference time is the total time since the start of the calculation, else it is the local step time. Use as many pairs as needed, maximum four per line. The parameter NAME, specifying a name for the amplitude so that it can be used in loading definitions (*BOUNDARY, *CLOAD, *DLOAD and *TEMPERATURE) is required.This option makes sense for nonlinear static and dynamic (nonlinear and modal dynamic) calculations only. In all other procedures, this card is ignored.

In each step, the local step time starts at zero. Its upper limit is given by the time period of the step. This time period is specified on the *STATIC, *DYNAMIC or *MODAL DYNAMIC keyword card. The default step time period is 1.

The total time is the time accumulated until the beginning of the actual step augmented by the local step time.

The loading values specified in the loading definitions (*BOUNDARY, *CLOAD, *DLOAD and *TEMPERATURE) are reference values. If an amplitude is selected in a loading definition, the actual load value is obtained by multiplying the reference value with the amplitude for the actual (local step) time. If no amplitude is specified, the actual load value depends on the procedure: for a *STATIC procedure, ramp loading is assumed connecting the load value at the end of the previous step (0 if there was none) to the reference value at the end of the present step in a linear way. For *DYNAMIC and *MODAL DYNAMIC procedures, step loading is assumed, i.e. the actual load equals the reference load for all time instances within the step. Reference loads which are not changed in a new step remain active, their amplitude description, however, becomes void. Beware that at the end of a step, all reference values for which an amplitude was specified are replaced by their actual values at that time.

First line:

- *AMPLITUDE
- Enter the required parameter.

Following line, using as many entries as needed:

- Time.
- Amplitude.
- Time.
- Amplitude.
- Time.
- Amplitude.
- Time.
- Amplitude.

Repeat this line if more than eight entries (four data points) are needed.

    Example:

    *AMPLITUDE,NAME=A1
    0.,0.,10.,1.

defines an amplitude function with name A1 taking the value 0. at t=0. and the value 1. at t=10. The time used is the local step time.

Example files: beamdy1, beamnldy.

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