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*NODE FILE

Keyword type: step

This option is used to print selected nodal variables in file jobname.frd for subsequent viewing by CalculiX GraphiX. The following variables can be selected:

- Displacements (key=U)
- Displacements: magnitude and phasE (key=PU, only for *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS calculations).
- Temperatures (key=NT)
- Temperatures: magnitude and phasE (key=PNT, only for *STEADY STATE DYNAMICS calculations).
- External forces (key=RF)
- External concentrated heat sources (key=RFL)

The selected variables are stored for the complete model.

The external forces are the sum of the reaction forces, concentrated loads (*CLOAD) and distributed loads (*DLOAD) in the node at stake. Only in the absence of concentrated loads in the node and distributed loads in any element to which the node belongs, the external forces reduce to the reaction forces. Forces induced by multiple point constraints are not calculated. Since single point constraints defined in transformed coordinates are converted into multiple point constraints in the global rectangular system, the force in a node in which a SPC is defined in local coordinates are not correctly delivered upon using the RF key in combination with the *NODE PRINT keyword card.

The first occurrence of an *NODE FILE keyword card within a step wipes out all previous nodal variable selections for file output. If no *NODE FILE card is used within a step the selections of the previous step apply. If there is no previous step, no nodal variables will be stored.

Notice that only values in nodes belonging to elements are stored. Values in nodes not belonging to any element (e.g. the rotational node in a *RIGID BODY option) can only be obtained using *NODE PRINT.

There are four optional parameters: FREQUENCY, GLOBAL, OUTPUT and TIME POINTS. FREQUENCY applies to nonlinear calculations where a step can consist of several increments. Default is FREQUENCY=1, which indicates that the results of all increments will be stored. FREQUENCY=N with N an integer indicates that the results of every Nth increment will be stored. The final results of a step are always stored. If you only want the final results, choose N very big. The value of N applies to *EL FILE, *ELPRINT, *NODE FILE and *NODE PRINT. If the FREQUENCY parameter is used for more than one of these keywords with conflicting values of N, the last value applies to all.

With the parameter GLOBAL you tell the program whether you would like the results in the global rectangular coordinate system or in the local nodal system. If an *TRANSFORM card is applied to the node at stake, this card defines the local system. If no *TRANSFORM card is applied to the element, the local system coincides with the global rectangular system. Default value for the GLOBAL parameter is GLOBAL=YES, which means that the results are stored in the global system. If you prefer the results in the local system, specify GLOBAL=NO.

The parameter OUTPUT can only take the value 3D, i.e. OUTPUT=3D. This has only effect for 1d and 2d elements such as beams, shells, plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetric elements AND provided it is used in the first step. If used, the 1d and 2d elements are stored in their expanded three-dimensional form. In particular, the user has the advantage to see his/her 1d/2d elements with their real thickness dimensions. However, the node numbers are new and do not relate to the node numbers in the input deck. Once selected, this parameter is active in the complete calculation. If this parameter is not selected (default) the fields in the expanded elements are averaged to obtain the values in the nodes of the original 1d and 2d elements.

With the parameter TIME POINTS a time point sequence can be referenced, defined by a *TIME POINTS keyword. In that case, output will be provided for all time points of the sequence within the step and additionally at the end of the step. No other output will be stored and the FREQUENCY parameter is not taken into account. Within a step only one time point sequence can be active. If more than one is specified, the last one defined on any of the keyword cards *NODE FILE, *EL FILE, *NODE PRINT or *EL PRINT will be active. The TIME POINTS option should not be used together with the DIRECT option on the procedure card.

First line:

- *NODE FILE
- Enter any needed parameters and their values.

Second line:

- Identifying keys for the variables to be printed, separated by kommas.

    Example:

    *NODE FILE,FREQUENCY=2,TIME POINTS=T1
    RF,NT

requests the storage of reaction forces and temperatures in the .frd file every second increment. In addition, output will be stored for all time points defined by the T1 time points sequence.

Example files: beampt, beampo1.

Next: *NODE PRINT Up: Input deck format Previous: *NODE Contents