The problem-description section specifies the problem title and the number of nodes and elements in the problem. If this section is not specified then the problem will be unnamed and is assumed to contain zero nodes and zero elements. This section may be absent for example in defaults files which define objects but do not specify an actual problem instance. The format for a problem-description is given below.

problem description

[ title = string ]

[ nodes = integer ]

[ elements = integer ]

[ analysis = static | transient | modal | static-thermal| transient-thermal| spectral ]

If the title is missing then the problem is unnamed. If nodes or elements is missing then none of that type of object are expected. The assignments can occur in any order and can even be repeated with the last assignment being used.

The analysis-parameters section defines any parameters for a specific type of analysis. Currently, this section is used only if the analysis mode is transient. The format of the analysis-parameters section is given below.

analysis parameters

[ alpha = expression ]

[ beta = expression ]

[ gamma = expression ]

[ step = expression ]

[ start = expression ]

[ stop = expression ]

[ Rm = expression ]

[ Rk = expression ]

[ nodes = [ node-list ] ]

[ dofs = [ dof-list ] ]

[ mass-mode = lumped | consistent ]

The alpha, beta, andgamma parameters are used in numerical integration schemes (transient and transient-thermal analysis). start, stop, and step define the range of time or frequency interest for transient or spectral analyses. In transient analyses, start is meaningless and duration and dt can be used as aliases for stop and step, respectively. Rk and Rm are global Rayleigh (stiffness and mass) damping proportionality constants. The node-list is a comma or white space separated list of node numbers that are of interest in the analysis. Similarly, the dof-list is a list of the degrees of freedom (Tx, Ty, Tz, Rx, Ry, and Rz) that are of interest.

An object-definition section defines objects of a specified type. Objects include nodes, elements, materials, constraints, forces, and distributed loads. Each of these types of objects is discussed below. Multiple object-definition sections are allowed and the sections may occur in any order.

Nodes are points in cartesian space to which elements are attached. A node must have a constraint and may have an optional force. A node is identified by a natural number. The syntax is as follows:

nodes

node-definitions

where a node-definition takes the following form:

node-number

[ x = expression ]

[ y = expression ]

[ z = expression ]

[ constraint = constraint-name ]

[ force = force-name ]

[ mass = expression ]

The node-number starts the definition. Each node must have a unique number. If a cartesian coordinate is not given then the coordinate of the previous node is used. Similarly, if no constraint is given then the constraint applied to the previous node is used. As above, the assignments can appear in any order and any number of times. As indicated above, some objects are identified by their name and some by their number. Elements and nodes have numbers while materials, forces, loads, and constraints have names.

Elements are linear, planar, or solid objects which are attached to nodes. Each element must have a material and may have optional loads. Furthermore, each element has a type, or definition. Like nodes, elements are identified by a unique natural number. Elements of specific type are defined with the following syntax:

element-type elements

element-definition

where an element-type is one of the following:

spring

truss

beam

beam3d

CSTPlaneStrain

CSTPlaneStress

iso2d_PlaneStrain

iso2d_PlaneStress

quad_PlaneStrain

quad_PlaneStress

timoshenko

htk

brick

ctg

rod

and an element-definition has the following form:

element-number

nodes = [ node-list ]

[ material = material-name ]

[ load = load-name-list ]

The element-number starts the definition. Each element must have a unique number. If no material is given then the material applied to the previous element is used. The load-name-list is a list of up to three loads to apply to the element. The node-list is a comma or white space separated list of node numbers. Each type of element requires a certain of nodes and in some cases a special "null node" which is numbered zero may be used to indicate a gap or filler in the list.

Elements are made of a type of material. Each material has a name and certain physical properties not all of which may be used by any one element. The syntax for defining materials is as follows:

material properties

material-definitions

where material-definition has the following form:

material-name
[ color = string ]
# color for velvet
[ E = expression ]
# Young's modulus
[ Ix = expression ]
# moment of inertia about x-x axis
[ Iy = expression ]
# moment of inertia about y-y axis
[ Iz = expression ]
# moment of inertia about z-z axis
[ A = expression ]
# cross-sectional area
[ J = expression ]
# polar moment of inertia
[ G = expression ]
# bulk (shear) modulus
[ t = expression ]
# thickness
[ rho = expression ]
# density
[ nu = expression ]
# Poisson's ratio
[ kappa = expression ]
# shear force correction
[ Rk = expression ]
# Rayleigh damping coefficient (K)
[ Rm = expression ]
# Rayleigh damping coefficient (M)
[ Kx = expression ]
# thermal conductivity in the x-direction
[ Ky = expression ]
# thermal conductivity in the y-direction
[ Ky = expression ]
# thermal conductivity in the z-direction
[ c = expression ]
# heat capacitance


The material-name starts the definition.  If an attribute of a material
is not specified then that attribute is zero.  The assignments may occur in
any order.  The color specifies the color to use in drawing the
material within velvet, and is ignored by other applications.

Constraints are applied to nodes to indicate about which axes a node can move. The syntax for defining a constraint is as follows:

constraints

constraint-definitions

where constraint-definition has the following form:

constraint-name

[ color = string ] # color for velvet

[ tx = c | u | expression ]

# boundary translation along x axis

[ ty = c | u | expression ]

# boundary translation along y axis

[ tz = c | u | expression ]

# boundary translation along z axis

[ rx = c | u | expression | h ]

# boundary rotation about x axis

[ ry = c | u | expression | h ]

# boundary rotation about y axis

[ rz = c | u | expression | h ]

# boundary rotation about z axis

[ itx = expression ]

# initial displacement along x axis

[ ity = expression ]

# initial displacement along y axis

[ itz = expression ]

# initial displacement along z axis

[ irx = expression ]

# initial rotation about x axis

[ iry = expression ]

# initial rotation about y axis

[ irz = expression ]

# initial rotation about z axis

[ vx = expression ]

# initial velocity along x axis

[ vy = expression ]

# initial velocity along y axis

[ vz = expression ]

# initial velocity along z axis

[ ax = expression ]

# initial accel. along x axis

[ ay = expression ]

# initial accel. along y axis

[ az = expression ]

# initial accel. along z axis The constraint-name starts the definition. A value of c for a boundary condition indicates that the axis is constrained; a value of u indicates that the axis is unconstrained. An expression indicates a displacement (non-zero) boundary condition and may contain the t variable for time varying boundary conditions in transient analysis problems. The initial dislacement, velocity and acceleration specifications are only used in transient problems. A value of h for a rotational boundary condition indicates a hinge. By default, all axes are unconstrained. The color specifies the color to use in drawing the constraint within velvet, and is ignored by other applications.

Forces, or point loads, may be applied to nodes. The syntax for a force definition is as follows:

forces

force-definitions

where a force-definition has the following form:

force-name

[ color = string ]

# color for velvet

[ Fx = expression ]

# force along x axis

[ Fy = expression ]

# force along y axis

[ Fz = expression ]

# force along z axis

[ Mx = expression ]

# moment about x axis

[ My = expression ]

# moment about y axis

[ Mz = expression ]

# moment about z axis

[ Sfx = expression ]

# frequency-domain spectra of force along x axis

[ Sfy = expression ]

# frequency-domain spectra of force along y axis

[ Sfz = expression ]

# frequency-domain spectra of force along z axis

[ Smx = expression ]

# frequency-domain spectra of moment about x axis

[ Smy = expression ]

# frequency-domain spectra of moment about y axis

[ Smz = expression ]

# frequency-domain spectra of moment about z axis

The force-name starts the definition. If the force or moment is not specified then it is assumed to be zero. The expressions for forces may be time-varying. Time-varying expressions include the single variable t to represent the current time in the solution of a dynamic problem or consist of a list of discrete (time, value) pairs. Frequency varying expressions for spectra can also use w to represent the independent variable (radial frequency). The color specifies the color to use in drawing the force within velvet, and is ignored by other applications.

Distributed loads, or loads for short, are applied to elements. The syntax for a defining a distributed load is as follows:

distributed loads

load-definitions

where a load-definition has the following form:

load-name
[ color = string ]
# color for velvet
[ direction = dir ]
# direction
[ values = pair-list ]
# local nodes and magnitudes


The load-name starts the definition.  The dir is one of
LocalX, LocalY, LocalZ (local coordinate system),
GlobalX, GlobalY, GlobalZ (global coordinate system),
parallel, or perpendicular.  The pair-list is a sequence of
pairs.  A pair is a node number and an expression enclosed in
parentheses.  The node number refers to the position within the element
rather than referring to an actual node.  The color specifies the color
to use in drawing the load within velvet, and is ignored by other
applications.

The appearance-description section is used by velvet to describe the appearance of a problem. This section is currently not used by felt. The appearance includes the state of the drawing area and any tool figures. This section consists of two subsections, the canvas-configuration section and the figure-list section. The canvas-configuration section has the following syntax.

canvas configuration

canvas-parameters

where a canvas-parameter has the following form:

[ node-numbers = boolean ]
# node numbering
[ element-numbers = boolean ]
# element numbering
[ snap = boolean ]
# snap grid status
[ grid = boolean ]
# visible grid status
[ snap-size = expression ]
# snap grid size
[ grid-size = expression ]
# visible grid size
[ node-color = color-name ]
# node color
[ element-color = color-name ]
# element color
[ label-font = font-name ]
# labeling font
[ tool-color = color-name ]
# tool figure color
[ tool-font = font-name ]
# text figure font
[ x-min = expression ]
# x-axis minimum
[ x-max = expression ]
# x-axis maximum
[ y-min = expression ]
# y-axis minimum
[ y-max = expression ]
# y-axis maximum
[ x-pos = expression ]
# x position of drawing area
[ y-pos = expression ]
# y position of drawing area
[ width = expression ]
# width of viewport window
[ height = expression ]
# height of viewport window
[ scale = expression ]
# scale of drawing area


A boolean is either true or false.  A color-name is
the name of a valid X11 color.  Similarly, a font-name is the name of a
valid X11 font.  The last five parameters are probably not very meaningful to
the user.  The figure-list section has the following syntax.

figure list



figure-definitions

where a figure-definition has the following form:

figure-type
[ x = expression ]
# x coordinate
[ y = expression ]
# y coordinate
[ width = expression ]
# width
[ height = expression ]
# height
[ start = expression ]
# starting angle
[ length = expression ]
# arc length
[ text = name ]
# text string
[ color = name ]
# color
[ font = name ]
# text font
[ points = [ point-list ] ]
# line points

The figure-type starts the definition and is one of rectangle,
polyline, text, or arc.  Note that not all properties
have meaning for all figures.  Any unneeded property is ignored.  If a color
or font property is not given then the previous property is used.  The
point-list is a list of (x-coordinate, y-coordinate) pairs.

An expression can be either constant or time-varying. As discussed above, time-varying expressions contain the variable t or consist of a list of discrete (time, value) pairs. If a time-varying expression is given where a constant expression is expected, the expression is evaluated at time zero. An expression has one of the following forms, where all operators have the precedences and associativities given to them in the C programming language.

expression ? expression : expression
# in-line conditional
expression || expression
# logical or
expression && expression
# logical and
expression | expression
# integer inclusive or
expression ^ expression
# integer exclusive or
expression & expression
# integer and
expression == expression
# equality
expression != expression
# inequality
expression < expression
# less than
expression > expression
# greater than
expression <= expression
# less than or equal
expression >= expression
# greater than or equal
expression << expression
# integer shift left
expression >> expression
# integer shift right
expression + expression
# addition
expression - expression
# subtraction
expression * expression
# multiplication
expression / expression
# division
expression % expression
# integer remainder
- expression
# arithmetic negation
! expression
# logical negation
~ expression
# integer bitwise negation
( expression )
# enforce precedence
sin ( expression )
# sine
cos ( expression )
# cosine
tan ( expression )
# tangent
pow ( expression , expression )
# power (exponentiation)
exp ( expression )
# exponential
log ( expression )
# natural logarithm
log10 ( expression )
# base-10 logarithm
sqrt ( expression )
# square root
hypot ( expression , expression )
# Euclidean distance
floor ( expression )
# floor
ceil ( expression )
# ceiling
fmod ( expression , expression )
# floating point remainder
fabs ( expression )
# absolute value
number
# literal value
t
# current time


Finally, a discretely valued expression has the following syntax, where the
optional + indicates that the list represents one cycle of an infinite
waveform.

( expression ',' expression ) ... [ + ]