Setting vector and tensor limits

By default, Abaqus/CAE includes all of a variable's result values in a symbol plot. However, you can use the Symbol Plot Options dialog box to limit the range of values that appear in the plot.

Related Topics
Understanding symbol plotting

Context:

When you specify a particular maximum value, only arrows representing values less than or equal to that maximum value appear in the plot. When you specify a particular minimum value, only arrows representing values greater than that minimum value appear in the plot. Changing the maximum or minimum value is also reflected in the symbol plot legend.

To learn how to display the minimum and maximum values associated with your symbol plot, see Customizing the legend.

  1. Locate the Limits options.

    Select OptionsSymbol from the main menu bar or click in the toolbox; then click the Limits tab in the dialog box that appears. Click either the Vector tab or the Tensor tab; the symbol plot Limits options for the variable type of your choice become available.

  2. In the area labeled Max in the top half of the page, choose one of the following options:

    • Select Auto-compute to use the largest result value as the maximum value.

    • Select Specify to specify the maximum value yourself; then enter the maximum value of your choice in the Specify text field.

  3. In the area labeled Min in the bottom half of the page, choose one of the following options:

    • Select Auto-compute to use the smallest result value as the minimum value.

    • Select Specify to specify the minimum value yourself; then enter the minimum value of your choice in the Specify text field.

  4. Click Apply to implement your changes.

    The symbol plot in the current viewport changes to display arrows only for variable values that fall within the limits you have specified.

    By default, your changes to symbol plot options are saved for the duration of the session and will affect all subsequent symbol plots in the current viewport and in any new viewports created from the current viewport. If you want to retain your changes for subsequent sessions, save them to a file. For more information, see Saving customizations for use in subsequent sessions.