Flow Motion

the visualization menu

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Section contents

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Introduction

The motion inside a field can be visualized in order to get an idea of the overall motion inside one, or a combination of more, fields. The direction and power of the motion can be calculated at specific points inside a field or field group and will be visualized with vectors.
The vectors can be displayed in two ways:
solid vectors look like arrows and can be converted to real solids for rendering.
line vectors are represented as lines with a short white point as the head of the vector.
The size and the direction of the vectors represent the power and direction of the motion at the vector's position.

The visualize submenu is for visualization (reference) only. The characteristics of the fields will not change by using the visualization menu.

field groups scroll list

To display and activate field groups in order to display the vectors of one or all fields in the field group.

Usage
All existing field groups can be found in this list. For scrolling the list. see field types.

Comments
All fields belonging to the active field group will be listed and can be activated in the fields scroll list in order to visualize their motion.

To display the sum of all vectors belonging to the active field group, switch the field group toggle button to field group before selecting line vectors or solid vectors button.

See also
fields scroll list, field group

fields scroll list

To display, and activate fields in order to visualize their motion.

Usage
All fields belonging to the active field group can be found in this list.

Comments
With the field group toggle button switch to field group, all fields in the fields scroll list will be active.

The wireframes of the active field will be displayed in yellow.

The vectors of the active field can be displayed by selecting the line vectors or solid vectors button.

See also
line vectors, solid vectors, field groups scroll list, field group

field group

To select, between activating one or all of the fields, belonging to the active field group.

Usage
Click on the field group toggle button to change from field group to field (2-toggle button).

Comments
With the button switched to field, only the highlighted field in the fields scroll list will be active.

With the toggle button switched to field group, all fields belonging to the highlighted field group will be active.

See also
field groups scroll list

auto resize

To automatically resize the currently displayed solid or line vectors to acceptable proportions.

Usage
Click the auto resize button to activate, then all currently displayed vectors will be resized to acceptable proportions. Note that this changes the current vector length value.

Comments
The size of the vectors can also be specified by setting the length and width (solid vectors only) input boxes.

Changing the length or width of the vectors will not change the characteristics of the field.

line vectors

To display the motion inside the active field or field group. The motion will be visualized by drawing lines which represent vectors inside the active field or field group.

Usage
Click the line vectors toggle button each vector will now be represented by a line with a white head as the point of the vector. Click the toggle button again to deactivate the display of these vectors.

Comments
The number of vectors in the x, y and z direction being displayed can be set in the visualize data input box.

When line vectors are activated, clicking the solid vectors button immediately results in the same vectors displayed as solids, the vectors are not re-calculated.

See also
solid vectors, visualize data input box

solid vectors

To display the motion inside the active field or field group. The motion will be visualized by drawing solid arrows inside the field or field group.

Usage
Click the solid vectors toggle button, each vector will now be represented by a solid arrow. Click the toggle button again to deactivate it.

Comments
The number of vectors in the x, y and z direction being displayed can be set in the visualize data input box. Solid vectors can be converted to real solids with the vectors to sol button.

When solid vectors are activated, clicking the line vectors button immediately results in the same vectors displayed as lines, the vectors are not re-calculated.

See also
line vectors, visualize data input box, vectors to sol

vectors to sol

To place a copy of the displayed solid vectors in the current model tree.

Usage
Click the vectors to sol toggle button to activate. The following prompt will then Please enter a tag for the solid of vectors: _
In response to this prompt, type the tag name for the solid of vectors. A copy of the solid vectors will then be grouped to the current model.

Comments
The solid vectors can be edited like any other model.

See also
solid vectors

data input box: nr of vectors

To display or change the number of vectors being displayed in the x, y or z direction.

Usage
Click the nr of vectors x-axis, nr of vectors y-axis, or nr of vectors z-axis input box to activate it (red outline). Next, the following prompt will appear:
_
In response to this prompt, type in the number vectors to be displayed in the x, y or z direction. Press <enter> to confirm.

data input box: vector length

To display or change the display-length of the displayed vectors.

Usage
Click the vector length input box to activate it (red outline), the following prompt will then appear in the input box:
_
In response to this prompt, type in the new length for the currently displayed vectors. Press <enter> to confirm. The vectors will now be displayed with this new length.

Comments
The length input box will not change the characteristics of the field.

See also
auto resize

data input box: vector width

To display or change the width of the displayed solid vectors.

Usage
Click the data input box: vector width input box to activate it (red outline), the following prompt will then appear in the input box:
_
In response to this prompt, type in the new width for the currently displayed solid vectors. Press <enter> to confirm. The vectors will now be displayed with this new width.

Comments
The width input box will not change the characteristics of the field.

See also
data input box: vector length

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