Time History User Periodic Function Definition Form

Use the Time History Function Definition form to define a periodic time history function based on user specified time and function values.

Function Name edit box. Specify the name of the time history function or use the default
Number of Cycles edit box. Use the default or specify the number of cycles in the function.
Define Function area and Time and Value edit boxes. Input the time and associated function value for the function in this area. Type the time and function values in the edit boxes at the top of this area. Then click the Add button.

Note: For a user periodic function, specify the time and function values for one cycle of the function and specify the number of cycles. When the program uses the function, it continues for the specified number of cycles, even though values for only the first cycle were specified.

To modify a set of values, highlight them in the list box. Note that the highlighted values appear in the edit boxes at the top of the area. Type revised values in the edit boxes and click the Modify button.
To delete a set of values, highlight them in the list box and click the Delete button.

Function graph area. This area displays a graph of the function. It updates automatically as additional points are defined for the function. If your computer has any problem with the automatic update, click the Display Graph button located just below the graph.

Run the mouse pointer over the function graph and a dot appears along the line representing the time history function. The coordinates of the dot are reported in the box just below the graph.

If a user periodic function is converted to a to a user function by clicking the Convert to User Define button, values are shown for all of the specified cycles.

Access the Time History User Periodic Function Definition form to define a time history function based on user specified time and function values as follows:

Click the Loads > Functions Type > Time History > Expand arrow command, or on the Bridge Wizard select the Time History Functions item and click the Define/Show Tree Hist. Funcs. button, to display the Define Time History Functions form. Then do one of the following:

- Select User Periodic Function from the Choose Function Type to Add drop-down list and click the Add New Function button
- Select a previously defined user specified periodic function and click the Modify/Show Function button.

Alternatively, click the Loads > Functions Type > Time History > New command and select User Periodic from the resulting form.