META Tutorials

2D PLOT

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. Prerequisites ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Problem Description.......................................................................................................... 1
1.3. Data Files.......................................................................................................................... 1
2. Plot curves from Model Entities ........................................................................................... 2
2.1. Read Model Geometry ...................................................................................................... 2
2.2. Plot Results from one Node .............................................................................................. 2
2.3. Plot results from more Nodes ........................................................................................... 3
2.4. Synchronization with Model .............................................................................................. 4
3. Plot curves from Time History files ...................................................................................... 5
3.1. Read Curves ..................................................................................................................... 5
3.2. Modify Units ...................................................................................................................... 6
3.3. Add curves ........................................................................................................................ 7
3.4. Multiple Plots .................................................................................................................... 8
4. Identification ......................................................................................................................... 10
4.1. Identify a Point ................................................................................................................ 10
4.2. Annotation on Curve ....................................................................................................... 11
4.3. Exhibit Curves ................................................................................................................. 12
5. Filter Curves ......................................................................................................................... 14
5.1. CFC Filter ....................................................................................................................... 14
6. Curve’s Data ......................................................................................................................... 16
6.1. Copy curve’s data ........................................................................................................... 16
6.2. Save data in ASCII file .................................................................................................... 17
7. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 18
 2d Plot

1. Introduction

This tutorial highlights some of the most commonly used META features related to the 2d Plot tool.
Not all capabilities are demonstrated in this tutorial. The user may also refer to META User’s Guide for the functionality of META
and detailed description of functions and procedures.

1.1. Prerequisites

It is recommended for users who have never used META before to read the Introduction Tutorial. For old META users it would
be helpful referring to META Release Notes.

1.2. Problem Description

The purpose of this tutorial is to exploit the main

functions of the 3d Plot tool through a crash analysis
example.

1.3. Data Files

The files required for this tutorial are:

/tutorials/META_tutorials/CRASH/double_rail.pc
/tutorials/META_tutorials/CRASH/double_rail.DSY
/tutorials/META_tutorials/CRASH/double_rail.THP

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2. Plot curves from Model Entities

2.1. Read Model Geometry

1. Switch to the Read Results > Geometry tab and press the … button
to open the File Manager.

For this tutorial select the file:

1 ../CRASH/double_rail.pc

and press Open.

2. Switch to the Results tab. The respective results file and all states
are selected automatically.

3. Keep checked only the Deformation option and press Read.

2.2. Plot Results from one Node

1. Select iHistory > Node X Data under the Identify function.

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2. Pick a node from the model.

A new window named IdeHistory1 is created containing the respective

curve.

3. Use the ESC key to exit the function.

2.3. Plot results from more Nodes

1. Return to MetaPost window and through the Identify function

1 select iHistory > From Model Entities.

The From Model Entities window opens.

2. Press on the Pick button and then select three more nodes from
4 the model and middle click to exit the picking function.

3 3. Select these nodes on the list.

4. Press refresh to also load the previously identified node.

5. Select X Node Data(Displacements) from the Available Results

list.

6. Change the x axis to Time.

5
7. Select the IdeHistory window.

6 8. Click on the Create button.

Tips
Nodes previously identified can be inserted in the list by clicking on
7 8 the refresh button.
By selecting any type of entity from the drop down menu the mouse
pointer changes into picking mode automatically.

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2.4. Synchronization with Model

The curves are added in the same plot as previously.

1 1. Animate the model. Notice that the current Y value is synchronized

and shown on the plot.

To deactivate the synchronization follow the steps bellow:

2. Select all curves from the list and open the context menu with the
right mouse button and select Curve Options.

3. Select the Synchronize category.

4. Change the Synchronize with Model to None.

4
5. Use the ESC key to close the window.
3

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3. Plot curves from Time History files

3.1. Read Curves

1. Switch to the Curves tab of the Read Results card.

2. Invoke the file manager and open the file:

1 2 ../CRASH/double_rail.THP

3. Select global as Type and Time as Abcissa.

3
4. Select the Total Kinetic and Total Internal Energy from the list.

5. Configure to create a New Window and click on the Read button.

6. The default title of the plot is the filename. Double click on it to open
6 the Header Options and change the text to ENERGIES

7. Press ESC or the X button to close the options window.

Tips
Notice that curves loaded from the Time History file are also
synchronized with the model.

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3.2. Modify Units

1. Select the two curves from the list.

1 2. Invoke the context menu and select Modify Units.

3. Select Y-Axis on the top, Energy from the list and configure to
convert the units from joules to kilojoules.

4. Click on Replace button.

2
3

The curves are replaced with new ones.

Press Ctrl and right mouse button simultaneously (or the F9 button) to
zoom-fit and see the new curves.

5. Invoke the context menu by right clicking on the plot and select Edit
> Show Legend.

Tips
The legend can be moved by drag and drop with the middle mouse
5 button.

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3.3. Add curves

1. Select the two curves from the list.

2. Invoke the context menu and select Calculations > Add.

A third curve is created named Sum of: 1-2.

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3.4. Multiple Plots

It is possible to have more than one 2d Plots under

the same window.
1
1. Press on the Plot Layout button located in the
Drawing Styles toolbar.

2. Select the 2x2 layout.

2

Tips
Now, there are four plots under the same window.
These plots are also listed in the Curve List.

Active Plot By clicking on a plot, it becomes active and

highlighted. Any new curves will be created on the
active plot.

Use the CTRL button to activate more than one plot.

Active plots can also be controlled through the Curve

List, Select plots with the left mouse button to make
them active. Using the CTRL button the plots can be
deactivated.

3. Activate only the plot 2:Plot.

4. From the Read Results card select the Time

Step.

5. Set to Active Window and press the Read button.

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The curve is created on the second plot.

1 1. Modify the header to TIME STEP and change the

units to msec.

Tips
The curves’ ids are numbered by window and not by
plot. In this case the curve takes the number 4.

2. Switch back to single plot layout through the

toolbar.

2 Only Plot 2 is now visible in the window as well as in

the Curve List.

Tips
All curves present in other plots are not lost. They
can become again visible by changing the layout.

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4. Identification

4.1. Identify a Point

1. Hold the CTRL button and make a box selection on the area as
shown in the picture.

1 The area is zoomed.

2. Middle click on the point just before the drop of the curve to identify
it.

Tips
2 Identification functions are also available through the Identify button or
through the respective field of the context menu.

3. Press the F9 button to fit again the curve to the plot.

4. Double click on the curve to open Curve Options.

5. Select the Points, disable the Follow Window Settings option and
configure the Precision to Fixed and Digits to 2.

6. Reset the identification using the respective button.

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4.2. Annotation on Curve

1. Invoke the annotations tool.

1
2. Select Window 2 from the list.

3. Select Curve under the Pointer tab.

4. Set the Position to Curve Min and click on the Pick button to
select the Time Step curve (id:4).
4

An Annotation is created pointing on the minimum Y value.

TIPS:
The annotation can be moved by drag and drop using the middle
mouse button.

The text precision and contents can be modified under the Text tab
of the annotations card.

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4.3. Exhibit Curves

1. Select plink under the Results of the Curves card.

2. Select everything from the list.

3. Select Normal force.

3

4. Set New Window and click on the Read button.

A new 2d Plot Window is created.

4

5. Select Curve Functions through the context menu or through the

Calculate > Curve Functions within the main toolbar.

6 6. Select the Exhibit function.

7. Configure to Exhibit curves above: 0.75.

7

8 8. Click on Select and after on Show Only button.

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Only the curves that pass the 0.75 limit are visible and selected

1. Right click on the selected curves to invoke the context menu.

2. Select Statistics > Max.

The max value of each curve is identified.

3. Invoke again the context menu for the selected curves and select
Show on Model.

4
4. Switch to the MetaPost Window. The respective plinks are
identified in the 3d Window.

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5. Filter Curves

5.1. CFC Filter

1. Change the Type to section.

2 2. Select Section 1.

3 3. Select Section X force.

4 4. Switch to New Window and press the Read

button.

5. Right click on the curve, either from the list or

directly on the plot.
6
6. Select Filter > Unit System.

7 7. Select MM.K.MS and click on the OK button.

8. Within the context menu select Filter > CFC >

Frequency channel Class 180.

9. Press on the Apply button.

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Tips
The Apply button creates a new curve. By using the
Replace button, the old curve is deleted.

It is also possible to setup the units and filtering method

before reading curves through the Settings tab of the
Read Curves card.

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6. Curve’s Data

6.1. Copy curve’s data

1. Select only the filtered curve and invoke the context menu.

2. Select Clipboard > Copy selected curves’ data.

3. Invoke the SpreadSheet Editor from the Tools menu on top.

4. Paste the data in the editor.

Tips
The data can be pasted in any other software too.

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6.2. Save data in ASCII file

1. Invoke the File Manager from the File > Save menu.

2. Change the File Type to Curves in column format.

3. Type a filename and its extension and click on the Save button.

4. Press the ESC key to close the card.

3
2

Tips
The card remains open in case that more curves need to be saved.

Activate the Save range option to save only a part of the curve.

To append data in an existing file, use the append option.

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7. Conclusion

In this tutorial some of the basic steps for post processing curves’ data have been followed. Not all capabilities were
demonstrated. The user may also refer to META User’s Guide for the functionality of META and detailed description of functions
and procedures.

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