Abaqus Scripting Reference Guide  


39.1 Path object

The Path object defines a line through your model by specifying a series of nodes or points.

Access
import visualization
session.paths[name]


39.1.1 Path(...)

This method creates a Path object.

Path
session.Path

Required arguments

name

A String specifying the repository key.

type

A SymbolicConstant specifying the type of path being created. Possible values are NODE_LIST, POINT_LIST, EDGE_LIST, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, and RADIAL.

expression

A sequence specifying the nodes or points that make up the path. The definition of the path expression depends on the type argument.

  • If type=NODE_LIST, expression must be a sequence of sequences. Each inner sequence contains two items, the first item is a String specifying the name of a part instance, and the second item can be either a sequence of Ints or a sequence of Strings, each specifying a range of Ints.

  • If type=POINT_LIST, expression must be a sequence of tuples of three Floats, specifying the coordinates of each point.

  • If type=EDGE_LIST, expression must be a sequence of sequences. Each inner sequence contains two items, the first item is a String specifying the name of the part instance, and the second item is a sequence of tuples of four Ints that uniquely identify an element edge. The four Ints are:

    1. The element label.

    2. The element face index (one-based).

    3. The face edge index (one-based).

    4. The edge direction. A positive number specifies that the edge direction runs from the edge start node to the edge end node. A negative number specifies the opposite.

  • When type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL or RADIAL, expression must be a sequence of three tuples of three Floats, specifying the coordinates of the points used to define a coordinate system.

circleDefinition

A SymbolicConstant specifying the method in which the circle is being defined. This argument is valid only when type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL or RADIAL. Possible values are ORIGIN_AXIS and POINT_ARC.

When the value is ORIGIN_AXIS, the first two points in expression are points on the rotational axis and the third point lies on the x-axis. When the value is POINT_ARC, the three points in expression are points lying on the arc of the circle.

numSegments

An Int specifying the number of equal segments in the path. This argument is valid only when type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL or RADIAL.

startAngle

A Float specifying the start angle of the circumferential path. This argument is valid only when type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL.

endAngle

A Float specifying the end angle of the circumferential path. This argument is valid only when type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL.

radius

The SymbolicConstant CIRCLE_RADIUS or a Float specifying the radius of the circumferential path. This argument is valid only when type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL.

radialAngle

A Float specifying the angle between the radial path and the X-axis of the specified coordinate system. This argument is valid only when type=RADIAL.

startRadius

The SymbolicConstant CIRCLE_RADIUS or a Float specifying the start radius of the radial path. This argument is valid only when type=RADIAL.

endRadius

The SymbolicConstant CIRCLE_RADIUS or a Float specifying the end radius of the radial path. This argument is valid only when type=RADIAL.

Optional arguments

None.

Return value

A Path object.

Exceptions

ModelError, ErrorUnsupportedNodeData, ErrorUnsupportedPointData, ErrorIncorrectPathData, KeyError, ErrorEmptyPathName, ErrorPathNotFound, and ErrorNoOdbPathDisplay.

ValueError: When type=CIRCUMFERENTIAL or RADIAL, the three points specified in expression are collinear.


39.1.2  Members

The Path object has members with the same names and descriptions as the arguments to the Path method.