/PARAMETER

Block Format Keyword This card defines values of parameters in the Starter file that will be used throughout the Radioss model.

The values replace the corresponding parameter names in various Radioss cards. The option allows easier parameterization of the model.

Format


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
/PARAMETER/`range`/`type`/`Parameter_ID`
`parameter_title`

If type = INTEGER


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
`ParName`	`Ivalue`

If type = REAL


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
`ParName`	`Rvalue`

If type = INT_EXPR or REAL_EXPR


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
`ParName`	Expression
... Expression ...
Up to 10 lines

If type = TEXT


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
`ParName`	`Length`
Text
Up to 10 lines

Definition


Field	Contents	SI Unit Example
`range`	GLOBAL Parameter value is used everywhere in the input deck. LOCAL Parameter value is used only inside of a certain submodel. Note that GLOBAL parameter definition with same parameter name will be overwritten.
`type`	Parameter type: INTEGER Integer value REAL Real value INT_EXPR Equation of integer parameters REAL_EXPR Equation of real parameters TEXT Text characters
`Parameter_ID`	Parameter identifier. (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
`parameter_title`	Parameter title. (Character, maximum 100 characters)
`ParName`	Parameter name. 3 (Character string, maximum of 9 characters and MUST be aligned to the left of the field for all types, except `type`=TEXT)
`Ivalue`	Parameter integer value. (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
`Rvalue`	Parameter real value. (Real, maximum 20 digits)
`Expression`	Parameter expression. 6
`Length`	Length of character parameter. = 0 The full line is read. (Integer, maximum 100 digits)
`Text`	Parameter character text. (Character string, maximum of 100 characters)

Example 1

#RADIOSS STARTER
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/REAL/1
Time to fire
TTF                        10
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/INTEGER/2
Identifier to sensor
SENS_ID            1
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
. . . 
/BEGIN
. . . 
/SENSOR/TIME/&SENS_ID
Airbag fire time use global parameter TTF=10.0
&TTF
. . . 
//SUBMODEL/1
# sub-model title
submodel
#  Off_dft   Off_nod   Off_elt  Off_part   Off_mat  Off_prop
         0         0         0         0         0         0
#include airbag_submodel.inc
//ENDSUB
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
. . . 
/END

	In include file “airbag_submodel.inc”:

/PARAMETER/LOCAL/REAL/1
Time to fire
TTF       20
. . . 
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/SENSOR/TIME/2
Use local parameter TTF, it is now covered to 20.0 inside include file
&TTF
. . . 
#ENDDATA

Example 2

#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/INTEGER/8
surf part for airbag
s_part             4
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
. . . 
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/SURF/PART/4
Airbag - surf normal of part 4 reversed with -4
         2-&s_part           5         6         7         8
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/END

Example 3

#RADIOSS STARTER
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/REAL/2
Molar mass of inflating gas
MW                        .025
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/REAL/3
Cp heat constant molar
CPM                         13
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/REAL_EXPR/4
Cp heat constant mass
CP        CPM/MW                                                                                   
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/REAL/9
Molar mass of inflating gas
MW1                       .024
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|

Example 4


#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/TEXT/7
text parameter for part 5
var
1         1         0
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
. . .
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/PART/5
Chamber_2_lower
&var
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|

Example 5

/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/TEXT/3
Rotation axe X
RotX               5
   XX
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
. . .
#---1----|----2----|----3----|----4----|----5----|----6----|----7----|----8----|----9----|---10----|
/IMPDISP/1
Top 2
#   Ifunct       DIR     Iskew   Isensor   Gnod_id     Frame     Icoor
         5     &RotX         0         0        24         0         0
#            Scale_x             Scale_y              Tstart               Tstop
                   0         3.141592654                   0                   0

Example 6

Text parameter definition: 

/PARAMETER/GLOBAL/TEXT/1
Update output
Name       12
EXAMPLE_TEXT
…….

Text parameter reference. Text parameter is stitched with text string “123456”:

/TH/NODE/2
&Name$123456
#     var1      var2      var3      var4      var5      var6      var7      var8      var9     var10
DEF       
#    NODid     Iskew                                           NODname
         5              0&Name$123456 

After parameter replacement:
TH GROUP:         2,EXAMPLE_TEXT123456                ,  6 VAR,    1 NODE      :
 -------------------
DX        DY        DZ        VX        VY        VZ
    NODE  SKEW(OR FRAME)     NAME 
         5         0             0EXAMPLE_TEXT123456

Comments

/PARAMETER/LOCAL cards can be specified and used only inside of a submodel (//SUBMODEL). Local parameter overwrites a global parameter definition with the same name inside of the submodel, where it is specified. Local parameters can be specified in any part of submodel.
ParName requirements:
- Only letters, numbers, and underscores are valid characters; no other characters are allowed.
- Parameter names must always begin with a letter and are case sensitive; for example, Thickness, THICKNESS, and thickness are all different variable names.
- Parameter names cannot be words reserved for Templex statements, implicit variables, or string and mathematical functions or operators defined in the Math Reference section of the API, Reference Guide. These reserved words are not case sensitive; for example, Time, time, TIME, Date, date, DATE are not valid parameter names because Time and Date are math functions.
- Names of include files, and keywords cannot be used as parameters.
Parameters with a name ParName can be referenced after /BEGIN card for global parameters and in any place of submodel for local parameters, using the syntax, &ParName. Multiple references of such parameters are possible.
The &ParName input found after /BEGIN is replaced by the corresponding parameter value or keyword identifier starting at the location of the & in the variable name extending 10 digits for an integer, 20 digits for a real value, and Length input value for type=TEXT.
The character '&' can be used in the model only for referring parameters or keyword identifiers. It should not be used in card titles that are not defined as parameters.
In Example 1, a parameter named "TTF" is defined in the /PARAMETER card. The value of the parameter (10) is aligned to the left of the field. The parameter is used with an additional prefix "&", in the /SENSOR card.
If the minus (-) sign is used before the prefix "&", as:
-&ParName
Then, the value of the parameter is multiplied by -1. In this case, ParName must not exceed 8 digits.
For example (Example 2), if you need exchange external surface normal for airbag.
- Set parameter s_part=4 and specific -&s_part in surface definition, then a value of "-4" will be substituted for -&s_part. -> shell normal reversed.
- Set parameter s_part=-4 and specific &s_part in surface definition, then a value of "-4" will be substituted for &s_part. -> shell normal reversed.
- Set parameter s_part=-4 and specific -&s_part in surface definition, then a value of "4" will be substituted for -&s_part". -> shell normal not reversed.
The expression parameter cards, type /INT_EXPR or /REAL_EXPR accept parameters as arguments. These argument parameters should be defined before these expression parameter cards in the input deck. The expression results are calculated to a maximum accuracy of 12 digits. The external templex program is used to evaluate expressions. Refer to Expression Operators for more information.
In Example 3, parameters MW and CPM are defined before the expression parameter card type /REAL_EXPR. The expression parameter card (/4) calculates the value of CP which is equal to CPM/MW. The value MW1 cannot be used in this expression parameter card (/4) because it is defined after the /REAL_EXPR card. If CPM/MW1 is specified in the expression parameter card (/4), the program runs into an error.
During the execution of the expression parameter types INT_EXPR or REAL_EXPR, Radioss Starter calls an external executable: templex. This program is available in the standard Altair HyperWorks installation. The call to templex.exe is automatically managed by the Compute Console (ACC) or the Radioss run script. Refer to Run Radioss.
If the Compute Console (ACC) or the Radioss run script is not used, the following environment variables need to be defined:
- TEMPLEX_PATH
  Windows: =%ALTAIR_HOME%\hw\bin\[win64]\
  Linux: $ALTAIR_HOME/hw/bin/linux64/
- On Linux, update LD_LIBRARY_PATH with the following path: $ALTAIR_HOME/hw/tcl/tcl[version]/linux64/lib;$ALTAIR_HOME/hw/bin/linux64; $ALTAIR_HOME/hw/lib/linux64
  Note: The fields within [ ] will need to be updated with the correct values.
Type could also be TEXT.
In Example 4, the string " 1 1 0" is defined for TEXT parameter "var". This parameter is used in part definition. The property ID 1 and material ID 1 have been set for part 5.
TEXT type parameter can be used to specify the direction for an imposed movement. Since the text input to /IMPDISP must be right justified, the &RotX must be right justified when entered. Since &RotX is 5 characters long, Length=5 and the text must be entered as 5 characters right justified, “ XX”: See Example 5.
TEXT type parameter can be stitched together with character “$”: See Example 6.