Gravity PropertyManager

You can use the Gravity PropertyManager to apply gravity loads to a part or assembly document for use in structural and nonlinear analyses.

To open the Gravity PropertyManager, do one of the following:

  • Click the down arrow icon_down_arrow.gif on External Loads (Simulation CommandManager) and select Gravity .
  • In the Simulation study tree, right-click External Loads , and select Gravity .

Selected Reference

PM_face.gif Face, Edge, Plane for Direction Select a planar face, a reference plane, or a straight edge to specify the direction of the gravitational acceleration. Gravity is applied normal to the selected plane or face or along the selected edge.
PM_Earth_gravity.gif Apply Earth's gravity Populates the gravity value with Earth's acceleration due to gravity.
  Reverse direction Reverses the direction of the gravitational acceleration with respect to the reference geometry.

Advanced

PM_units.gif Unit Sets the units that will be used to enter the acceleration values.
PM_Gravity_along_plane_dir1.gif Along plane Dir 1 If you select a reference plane or a planar face, sets the value of the acceleration component along direction 1 of the selected plane or face.
PM_Gravity_along_plane_dir2.gif Along plane Dir 2 If you select a reference plane or a planar face, sets the value of the acceleration component along direction 2 of the selected plane or face.
  Reverse direction Reverses the direction of the gravitational acceleration component in either direction 1 or 2 of the selected plane or face.

Variation with Time

For nonlinear studies, you can define a time-dependent gravitational acceleration.

Linear Uses a default linear time curve which passes through the points (0,0) and (tend, Ai). Where Ai is the value of the i-component of the acceleration specified above and tend is the End time specified on the Solution tab of the Nonlinear dialog box.
Curve Uses a user-defined time curve. Click Edit to define or import a time curve. An acceleration component is calculated at any time by multiplying the value specified above by the Y value of the time curve.
Graph Displays the actual time-dependent acceleration component(s).

Symbol Settings

Sets the color and size of the gravitational acceleration symbols.

  Edit color Select a color for the gravitational acceleration symbols from the color palette.
PM_symbol_size.gif Symbol Size Use the spin arrows to increase or decrease the size of the gravitational acceleration symbols.
  Show preview Turns on/off the display of gravitational acceleration symbols.