Linking Material Properties to Parameters

You link material properties of a custom material to predefined parameters. These parameters can vary in a Design study.

1. On the Partial study tab, right-click the eight surface bodies (SurfaceBody 1 through SurfaceBody 8), and click Apply/Edit Material .
2. In the Material dialog box, right-click the Custom Materials folder and click New Category.
3. Right-click the new material folder and click New Material. Rename the material as frame_mat.
4. On the Properties tab, for Model Type, select Linear Elastic Isotropic.
5. In the Value cell of the Elastic Modulus property, select Link parameter.
6. In the Select Parameter dialog box, select the predefined parameter Elastic_Modulus, and click OK.
   The Elastic Modulus cell is highlighted in blue indicating that the material property is linked to a parameter. You can now define the material's elastic modulus as a variable in a Design Study, and modify it according to the properties of aluminum, steel, and titanium.
7. Repeat the above steps to link the required material properties Poisson's Ratio, Mass Density, and Yield Strength to the parameters Poisson's ratio, Density, and Yield_Strength respectively.
8. Click Apply, and then Close.
   The current values of the four parameters represent the material properties of aluminum.