Prev Subsection 3.8.1: Data Generators Up Section 3.8: MeshData Section Subsection 3.8.3: SurfaceData Next
3.8.2 ElementData
This section defines data that can be mapped to the elements of a part. The data can be defined either as a map, which can be assigned to mapped parameters, or can be used to assign values to some predefined variables. The former requires the name attribute, the latter requires the var attribute. The element set that this data will be mapped to is defined via the elem_set attribute
Defining maps
A map is defined by using the name attribute to give the map a name. This name can then be used in mapped parameters (see Appendix A).
<MeshData>
<ElementData name="my_map" elem_set="part1">
<elem lid="1">1.23</elem>
<elem lid="2">1.25</elem>
</ElementData>
</MeshData>
Predefined variables
The following table lists the currently supported predefined variables.
| Property | Description | Data type/format |
| fiber | Specify a local fiber direction | vec3/const |
| mat_axis | Specify local element material axes | vec3/const |
| shell thickness | Specify the shell element thickness | float/shape |
For example, to assign shell thicknesses to an element set, use the following syntax.
<MeshData>
<ElementData var="shell thickness" elem_set="part1">
<elem lid="1">1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0</elem>
<elem lid="2">1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0</elem>
</ElementData>
</MeshData>
In addtition, it is possible to reference most model parameters via the var attribute. This provides an alternative mechanism to defining mapped parameters, however, the mapped parameters approach as described in Appendix A should be preferred. See Appendix B for information on how to reference model parameters.
<MeshData>
<ElementData var="fem.material[0].E" elem_set="part1">
<elem lid="1">1.2</elem>
<elem lid="2">3.4</elem>
</ElementData>
</MeshData>