*SetSpringPreloadOption() - single coil/torsion spring

Sets the preload control option for the spring.

Syntax

*SetSpringPreloadOption(spr_name, coil_preload_option)

Arguments

spr_name
The variable name of an existing coil/torsion spring.
Data type: varname
coil_preload_option
Preload option to be used.
Data type: Option
Valid choices:
  • Coil spring – OFF|FORCE|LENGTH| FORCE_LENGTH
  • Torsion spring – OFF|TORQUE|ANGLE|TORQUE_ANGLE

Coil Spring Example

*Body(b_lca, "LCA", p_lca_cm)
*Body(b_frame, "Frame", p_frame_cm)
*Point(p_spr_upr, "Spring @ frame")
*Point(p_spr_lwr, "Spring @ lca")
*CoilSpring(spring_uca, "Coil Spring", b_lca, b_frame, p_spr_upr, p_spr_lwr)
*SetCoilSpring(spring_uca, LIN, 10, LIN, 0, 500, mag(spring_uca.p1.data - spring_uca.p2.data)+20 ) //Preload is specified as force of 500 and length 20 more than the modeled length
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring_uca,  FORCE ) //Sets preload option to use force only, for example 500
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring_uca,  LENGTH) //Sets preload option to use length only, for example 200(10*20)
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring_uca,  FORCE_LENGTH ) //Sets preload option to use both force and length, for example 500 + 10*20
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring_uca,  OFF ) //Sets preload option to OFF (0)

Torsion Spring Example

*Body(b_lever, "Lever", p_lever)
*Point(p_spr, "Spring Origin")
*TorsionSpring(spring, "Torsion Spring", b_lever, B_Ground, p_spr, VECTOR, V_Global_Z)
*SetTorsionSpring(spring, LIN, 100.0, LIN, , 200, 5 ) //Preload is specified as torque of 200 and angle 5
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring,  TORQUE ) //Sets preload option to use torque only, for example 200
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring,  ANGLE) //Sets preload option to use angle only, for example 100*5
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring,  TORQUE_ANGLE ) //Sets preload option to use both torque and angle, for example 200 + 100*5
*SetSpringPreloadOption(spring,  OFF ) //Sets preload option to OFF (0)

Context

*BeginMdl()

*DefineAnalysis()

*DefineAssembly()

*DefineSystem()

Comments

This statement can be used to set which option is to be used for preload application when values for force and length are specified for the spring using *SetCoilSpring().
Option Effect on Total Preload
OFF Preload is turned off.
FORCE Only the force value of preload is active.
LENGTH Only the length-based preload is active.
FORCE_LENGTH Use both the Force and Length method to specify preload.

A similar set of options are available for a torsion spring which involves TORQUE and ANGLE. Refer to examples above.