Rev 13.4 is a minor release for our newer software. The STRPOST and &SUMMARY Menus have been totally rewritten. If, however, the option {{-OLD}} is added to all &SUMMARY and STRPOST commands, then the data will be compatible with previous versions. Also, a new option -OLD has been added to the &DEFAULT command. If this option is exercised, it has the same effect as adding -OLD to the STRPOST and &SUMMARY commands.

This is the first release in a while in which there have been changes in the modeling language. First, the extremely out of date way of defining connection and restraint classes has been removed from the code. Thus, you can no longer use -FIX, -SPR, -ALINE, etc. in defining classes. Next, -BKEEL is no longer a valid option for HULL. One now models these as either #areas or #plates.

A new string function, &N_2NODE, has been added. This function returns all of the nodes along the line between the two nodes given. The returned nodes are in order from the first node specified toward the second. This function is quite useful, and can be used in conjunction with &EN_NODES to find all of the elements between two nodes.

Several minor changes have been made to the graphics capabilities. First, the -ANOTATE option of the PICTURE command has been changed. One can now specify RATIO and INTENSITY as data following the option. If specified, the unity ratio or intensity will be plotted instead of the string name as an annotation. Next, the option -POINT has been added to the PICTURE command. If -POINT NO is specified, then the boxes signifying a point will not be plotted. Finally, the option -FIG_NUM has been added to the &DEVICE command. If -FIG_NUM YES is specified, then any plot being directed to a hard copy device will have a figure number added to it. This will be plotted in the lower left corner of the plot and will be a number.

Two new options have been added to the &WEIGHT command. The option -LG_MARGIN allows one to specify weight and buoyancy margins for all load groups in a given part. Previously, the loads due to &WEIGHT -COMPUTE -&WEIGHT -DEFINE, or &WEIGHT -TOTAL were distributed to all nodes in the body. The option -SELECT allows one to specify the nodes which will receive these loads.

The manner in which the program treats rigid connectors for simulations has been changed. In the past, a two node rigid connection could result in the bodies being moved to match the location of connection points in space. Now, an offset is computed for the second end of the connection so that the effective point of fixity is the first node. More importantly, gaps now function properly during a simulation. A gap must have two nodes and they cannot be coincident in the initial position. The vector between these nodes defines the direction of the gap and the distance of the gap. Whenever the two nodes come closer than this distance along the gap direction, a constraint is added fixing the distance. Thus, a single gap now defines a plane such that the first node cannot penetrate the plane. These new features are ideal for simulating the lifting of something off of a barge deck, or stabbing something onto a set of piles.

As a result of the new treatment of rigid connectors, the report of restraints in the Structural Post-Processing Menu has been changed. Now, the values of all restraints are reported in the body system.

Quite a few refinements have been made in the frequency domain pressures computation. Both strip theory and 3d diffraction modules have been improved to give better answers at high frequencies. An automatic mesh refinement algorithm has been added that will take a given mesh and refine it during the computation of pressures to a specified degree of precision. This is controlled with one of two new options, -M_DISTANCE or -M_WLFRACTION on the PRCOMP command. Either of these options instructs the program to refine any panel with a side longer than a maximum distance until all sides satisfy the criteria.

As mentioned above, the STRPOST and &SUMMARY menus have been restructured. In contrast to the multitude of commands that existed previously, there are now only nine which specify the nature of things which will be reported. For example BEAM_SUM is a new command which will yield information about beams. Following the command name, one can specify the type of beam information one wishes. If nothing is specified, all beam information will be reported. For beams, one can specify LOADS, PROPERTIES, SECTION, or UD_FORCE. In the past one would have issued LMEM_SUM, BELEM_SUM, BSECT_SUM, and ELFOR_SUM to obtain the corresponding information.

The STRPOST menu has been restyled in a similar manner. The commands have been renamed according the the type of element for which post-processing is desired, followed by the type of information desired. A new command has been added to this menu, BMOSHR, which allows one to investigate the bending moments and shears in a set of beams which form a line. In contrast to other commands in this menu, BMOSHR places the user in the Disposition Menu where he can graph the results.