3.3.1.2. Envelope Node Recorder

The EnvelopeNode recorder type records the maxima and minima response of a number of nodes over the analysis. The command to create an envelope node recorder is:

recorder(EnvelopeNode, <-file $filename>, <-xml $filename>, <-binary $filename>, <-tcp $inetAddress $port>, <-precision  $nSD>, <-timeSeries $tsTag>, <-time>, <-dT $deltaT>, <-closeOnWrite>, <-node  $nodeTags>, < -nodeRange $startNode $endNode>, <-region $regionTag> -dof $dofs $respType)

Argument	Type	Description
$fileName	string	optional: name of file to which output is sent.
$inetAddr	string	optional: ip address (“xx.xx.xx.xx”) of remote machine
$port	integer	optional: port on remote machine awaiting tcp
$nSD	integer	optional: number of significant digits (optional: default is 6)
-time	string	optional: places domain time in first output column.
-closeOnWrite	string	optional: opens and closes file on each write.
$deltaT	float	optional: time interval for recording.
$tsTag	integer	optional: the tag of a previously constructed TimeSeries.
$nodes	list integer	optional: tags of nodes whose response is being recorded
$startNode	integer	optional: tag for start node
$startNode	integer	optional: tag for end node
$regionTag	integer	optional: tag of previously defined region.
$dofs	list integer	list of dof at nodes whose response is requested.
$respType	string	a string indicating response required.

Note

1. Only one of the options -file, -xml, -binary, or -tcp may be used. The option specifies where the data is going to be sent.

2. Similarly only one of the options: -node, -nodeRange, or -region may be used. This option specifies the node tags.

3. The valid strings for respType are:

disp
vel
accel
incrDisp
eigen $mode
reaction
rayleighForces!

4. The function returns a value:

   SUCCESS: >0 an integer tag that can be used as a handle on the recorder for the remove a recorder in the remove.

   FAILURE: -1 recorder command failed (read the log)

To remove a recorder using the remove you need to save this tag in a variable for use later in the script.

5. $deltaT, time interval for recording. will record when next step is $deltaT greater than last recorder step. Not really useful for Envelope recorder, a legacy from NodeRecorder!

6. If the -timeSeries option is being used, the recorded results are those obtained from the time series for the current time added to the response quantity measures. Need as many time series tags as dof specified. Useful for obtaining for example total acceleration as opposed to relative if user using UniformAcceleration to impose a ground motion.

7. The -closeOnWrite option will slow the program down. It is useful if you want to see just exactly where the application is, as files are only written to disk when the operating system feels like it under typical operation.

Example:

The following examples demonstrate the use of the recorder Node command.

1. The first recorder will output to a file nodesD.out the displacements in x and y (1 and 2) directions at nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4. The output file will contain 9 columns (time, displacement in x and y at node 1, disp. in x and y at node 2, … , disp. x and y at node 4))

2. The second recorder will output to a file nodesA.out the total accelerations in x and y (1 and 2) directions at nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4. The output file will contain 9 columns (time, accel. in x and y at node 1, accel. in x and y at node 2, … , accel. in x and y at node 4)). The accelerations output will be the accelerations stored at the nodes added to the values obtained from the time series. The x values are the accelerations in x direction at node plus values from timeSeries 1, the y values are the accelerations in y direction at nodes plus the values from timeSeries 2.

recorder EnvelopeNode -file nodesD.out -time -node 1 2 3 4 -dof 1 2 disp;

recorder EnvelopeNode -file nodesA.out -timeSeries 1 2 -time -node 1 2 3 4 -dof 1 2 accel;

Code developed by: fmk