4.5 Virtual Points

Adding Virtual Points

Virtual Points can be added by clicking the +VP button in the toolbar or pressing V. The position of the Virtual Point depends on the which objects are selected when it is created:

• At the origin, if nothing was selected.
• At the selected point on a selected geometry.
• At the geometric center of the selected sensors and/or impacts (which will automatically be assigned to the new Virtual Point).

Editing Virtual Points

Virtual Points can be edited by right-clicking on the object in the 3D viewer and selecting Edit object or right-clicking on the item in the Item Overview and selecting Edit Item. Multiple objects can be selected using CTRL+click and then edited simultaneously.

Here, the name and description of the Virtual Point can be edited, and the position can be updated using actual coordinates. Note that the normal vector must be physically realizable and will be re-calculated after each modification. The color and transparency of the VP can also be changed, and visibility toggled on/off.

Selecting the Virtual Points DoFs

The response and reference DoFs of a Virtual Point can be synchronized, or not. If needed, you can select different VP-DoFs for its responses than for its references.

To select the Virtual Point DoFs, complete the next steps:

1. Right-click on the Virtual Point and select Edit.
2. Remove DoFs synchronization (if needed).
3. Check the desired DoFs.

Assigning sensors and excitations to Virtual Points

You can assign each sensor and excitation to the Virtual Points.

To assign excitations and sensors to the Virtual Points, complete the next steps:

1. In the 3D Viewer, right-click the sensor or the excitation.
2. Select Virtual Point.
3. Select the primary Virtual Point.

Assigning sensors and excitations to secondary Virtual Points

You can assign each sensor and excitation to multiple Virtual Points. The additional Virtual Points are called secondary Virtual Points. Secondary Virtual Points work exactly like primary VPs and can share sensors and excitations with them. Force and response consistency are not calculated for the secondary Virtual Points.

To assign excitations and sensors to the secondary Virtual Points, complete the next steps:

1. In the 3D Viewer, right-click the sensor or the excitation.
2. Select Virtual Point.
3. Select Secondary Virtual Points.
4. Choose the desired one.