Caesar II Tips (Vol 1 & Vol 2)

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CAESAR II

Usage Tips Volume 1 (page 1 of 4)

Topics Covered:

Local Element CoordinatesUsing the Mouse WheelHoops Context MenuHoops ManipulationsLIST OperationsODBC Reports

Local Element Coordinates

Typically piping systems are defined by specifying the delta coordinates, in the global coordinate system, of each individual element. There are however,instances where specifying the element length in some local coordinate system would be easier. Such situations include:

When coding a long skewed run of pipe, i.e. not aligned with global "X" or "Z".When coding a long run of pipe with a slope, such as down a hill.

In addition, it may be advantageous to alter the orientation of a previously defined element, perhaps when inserting an expansion loop or correcting an error.

CAESAR II has the ability to allow the specification of element lengths and orientations using local coordinates. A portion of the piping input spreadsheet is

shown at the right. Notice the button to the right of the "DY" field. Clicking on this button brings up a floating dialog which includes edit boxes for theelement length, and the element direction cosines.

This floating window, can be moved over a (temporarily) unimportant area of the spreadsheet, or outside the spreadsheet completely. This local coordinatedialog box is shown in the figure to the left.

This floating dialog box can be used to specify local element coordinates in the following ways:

The length of an element can be specified in the length field, followed by the direction cosines. The cosines are not normalized until the spreadsheet isrefreshed. An example defining an element on a 10:3 skew is shown in the figures below.Once you are past the first element of the model, the local coordinate dialog box is always displayed showing the direction cosines of the currentelement. Coding along a skewed line simply involves specifying the element length.Once the model has been defined, elements can be re-oriented by modifying their cosines.

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1) Initial Element Deltas and Cosines

2) X Cosine Specified - Note change in Deltas

3) Z Cosine Specified - Note change in Deltas

4) Normalized Cosines - Note Deltas are the same

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Using the Mouse Wheel

Many users now have a mouse with a Wheel between the left and right buttons. In CAESAR II, the mouse wheel can be used to scroll through previously definedpiping spreadsheets. This serves the same function as the [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys.

If the Element Selection mode of the HOOPS graphics has been activated, clicking on an element in the graphics jumps the spreadsheet to that element. Clicking onthe spreadsheet allows the data for this element to be modified. Scrolling the mouse wheel at this point will not only change the spreadsheet, but also update thecurrent element indicator in the graphics window. This relationship is shown in the figure below. Note the gray colored element in the vertical riser. This elementcorresponds to the current spreadsheet.

The HOOPS Graphics Context Menu

Most Windows software programs support Context menus, available by clicking the right mouse button. These Context menus vary in content according to thecurrently active software window, hence the use of the term context. The HOOPS graphics in CAESAR II also support a Context menu.

While in the HOOPS graphics, clicking the right mouse button brings up the context menu shown at the right. Each of these menu options displays a secondary menuwith various graphics operations.

The first menu option is Operators, which contains options for the global manipulation of the graphic image. The second menu option is Views, which containsoptions to quickly orientate the image into the three standard planar views and the isometric view. The third menu option is Projections, which provides variousviewing options. The fourth menu option is Properties, which presently only provides a single option to change the colors of the various plot items. Each of thesemenu options is discussed in the paragraphs below.

The Operators menu provides global manipulation options, as shown in the figure at the right. These operations are:

Annotate - Used to place user defined text on the plot, from a leader line. Note, this text can not be saved with the job.Element Select - Used to select a particular element. A small information dialog pops up describing the element's node numbers and delta coordinates. The[Spreadsheet] button can be used to bring up the entire spreadsheet associated with the selected element.Orbit - Used to rotate the model with the mouse.Pan - Used to move the model within the Window.


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Zoom Extents - Used to zoom out such that the entire model can be seen in the Window.Real Time Zoom - Used to activate an interactive zoom, whereby moving the mouse left and right zooms the model in and out.Zoom Window - Used to zoom on a specific region of the model, using a standard rubber band box.

Operators Menu

Annotation

The Views menu provides four predefined views. Using these options, you can quickly rotate the model to a specific orientation. These views are:

XY Plane - This option produces a view looking at the model in the "XY" plane, looking down the "Z" axis.XZ Plane - This option produces a view looking at the model in the "XZ" plane, looking down the "Y" axis.YZ Plane - This option produces a view looking at the model in the "YZ" plane, looking down the "X" axis.Isometric - This option produces a standard Isometric view.

Views Menu

The Projections menu provides three different viewing perspectives. These perspectives are:

Orthographic - This option produces an orthographic view of the model.Perspective - This option produces a perspective view of the model. This is probably the most useful view.Stretched to Window - This option produces a stretched view of the model, such that the model fills the entire Window.

Projections Menu - Stretched View

The Properties menu provides a single option to manipulate the colors of the display items. This color control option produces the dialog shown at the right.Selecting an item in this list an clicking on the [Change] button produces the standard color control dialog.

The rotating spring hanger is used to actively view the color selection combinations before altering the entire plot window. This is a useful tool to prevent selectingunsatisfactory color combinations.


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Color Control Dialog




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HOOPS Manipulations

Another feature of the HOOPS Graphics is the ability to adjust the graphics toolbar, for the purpose of rearranging or removing buttons. There are a number of waysto make these adjustments, as discussed here. The first method is to right click on the tool bar. This will bring up a button, shown in the figure to the right, whichactivates the modification dialog box.

Toolbar Adjustment Button

After clicking this [Customization Button], a dialog box is presented which allows for the removal or reordering of all toolbar buttons. Buttons can be removed bymoving the selector in the right hand list box to the desired button, and clicking on the [Remove] button. (Removed items can be put back on the toolbar by selectingthem in the left hand list box and clicking on the [Add] button.) Buttons can be reordered by selecting them and then clicking the [Move Up] or [Move Down] buttons.This modification dialog box is shown in the figure below.

Toolbar Modification Dialog

In addition to the use of this formal customization dialog, individual buttons can be removed or repositioned by holding down the [Shift] key, and dragging thenecessary button. To remove a button, drag it off the graphics window, using the left mouse button. To reposition a button, drag it to the desired location, using theleft mouse button.

AMultiple viewports is another User controllable feature of the HOOPS graphics. CAESAR II has provided the 4 Views graphics option for many years. This optionhowever provides only four static views: X axis, Y axis, Z axis, and Isometric. The HOOPS graphics on the other hand provide up to 4 views, that can be sized,rotated, and annotated by the user.

The figure at the right shows the initial HOOPS view when these graphics are activated. Notice the two splitter bars, one at the far left of the lower scroll bar, andone at the very top of the right scroll bar.



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Initial HOOPS Graphics View

Using the left mouse button, grab the lower left splitter bar and drag it to the right. This will split the graphics window into two panes, left and right. When the mousebutton is released, both panes are updated, with the Z axis view in the left pane and the isometric (or original view) in the right pane. This modification to thegraphics view is shown in the figure to the right.

HOOPS Graphics View - Vertical Split

Again using the left mouse button, grab the upper right splitter bar and drag it down. This will split the two existing panes into two additional panes, upper and lower.When the mouse button is released, all four panes are updated, with the Z axis view in the lower left pane, the isometric (or original view) in the lower right pane, theX axis view in the upper left pane, and the Y axis view in the upper right pane. This modification to the graphics view is shown in the figure to the right.

HOOPS Graphics View - Vertical and Horizontal Split

The image in all of these panes can be manipulated individually. Each pane can be rotated, panned, or zoomed independently of the other panes.



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The LIST Facility

The LIST Facility is a very powerful editing feature built into the piping input module. This List Facility allows for the global manipulation of a group of elements.This group can be as small as two elements, or as large as the entire model. These group operations (referred to as Block Operations in CAESAR II) include:

Rotate - allows for the rotation of all elements in the group by a specified amount.Duplicate - allows for the duplication of the current group of elementsDelete - allows for the deletion of the current group of elementsNodes - allows renumbering of the current group of elementsStatus - reports details about the elements currently selected

The Duplicate operation provides three different behaviors, which define the nature of the duplication. These behaviors are shown in the figure to the right. Noticethat the current group (block) of elements consists of elements 60-70 through and including 120-130. Notice also that the copied block can be placed in threelocations: after the current block (element 120-130), at the end of the input, or after the current element (which is 120-130). (The end of the input, not shown in thefigure, is element 7160-8000.)

Placing the copied block after the current block, or at the end of the input is somewhat obvious. What about the third option, after the current element?

The current element is 120-130, the last element in the selected block. Suppose we need to place the copied block after element 160-170. Somehow we need tomake 160-170 the current element. Clicking on 160-170 cancels our block (elements 60-70 through 120-130) and highlights 160-170.

The proper way to change the current element is to use the [UpArrow] or [DownArrow] keys on the keypad. As either of these keys are used, notice that the currentelement is shown by depressing the element number in the far left column of the display. The figure at the right shows the display after the current element has beenchanged to 160-170. Activating the duplication operation at this point will place the copied block after element 160-170.



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Another useful feature of the LIST facility is the Context Menu, obtained by clicking the right mouse key. This context menu provides a number of capabilities. One ofthe most useful of these is the [Choose List] menu.

The [Choose List] menu (shown in the figure at the right) is a quick way to change which List is being displayed. Without using this context menu, the only way tochange the List being displayed is through the spinner control at the very lower left of the display. This spinner control will scroll the names of the various lists alongthe bottom of the screen. The context menu provides a quicker way to reach the desired list.

The [Block Operations] menu is also available from the Context Menu. This is shown in the figure at the right. Note that the [Auxiliary Screen] control can beactivated from this menu, as well as the switch to show or hide duplicated data.

ODBC Compliant Data Base Output

CAESAR II can save output data to ODBC compliant data bases. On the Windows platform, this typically means Microsoft Access.

The intent of the ODBC output feature is to allow users access to the data to:

Combine data for a project from multiple jobs.Maintain an analysis history over various runs of the same job.


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Extract very specific data without generating an entire report (i.e. restraint loads at only one or two node points).Allow the creation and subsequent generation of custom reports.

The ODBC data base creation is controlled via the [Data Bases] tab of the Configuration Module - from the Main Menu pull down the Tools menu, the ConfigurationModule is the first option in the list. A portion of the [Data Bases] tab is shown in the figure to the right. Checking the [Enable data export to ODBC compliant database] checkbox turns on the ODBC option, and enables the [Append] checkbox and the [Browse] button to select or specify the data base file.

For in-stream processing with the analysis, if the [Append] checkbox is checked, then all subsequent analysis in this data directory will be written to the specifieddata base. If the same job is rerun, the data base will contain the results from each run. If (for in-stream processing the [Append] checkbox is not checked, thensubsequent reruns of a job already in the data base will overwrite the previous results. In either case, all jobs run from this data directory will be written to thespecified data base.

CAESAR II also provides a Data Export Wizard, which can create the database file after an analysis has completed. This method allows the selection of exactlywhat data is to be exported to the database. The in-stream processing method sends all output data to the database.

Users familiar with data base creation (specifically MS Access ) can customize the data base by modifying the template file found in the \caesar\system directory.This file is caesarii.mdb for MS Access. Custom queries and reports can also be added to these template files so that future data bases will inherit these abilities.Users should note that future COADE releases will not include these customizations. Users who modify the ODBC data base templates should makeplans to save their templates and update future COADE releases in similar fashion.

Before attempting to use the ODBC feature, users must setup the Data Source Name on the computer where ODBC will be activated. Failure to setup this DataSource Name will result in the error shown below when CAESAR II attempts to write to the data base. Data Source Name setup and configuration is discussed as aseparate topic, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Once the necessary analysis have been completed, the data base can be opened and various queries and reports can be run. If there is a query or reportnecessary, that is not provided in the COADE supplied template, you can use the "Design" mode of the data base to create the necessary function. The figuresbelow show the current tables defined for the static output, the provided reports, and a sample Displacement Summary report.

Data Base Tables

The figure above shows the static table structure of the data base.


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Data Base Reports

The figure above shows the static reports available from the data base.

Data Base Displacement Summary Report

The figure to the left shows a sample report available from the data base.




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CAESAR II


Topics Covered:

Hydrotest Pressure3D Graphics Configuration3D Graphics HighLight OptionsSpecial 3D Graphics Features3D Graphics + LIST

Undo/Redo Feature

A healthy portion of an analysts time is spent defining and checking the input of a piping system. A powerful tool to have available is an unlimited Undo/Redocapability. (Here, unlimited means there is no set limit on the number of undo operations. The actual number of undo operations that can be performed islimited only by the amount of available memory.

The Undo/Redo capability is activated within the piping input module as soon as a data change is made to the current input. Each change to the input istracked. All changes can be undone, one at a time in (reverse) order. This undo ability extends to cover the generation options, such as the expansion jointmodeler, the element break, the LIST duplicate, and the LIST rotate. A single undo action will revert the model back to the state it was in before thegeneration option was invoked.

Once an Undo operation has been performed, the Redo option becomes available. Once a File Save event occurs, the undo history is cleared. Subsequentundo requests can only be satisfied back to the point of the last File Save operation.

3D Graphics Configuration

There are occasions where it is desireable for subsequent input sessions to start up in, or remember the previous graphics state. CAESAR II accomplishesthis by saving the 3D graphics state in an XML file, specific to each job. Upon invoking another input session, CAESAR II reads this XML file are restores the3D graphics to its previous state. This includes the rotation and zoom level of the model, various color settings, data display, and the current graphicsoperator.

Many of these items can be adjusted by the user via the 3D graphics configuration. This local, job specific configuration can be accomplished by clicking on

the (Change Display Options) button. This produces the dialog shown at the right.

The various tabs of this dialog control: basic graphics colors, font selection and size for textural data, user startup settings, visibility (the degree oftransparency), and node marker size and color.

Basic Graphics Colors Selecting any item in the list, then clicking on [Change], displays a standard Windows color selection tool. Selecting the desired color,and clicking [OK] changes the color of the selected item to the new color.

Font Selection - Selecting any item in the list, then clicking on [Change], displays a standard Windows font selection tool. Select a font face, a font style, afont point size, and optionally a font color. Clicking on [OK] changes the font of the selected item to the new font.

User Options This tab is used to set the initial display configuration when first plotting a model in an input session. The 3D graphics can be configured (on anindividual job basis) to restart in a specific manner. The graphics can startup in with a preset operator active (such as "zoom with mouse"), or to startup withthe last operator used still active. Likewise, the graphics can startup in a preset view (such as "isometric"), or in the last rotated zoomed position.

The graphics can also startup in any specified projection (orthographic, perspective, or stretched.) This dialog is shown in the figure at the right.

Visibility - This tab is used to alter the degree of transparency, when translucent pipe is activated. When activated, translucent pipe allows viewing throughthe pipe. This is especially useful for viewing jacketed piping or piping inside of vessels.

Moving the slider to the right, increases the degree of visibility, making it easier to see through the pipe elements. (Note, this option is only effective whenviewing the model in rendered mode.)

Markers - This tab is used to control the size and color of the node point markers. These markers are small circles used to graphcially locate the node pointson the piping model.

Moving the slider to the right, increases the size of the markers. (Note, this option is only effective when viewing the model in single-line mode.)

Markers can also be turned completely off by unchecking the checkbox in the lower left of this dialog.



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3D Graphic Highlights

Often it is necessary to review the piping model in the context of certain data. For example, by diameter, wall thickness, temperature, or pressure. These operationsare illustrated below.

When the Diameters button is clicked, the display is updated to show each diameter in a different color. A color key is included on the left side of the plot. Thisis shown in the figure to the right. This option can be used to quickly see diameter variations throughout the system. This is a good way to verify that diameterchanges have been made where appropriate.

When the Thicknesses button is clicked, the display is updated to show each pipe wall thickness in a different color. A color key is included on the left side ofthe plot. This is shown in the figure to the right. This option can be used to quickly see wall thickness variations throughout the system. This is a good way to verifythat wall thickness changes have been made where appropriate.

When the Temperature button is clicked, the display is updated to show each pipe temperature in a different color. A color key is included on the left side of theplot. This is shown in the figure to the right. This option can be used to quickly see temperature variations throughout the system. This is a good way to verify thattemperature changes have been made where appropriate. When more than one (operating) temperature has been specified, a drop list is presented so that the(single) desired temperature can be used in coloring the model.

When the Pressure button is clicked, the display is updated to show each pipe pressure in a different color. A color key is included on the left side of the plot.This is shown in the figure to the right. This option can be used to quickly see pressure variations throughout the system. This is a good way to verify that pressurechanges have been made where appropriate. When more than one (operating) pressure has been specified, a drop list is presented so that the (single) desiredpressure can be used in coloring the model.

When the Material button is clicked, the display is updated to show each pipe material in a different color. A color key is included on the left side of the plot.This is shown in the figure to the right. This option can be used to quickly see pressure variations throughout the system. This is a good way to verify that materialchanges have been made where appropriate.





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Special 3D Graphics Features

The transparency option is very useful when building or checking models where one pipe is inside another. This situation arises when working with jacketed piping,or piping vessels. It is often necessary to view the geometry inside of an object, for verification purposes. The transparency option enables this ability.

The transparency option can be activated by clicking on the "translucent button" on the toolbar ( ). Clicking this button transforms all plot objects intotransparent components. The degree of transparency can be controled via the configuration options, and the Visibility tab.

An example of a transparent model is shown in the figure below.

3D Graphics + LIST

The LIST facility presents the piping model data in uniform tables, one row per element. These tables (elements, restraints, bends, tees, displacements, etc.)provide an efficient method of data verification and / or modification (such as changing all friction coefficient).

It is also possible to modify the model geometry from the element list, and immediately view the result. This can be achieved by clicking on the graphics button of the LIST toolbar. The active Window is then modified to show both the LIST and the graphics, as shown in the figure below.



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