Source code for abaqus.Odb.OdbMeshElement

from abaqusConstants import *
from .SectionCategory import SectionCategory


class OdbMeshElement:
    """OdbMeshElement objects are created with the part.addElements or rootAssembly.addElements
    methods. 

    Attributes
    ----------
    label: int
        An Int specifying the element label.
    type: str
        A String specifying the element type.
    sectionCategory: SectionCategory
        A :py:class:`~abaqus.Odb.SectionCategory.SectionCategory` object specifying the element section properties.
    connectivity: int
        A tuple of Ints specifying the element connectivity. For connector elements connected to
        ground, the other node is repeated in the connectivity data. The position of the ground
        node cannot be ascertained. This is a limitation. It is important to note the difference
        with :py:class:`~abaqus.Mesh.MeshElement.MeshElement` object of MDB where the connectivity is node indices instead of node
        labels.
    instanceNames: tuple
        A tuple of Strings specifying the instance names for nodes in the element connectivity.
    instanceName: str
        A String specifying the instance name.

    Notes
    -----
    This object can be accessed by:
    
    .. code-block:: python
        
        import odbAccess
        session.odbs[name].parts[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].parts[name].elementSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].parts[name].nodeSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].parts[name].surfaces[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.elementSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].elementSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].nodeSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.instances[name].surfaces[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.nodeSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].rootAssembly.surfaces[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].steps[name].frames[i].fieldOutputs[name].values[i].instance.elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].steps[name].frames[i].fieldOutputs[name].values[i].instance.elementSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].steps[name].frames[i].fieldOutputs[name].values[i].instance.nodeSets[name].elements[i]
        session.odbs[name].steps[name].frames[i].fieldOutputs[name].values[i].instance.surfaces[name].elements[i]

    """

    # An Int specifying the element label. 
    label: int = None

    # A String specifying the element type. 
    type: str = ''

    # A SectionCategory object specifying the element section properties. 
    sectionCategory: SectionCategory = None

    # A tuple of Ints specifying the element connectivity. For connector elements connected to 
    # ground, the other node is repeated in the connectivity data. The position of the ground 
    # node cannot be ascertained. This is a limitation. It is important to note the difference 
    # with MeshElement object of MDB where the connectivity is node indices instead of node 
    # labels. 
    connectivity: int = None

    # A tuple of Strings specifying the instance names for nodes in the element connectivity. 
    instanceNames: tuple = ()

    # A String specifying the instance name. 
    instanceName: str = ''

    def getNormal(self, faceIndex: str, stepName: str = '', frameValue: str = '',
                  match: SymbolicConstant = CLOSEST):
        """This method returns the normal direction for the element face.
        
        Parameters
        ----------
        faceIndex
            The value of *faceIndex* is 0 for a shell element and can range from 0 to 5 for a solid 
            element. 
        stepName
            Name of the step. 
        frameValue
            A Double specifying the value at which the frame is required. *frameValue* can be the 
            total fime or frequency. 
        match
            A SymbolicConstant specifying which frame to return if there is no frame at the exact 
            frame value. Possible values are CLOSEST, BEFORE, AFTER, and EXACT. The default value is 
            CLOSEST.When *match*=CLOSEST, Abaqus returns the closest frame. If the frame value 
            requested is exactly halfway between two frames, Abaqus returns the frame after the 
            value.When *match*=EXACT, Abaqus raises an exception if the exact frame value does not 
            exist. 

        Returns
        -------
            A tuple of 3 floats representing the unit normal vector. If the element face is 
            collapsed such that a normal cannot be computed, a zero-length vector is returned. 

        Raises
        ------
            - If the exact frame is not found: 
              OdbError: Frame not found. 
            - If the step name is not found: 
              OdbError: Step is not present in the ODB. 
            - If *frameValue* is not provided and *stepName* is empty: 
              *frameValue*OdbError: *stepName* should be specified with *frameValue*. 
        """
        pass