Source code for abaqus.TableCollection.TableCollectionStep

from ..Step.StepBase import StepBase
from ..TableCollection.ActivateElements import ActivateElements


class TableCollectionStep(StepBase):
    """The Step object stores the parameters that determine the context of the step. The Step
    object is the abstract base type for other Step objects. The Step object has no explicit 
    constructor. The methods and members of the Step object are common to all objects 
    derived from the Step. 

    Notes
    -----
    This object can be accessed by:
    
    .. code-block:: python
    
        import step
        mdb.models[name].steps[name]

    """

    def ActivateElements(self, tableCollection: str, activation: str, eigenTimeConst: str = '',
                         expansionTimeConstant: str = '') -> ActivateElements:
        """This method creates an ActivateElements object.

        Notes
        -----
            This function can be accessed by:
            
            .. code-block:: python
            
                mdb.models[name].ActivateElements
        
        Parameters
        ----------
        tableCollection
            A String specifying the name of the tableCollection object.
        activation
            A string specifying the name of progressive element activation.
        eigenTimeConst
            A Double specifying the time constant used to ramp up the eigenstrains at element
            activation.
        expansionTimeConstant
            A Double specifying the time constant used to ramp up the thermal strains at element
            activation.

        Returns
        -------
        elements: ActivateElements
            An ActivateElements object.
        """
        self.activateElements['activation'] = activateElements = ActivateElements(tableCollection, activation,
                                                                                  eigenTimeConst, expansionTimeConstant)
        return activateElements