About X-Y Plots

You can use X-Y plots to view your history output or field output data. For example, you can graph history output data of temperature versus time. You can also create X-Y plots from field sensor data but only when the sensors have parameters created for each step, load case, or frame. In addition, you can create new X-Y plots by running expressions on existing X-Y plots.

The following topics are discussed:

This page discusses:

See Also
Creating X-Y Plots from History Data
Associating a Curve with an Axis

X-Y Plot Content

You cannot print an X-Y plot, and X-Y plots are not saved in a results report. You cannot use X–Y plots of your history output data to preprocess simulation data; for example, to describe material behavior or an amplitude curve.

X–Y plots and their plot options are saved along with your simulation. You can view the X-Y plots in your simulation from the Feature Manager.

Curve Appearance and Behavior

You can display multiple curves in a single chart. Curves can share a common axis, or you can create multiple axes and associate an axis with a curve. You can use plot options to control the appearance of each curve and axis and the overall appearance of the X-Y plot. If several curves are displayed in the same chart, when you pass the cursor over a particular curve, the curve and its associated axes are highlighted.

Zoom and Probe

You can zoom in to a selected area of a curve by selecting one corner of the area to be enlarged and dragging the pointer to the opposite corner. The curve zooms in to the view, and the axis values are updated. Standard mouse controls allow you to pan within the chart area. Each time you zoom or pan, the history is saved. You can step backward through your actions by clicking . Finally, you can restore the default plot view by clicking or double-clicking the chart area.

The Probe tool displays a vertical cursor (line) on the chart. The double arrow cursor appears to indicate when you can drag the vertical cursor. When you drag the vertical cursor across the chart, the tool displays the X-axis coordinate and the Y-coordinates of the intersection of the line and each curve. In addition, when you move the pointer along a curve, the X- and Y-coordinates of the pointer are displayed. In both cases, the coordinates display the value appended with the appropriate unit label. If you zoom or pan within the chart area, the vertical cursor might align to the left or right edge of the chart, but it remains visible.

Value Indicators and Information about the Curve

You can use indicator markers and tooltips to display information about the curve, such as the local maximum and minimum or the slope and number of data points.

Indicator markers display the value on the curve for a specific X or Y coordinate, including the minimum or maximum value for the entire curve or for a range of values you specify. For example, you can create an indicator marker to always display the Y value at a specified X value. In the following example, the user has specified a Value at X type indicator at the X-axis value of 4 seconds. As a result, the corresponding Y-axis value, 1.17745e-05 Joules, is displayed.

You can also find the maximum or minimum values of a curve. In this example, the user has specified a Maximum type indicator for the X-axis range from 7.5 to 9.5. Although there is a higher peak at Mode 7, the highest peak within the specified range occurs at Mode 9. The black horizontal line displays the specified range, and the small vertical line within this range indicates the maximum eigenvalue at -0.0461608.

You display additional information about the curve with the mouse. For example, the following figure shows the number of data points in the tooltip information.

X-Y Plot Legends

The legend displays the name of each curve in the X–Y plot and the color with which each curve is rendered. The curve is named for the history or field output variable. You can show the legend by clicking and you can hide the legend by clicking . If your X–Y plot includes a large number of curves, the plots viewer disables the display of the legend so that it does not occupy an inordinate amount of space.