Mass Scaling

Mass scaling allows you to scale the mass of the entire model or to scale the masses of individual elements in explicit dynamic steps without modifying the underlying material definitions.

When used appropriately, mass scaling can often improve computational efficiency while retaining the necessary degree of accuracy required for quasi-static analyses and in some dynamic analyses that contain a few very small elements that control the stable time increment.

The scaled element masses at the end of one step and any variable mass scaling methods specified in that step are carried forward automatically to the subsequent step. You can reset the element masses to their original values or recompute the element masses by using a new fixed mass scaling method at the beginning of the subsequent step.

Mass scaling is a step-dependent action; it is available only for explicit dynamic steps.