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Variable Brick Solid

Solid brick with variable mass and size

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  • Variable Brick Solid block

Libraries:
Simscape / Multibody / Body Elements / Variable Mass

Description

The Variable Brick Solid block adds to the attached frame a solid brick with variable mass and size. The mass and side lengths (x, y, and z) of the brick can each be a constant or vary with time. A variable quantity can be specified directly as a physical signal or it can be calculated as a function of the remaining quantities. Only one quantity, either mass or one side length, can be calculated during simulation.

A reference frame encodes the position and orientation of the solid in a model. The frame origin is located at the midpoint of the x- and y-dimensions and at the lower end of the z-dimension. These relationships are preserved during simulation. The z-dimension increases asymmetrically relative to the lower z-plane, along the positive direction of the z-axis.

Variable Brick with z-Dimension Calculated from Mass

Visualization is dynamic. Solid dimensions update continuously as they occur, in the visualization pane of Mechanics Explorer. The initial dimensions of the solid depend on the parameters and physical signals that you specify. It is possible for a variable dimension to begin with a zero value—for example, if it derives from a physical signal whose initial value is zero also.

Density can itself be constant or variable. This quantity is specified as a constant if at least one solid parameter is calculated during simulation. It is calculated as a variable if all solid parameters are explicitly specified, either as (constant) block parameters or as physical signals. As in the case of the solid blocks, you can specify a negative density, for example, to model voids in compound bodies.

Ports

Frame

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Local reference frame of the solid. This frame is fixed with respect to the solid geometry. Its origin is on the xy plane, in the geometrical center of the xy cross section. Connect this port to a frame entity—port, line, or junction—to resolve the frame placement in a model. For more information, see Working with Frames.

Physical Signal Input

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Input port for the x-dimension of the brick.

Input port for the y-dimension of the brick.

Input port for the z-dimension of the brick.

Input port for the mass of the brick.

Physical Signal Output

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Output port for the x-dimension of the brick.

Output port for the y-dimension of the brick.

Output port for the z-dimension of the brick.

Output port for the mass of the brick.

Output port for the center of mass of the brick, reported as a three-element vector with Cartesian coordinates resolved in the reference frame of the solid.

Output port for the inertia matrix of the brick, reported as a nine-element matrix and resolved in the reference frame of the block. The diagonal matrix elements are the moments of inertia. The off-diagonal elements are the products of inertia.

Parameters

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Geometry and Inertia

Parameterization of the x dimension of the solid—the length along the x-axis of the local reference frame. Select Constant to specify a fixed value as a block parameter. Select Provided by Input to specify a variable value as a physical signal input. Use the default setting (Calculated from Mass) to obtain this parameter from the specified solid density and remaining dimensions. Selecting Provided by Input exposes a new physical signal input port, labeled lx, through which to specify the variable value.

Length of the solid along the x-axis of the local reference frame. The x dimension is constant when this block parameter is active.

Parameter Dependencies

This parameter is active when the X Length parameter is set to Constant.

Parameterization of the y dimension of the solid—the length along the y-axis of the local reference frame. Select Constant to specify a fixed value as a block parameter. Select Provided by Input to specify a variable value as a physical signal input. Use the default setting (Calculated from Mass) to obtain this parameter from the specified solid density and remaining dimensions. Selecting Provided by Input exposes a new physical signal input port, labeled ly, through which to specify the variable value.

Length of the solid along the y-axis of the local reference frame. The y dimension is constant when this block parameter is active.

Parameter Dependencies

This parameter is active when the Y Length parameter is set to Constant.

Parameterization of the z dimension of the solid—the length along the z-axis of the local reference frame. Select Constant to specify a fixed value as a block parameter. Select Provided by Input to specify a variable value as a physical signal input. Use the default setting (Calculated from Mass) to obtain this parameter from the specified solid density and remaining dimensions. Selecting Provided by Input exposes a new physical signal input port, labeled lz, through which to specify the variable value.

Length of the solid along the z-axis of the local reference frame. The z dimension is constant when this block parameter is active.

Parameter Dependencies

This parameter is active when the Z Length parameter is set to Constant.

Parameterization of the mass of the solid. Select Calculate from Geometry to obtain this parameter from the specified solid density and dimensions. Use the default setting (Provided by Input) to specify this parameter directly as a time-variable physical signal. This option exposes a new physical signal input port, labeled M, through which to specify the time-variable solid mass.

Mass per unit volume of material. The mass density can take on a positive or negative value. Specify a negative mass density to model the effects of a void or cavity in a solid body. The default value, 1000 kg/m^3, is characteristic of polymers such as ABS plastic.

Parameter Dependencies

This parameter is active when the Mass parameter is set to Calculate from Geometry.

Sensing

Sensing selection for the x dimension of the solid. Check to expose a new physical signal output port, labeled lx, through which to output the time-varying value of the x dimension.

Sensing selection for the y dimension of the solid. Check to expose a new physical signal output port, labeled ly, through which to output the time-varying value of the y dimension.

Sensing selection for the z dimension of the solid. Check to expose a new physical signal output port, labeled lz, through which to output the time-varying value of the z dimension.

Sensing selection for the total mass of the solid. Check to expose a new physical signal output port, labeled m, through which to output the time-varying value of the solid mass.

Sensing selection for the coordinates of the center of mass of the solid. Check to expose a new physical signal output port, labeled com, through which to output the time-varying coordinates. The output is a three-element vector with Cartesian coordinates resolved in the reference frame of the solid.

Sensing selection for the inertia matrix of the solid. Check to expose a new physical signal output port, labeled I, through which to output the time-varying inertia matrix. The output is a nine-element matrix with the moments of inertia in the diagonal positions and the products of inertia in the off-diagonal positions. The moments and products of inertia are resolve in the inertia frame of resolution—a frame with axes parallel to those of the reference frame but origin at the center of mass.

Graphic

Type of the visual representation of the solid, specified as From Geometry, Marker, or None. Set the parameter to From Geometry to show the visual representation of the solid. Set the parameter to Marker to represent the solid as a marker. Set the parameter to None to hide the solid in the model visualization.

Parameterizations for specifying visual properties. Select Simple to specify Diffuse Color and Opacity. Select Advanced to specify more visual properties, such as Specular Color, Ambient Color, Emissive Color, and Shininess.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to From Geometry or Marker.

Shape of the marker by means of which to visualize the solid. The motion of the marker reflects the motion of the solid itself.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Marker.

Width of the marker in pixels. This width does not scale with zoom level. Note that the apparent size of the marker depends partly on screen resolution, with higher resolutions packing more pixels per unit length, and therefore producing smaller icons.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Marker.

Color of the light due to diffuse reflection, specified as an [R,G,B] or [R,G,B,A] vector with values in the range of 0 to 1. The vector can be a row or column vector. The optional fourth element specifies the color opacity. Omitting the opacity element is equivalent to specifying a value of 1.

The diffuse color reflects the main color of the rendered solid and provides shading that gives the rendered object a three-dimensional appearance.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  1. Type to From Geometry or Marker

  2. Visual Properties to Advanced

Graphic opacity, specified as a scalar in the range of 0 to 1. A scalar of 0 corresponds to completely transparent, and a scalar of 1 corresponds to completely opaque.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  1. Type to From Geometry or Marker

  2. Visual Properties to Simple

Color of the light due to specular reflection, specified as an [R,G,B] or [R,G,B,A] vector with values in the range of 0 to 1. The vector can be a row or column vector. The optional fourth element specifies the color opacity. Omitting the opacity element is equivalent to specifying a value of 1. This parameter changes the color of the specular highlight, which is the bright spot on the rendered solid due to the reflection of the light from the light source.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  1. Type to From Geometry or Marker

  2. Visual Properties to Advanced

Color of the ambient light, specified as an [R,G,B] or [R,G,B,A] vector with values in the range of 0 to 1. The vector can be a row or column vector. The optional fourth element specifies the color opacity. Omitting the opacity element is equivalent to specifying a value of 1.

Ambient light refers to a general level of illumination that does not come directly from a light source. The Ambient light consists of light that has been reflected and re-reflected so many times that it is no longer coming from any particular direction. You can adjust this parameter to change the shadow color of the rendered solid.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  1. Type to From Geometry or Marker

  2. Visual Properties to Advanced

Color due to self illumination, specified as an [R,G,B] or [R,G,B,A] vector in the range of 0 to 1. The vector can be a row or column vector. The optional fourth element specifies the color opacity. Omitting the opacity element is equivalent to specifying a value of 1.

The emission color is color that does not come from any external source, and therefore seems to be emitted by the solid itself. When a solid has an emissive color, the solid can be seen even if there is no external light source.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  1. Type to From Geometry or Marker

  2. Visual Properties to Advanced

Sharpness of specular light reflections, specified as a scalar number on a 0–128 scale. Increase the shininess value for smaller but sharper highlights. Decrease the value for larger but smoother highlights.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set:

  1. Type to From Geometry or Marker

  2. Visual Properties to Advanced

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2017b

See Also

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