82.15 Finding the average temperature of a set of elements

The Volume Weighted Average Temperature plug-in lets you calculate the average temperature for all elements or any subset of elements in an analysis. The elements can be picked in the viewport or selected from a predefined named set. If there are multiple part instances in the assembly, you can select elements on only one instance. Results can be requested at the current time for the model displayed in the viewport or as an X–Y time curve over all steps in the analysis.

This plug-in can be used only with an output database (.odb) file. The field output variables IVOL and TEMP must be available in the output database for the whole model.

To find the volume weighted average temperature:

From the main menu bar in the Visualization module, select Plug-insToolsVolume Weighted Average Temperature.
The Volume Weighted Average Temperature dialog box appears.
Choose the time for which the average temperature will be calculated:
- Choose Current step/frame to find the temperature only during the step and frame currently displayed in the viewport.
- Choose All steps to calculate and plot the temperature over the course of the entire analysis.
Select the elements in which the average temperature will be calculated. You can select all of the model's elements or a subset.
- Click Select From Viewport, and follow the prompts to pick the elements either individually, by angle, or by feature edge. See “Selecting objects within the current viewport,” Section 6.2, for instructions. See “Using the angle and feature edge method to select multiple objects,” Section 6.2.3, for details about selecting by angle or feature edge.
- Click Select Element Sets to choose from a list of predefined element sets.
Click Complete when you are done selecting elements.
Calculate the average temperature.
- Click Calculate if you selected Current step/frame.
  The result is given in the message area at the bottom of the window, for example:
```
Number of elements picked from viewport:  80
**Volume weighted average temperature for the selected elements
   No. of elements used in calculation: 80
   Step: Step-1, Frame: 15, Current time: 15.0
   WtAvTemp: 199.883326817
   Volume: 1575.0
```
- Click Plot if you selected All steps.
  A time history X–Y plot is displayed in the current viewport. If desired, you can change the default curve name for the history plot.