SMS:RMA4 Project Workflow

This workflow includes all of the specific workflows needed in creating an RMA4 project. Newer and infrequent SMS users should start here.

To build an RMA4 model in SMS, use the following steps:

1. Load a complete RMA2 project.
Use the File | Open command to import a SMS project file that has completed RMA2 project. See RMA2 Project Workflow for building an RMA2 project.

2. Set RMA4 parameters.

1. Set RMA4 Model control parameters. Use the RMA4 | Model Control menu command. Set parameters in the RMA4 Model Control dialog. 2. Set RMA4 boundary conditions. Using the Select Nodestrings tool, select the desire boundary condition nodestring. Use the RMA4 | Assign BC menu command. Set boundary conditions in the RMA4 Assign Boundary Condition dialog. 3. Set RMA4 material properties. Use the RMA4 | Material Properties menu command. Define materials in the RMA4 Material Properties dialog.

3. Run RMA4.
Save the project. Use the RMA4 | Run RMA4 command.

4. Review results.

1. Load solution files. The solution file should load after running the model assuming the Load Solution option was checked in the model wrapper before exiting the model run. If loading the solution file separately from the model run, do the following: Open the output files generated from the model run. 2. Review results datasets and data visualization. 1. Manually review dataset solutions. In the Project Explorer, click on solution dataset created from the simulation run and view results in the Graphics Window. Click through the time steps for each dataset to see changes over time in the Graphics Window. 2. Adjust the display options. 1. Set display options. Open the Display Options dialog. Set the general display options. Set general lighting options. Set display options for each module that is being used. Set contour options. Set vector options. 2. View display. Use the Rotate , Pan , and Zoom tools. Use the View menu commands found in the Display menu. Use the Frame command to center and resize the display as needed. 3. Adjust display. Display may need to be adjusted during the remainder of the project. Use the Display Options dialog and viewing tools as needed. Use the Frame command to center and resize the display as needed. 3. Create a film loop visualization. Select a solution dataset and use the Data | Film Loop menu command. Use the Film Loop Setup wizard to specify the animation parameters. Save and view the animation file. 4. Create a plot. 1. Load solution files if not already in the project. The solution should load automatically assuming the Load Solution option was checked in the model wrapper before exiting the model run. If loading the solution separately from the model run, open the solution file generated from model run. 2. Create an observation coverage. Create a new coverage with the "Observation" type. Select Map Data in the Project Explorer and use the New Coverage right-click command. Use the New Coverage dialog to create a new coverage by selecting the desired coverage type, and naming the coverage. 3. Create observation points in the observation coverage. 1. Create feature arcs, nodes and vertices. In the Map module, create feature objects in the active coverage. Use the Create Feature Arc tool to create arcs in the map coverage. Begin creating a new arc by clicking in the Graphics Window at either arc end. If clicking on an existing feature node, vertex or arc, the new arc will snap to that object. Double-click or press the Enter key to terminate the arc. Use the Create Feature Node tool to create additional nodes alone or to split arcs. 2. Modify arcs. Feature arcs often need to be edited after initial creation. 1. Create additional vertices on arcs. Use the Create Feature Vertex tool to add vertices along arcs. 2. Refine the arc shape. Use the Select Feature Vertex tool and the Select Feature Node tool to move/edit existing arcs and refine the shape by dragging the nodes/vertices. Use the Select Feature Arc tool to move entire arcs . 3. Split arcs. An existing arc can be split by: 1. Converting a vertex to a node. Use the Select Feature Vertex tool and right-click on a vertex along an arc. Select the Convert to Node command to split the arc into two arcs. 2. Add a node the arc. Use the Create Feature Node tool to add a node on an arc in order to split it into two arcs. 3. Add a new connecting arc. Use the Create Feature Arc tool to start or end a new arc on an existing arc to split the existing arc into two arcs. 4. Use the Split Arcs Tool. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Split Arc(s)... command. Use the Split Arcs Tool to divide arcs. 5. Split overlapping arcs using the Clean Options dialog. Select overlapping arcs using the Select Feature Arc tool. Use the Feature Objects | Clean command to bring up the Clean Options dialog. Select the Intersect selected arcs option (for selected arcs) or Intersect arcs option (for all overlapping arcs) to split the arcs. 4. Merge arcs. Two arcs that share an end node can be merged together. Select the shared node using the Select Feature Node tool. Right-click on the node and select the Convert to Vertex command to merge the arcs. If desired, the Select Feature Vertex tool can be used to select and delete the new vertex. 5. Smooth arcs. The variability or roughness of an arc can be reduced. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Smooth Arc(s)... command. Use the Smooth Arcs Tool to reduce the variability of the arc. 6. Prune arcs. Concave sections of the arc can be removed. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Prune Arc(s)... command. Use the Prune Arcs dialog to remove concave sections. 7. Extend/trim arcs. Extend or shorten an arc to match an existing arc's length. Using the Select Feature Arc tool, select two intersecting arcs. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Extend/Trim Arc... command. Use the Trim/Extend Arc dialog to select the target arc and source arc. 4. Add observation point attributes. With the Select Feature Point tool, right-click on the observation point and select the Node Attributes command. Set the observation attributes in the Observation Coverage dialog. 5. Use the Plot Wizard to generate plot type. The Plot Wizard can generate any of the following plot types: 1. Computed vs. Observed Data plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Computed vs. Observed Data" option on the left and click Next. Review measurements to be plotted in step 2 of the Plot Wizard then click Finish. Review plot window. 2. Residual vs. Observed Data plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Residual vs. Observed Data" option on the left and click Next. Review measurements to be plotted in step 2 of the Plot Wizard then click Finish. Review plot window. 3. Error vs. Simulation plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Error vs. Simulation" option on the left and click Next. Specify plot options in step 2 of the Plot Wizard then click Finish. Review plot window. 4. Error vs. Time Step plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Error vs. Time Step" option on the left and click Next. Specify plot options in step 2 of the Plot Wizard then click Finish. Review plot window. 5. Error Summary plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Error Summary" option on the left and click Next. Specify measurements to be plotted in step 2 of the Plot Wizard then click Finish. Review plot window. 6. Time Series plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Time Series" option on the left and click Next. Specify plot options in step 2 of the Plot Wizard then click Finish. Review plot window. 3. Use an observation profile plot. 1. Create an observation coverage. Create a new coverage with the "Observation" type. Select Map Data in the Project Explorer and use the New Coverage right-click command. Use the New Coverage dialog to create a new coverage by selecting the desired coverage type, and naming the coverage. 2. Create observation arcs in the observation coverage. 1. Create feature arcs, nodes and vertices. In the Map module, create feature objects in the active coverage. Use the Create Feature Arc tool to create arcs in the map coverage. Begin creating a new arc by clicking in the Graphics Window at either arc end. If clicking on an existing feature node, vertex or arc, the new arc will snap to that object. Double-click or press the Enter key to terminate the arc. Use the Create Feature Node tool to create additional nodes alone or to split arcs. 2. Modify arcs. Feature arcs often need to be edited after initial creation. 1. Create additional vertices on arcs. Use the Create Feature Vertex tool to add vertices along arcs. 2. Refine the arc shape. Use the Select Feature Vertex tool and the Select Feature Node tool to move/edit existing arcs and refine the shape by dragging the nodes/vertices. Use the Select Feature Arc tool to move entire arcs . 3. Split arcs. An existing arc can be split by: 1. Converting a vertex to a node. Use the Select Feature Vertex tool and right-click on a vertex along an arc. Select the Convert to Node command to split the arc into two arcs. 2. Add a node the arc. Use the Create Feature Node tool to add a node on an arc in order to split it into two arcs. 3. Add a new connecting arc. Use the Create Feature Arc tool to start or end a new arc on an existing arc to split the existing arc into two arcs. 4. Use the Split Arcs Tool. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Split Arc(s)... command. Use the Split Arcs Tool to divide arcs. 5. Split overlapping arcs using the Clean Options dialog. Select overlapping arcs using the Select Feature Arc tool. Use the Feature Objects | Clean command to bring up the Clean Options dialog. Select the Intersect selected arcs option (for selected arcs) or Intersect arcs option (for all overlapping arcs) to split the arcs. 4. Merge arcs. Two arcs that share an end node can be merged together. Select the shared node using the Select Feature Node tool. Right-click on the node and select the Convert to Vertex command to merge the arcs. If desired, the Select Feature Vertex tool can be used to select and delete the new vertex. 5. Smooth arcs. The variability or roughness of an arc can be reduced. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Smooth Arc(s)... command. Use the Smooth Arcs Tool to reduce the variability of the arc. 6. Prune arcs. Concave sections of the arc can be removed. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Prune Arc(s)... command. Use the Prune Arcs dialog to remove concave sections. 7. Extend/trim arcs. Extend or shorten an arc to match an existing arc's length. Using the Select Feature Arc tool, select two intersecting arcs. Right-click on an arc using the Select Feature Arc tool and select the Extend/Trim Arc... command. Use the Trim/Extend Arc dialog to select the target arc and source arc. 3. Create an observation plot. Select Display | Plot Wizard to start the Plot Wizard. Select the "Observation Profile" option on the left and click Next. Select arcs, datasets, and time steps to be plotted. Review plot window. 4. Create and compare datasets. Select the Data | Dataset Toolbox menu command. In the Dataset Toolbox, compare datasets by subtracting the alternate dataset from the base dataset. New dataset can be generated in the Dataset Toolbox using the Data Calculator.