1. Selection of unit system physical constant

The program applies a set of consistent units. The user is free to select any combination of unit names for:

  • time \([\mathrm T]\)

  • length \([\mathrm L]\)

  • mass \([\mathrm M]\)

  • force \([\mathrm F]\)

1.1. Data group identifier, one input line

Mandatory.

UNIT NAME SPECification

1.2. Unit names and gravitational constant

Mandatory.

UT UL UM UF GRAV GCONS
  • UT: character(6), default: "s": Unit name for time

  • UL: character(6), default: "m": Unit name for length

  • UM: character(6), default: "kg": Unit name for mass

  • UF: character(6), default: "kN": Unit name for force

  • GRAV: real > 0, default: 9.81: Numerical value of gravitational constant \([\mathrm {L/T^2}]\)

  • GCONS: real > 0, default: 0.001: Consistency acceleration parameter.

    • GCONS = ACC[UF/UM]/ACC

      • where ACC` is the numerical value of acceleration with the force and mass units, and with the length and time units, respectively.

    • With a consistent set of units, GCONS = 1.0.

Example: For the default units, the acceleration of gravity is \(9.81\times 10^{-3}\,\mathrm {kN/kg}\) or \(9.81\,\mathrm {m/s}^2\) and GCONS may be calculated as \(\mathrm {9.81\times 10^{-3}/9.81=0.001}\).

In the case of GCONS \(\mathrm {\neq 1}\), the calculation of drag force coefficients must be multiplied by GCONS, for example CDY = GCONS\(\mathrm {(\frac{1}{2}\rho C_DD)}\), see also Hydrodynamic force coefficients.

The unit names are printed as an output heading as shown below.

       +--------------------------------------------------------+
       !     CONSISTENT UNITS USED THROUGHOUT THE ANALYSES      !
       !--------------------------------------------------------!
       !     NAME FOR TIME   :  T = s                           !
       !     NAME FOR LENGTH :  L = m                           !
       !     NAME FOR MASS   :  M = kg                          !
       !     NAME FOR FORCE  :  F = kN                          !
       !                                                        !
       !     GRAVITATIONAL CONSTANT :                           !
       !     G     =  9.810     L/T**2                          !
       !     CONSISTENCY ACCELERATION PARAMETER :               !
       !     GCONS = 0.1000E-02 (F/M)/(L/T**2)                  !
       +--------------------------------------------------------+