About Operators and Functions

Sometimes you need to specify functions when setting up a system. For example, to make global and boundary conditions vary as a function of time.

The following operators can be used in writing functions. Use a semi-colon (;) to mark the end of a function.

Available Operators for Writing Functions

Operator Description

+, -, *, /

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

**

Exponentiation, raising one quantity to the power of another, e.g. x2.

ABS()

Absolute value

ERF(X)

Error function

EXP(X)

Exponential

LOG(X)

Natural logarithm

LOG10(X)

Base 10 logarithm

SIGN(X)

Sign function

SIGN(X) is -1 when X<0, is 0 when X=0 and is 1 when X>0.

SIN(X), COS(X), TAN(X), ASIN(X), ACOS(X), ATAN(X)
  • Trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, tangent
  • Inverse trigonometric functions: arcsine, arccosine, arctangent
SINH(X), COSH(X), TANH(X), ASINH(X), ACOSH(X), ATANH(X)
  • Hyperbolic trigonometric functions
  • Inverse hyperbolic functions

SQRT(X)

Square root