Creo Simulate > Additional Information > Units > Specifying Units for Simulation Entities
  
Specifying Units for Simulation Entities
Before you design your model, you should define a principal system of units in Creo Parametric using File > Prepare > Model Properties to open the Model Properties dialog box in either part or assembly mode. You can then click change to open the Units Manager dialog box.
If you are working in Creo Simulate Standalone, click Home > Set Up > Units to open the Units Manager dialog box.
Creo Simulate allows you to specify the units of individual simulation entities. You can select units for the following simulation entities:
Loads
Constraints
Idealizations—simple shell, simple spring, simple mass
Properties—beam section, beam orientation, spring properties, mass properties
Perimeter and Spot Welds
Gaps
Simple Fasteners and Advanced fasteners using diameter and material
Mesh Controls
Contact Interfaces in Structure
Thermal Resistance
 
* You cannot select units for shell properties and measures.
Creo Simulate displays appropriate units for each quantity when you define a simulation quantity. You can choose standard or custom units for a quantity. If you do not select or change the units for an entity, Creo Simulate uses the principal system of units for that entity.
When you select units for a simulation entity, Creo Simulate interprets the value of the simulation entity as the value in the new units. For example, if the value of a force load is 10N and you then select kN as the units, Creo Simulate displays and interprets the value of the load as 10 kN.
To convert the value of a simulation quantity to different units, right click the value. Select Convert To Unit and select the units you want to convert the value to. Creo Simulate converts the value and displays the converted value and the selected units. In this case if the value of force is 10000 N and you use Convert To Unit and select kN, Creo Simulate displays and interprets the value of the load as 10 kN.
To convert the units of all simulation entities back to the principal system of units, click Home > Set Up > Convert Sim. Values to Principal.
For all the quantities for which you can select units, you can also specify parameters or expressions of parameters in the value fields. When you specify a parameter with units in the value field of a simulation entity, then the units drop-down list is not active. Creo Simulate displays the quantity with the principal system of units. For example, suppose you create a parameter Length1 which is 10 cm. Your principal system of units is Inch-Pound-Second. Create a simple shell and specify Length1 as the thickness. The dialog box displays shell thickness as 3.937 in.
You can specify either a parameter or expression with the same units as the simulation entity or as a parameter without units or as an expression, in which case select units from the units list. You can also use expressions with units such as 5 [N/m].
Creo Simulate allows you to specify expressions with mixed units for scalar quantity simulation entities. For example, you can specify shell thickness as 13.0[mm] + 2.53[cm]. In this case the units drop-down list is not active, but displays the evaluated expression in the principal system of units.
Refer to the Fundamentals Help for more information on parameter units.