Input nodes/elements in a loop
 

Hello everyone

My challenge is this: I have a steel beam with which I want to investigate the effects of damages on one or more of its elements at multiple select locations. Damage is just a stiffness reduction in the selected elements. These elements are going to be located at various locations on the beam, and will be placed one after the other.

I am looking for a way to automate this process using a loop if possible as I have multiple damage locations. I have thought about creating multiple input files, each with damage specified at the required elements, but I don't know how to make a loop read a different file each time.

I will appreciate any help on this. Thanks in advance..