PROPERTY BOUNDARY MPC RCONNECT [type] [name] part1 part2 dof

    

This command is used to connect the nodes on one part to those on another using a rigid connection. Where the two parts are the edges of surface the command will attempt to 'stitch' the two parts together using a variety of one to one and many to one connections depending upon the number of elements and their order on either side of the connection. In all other cases the command will connect one node on part1 with one node on part2 using either a proximity algorithm or a mapping algorithm that takes into account the centroid and orientation of each part.

type = type of algorithm to be used for node connections. See Note 1.

name = constraint name for use in future references.

part1 = the name of a point, line, surface, body, or set.

part2 = the name of a point, line, surface, body, or set.

dof = constrained degree of freedom.

1 or X = x-translation

2 or Y = y-translation

3 or Z = z-translation

4 or RX = x-rotation

5 or RY = y-rotation

6 or RZ = z-rotation

XSYMM = x-translation, y,z-rotations

YSYMM = y-translation, x,z-rotations

ZSYMM = z-translation, x,y-rotations

ALL = x,y,z-translations, x,y,z-rotations

XASYMM = x-rotation, y,z-translations

YASYMM = y-rotation, x,z-translations

ZASYMM = z-rotation, x,y-translations

ENCASTRE = x,y,z-translations, x,y,z-rotations

PINNED = x,y,z-translations

NOROTATE = x,y,z-rotations

Notes:

1.

Algorithm Type
An algorithm type may be used optionally in order to specify how the nodes on each part are to be connected. The algorithm type may be input as PROXIMITY or MAPPED. The default alogrithm type is PROXIMITY, which connects nodes with the use of a proximity algorithm. This algorithm is that which has been used in previous versions of FEMGV. If the algorithm type is specified as MAPPED, then the connections are based on local co-ordinate systems defined using the orientation and centroid of each part. Examples 3 and 4 (below) demonstrate the difference between the two algorithms.

2.

Degree of freedom indicator
The degree of freedom may be input as text or an integer. More than one degree of freedom may be referenced at any time. In integer syntax any integer which is a combination of at most five of the digits 1-6 is a valid constraint. In text format a list of degree of freedom names may be entered delimited by spaces or a degree of freedom macro (e.g. XSYMM) may be entered.

Examples:

1.

PROPERTY BOUNDARY MPC RCONNECT SET1 SET2 X

Connect nodes on SET1 to SET2 using a variety of MPC's.

 

Figure 2.103: Rigid connection MPC type 1

2.

PROPERTY BOUNDARY MPC RCONNECT S1 S2 X

Connect all nodes on S1 to all nodes on S2

 

Figure 2.104: Rigid connection MPC type 2

3.

PROPERTY BOUNDARY MPC RCONNECT MAPPED CO5 L3 L7 1

Connect all nodes on L3 to those on L7 using the MAPPED algorithm, constraining in the X direction. The constraint is to be named CO5.

 

Figure 2.105: Rigid connection using the MAPPED algorithm

4.

PROPERTY BOUNDARY MPC RCONNECT PROXIMITY CO6 L3 L7 2

Connect all nodes on L3 to those on L7 using the PROXIMITY algorithm, constraining in the Y direction. The constraint is to be named CO6.

 

Figure 2.106: Rigid connection using the PROXIMITY algorithm

See also the following commands

'LABEL GEOMETRY CONSTRNT'
'LABEL MESH CONSTRNT'
'LABEL OPTIONS MPC'
'UTILITY DELETE CONSTRNT'
'UTILITY TABULATE PROPERTY CONSTRNT'