Mirror Elements

Move or copy elements symmetrically with respect to a particular Mirroring Plane.

From the Main Menu select Node/Element > Elements > Mirror.

Shortcut key: [Alt]+6

Click to the right of Mirror Elements : Display the Element Table.

Start Node Number

Assign a starting number of the nodes automatically created in the element generation process. This number is auto-set to the largest node number in use +1. To modify this item, click and select an option to specify a desired number.

Start Element Number

Assign a new starting element number for new elements being created by copy. This number is auto-set to the largest element number in use +1. To modify this item, click and select an option to specify a desired number.

Mode

Copy: To copy elements

Move: To move elements

Reflection : Assign the mirroring plane.

y-z plane: Mirroring plane is parallel to the y-z plane.

x: x coordinate of the mirroring plane

x-y plane: Mirroring plane is parallel to the x-y plane.

z: z coordinate of the mirroring plane

z-x plane: Mirroring plane is parallel to the z-x plane.

y: y coordinate of the mirroring plane

Plane defined by 3 pts.: Mirroring plane is an arbitrary plane.

x1, y1, z1: x, y, z coordinates of the 1st point defining the mirroring plane

x2, y2, z2: x, y, z coordinates of the 2nd point defining the mirroring plane

x3, y3, z3: x, y, z coordinates of the last point defining the mirroring plane

The coordinates of the three points may be directly typed in on the keyboard. Alternatively, click the relevant entry field and the desired point in the working window to enter the x, y, z coordinates.

Material Increment: An increment for material property numbers while copying elements

Section Increment: An increment for section numbers while copying elements

Thickness Increment: An increment for thickness numbers while copying elements

Intersect
Applicable only for line elements

If Intersect Node is selected, and existing nodes are on the created line elements, the elements are divided at the existing nodes.

If Intersect Element is selected, and the created line elements intersect with existing line elements, nodes are automatically created and the elements are divided at the intersections.

Copy Node Attributes
Select the option whether to copy the attributes (nodal boundary conditions, nodal concentrated loads, etc.) to the nodes being copied. Click to assign desired attributes selectively.

Copy Element Attributes
Select the option whether to copy the attributes (element boundary conditions, element loads, etc.) to the elements being copied. Click to assign desired attributes selectively.

Mirror Beta Angle
While copying or moving elements by mirroring, select whether to mirror the Beta Angle attributes to be symmetrical about the reflecting plane.

Reverse Element Local
While copying or moving elements by mirroring, select whether to mirror the ECS to be symmetrical about the reflecting plane.

For Line Element, Beta Angle remains unchanged and only nodes i, j (Local Direction) are changed.

For Planar Element, the node entry sequence is reversed during the generation of elements.

For Solid Element, the node entry sequence is reversed during the generation of elements.

Specify a merging tolerance to merge newly created nodes and existing nodes.