General Link

 

 

 

Create or delete general link elements, each linking two nodes.

 

 

 

From the Main Menu select Boundary > Link > General Link > General Link.

 

 

 

Click to the right of General Link to display General Link Table.

 

 

 Boundary Group Name

 

Select a boundary group to which the entered boundary condition will be assigned. Select Default if the Group selection is unnecessary. To create new or modify predefined Boundary Groups Click to the right to prompt the "Define Boundary Group" dialog box.

 

 

Options

 

Add/Replace: Select to add new or replace previously entered general link elements individually linking two nodes.

 

Delete: Select to delete previously entered general link elements individually linking two nodes.

 

General Link Data

 

General Link Property: Assign the property of general link element.

 

Name: Assign a name of General Link Property. Click to the right to prompt the "General Link Property" dialog box to create or modify General Link Property.

 

Type: The Type of selected "General Link Property" is displayed.

 

 

Inelastic Hinge Property

 

Name: The Name of selected Inelastic Hinge Property is displayed.

 

Reference Coordinate System: Define a coordinate system in which the placement directions of general link elements can be defined in 3-D space.

 

Element: Placement direction is determined on the basis of element coordinate system.

 

Input Method:

Beta Angle: Enter a Beta Angle for the general link element (select 0, 90, 180).

 

Ref. Point: Enter a reference point in 3-D space.

 

Ref. Vector: Enter a directional vector in 3-D space.

 

Global: Placement direction is determined on the basis of global coordinate system.

 

Input Method:

Angle: Direction is determined by orientation angles in each direction in 3-D space (select 0, 45, 90, 180).

 

3Points: Direction is determined by 3 points in 3-D space.

 

Vector: Direction is determined by 2 vectors (V1, V2) in 3-D space.

 

2 Nodes

 

Enter the two nodes defining the location of a nonlinear link element. The mouse editor can also select the nodes on the model. First, click the entry field and change the color to pale green, and then select the nodes on the screen.

 

 

Copy Nonlinear Link

 

A number of nonlinear link elements may be simultaneously created in Nonlinear Link Data by copying the specified condition.

 

Node Inc.
Using the increment of node numbers may simultaneously create a number of nonlinear link elements.

 

Number of Times: Number of repetitions

 

Node Increment: Node number increment

 

Distance
Using the spacings of nodes may simultaneously create a number of nonlinear link elements.

 

Axis: Axis of copy direction

 

Distances: Copy distances