Elastic Link

Create or remove elastic links. Two nodes are connected by an elastic link and its stiffness is defined by the user.

From the Main Menu select Model > Boundaries > Elastic Link.

Select Geometry > Boundaries > Elastic Link in the Menu tab of the Tree Menu.

Click to the right of Elastic Link: Display the Elastic Link Table

Boundary Group Name

Select a Boundary Group in which the specified boundary condition is included. Select "Default" if Group assignment is unnecessary. Click to the right to prompt the "Define Boundary Group" dialog box to add, modify or delete Boundary Groups.

Options

Add/Replace: Enter or replace elastic links

Delete: Delete previously entered elastic links

Elastic Link Data

Type: Assign an elastic link type.

General Type: General elastic link (6dof)

Rigid Type: Rigid link element

Note

In case of Rigid Type, the element stiffness is automatically calculated based on the working model. The applied stiffness of the link can be checked in the text output file (*.out) after performing analysis.

Tens.-only: Tension-only elastic link

Comp.-only: Compression-only elastic link

Note
When an elastic link is assigned as tension-only or compression-only, only element's axial stiffness can be applied. The elastic link observes the Iteration method defined in Main Control Data identical to tension- and compression-only.

Multi-Linear: Multi-linear type elastic link

SDx: Stiffness in the element's local x-direction

SDy: Stiffness in the element's local y-direction

SDz: Stiffness in the element's local z-direction

SRx: Rotational stiffness about the element's local x-axis

SRy: Rotational stiffness about the element's local y-axis

SRz: Rotational stiffness about the element's local z-axis

Shear Spring Location

Save the locations of shear springs used in elastic link elements.

Distance Ratio From End I

Specify the locations of the shear springs relative to the length of the elastic link elements starting from i-node.

Direction: Enter the direction of a spring with respect to the node local coordinate system

Beta Angle: Angle defining the elastic link orientation

2 Nodes

Enter the node numbers for the 2 nodes to be elastically linked.

Copy Elastic Link

Define simultaneously a number of elastic links by copying the conditions assigned to an elastic link.

Node Inc.
Create a number of elastic link elements using a node increment.

Number of Times: Number of copies

Node Increment: Increment of node numbers

Distance
Create a number of elastic link elements using the distances between nodes.

Axis: Assign an axis direction for copying the elastic link.

Distances: Enter the number of repetitions and/or distances for copying the elastic link.