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

 

Link Type: Assign an elastic link type.

 

General Type: General elastic link (6dof)

 

Rigid Type: Rigid link element

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.