Project Nodes

Move or copy nodes by projection on a particular line or surface.

From the Main Menu select Node/Element > Nodes > Project.

Click to the right of Project Nodes: Display the Node Table

Start Node Number

Enter a starting node number for the newly created nodes. 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.

Mode

Copy: To copy nodes

Move: To move nodes

Projection Type

Select the geometric shape of a Projection Base onto which nodes are projected.

The types of projection base are as follows:

Project nodes on a line

Project nodes on a plane

Project nodes on a cylinder

Project nodes on a cone

Project nodes on a sphere

Project nodes on an ellipsoid

Project nodes on an element

Base Line Definition

Enter the data necessary to define a projection base as follows:

All the data can be directly typed in on the keyboard. Alternatively, click the relevant entry fields and the nodes (related data) defining the base in the working window.

Project nodes on a line

P1: Coordinates of a point located on the Base Line

P2: Coordinates of another point located on the Base Line

Project nodes on a plane

P1: Coordinates of a point located on the Base Plane

P2: Coordinates of another point located on the Base Plane

P3: Coordinates of a 3rd point located on the Base Plane

Project nodes on a cylinder

P1: Coordinates of a point located on the central axis of the Base Cylinder

P2: Coordinates of another point located on the central axis of the Base Cylinder

Radius: Radius of the Base Cylinder

Project nodes on a cone

P1: Coordinates of a point located on the central axis of the Base Cone

P2: Coordinates of another point located on the central axis of the Base Cone

Radius 1: Radius of the Base Cylinder at position P1

Radius 2: Radius of the Base Cylinder at position P2

Project nodes on a sphere

Origin: Coordinates of the center of the Base Sphere

Radius: Radius of the Base Sphere

Project nodes on an ellipsoid

P1: Coordinates of the center of the Ellipsoid's bottom surface

P2: Coordinates of the top of the Base Ellipsoid

Radius: Radius of the circle at the bottom surface of the Base Ellipsoid

Project nodes on an ellipsoid

P1: Coordinates of a point on the Parabolic Plane

P2: Coordinates of a second point on the Parabolic Plane

P3: Coordinates of a third point on the Parabolic Plane

Project nodes on an element

Element Number: Plate element number (Plane stress element, plate element, etc.)

Direction

Assign the projection direction for the line or surface of the defined projection base.

Normal: Projection direction normal to the line or surface of the projection base

Direction Vector: Projection in an arbitrary direction. Enter each of the x, y, z vector components in the projection direction.

Divide

Create additional elements in between the existing nodes and projected nodes along the lines of projection at either equal or unequal spacings.

Equal: Equal spacing

Number of Divisions: Number of equal spacings

Parametric Unequal: Unequal spacings defined in terms of distance ratios.

Ratio: Locations of division along the total projection length expressed in terms of distance ratios. (ex: 0.4, 0.6, 0.9)

Merge Duplicate Nodes

Merge overlapping nodes to single nodes if new nodes coincide with existing nodes. Click to modify the Merging Tolerance.

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.

Intersect Frame Elem

If line elements exist at the locations to which nodes are project-copied or moved, divide the line elements at the corresponding nodes. Click to control the tolerance for the intersecting condition of a node and a line element.