Extrude Elements

Create elements by extruding a node to a line element, a line element to a planar element and planar element to a solid element.

Extrude Elements performs the following 3 functions.:

1. Create line elements along the line path taken by the motion of nodes.

2. Create planar elements along the surface path taken by the motion of line elements.

3. Create solid elements along the volumetric path taken by the motion of planar elements.

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

Shortcut key: [Alt]+5

Click to the right of Extrude 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.

Extrude Type

Select the conversion mode of nodes or elements into the next higher level elements.

Node → Line Element
Create line elements along the line path taken by the motion of nodes.

Line Elem. → Planar Elem.
Create planar elements along the surface path taken by the motion of line elements.

Planar Elem. → Solid Elem.
Create solid elements along the volumetric path taken by the motion of planar elements.

Source

Remove: After executing Extrude, remove the original nodes/elements.

Move: After executing Extrude, move the original nodes/elements to the final positions of the extruded elements.

Reverse I - J
If Node → Line Element is selected in Extrude Type, the Local Direction of the line elements created by Extrude is reversed to the Generation direction.

Element Attribute

Element Type
Assign the type of newly created elements.

Line Element: Truss, Beam, Tension, Compression... etc.

Planar Element: Plate, Plane Stress, Plane Strain, Axisymmetric... etc.

Solid Element: Solid

If Wall Element Type is selected, specify whether it is a Membrane or Plate type and the Wall ID.

Material
Select a material property number, or select a material property name provided that the material property data have been already defined. Click to add, inquire, modify or delete material property data. Material properties can be entered either before or after creating elements.

Section (or Thickness)
Select a section (thickness) number, or select a section (thickness) name provided that the section (thickness) data have been already defined. Click to add, inquire, modify or delete the section (thickness) data. Section data can be entered either before or after creating elements.

Beta Angle
Specify beta angle for newly created line elements extruded from nodes.

Type
Assign a type of planar elements (thin/thick) for newly created elements extruded from line elements.

Generation Type

Select the method of generating elements via extrude.

Translate
Select Translate when creating elements by copying (translating) and extruding existing nodes or elements at equal or unequal distances.

Equal Distance: To translate at equal spacings

dx, dy, dz: Translation distance in each axis direction

To enter the translation distance, type in each distance, or click the entry field and assign the translation distance in the working window with the mouse.

Number of Times: Number of times to copy

Unequal Distance: To translate at unequal spacings

Axis: Assign translation directions.

x: Copy at unequal distances in UCS x-direction.

y: Copy at unequal distances in UCS y-direction.

z: Copy at unequal distances in UCS z-direction.

Arbitrary: To copy at unequal distances in a specified direction

Distances: Enter unequal copy distances in the specified direction as many times as desired.

(Ex. 5, 3, 4.1, 3@5.0, 4 = 5, 3, 4.1, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 4)

Direction Vector: Enter the direction vector components in each of the x, y, z-directions.

Local Direction: To copy line element in the direction of a local element coordinate axis

Equal: To copy at equal spacings

Number of Times: Number of Times to copy

Distance: Copy spacing

Direction: Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)

Unequal: To copy at unequal spacings

Distance: Unequal copy spacings

(Ex. 5.3, 4.5, 3@5.0 = 5.3, 4.5, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0)

Direction: Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)

Thickness: Assign Thickness when plane elements are copied in the thickness direction.

Equal: To copy at equal spacing (thicknesses)

Number of Times: Number of Times to copy

Thickness: Copy spacing (thicknesses)

Direction: Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)

Unequal: To copy an unequal spacing (thicknesses)

Distance: Unequal copy spacings (thicknesses)

(Ex. 5.3, 4.5, 3@5.0 = 5.3, 4.5, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0)

Direction: Extrude direction (ECS: +y/-y, +z/-z)

Rotate
Select Rotate when creating elements by rotating existing nodes or elements at equal or unequal angles.

Equal Angle

Number of Times: Number of times to copy

Angle of Rotation: Angle by which the existing elements are rotated

> 0: Copy by rotation according to the right hand rule

< 0: Copy by rotation in the direction opposite to the right hand rule

Unequal Angle

Angle: Unequal angle increments (ex : 20, 10, 3@30, 15 = 20, 10, 30, 30, 30, 15)

Inc. Dist. (radial, axial)

Specify distances in radial and rotational axis directions when copying elements by rotating them by a given rotational angle (spiral or helical curve shape).

Axis of Rotation: Assign the axis of rotation.

x-axis: UCS x-axis

y-axis: UCS y-axis

z-axis: UCS z-axis

Axis defined by 2 points

A line connecting two points defining the axis of rotation (direction from the 1st to the 2nd point)

1st point: (x, y, z) coordinates of the 1st point on the axis of rotation

2nd point: (x, y, z) coordinates of the 2nd point on the axis of rotation

Project
Select Project when creating elements by projecting existing nodes or elements on a line or a surface.

Projection Type

Select the geometrical shape of a Projection Base.

The types of projection bases are as follows:

Project on a line

Project on a plane

Project on a cylinder

Project on a cone

Project on a sphere

Project on an ellipsoid

Project 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 on a line

Project 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 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 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 on a sphere

Origin: Coordinates of the center of the Base Sphere

Radius: Radius of the Base Sphere

Project on an ellipsoid

P1: Coordinates of the center of the Base 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 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. Use either the keyboard or the mouse to assign the vector.

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)

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