Creating Elements with Coincident Nodes in FEMAP

Creating Elements Between Coincident Nodes

Overview

The task of creating elements such as springs or gaps between coincident node points can present some challenges. For example, how do you pick the coincident node points individually? Femap offers a couple of solutions to help you create elements like these more easily.

Selecting Coincident Nodes

Please follow these step-by-step instructions:
  1. To enable you to choose between coincident nodes, in a model that contains coincident nodes, click the right mouse button in the graphics area and select Pick Query.
    Coincident-Nodes-1
  2. So, when you pick coincident nodes, the Select dialog appears allowing you to choose which one to pick.
    Select dialog box
  3. Alternatively, you can use a shortcut key to make use of the Pick Query command on the fly. Right click in the graphics area and select Pick Normal to reset the picking method.
  4. Enter the Control-E shortcut key to bring up the Define element dialog, click on the Type… button and select Spring/Damper as the element type to define a spring element (like CBUSH).
  5. Now pick as set of coincident nodes, and the first node will be populated in the dialog. Hold down the Alt key and clicking on the coincident nodes a second time, the Select dialog will appear, allowing us to choose the second coincident node.
    Define element dialog box showing spring damper element type

Creating Multiple Elements from Coincident Nodes

If you have many elements to create between coincident nodes, you can use a more automated approach and create them all in one single command. Please follow these step-by-step instructions:
  1. Select the menu command Mesh / Connect / Coincident Link. Select all the nodes to be considered
  2. Enter a value for the Coincident Tolerance, or leave the default value.
  3. Click OK.
    Generate connection options dialog box
  4. Complete the definition for the connecting element properties in the Generate Connection Options dialog.
  5. Click OK to create all of the connecting elements at once.
CBUSH elements as connectors between other elements.

Video Demonstration

      

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