Create Elements between Coincident Nodes in Femap30 Apr, 2013 By: Alastair Robertson
Femap Tips and Tricks: The Pick Query capability will enable you to choose between coincident nodes.
Editor's Note: This tutorial courtesy of Siemens PLM.
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.
To enable you to choose between coincident nodes in a model that contains them, click the right mouse button in the graphics area and select Pick Query.
When you pick coincident nodes, the Select dialog appears, allowing you to choose one.
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. Type the Control+E keyboard shortcut 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). Pick a set of coincident nodes, and the first node will be populated in the dialog. Next, hold down the Alt key and click on the coincident nodes a second time; the Select dialog will appear, allowing you to choose the second coincident node.
However, you have many elements to create between coincident nodes, so you can use a more automated approach and create them all in one single command. Select the menu command Mesh > Connect > Coincident Link. Select all the nodes to be considered, enter a value for the Coincident Tolerance, or leave the default value and click OK.
Complete the definition for the connecting element properties in the Generate Connection Options dialog, and click OK to create all of the connecting elements at once.
You can watch the video of this Femap tip on YouTube.
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