Function
- Merge more than 1 consecutive line elements into one line element.
Call
From the main menu, select [Node/Element] > [General] group > [Merge] > [Merge Element]
Input
Merge Elements dialog box
Click 
to the right of Merge Elements
Display the Element Table.
Start Number
Node Number
Define Starting Node number by clicking . Refer "Start Number"
Element Number
Define Starting Element number by clicking . Refer "Start Number"
Merge
Element Type : Select the type of elements to be merged.
Frame : Line Element (Truss, Beam ... etc.)
'Merge Elements' operates only for line elements.
All
Merge all the line elements included in the model.
Selection
Merge only selected line elements.
Forced Merge
Two unaligned linear elements sharing a common node can be forcibly merged in to a single element.
Tolerance : Angular tolerance for element selection criterion (180° default for no restriction)
Element : Element numbers for two linear elements to be merged.
Diagram below illustrates the operation of forcibly merging elements 1 & 2 into element 3.
Enter the Tolerance greater than 50° (180° default) and '1, 2' in Elements entry field.
Remove Free Nodes
Remove all the free nodes without attributes and unconnected to elements after merging elements.
The Merge Elements function merges two continuous line elements lying on a straight line unless other elements intersect with the connection point of the two line elements. Elements with different attributes (material property, section number, etc.) do not merge. Loads and boundary conditions remain unchanged even after merging.