Function
- Constrain certain degrees-of-freedom of Slave Nodes to a Master Node.
- If a degree-of-freedom of a particular slave node is constrained to a master node by this command, "Rigid Link" relationship is established for the relevant degree-of-freedom. All the attributes (nodal load or nodal mass) including the stiffness component of the slave node are converted into an equivalent component of the master node.
Call
From the main menu, select [Boundary] tab > [Links] group > [Rigid Link]
Input
The right ... of Rigid Link
Display Rigid Link Table
Boundary Group Name
Select a Boundary Group in which the specified boundary condition is included. Select "Default" if Group assignment is unnecessary. Click to the right to prompt the "Define Boundary Group" dialog box to add, modify or delete Boundary Groups.
Options
Add : Assign selected nodes as slave nodes or modify rigid link conditions
Delete : Delete rigid link conditions of selected nodes
Master Node
Master Node Number
Enter a master node number. Type in directly the master node number on the keyboard, or click the entry field and the relevant node.
Note that the slave nodes are assigned by Select function.
DOF of Rigid Link
Assign the degrees-of-freedom to be slaved to the master node.
DX : Displacement degree-of-freedom in GCS X-direction
DY : Displacement degree-of-freedom in GCS Y-direction
DZ : Displacement degree-of-freedom in GCS Z-direction
RX : Rotational degree-of-freedom about GCS X-axis
RY : Rotational degree-of-freedom about GCS Y-axis
RZ : Rotational degree-of-freedom about GCS Z-axis
Copy Rigid Link
Master Points and Slave Points are specified as equally spaced (or unequally spaced) points along an arbitrary axis in the user coordinate system (global coordinate system). The rigid connection conditions for the master points are replicated for the slave points, maintaining the same degrees of freedom.
Axis : The axis along which the rigid connection conditions will be replicated.
Distances : The distances at which the rigid connection conditions will be replicated.
OThe points where the rigid connection conditions will be replicated should be specified as master points and slave points.
Typical Types
The following buttons simplify the individual data entries described above.
Rigid Body: Rigid Body Connection
Plane X-Y: Rigid Plane Connection in GCS X-Y plane
Plane Y-Z: Rigid Plane Connection in GCS Y-Z plane
Plane X-Z: Rigid Plane Connection in GCS X-Z plane