Function
Move or copy existing elements at equal or unequal spacings.
Call
From the Main Menu select [Node/Element] tab > [General] group > [Translate] > [Translate Element]
Shortcut key: [Alt]+3
Input
Click the [...] button to the right of Translate 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 the [...] button 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 the [...] buttonand select an option to specify a desired number.
Mode
Copy : To copy elements
Move : To move elements
Translation
Node Increment (Applicable when nodes are already defined)
Node increment is used when elements are copied (or moved) using existing nodes.
Number of Times : Number of times to copy
Equal Distance
To copy (or move) at an equal spacing
dx, dy, dz
Copy (or move) distance in each axis direction.
To enter the copy (or move) distance, type in each distance, or click the entry field and assign the copy (or move) distance in the working window with the mouse.
Number of Times : Number of times to copy
Unequal Distance : Copying (moving) at unequal spacings
Axis : Assign copy (or move) direction.
x : To copy at unequal distances in UCS x-direction
y : To copy at unequal distances in UCS y-direction
z : To 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, 4.5, 3@5.0, 4 = 5, 3, 4.5, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 4)
Direction Vector : If a specific direction is selected, enter the direction vector components in each of the x, y, z-directions.
Material Inc.
An increment for material property numbers while copying elements
The Rep. button : if the Rep. button field is checked in, the material property number increases by the given increment while the number of copies is repeated.
Section Inc.
An increment for section numbers while copying elements
The Rep. button : if the Rep. button field is checked in, the sectional property number increases by the given increment while the number of copies is repeated.
Thickness Inc.
An increment for thickness numbers while copying elements
The Rep. button : if the Rep. button field is checked in, the thickness number increases by the given increment while the number of copies is repeated.
Note
To copy wall elements, press the Apply button to display the dialog box and select whether or not to apply the increment for Wall ID numbers.
Delete Free Nodes
Applicable for Move Mode only, Delete Free Nodes automatically removes the remaining original nodes pertaining to the elements being moved.
Intersect
Applicable only for line elements
If Intersect Node is selected and existing nodes are on the created line elements, the elements are divided at the existing nodes.
If Intersect Element is selected and the created line elements intersect with existing line elements, nodes are automatically created and the elements are divided at the intersections.
Copy Node Attributes
Select the option whether to copy the attributes (nodal boundary conditions, nodal concentrated loads, etc.) to the nodes being copied. Click the [...] button assign desired to attributes selectively.
Copy Element Attributes
Select the option whether to copy the attributes (element boundary conditions, element loads, etc.) to the elements being copied. Click the [...] button to assign desired attributes selectively.
The Merging Tolerance button
Specify a merging tolerance to merge newly created nodes and existing nodes.
Note
When moving elements, the nodes connected to the elements are not moved but rather copied at the relevant positions. To also move the nodes, Translate Nodes to move the nodes as well as the connected elements simultaneously.