Plate Attributes: Edge Attachment

Description

Assigns attachment attributes to selected edges of plate elements.

Attachment attributes are used by the Attach Parts tool to create attachment links between elements. If the tool is not executed, attachment attributes have no effect.

Attachment attributes are independent of load and freedom cases.

Dialog

Type

The type of connection to create.

Direct

Creates a single attachment link between the node on the plate and the corresponding attachment point on the target element.

The gap between the node on the plate and the attachment point is automatically considered by the direct type; the result is mathematically equivalent to the rigid type described below, which generally creates two links.
Flexible

Creates a new beam element to bridge the gap between the node on the plate and the corresponding attachment point on the target element. It then creates an attachment link to connect the free end of the new beam to the attachment point on the target element.

If there is no gap the beam element is not created and a direct connection is used instead.

The flexible connection is typically used to automatically generate point contacts between elements.
Rigid

Creates a rigid link to bridge the gap between the node on the plate and the corresponding attachment point on the target element. It then creates an attachment link to connect the free end of the new rigid link to the attachment point on the target element.

If there is no gap, the rigid link is not created and a direct connection is used instead.

The rigid type is mathematically equivalent to the direct type, but uses two links instead of one.

The rigid type is conceptually equivalent to the flexible type except that instead of creating a bridging beam element it creates a bridging rigid link.

Connection

The load transfer behaviour of the attachment link.

Moment

Moments and forces will be transferred across the attachment. The rotational degrees of freedom on the node of the plate are coupled to the translational degrees of freedom on the target element. If a flexible type is used and a bridging beam is created, the rotational degrees of freedom on the bridging beam node are coupled to the translational degrees of freedom on the target element.
Pinned

Forces, but not moments, will be transferred across the attachment to produce a pinned connection.

Direction

The direction in which the search for attachment points on target elements will be undertaken.

Planar

Searches along the direction of the plate plane at the plate edges.
-z

Searches in the direction of the plate's local -z axis.
+z

Searches in the direction of the plate's local +z axis.

Beam Type

The property to assign to bridging beams created when Type is set to Flexible.

Max Gap

The maximum search distance from the plate edges used to locate attachment points on target elements.

Negative values are treated as zero.

Common Controls