Vertex Attributes: Translational Mass

Description

Assigns point translational mass to selected vertices.

When the geometry is meshed, the node created at the vertex will inherit the translational mass attribute (see Node Attributes: Translational Mass).

Vertex translational mass attributes are not interpolated along edges during meshing.

Translational mass attributes are independent of load and freedom cases.

Dialog

Mass (X/Y/Z)

One or three components of translational mass.

Mass Components

The translational mass components refer to the global coordinate system. There are two options:

• 1 Component

  All components are the same (most common case). In this case only a single value of mass is required.

• 3 Components

  The three components may be entered separately. These refer to the global Cartesian directions.

Common Controls

• Components
• Equation Editor
• Retrieve from model
• Keep selection
• Scale / Add / Delete / Apply

Units

Mass (e.g., kg, tonne, lb).

Common Uses

The most common use of the point translational mass attribute is to include the inertia and self weight of non structural items of mass in a model.

For dynamic problems, it is sometimes useful to eliminate mass in certain directions. For example, consider the dynamic analysis of a bridge containing moving vehicles. The mass of the vehicles will influence vertical and lateral vibration modes, but may not influence longitudinal modes since the vehicles are free to slide in the longitudinal direction.

See Also

• Node Attributes: Translational Mass