Creating Moments

You can create a moment applied to a virtual part or to a geometry selection. Moments are force systems statically equivalent to a given pure couple (single moment resultant), distributed on a virtual part or on a geometric selection.

Units are moment units (typically Nm in SI).

Before you begin: A structural analysis simulation containing a load set must be open.
Related Topics
Working with Excitations
Authorized Supports
Modifying the Axis System
Reviewing Specifications

  1. In the Loads toolbar, click Moment .

    The Moment dialog box appears.

  2. Optional: In the Name box, modify the name of the load.

  3. Select the support on which the resultant moment vector is applied.

    Any selectable geometry is highlighted when you pass the cursor over it. See Authorized Supports. You can select several supports in sequence, to apply the moment to all supports simultaneously.

    A symbol representing the resultant moment equivalent to the moment is displayed at the application point of the support to visualize the input force system.

  4. Optional: By default, the vector components are defined relative to the fixed global axis system (fixed global rectangular coordinate system). To choose a different axis system, select User in the Type list, and select a user axis system in the specification tree.

    The name of the user axis system is displayed automatically in the Current axis box, and the components of the resultant force are defined relative to the specified rectangular axis system.

  5. Enter values for the X, Y, Z components of the resultant moment vector: the corresponding Norm value is automatically computed and displayed.

    You specify three components for the direction of the resultant moment, along with a magnitude information. Upon modification of any of these four values, the resultant moment vector components and magnitude are updated based on the last data entry. The resultant moment vector remains constant independently of the geometry selection.

    The given pure couple system is processed by the program as follows:

    • In the case of extended geometries, it is transformed into an equivalent force system distributed over the selected support.
    • In the case of virtual parts connected to deformable bodies, it is transmitted as a force system collectively to the entire connected geometry.

    The point of application of the couple is arbitrary.

  6. Optional: Select a geometric point as Handler.

    If a handler point is specified, a rotational velocity is simulated with a unitary mass at each node. The axis of rotation is the moment vector. This axis is at the selected handler point, and the velocity is adjusted to correspond to the specified moment magnitude. In this case, the resultant force is not equal to zero.

  7. Click OK.