Defining a User-defined Connection Property

You can create a user-defined connection property. User-defined connection properties allows you to specify the types of physical properties for the start, the middle, and the end of the connection.

Before you begin:
Related Topics
About Connection Properties
About Connection Meshes
Adding Simulation Connection Properties
Using the Connection Property Manager

  1. Optional: In the Name box of the User-defined Connection Property dialog box, modify the name of the connection property.

  2. In the Start, Middle, and End lists, select the type of properties for the start, the middle, and the end of the connection.

    Start and End:

    • Smooth
    • Rigid
    • Spring-Smooth
    • Spring-Rigid
    • Contact-Rigid

    Middle:

    • Rigid
    • Spring-Rigid-Spring
    • Rigid-Spring-Rigid
    • Spring-Rigid
    • Rigid-Spring
    • Beam
    • Spring-Beam-Spring
    • Beam-Spring-Beam
    • Spring-Beam
    • Beam-Spring
    • Bolt-Rigid
    • Rigid-Bolt
    • Bolt-Beam
    • Beam-Bolt
    • Bolt-Rigid-Spring
    • Spring-Rigid-Bolt

  3. When needed, click to define the parameters.

    The corresponding dialog box appears. The order of the parameters displayed in the dialog box depends on the element type you selected.

    • If your selection contains a contact element, enter a clearance value.
    • If your selection contains a spring element, choose the axis system (see Modifying the Axis System), enter the values for translational and rotational stiffness components of the spring.
    • If your selection contains a beam element, define 1D property parameters. See Finite Element Modeling User's Guide: Creating Structural Properties: Creating 1D Properties.
      Important: The availability of some of the beam parameters depends on your available licenses. See Licensing.
    • If your selection contains a bolt element, enter a value of tightening force.

  4. In the Connected Geometries area, click to select the geometries that are physically in contact.

    The Connected Geometries dialog box appears. For more details about the supports you can select, see Supports for a User-defined Connection Property.

    1. In the Support 1 box, select the first set of geometries to connect.

      The application helps you to select the geometry by displaying the unnecessary geometries in low light mode and hiding the environment of the product that is not concerned by the assembly.

    2. In the Support 2 box, select the second set of geometries to connect.

      The application helps you to select the geometry by displaying the unnecessary geometries in low light mode.

    3. Click OK.

    A user-defined connection property is symbolized as shown below:

  5. Click OK.

    The user-defined connection property is created and appears in the specification tree under the Simulation set.