More about Virtual Parts

A virtual part is a rigid or elastic body that connects a specified point to a specified geometry. Virtual parts are used to transmit action at a distance and can be thought of as rigid bodies, except for the case where a lumped flexibility is explicitly introduced by the use of a spring element.

Related Topics
Creating Virtual Parts
Elements

Rigid Virtual Part

A rigid virtual part is a rigid body connecting a specified point to specified geometries, behaving as mass-less rigid object which transmits stiffly actions (masses, restraints and loads) applied at the handler point, while locally stiffening the deformable body or bodies to which it is attached.

Rigid spider elements are used to model rigid virtual parts.

Smooth Virtual Part

A smooth virtual part is a rigid body connecting a specified point to specified part geometries, behaving as a mass-less rigid object which transmits softly actions (masses, restraints and loads) applied at the handler point, without stiffening the deformable body or bodies to which it is attached.

Smooth spider elements are used to model smooth virtual parts.

Contact Virtual Part

A contact virtual part is a rigid body connecting a specified point to specified part geometries, behaving as a mass-less rigid object which transmits actions (masses, restraints and loads) applied at the handler point, while preventing from body inter-penetration and thus without stiffening the deformable body or bodies to which it is attached.

Contact rod elements and rigid spider elements are used to model contact virtual parts.

Rigid Spring Virtual Part

A rigid spring virtual part is an elastic body connecting a specified point to a specified geometry, behaving as a 6-degree of freedom spring in series with a mass-less rigid body which transmits stiffly actions (masses, restraints and loads) applied at the handler point, while stiffening the deformable body or bodies to which it is attached.

Rigid spider elements and spring elements are used to model rigid spring virtual parts.

Smooth Spring Virtual Part

A smooth spring virtual part is an elastic body connecting a specified point to a specified geometry, behaving as a 6-degree of freedom spring in series with a mass-less rigid body which transmits softly actions (masses, restraints and loads) applied at the handler point, without stiffening the deformable body or bodies to which it is attached.

Smooth spider elements and spring elements are used to model smooth spring virtual parts.