Links
Link elements in Strand7 provide a convenient way of defining certain relationships between nodes that would otherwise require the definition of multi-point constraints. The following link types are supported:
- Sector symmetry links may be used to model structures exhibiting repeated symmetry conditions. An example is a multi-blade fan. Such a structure is not axisymmetric, but there exists a repeated sector symmetry in the geometry. Using sector symmetry links, only one sector needs to be modelled for simulating many loading and vibration conditions.
- Rigid links are used to rigidly connect nodes together. Both translations and rotations may be coupled, selectively. For modelling rigid diaphrams on specific planes (e.g the floor of a building), automatic tools are available to assign the rigid links, create the master node and set the required degrees of freedom.
- Pinned links are similar to rigid links except that they couple only the translational degrees of freedom.
- Master/slave links are used to force nodes to share degrees of freedom. For example, you can force the X displacement of one node to be the same as the X displacement of another node. Master/slave links may be applied in the global Cartesian system or in any user-defined coordinate system (UCS).
- Coupling links provide an alternative way of connecting dissimilar elements. For example, a beam element may be connected to a 2D plane stress element by coupling the rotational degree of freedom on the beam (bending) to two translational degrees of freedom on the plane stress elements.
- Shrink links provide a way of modelling interference or shink-fits. Simply identify the relevant edges or surfaces and the link enforces the appropriate constraint.