NVH Composer connections database

The connections database is an XLS/XLSX or XML file that lets you create sets of connection properties to apply to the universal connections that you add to your assembly. These properties correspond to a subset of the options on the universal connections dialog boxes.

Assigning a set of connection properties to each connection allows you to easily organize multiple connections of the same type but with different options. For example, you might have several bolt connections in your NVH assembly that have different specifications for diameter and material. To efficiently manage these different bolt connections, you can create a set of connection properties for each bolt type, such as Bolt 1 for bolts with a 12 mm diameter, Bolt 2 for an 8 mm diameter, and Bolt 3 for a 4 mm diameter. Every time you create a bolt connection in NVH Composer, you can select one of these sets of properties, saving you the time required to repeatedly set these values for every single bolt connection.

Connection properties items defined in the connection database (1), imported in NVH Composer (2), realized as connection elements in the Simulation Navigator (3), saved in the project definition file (4)

After you create the connections database file, you can update it for existing assemblies and reuse it for new assemblies.

Sample connections database XLS/XLSX files

Download and extract the XLS/XLSX files

Connections database format (XLS/XLSX)

Use the template spreadsheet that you can download as starting point for adding your connection items. Do not change the position of the table in the spreadsheet. The connection database must start in row 3, column B. However, you can add as many connection database items (rows) as you want.

Connections database format (XML)

The following is the XML version of the connection database.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><ConnectionFile>  <ConnectionDB>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="BOLT 1" Screw_Diameter="6" MID="200">    </ConnectionDBItem>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="WEATHERSTRIP">      <TranslationStiffness Stiffness_X="1" Stiffness_Y="0" Stiffness_Z="1" />    </ConnectionDBItem>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="SEAMWELD">    </ConnectionDBItem>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="LATCH" Mass="3" Stiffness_Type="R">      <TranslationStiffness Stiffness_X="1" Stiffness_Y="0" Stiffness_Z="1" />    </ConnectionDBItem>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="BUMPSTOP" Stiffness_Type="C">      <TranslationStiffness Stiffness_Z="1" Stiffness_R="0" />    </ConnectionDBItem>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="KINEMATIC" >    </ConnectionDBItem>    <ConnectionDBItem CONNECTION_DB_ITEM="FUEL TANK" >      <TranslationStiffness Stiffness_X="10000000" Stiffness_Y="10000000" Stiffness_Z="10000000" />      <RotationalStiffness Stiffness_RX="10000000" Stiffness_RY="10000000" Stiffness_RZ="10000000" />    </ConnectionDBItem>  </ConnectionDB></ConnectionFile>

Connections database options

The connection properties define options such as material ID (MID) and stiffness that are on the universal connection dialog boxes.

Option	Description
CONNECTION DB ITEM	Names the set of properties that can be applied to a universal connection. To help you remember the type of universal connection that the set of properties applies to, you may want to include the connection type in the name. For example, if you have different sets of properties for spring connections depending on where the spring connection is used, you might name the properties Door Latch (Spring), Hood Latch (Spring), and so on. Similarly, if you use the sealing connection for weather stripping, you might name those properties Weather Stripping (Sealing).If you have different sets of properties for bolt connections, such as connections based on material and/or shank diameter, you might want to include those properties in the name. For example, you might name the properties Bolt 2 mm, Bolt 3 mm, Bolt 4 mm.This makes selecting the correct set of properties in the NVH Composer Definition view easier. The connection item names are used as follows:They appear in the Property list of the Definition view when you select a connection symbol in the NVH Composer layout view. When you define a connection in NVH Composer, you must also select a set of connection properties. They become the name of the connection element when the assembly FEM is generated and the connections are realized (meshed). For example, a connection item named Bolt 1 appears as Bolt 1 in the Simulation Navigator in the Connection Elements container.
Screw Diameter (mm)	Applies to bolt connections.Corresponds to the Shank Diameter option on the Physicals page on the Bolt Connection dialog box, Physicals page.For more information, see the Shank Diameter option on the Bolt Connection dialog box (universal connections).
MID	Applies to bolt connections.Sets the material ID (MID) as listed in the material database file that you select in the Project view.Corresponds to the Material option on the Bolt Connection dialog box, Physicals page.For more information, see the Material option on the Bolt Connection dialog box (universal connections).
Mass (kg)	Applies to spring connections.Sets the mass on the spring connection as explained on the Constant Physicals page on the Spring Connection dialog box.For more information, see the Mass option on the Bearing / Bushing / Damper / Spring Connection dialog box.
Stiffness Type	Applies to bushing, bump stop, spring, and latch connections.Note: Stiffness Type has no equivalent option in Pre/Post.Sets the type of stiffness to R (rectangular or Cartesian), C (cylindrical), or S (spherical). The following table shows the columns that you can update for each type of stiffness. Stiffness TypeCorresponding columnsR (rectangular or Cartesian)**Stiffness X (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Y (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)***Stiffness RX (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)***Stiffness RY (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)*Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad) C (cylindrical)**Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)***Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)****Stiffness R (N/mm)***Stiffness RR (Nmm/rad)*When the connection is created, the software converts the following:Stiffness R (N/mm) value and sets it to X,Y *Stiffness RR (Nmm/rad)* value and applies it to RX, RY. S (spherical)**Stiffness S (N/mm)***Stiffness RS (Nmm/rad)*When the connection is created, the software converts the following:Stiffness S (N/mm) value and applies it to X, Y, Z.*Stiffness RS (Nmm/rad)* value and applies it to RX, RY, RZ.	Stiffness Type	Corresponding columns	R (rectangular or Cartesian)	**Stiffness X (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Y (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)***Stiffness RX (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)***Stiffness RY (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)*Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)	C (cylindrical)	**Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)***Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)****Stiffness R (N/mm)***Stiffness RR (Nmm/rad)*When the connection is created, the software converts the following:Stiffness R (N/mm) value and sets it to X,Y *Stiffness RR (Nmm/rad)* value and applies it to RX, RY.	S (spherical)	**Stiffness S (N/mm)***Stiffness RS (Nmm/rad)*When the connection is created, the software converts the following:Stiffness S (N/mm) value and applies it to X, Y, Z.*Stiffness RS (Nmm/rad)* value and applies it to RX, RY, RZ.
Stiffness Type	Corresponding columns
R (rectangular or Cartesian)	**Stiffness X (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Y (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)***Stiffness RX (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)***Stiffness RY (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)*Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)
C (cylindrical)	**Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)***Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)****Stiffness R (N/mm)***Stiffness RR (Nmm/rad)*When the connection is created, the software converts the following:Stiffness R (N/mm) value and sets it to X,Y *Stiffness RR (Nmm/rad)* value and applies it to RX, RY.
S (spherical)	**Stiffness S (N/mm)***Stiffness RS (Nmm/rad)*When the connection is created, the software converts the following:Stiffness S (N/mm) value and applies it to X, Y, Z.*Stiffness RS (Nmm/rad)* value and applies it to RX, RY, RZ.
**Stiffness X (N/mm) or (N/mm2)****Stiffness Y (N/mm) or (N/mm2)**Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2)	Apply when Stiffness Type is set to R.Stiffness Z (N/mm) or (N/mm2) applies when Stiffness Type is set to C.Apply to spring, bushing, and sealing connections.For spring and bushing connections, these stiffness values correspond to Translation stiffness on the Constant Physicals page. For more information, see the options in the Stiffness group on the Bearing / Bushing / Damper / Spring Connection dialog box.For sealing connections, these stiffness values correspond to Translation stiffness on the Physicals page. For more information, see the options in the Stiffness group on the Adhesive / Clinch / Crimp / Rivet / Sealing / Seam Weld / Spot Weld Connection dialog box.
Stiffness R (N/mm)	Applies when Stiffness Type is set to C.Applies to nodal connections (bump stop, bushing, latch, spring) that have stiffness.Note: Stiffness R (N/mm) has no equivalent option in Pre/Post.
Stiffness S (N/mm)	Applies when Stiffness Type is set to S.Applies to nodal connections (bump stop, bushing, latch, spring) that have stiffness.Note: Stiffness S (N/mm) has no equivalent option in Pre/Post.
*Stiffness RX (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)***Stiffness RY (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)*Stiffness RZ (Nmm/rad) or (N/rad)	Apply when Stiffness Type is set to R.Stiffness RZ (N*mm/rad) or (N/rad) applies when Stiffness Type is set to C.Apply to spring, bushing, and sealing connections.For spring and bushing connections, these stiffness values correspond to Rotation per Radian stiffness on the Constant Physicals page. For more information, see the options in the Stiffness group on the Bearing / Bushing / Damper / Spring Connection dialog box.For sealing connections, these stiffness values correspond to Rotation per Radian stiffness on the Physicals page. For more information, see the options in the Stiffness group on the Adhesive / Clinch / Crimp / Rivet / Sealing / Seam Weld / Spot Weld Connection dialog box.
Stiffness RR (N*mm/rad)	Applies when Stiffness Type is set to C.Applies to nodal connections (bump stop, bushing, latch, spring, and kinematic) that have stiffness.Note: Stiffness RR (N*mm/rad) has no equivalent option in Pre/Post.
Stiffness RS (N*mm/rad)	Applies when Stiffness Type is set to S.Applies to nodal connections (bump stop, bushing, latch, spring, and kinematic) that have stiffness.Note: Stiffness RS (N*mm/rad) has no equivalent option in Pre/Post.
DOF (Seam Weld)	Applies to seam weld connections.Sets the degrees of freedom in the element properties for the realized (meshed) seam weld connection. For example, to enter the first three degrees of freedom, enter 123.

When NVH Composer generates your assembly FEM file, you can edit these properties in the dialog box. Alternatively, you can update your connection database file and generate the assembly FEM file again.

Default elements for realizing (meshing) universal connections

Before you update the connections database, make sure that you know the default element type that is used to realize (mesh) for each connection type. The default element types are listed in the following table, but you can change the default by updating the AsmComposerTool_Config.xml file.

For example, the default element type for the bolt universal connection is CBAR+RBE2 spider(s). You can change that to CBEAM+RBE2 spider(s) by changing the ElementType attribute from E1DSpider to EBeamRigidSpider in the AsmComposerTool_Config.xml file.

The AsmComposerTool_Config.xml file is located here:

**..\wntx64\kits\simulation\asmutilities\application**AsmComposerTool_Config.xml

Note:

The AsmComposerTool_Config.xml file is set to read only.

The following table lists the available element types for each universal connection that is supported in NVH Composer.

NVH Composer connection type	Universal connection type	Default element type	Element type in Connection Element dialog box	Element type in AsmComposerTool_Config.xml
Bolt	Bolt	CBAR+RBE2 spider(s)	RBE2 Spider****CBAR+RBE2 spider(s) CBEAM+RBE2 spider(s)	ESpiderE1DSpiderEBeamRigidSpider
Bump StopBushing	Bushing	CBUSH+RBE2 spider(s)	CBUSH+RBE2 spider(s)	EBushing
LatchSpring	Spring	CELAS2+RBE2 spider(s)	**CELAS2+RBE2 spider(s)**CBUSH+RBE2 spider(s)	ESpringEBushing
Kinematic	Kinematic	MPC + RBE2 spider(s)	**MPC + RBE2 spider(s)****CJOINT + RBE2 spider(s)**CJOINT + RBE3 spider(s)	EKinematicEJointEJointInterpolation
Seam Weld	Seam Weld	RBE2	RBE2****RBE2+RBE2 spider(s)	ERigidConnectorERigidRigidConnector
Weather Strip	Sealing	CELAS+RBE2+RBE3 spider(s)	*CBUSH+RBE3 spider(s)CELAS+RBE2CELAS+RBE2+RBE3 spider(s)*	EInterpolationSpiderEScalarSpringRigidSpiderEScalarSpringRigidInterpolationSpider

How do I

Create an NVH Composer project

Open an assembly FEM file and NVH Composer project files

Check and fix your NVH assembly

Synchronize assembly connection updates

Learn more

NVH Composer

NVH Composer workspace

NVH Composer workflow

Setting up folders and files for NVH Composer

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

NVH Composer connections database, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

© 2020 Siemens

window.mainLanguage="en_US"

window.delivId=""

window.projectId=""

MathJax.Hub.Config({ TeX: { extensions: ["autoload-all.js"] }, tex2jax: { displayMath: [ ] }, "SVG": { scale: 125 } });