Example: Connecting component FEMs by merging coincident nodes

In this example, consider the following disk brake assembly:

A component FEM exists for the disk, but in this case, the disk has been sectioned and modeled using cyclic symmetry:

By creating a non-associative assembly FEM and mapping multiple instances of the cyclic symmetry model, you can represent the complete disk geometry.

1. Right-click the assembly FEM in the Simulation Navigator and choose Add Existing Component.

2. In the Add Component dialog box, choose Move from the Positioning list.

3. Use the Angle motion option on the Move Component to incrementally rotate each instance the appropriate distance about the model's axis.

In this example, the cyclic symmetry model is based on a 45 degree section. We created a non-associative assembly FEM and mapped eight instances of the model, incrementally rotating each instance 45 degrees about the X axis.

Assuming that the meshes on the planar sections of the cyclic symmetry model are symmetrical (for example, if you used 2D Mesh Dependency or 3D Swept Mesh to create the model), you now have coincident nodes where the component FEMs meet. Choose Home tab→Checks and Information group→Duplicate Nodes . In the Duplicate Nodes dialog box, select Merge Component FEM nodes, and from the Nodes to Check list, choose Displayed.

Now click Merge Nodes. The software merges all duplicate nodes within the context of the assembly FEM, and the component FEMs are fully connected.

To complete the process, you can map the resulting assembly FEM to the disk component in the parent assembly FEM, and re-analyze the cyclic symmetry model in the context of the full assembly.

How do I

Merge coincident nodes to connect component FEMs

Learn more

Connecting component FEMs

Merging component nodes with the Duplicate Nodes model check command

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

Browse Simcenter 3D help by product area

Example: Connecting component FEMs by merging coincident nodes, 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 } });