Adhesive / Clinch / Crimp / Rivet / Sealing / Seam Weld / Spot Weld Connection dialog box

General page

Sealing Type
With Orientation	Available for sealing connections.Adds an Orientation page to the Sealing Connection dialog box where you can define the location entities for that target flange for which location entities are not defined in the Locations page. The location entities for both the flanges are then connected sequentially as per the Locations List defined in Locations and Orientation pages.
Name
Name	Sets the name of the connection. After you create the first connection, the software numbers the connections sequentially starting with 1. You can either use this default name or provide a new name.
Description	Sets a description for connection.To manage the text, you can use the Cut , Copy , and Paste commands. This description appears in the Description column in the Simulation Navigator.
Folder
Specifies the folder in the Universal Connections container where you want to save the connection. Using folders helps you to effectively manage a large number of connections.
Select Folder	Opens the Folder Selector dialog box, which lists the folders in the Universal Connections container. You can specify the destination folder for your connection from here.

Flanges page

Technology
Available for seam weld connections.
Technology	Specifies the technology used to create the seam weld.For universal connections, you can select:Friction****BrazingNote: When you create a universal connection with Friction or Brazing, the software exports it as Arc.The following types are selected when you import durability seam welds. You cannot create a universal connection if you select one of these technologies.ResistanceArcLaser
Type
Available for seam weld connections.
Type	Specifies the type of seam weld.To create and realize (mesh) new universal connections, select Other.The remaining types are selected when you import durability seam welds. You cannot create or realize a universal connection if you select any of these types.ImageY-JointOverlap WeldCorner WeldButt JointEdge WeldCorner Weld (Double)Cruciform JointK-JointI-WeldFlared Joint**Images are used with permission from the German Association of the Automotive Industry - VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie).		Image*	Y-Joint		Overlap Weld		Corner Weld		Butt Joint		Edge Weld		Corner Weld (Double)		Cruciform Joint		K-Joint		I-Weld		Flared Joint
	Image*
Y-Joint
Overlap Weld
Corner Weld
Butt Joint
Edge Weld
Corner Weld (Double)
Cruciform Joint
K-Joint
I-Weld
Flared Joint
Number of Flanges
Available for clinch, spot weld, and rivet connections. Available for seam weld connections when technology is set to Laser or type is set to Overlap Weld. Base Flange and Flange 1 are required.
234	Specifies the number of flanges that you want to connect.
Base Flange / Flange 1 / Flange 2 / Flange 3 / Flange 4
Select Flange Entities	Lets you add the following to set them as flanges:ElementsElement facesMeshesPolygon bodiesPolygon facesSelection recipes
Element Labels
Labels	Sets the labels of the elements that you want to use as target flanges.
Select	Lets you add the elements whose labels you entered in the Targets list.
Edit Element Selection	Opens the Edit Element Selection dialog box, which contains all the elements that you added as target flanges. You can edit, cut, copy, or paste element labels here.
Flange Properties
Gap	Sets the gap between the base flange and welding flanges.
Angle	Sets the angle of the weld.
Thickness	Sets the thickness of the weld. If you do not enter a value, the thickness inherited from the FEM file is used.

Locations page and Orientation page

The location of the definition points on any of the flanges is defined by:

• The location entities.

• The vector connecting these location entities along which the definition points are created.

• The distribution of these definition points on this vector.

Note:

The Orientation page is available for the sealing connection when the With Orientation check box is selected on the General page.

The options on the Orientation page are the same as those on the Locations page except for the Line Discretization group, which is not available for sealing connections.

Location Type
Lets you select the type of location definition that you want to use. The options for selecting the location entities in the Location Setup group and the dialog box for editing the location entities from the Edit Location change depending on the location definition you select.The following location types are available:Series of nodesSeries of pointsSeries of coordinatesEdgeElement edgesNote: For clinch, spot weld, and rivet connections, the following additional location entities are also available:CoordinatesPoint/NodeSelection recipeFor clinch, spot weld, and rivet connections, the Line Offset and Line Discretization groups appear when you define a line using Series of Nodes, Series of Points, Series of Coordinates, Element Edges, or Edges.If you plan on re-meshing part geometry frequently, consider using Series of Points, Series of Coordinates, or Edge to define connections.
Location Type	Specifies how you want to define the location.Series of NodesLets you select two or more nodes to define the connection.Series of PointsLets you select two or more points to define the connection.Series of CoordinatesLets you select two or more coordinates, each containing an X, Y, and Z location in space, to define the connection. You can select existing points, nodes, or mesh points to be converted into coordinates, or enter the X, Y, and Z locations of each coordinate manually.EdgeLets you select one or more curves or polygon edges to define the connection.Element EdgesLets you select one or more element edges to define the connection.CoordinatesLets you select a coordinate containing an X, Y, and Z location in space to define the connection. You can select an existing point, node, or mesh point to be converted into a coordinate, or enter the X, Y, and Z locations of the coordinate manually.Point/NodeLets you select a point or node to define the connection.Selection RecipeLets you select a selection recipe containing entities of interest such as points, nodes, or curves to define the connection. For more information, see Selection recipes.
Location Setup
The software uses these location entities to create definition points along the vector.
Add Location	Lets you add a location setup selection to the Locations List.Note: To add a series of nodes or points or coordinates, click Add Location to open the Series of Nodes or Series of Points or Series of Coordinates dialog box where you can define a location. For more information, see Series of Nodes / Series of Points / Series of Coordinates dialog box.To add edges or element edges, select them from the graphic window and click Add Location.
Locations List
Displays information about the added locations, including the sequential number, type, and details such as the number of entities used to define a location.Note: When a location in the list is selected, the Location Type and Location Setup groups are not available.The options in this group are available when at least one of the location entities in the list is selected.
Edit Location	Not available for edges, and element edges location entity types.Opens the Series of Nodes or Series of Points or Series of Coordinates dialog box where you can add the nodes, or points, or coordinates to define the locations.
Convert to Coordinates	Not available when the location entity is a series of coordinates.Converts the defined location into a set of coordinates so that you can define a location more precisely by subsequently editing the location entity coordinates.
Delete Location	Deletes the selected location entity.
Move up / down the selected location /	Lets you organize the locations list.
Line Offset
Lets you offset the vector, joining the location entities, on which the definition points are created.
Specify Vector	Lets you specify the vector along which the definition points are offset.Click Vector Dialog to open the Vectordialog box. For more information see, Vector dialog box.Click to choose a vector command to define the orientation vector.
Reverse Direction	Available when a vector is selected.Lets you reverse the direction of the orientation vector.
Distance	Sets the distance by which the definition points are offset along the selected vector.
Line Discretization
Lets you define the parameters for creating and distributing definition points along the vector. A connection is generated at each definition point.Note: These individual definition points are visible in the graphics window when you create the connection. They are numbered with IDs 1, 2, 3 and so on.The start or end of the vector that defines the location entity is defined in the following ways:For Series of Nodes, Series of Points, or Series of Coordinates location types, the start or end of the vector is represented by the first or last node, point, or coordinate as displayed in the list in the corresponding Series of Nodes, Series of Points, or Series of Coordinates dialog box.For the Element Edge location type, the direction of the vector is displayed in the graphics window when you select the element edge.For the polygon Edge location type, the direction of the vector depends on the method of definition of the polygon geometry.
Use Original Nodes Of Connection	Uses the nodes or points that you used to define the location entities, as the definition points.For edge and element edges location types, the end nodes corresponding to the selected entity are used as definition points.Note: This check box is selected for imported seam weld connections.
Distance to End	Appears when the Use Original Nodes Of Connection check box is cleared. Sets an offset between the last created definition point and the end of the vector defining the location entity.
Distance from Start	Appears when the Use Original Nodes Of Connection check box is cleared. Sets an offset between the first created definition point and the start of the vector defining the location entity.
Discretize line by	Appears when the Use Original Nodes Of Connection check box is cleared. Sets the discretization method.Step LengthLets you set the distance between each evenly spaced point along the vector.Number of PointsLets you set the total number of evenly spaced definition points along the vector.
Step Length	Appears when Discretize line by is set to Step Length.Sets the distance between each evenly spaced point along the vector.
Number of Points	Appears when Discretize line by is set to Number of Points.Sets the total number of evenly spaced definition points along the vector.

Tolerances page

Tolerances
Lets you set tolerance parameters that the software uses during meshing and updating of the connection. The software uses these tolerance parameters to compute the projections of center of gravity points of the connection elements onto the flanges. These tolerances are used to eliminate any undesired projection and to accelerate the computation time.
Max Distance from Definition to Elements C.G.	Sets the maximum permissible distance between the definition point and the element face center (center of gravity point for the element) on the target flange.For solid elements, this element face is taken as the first free face on the mesh.For shell elements, the element faces on the connecting flanges having the projection points are used.When you select a complete body or mesh as the target, the software filters out the elements that are at a distance greater than this value.
Max Normal Distance from Definition to Supports	Sets the maximum permissible normal distance between the definition points and the support flanges. The software filters out the support flanges that are at a distance greater than this parameter.
Max Distance to Correct Projection	Sets the maximum permissible distance under which a projection point, which would otherwise have failed, is mapped to the nearest node on the flange. If a node is found within a circular search range of radius equal to the value you enter for Max Distance to Correct Projection, then the projection is successful. Otherwise, it fails.
Max Angle Between Normals	Available for seam weld connections when Technology is set to Laser.Sets the maximum permissible angle between the normals of the supports. The software filters out the support flanges that are at an angle greater than this parameter with respect to each other.

Physicals page

For adhesive and crimp connections:

Height
Defines the size of the 3D CHEXA element in the direction perpendicular to the flanges.
Height Type	Specifies the height of the element.User DefinedLets you set the height of the element.Mean Of Flanges ThicknessSets the mean of the thickness values of the connected flanges at each definition point as the height of the element.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.Distance Between FlangesAt each definition point, sets the distance between the definition points and the corresponding projection points on the other flange as the height of the element.Distance Between Flanges - Mean Of Flanges ThicknessSets the height of the element as the difference of the distance between the flanges and the mean flange thickness value at each definition point.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.Distance Between Flanges - Max Of Flanges ThicknessSets the height of the element as a difference of the distance between the flanges and the maximum value from either of the flange thicknesses at each definition point.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.Distance Between Flanges + Max Of Flanges ThicknessSets the height of the element by adding the half of the maximum flange thickness to the distance between the projection points at each location.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.
Width
Defines the size of the 3D CHEXA element in the direction parallel to the flanges.
Width	Sets the width of element.
Material
Select Material	Opens the Material List dialog box from which you can assign a material for the connection.Note: You can create a connection without assigning material to it, but you cannot mesh the connection until you assign a material.

For clinch, rivet, and spot weld connections:

Height
Defines the size of the 3D CHEXA element in the direction perpendicular to the flanges.
Height Type	Specifies the height of the element.User DefinedLets you set the height of the element.Mean Of Flanges ThicknessSets the mean of the thickness values of the connected flanges at each definition point as the height of the element.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.Distance Between FlangesAt each definition point, sets the distance between the definition points and the corresponding projection points on the other flange as the height of the element.Distance Between Flanges - Mean Of Flanges ThicknessSets the height of the element as the difference of the distance between the flanges and the mean flange thickness value at each definition point.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.Distance Between Flanges - Max Of Flanges ThicknessSets the height of the element as a difference of the distance between the flanges and the maximum value from either of the flange thicknesses at each definition point.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.Distance Between Flanges + Max Of Flanges ThicknessSets the height of the element by adding half of the maximum flange thickness to the distance between the projection points at each location.Note: The flange selection can only contain 2D elements with defined thickness.
Diameter
Defines the width or diameter of the of the element in the direction parallel to the flanges.
Defined by	UserLets you set the diameter by entering a numerical value or an expression.FormulaLets you set a coefficient value that you want to use for computing a diameter value. Table FileLets you import the diameter values from a table in an XML file. These diameter values are given as a function of a minimum thickness among the supporting flanges.Note: If the table file is modified, the connections are updated after you close and reopen the FEM file.
Diameter	Appears when Defined by is set to User.Sets the diameter.
Coefficient	Appears when Defined by is set to Formula.Sets the coefficient that you want to use for computing a diameter value.The diameter and minimum thickness among the supporting flanges are related to each other by the following formula:
Table File	Appears when Defined by is set to Table File.Sets the table file you want to import. Click Browse to navigate to the XML file you want to import.
Material
Use Flange Material	Uses the flange material as the material for the connection.
Select Material	Opens the Material List dialog box. You can assign a material for the connection here.Note: You can create a connection without assigning any material to it, but you cannot mesh the connection until you assign a material to it.

For sealing connections:

Stiffness
Defines the stiffness constants:Per ElementThe X,Y, and Z translational and rotational stiffness you set are assigned to each element within the connection.Per Unit LengthThe X,Y, and Z translational and rotational stiffness you set are distributed to each element based on the overall unit length of the connection and the number of points in the connection definition.Note: At least one constant must be different from zero before you can create the connection.
Translation
XYZ	Represents the stiffness or damping of the translatory spring or damper along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of the defined coordinate system, respectively.
Rotation per Radian
XYZ	Represents the stiffness or damping of the rotary spring or damper along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of the defined coordinate system, respectively.
Axis Type
Specifies an axis to be considered with respect to which the various physical spring and damping parameters are defined.
Predefined	Sets the coordinate system to the coordinate system attached to the FEM model.
Absolute	Sets the coordinate system to the absolute coordinate system.
Cartesian	Sets the coordinate system to a new Cartesian coordinate system.
Cylindrical	Sets the coordinate system to a new cylindrical coordinate system.
Spherical	Sets the coordinate system to a new spherical coordinate system.
Specify CSYS	Appears when you select the Cartesian, Cylindrical, or Spherical coordinate systems.Lets you define a local Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical coordinate system.Click CSYS Dialog to open the CSYS dialog box where you can define the coordinate system. For more information see, CSYS dialog box.Click to choose a coordinate system command to create the coordinate system.

Weld Properties page

The Weld Properties page appears for seam weld connections. The options that appear depend on how you set Technology and Type on the Flanges page.

Height	Appears when Type is set to Other.Specifies the height of the seam weld.
Width	Appears when Type is set to Other.Specifies the width of the seam weld.
Number of Welds	The number of welds depends on the type of weld and on the individual weld. This number is set by imported xMCF file.
Weld 1 / Weld 2 / Weld 3 / Weld 4
Location	Specifies the location of the weld as imported or to be exported.VectorSet by the imported xMCF file. Defines the location of the weld by defining a vector in the absolute coordinate system and defining u, which is the location of the weld relative to the weld line.Flange1, Side 1 and so onThe location of the seam weld as imported from an LMS Virtual.Lab xMCF file.Note: When you edit a seam weld connection that was created using the Auto-detect Seam Welds, Import Durability Welds, or Import Connections commands in Simcenter 3D versions 2020.2 and later, you can change location method between Vector or Flange - Side. When you change between the two location methods, the software converts the equivalent method automatically.
u	Appears when Location is set to Vector.Sets the relative location along the weld line where the vector is defined.
Specify Vector	Appears when Location is set to Vector.Lets you specify a vector to orient the weld.Click Vector Dialog to open the Vector dialog box where you can define the vector. For more information, see Vector dialog box.Click to choose a vector command to define the orientation vector.
Thickness	Sets the thickness of the weld.
Angle	Sets the angle of the weld.
Penetration	Sets the penetration of the weld.
Width	Sets the width of the weld.
Filler Material	Specifies the type of material of the weld.Select a material from the list, or click Select material to open the Material List dialog box.
Shape	Specifies the shape of the weld (straight, convex, or concave).

Additional magnitude options

Additional magnitude options for boundary conditions
For the physical quantities on the Targets page and Constant Physicals page, you can define the magnitude with a constant value, expression, or field. You can:Type a constant value directly in the box.Type an expression directly in the box. As you begin to type the expression, tooltips provide hints about valid parameter names. If you type an invalid or incomplete expression, the warning icon appears next to the box.Click and select:
Expression	Opens the Expressions dialog box, where you can select an existing expression or create a new one.For more information about expressions, see Expressions.
For more information about other options in the list, see Additional magnitude options.

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Adhesive / Clinch / Crimp / Rivet / Sealing / Seam Weld / Spot Weld Connection dialog box, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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