1D Connection

You can use 1D connections to connect component FEMs within an assembly FEM, or to connect multiple sheet and solid bodies within a FEM. You can also use 1D connections to define spider elements to model pins or bolts, distribute mass, distribute loads or constraints, or define connection points for a flexible body analysis. You can:

• You select which type of elastic or rigid element the 1D connector creates.

• Create 1D connections between geometry, such as to connect an edge to a face, or between FE entities, such as between two nodes.

Components in an assembly FEM joined by 1D connection elements

Available element types for 1D connections

In the 1D Connection dialog box, you specify the type of connection to create between components as well as the type of 1D element to use to connect the components. The available element types depend on:

• The type of connection you create, such as Point to Point or Face to Face.

• The specified solver and solution type.

Geometry-based 1D connections

You can use the 1D Connection command to create 1D connection elements between selected geometry entities, such as between edges or between a point and a face. Geometry-based connection types include:

• Point to Point

• Point to Edge

• Point to Face

• Edge to Edge

• Edge to Face

• Face to Face

You can define geometry-based 1D connections before or after you mesh the polygon bodies to be connected:

• If you define 1D connections on unmeshed geometry, the software first creates a connection recipe, which is shown in the Simulation Navigator under the Connection Collectors node. The connection is displayed in the graphics window using a generic connection symbol.When you subsequently mesh the polygon geometry, the software generates 1D connection elements using the specified element type. The creates the connection elements using nodes from the mesh on the geometry. The Simulation Navigator stores these 1D connection element meshes under the 1D Collectors node.

• If you define 1D connections between geometry-based meshes, the software creates both the connection recipe and the 1D connection element meshes simultaneously.

Updates for geometry-based 1D connections

If the geometry is modified or remeshed, the software updates the connection based on the defined connection recipe and regenerates the connection mesh.

If the software cannot update a geometry-based 1D Connection because the connection's geometry has changed or been deleted, the software preserves the connection element recipe. You can then edit the connection recipe to modify the geometry or to add new or updated geometry to the connection.

Note:

To delete a 1D Connection recipe that is no longer valid, right-click the recipe in the Simulation Navigator and select Delete.

FE-based 1D connections

You can also create FE-based 1D connections. FE-based connections include the following types:

• Node to Node

• Element Edge to Element Face

• 1D Mesh to Face

Use FE-based connections to control node locations more precisely, or when your model does not contain any underlying geometry. However, because FE-based connections are not tied to the underlying geometry, they may not update correctly if the geometry or mesh is modified.

Node-to-node connection distributing a lumped mass on an FE-based mesh

1D Connections in the Simulation Navigator

The software stores 1D connection recipes and their associated 1D connection element meshes in separate nodes in the Simulation Navigator.

• 1D connection recipes are stored in the Connections node under the Connection Collectors node.

• 1D connection element meshes are stored in the 1D Collectors node according to their element type.

1D Collectors
RBE3 Collector
connection_recipe_1_mesh
connection_recipe_2_mesh
Connection Collectors
Connections
connection_recipe_1
connection_recipe_2

(A) 1D connection recipes and (B) 1D connection element meshes in the Simulation Navigator

For 1D connection recipes, the Status column in the Simulation Navigator lists the current status of each recipe:

Status	Description
Up-to-date	The 1D connection elements are created between the source and target.
Update pending	You must update the 1D connection recipe to recreate the appropriate 1D connection elements. This can occur when a parent mesh in the connection recipe has a status of update pending.
Invalid	The 1D connection recipe is not currently valid. This can occur when, for example, the specified source or target entities do not exist.
Not realized	The software cannot create the 1D connection elements because the source or target geometry is not meshed.

You can use the status information to sort 1D connection entities in the Simulation Navigator based on their status. For example, you can more easily locate and fix 1D connection definitions that require updates or other modifications before the software can generate valid connection elements.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM file as the work part and displayed part
Command Finder	1D Connection

Quick links

Command reference

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1D Connection, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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