Bolt universal connections in the LS-DYNA environment

In the LS-DYNA environment, you can use the universal connection commands to define and mesh bolt connections between components.

Example: Bolt elements meshed in the LS-DYNA environment

Defining the bolt connection and generating the elements

• You can use the Bolt Connection command to specify the definition for the bolt connection. For example, you specify the parts (flanges) to connect, the locations of the bolts, tolerance values for creating the connections, and properties of the connection such as the diameter of the welds and the bolt material.

• You can use either the Automatic Elements or Connection Elements commands to generate the actual bolt elements from the connection definitions.If you use the Automatic Elements command, the software uses default values to create the bolt elements.Note: You can use options on the Bolt page of the Universal Connections customer defaults to control those default values.If you use the Connection Elements command, you can use options in the Bolt Element dialog box to control how the software creates the bolt elements.

Controlling how the software creates elements to model the bolt

In the LS-DYNA environment, you use rigid body definitions, either alone or in combination with 1D elements, to model the bolts. Rigid bodies can represent stiff structural components that undergo small deformations but large translations and rotations.

• Use the CONSTRAINED_NODAL_RIGID_BODY Spider(s) option to use rigid body definitions to represent the connection.For more information, see Meshing LS-DYNA bolt connections with rigid body elements.

• Use the CONSTRAINED_RIGID_BODY +ELEMENT_BEAM Spider(s) option to use beam elements in a spider configuration to connect the components and a rigid body to define the interaction between the elements and the components.For more information, see Meshing LS-DYNA bolt connections rigid body and beam elements.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM or assembly FEM file as the work part and displayed partLS-DYNA as the specified solver
Command Finder	Universal Bolt Connection Connection Elements Automatic Connection Elements

Bolt universal connection customer defaults

Menu	File→Utilities→Customer Defaults
Location in dialog box	Simulation→Pre/Post→Universal Connections→ Bolt tab

How do I

Simulate a bolt preload in ANSYS using universal bolt connections

Create large quantities of bolts in one connection

Learn more

Bolt universal connections

Override the length of bolt shanks

Extending the legs of spider elements in bolt connections

Bolt universal connections in the Nastran environment

Meshing LS-DYNA bolt connections with rigid body elements

Meshing LS-DYNA bolt connections rigid body and beam elements

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Bolt universal connections in the LS-DYNA environment, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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