Creating nodes

A node is a coordinate point in 3D space. Nodes define and connect elements in a finite element mesh. A node can have up to six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) for structural analysis: three translational and three rotational, as shown below.

The software automatically generates nodes during the meshing process. You can also use the commands in the Nodes and Elements tab to manually create, orient, modify, and manage nodes. For example, you can use the Node Create command to manually create nodes on selected points.

Geometry associativity

In general, when you manually create nodes with any of the commands on the Nodes and Elements tab, those nodes are not associated to the underlying polygon geometry. Only the nodes created with the Node on Curve command are associated with the underlying geometry. Therefore, if your geometry updates, the software does not update the position of any manually created nodes.

Note:

The Node Translate and Node Rotate commands (with the Translate and Rotate options only) only alter the location of the selected nodes. The nodes retain their geometry association.

Reference and displacement coordinate systems

In the Node Create dialog box, you can define both the reference and the displacement coordinate systems for the node.

• The reference coordinate system is the coordinate system in which you define the node's location.

• The displacement coordinate system is the coordinate system in which the software reports a node's displacements during the analysis.

You can assign different reference and displacement coordinate systems to the same node, or you can select the Same as reference csys check box to specify that the node's displacement coordinate system be the same as its reference coordinate system.

Node labels

Each node has a label that is a unique numeric identifier you can use to identify individual nodes. When you create a new node, the software automatically lists the next node label available in the Label box on the Node Create dialog box. The software will not let you specify a new node label that conflicts with an existing node label.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM file as the displayed part and work part
Command Finder	Node Create

How do I

Create nodes

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Creating nodes, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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