Kinematic joints for SOL 402

This table lists the types of joints that you can add to your model for a kinematic analysis. The joint names in the Simcenter 3D Pre/Post column are the same for joints that you create using the kinematic universal connection and the 1D connection element (CJOINT). The corresponding Simcenter Nastran and Simcenter Samcef names are provided so that you can identify joints in the solver-generated input (.dat) and output (.f06) files.

The joints are grouped by family, such as joints with coincident nodes and slider joints. Within each family, the joints are ordered from least complex to most complex.

Joint	Simcenter 3D	Simcenter Nastran	Simcenter Samcef	Description
Joints with two coincident nodes
	Fixed	FIXED	LINK	Introduces rigid links between two nodes. This joint is also called a removable link.To release the links at a specified time per degree of freedom, use the Joint Time Constraint (JCON).For more information, see Link element (LINK) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Revolute	REVOLUTE	HING	Connects two bodies, allowing one rotational degree of freedom about the X-axis of the coordinate system you selected for the joint. A revolute joint:Does not allow translational movement in any direction between the two bodies. Constrains the nodes to rotate relative to each other along the specified axis. To drive the revolute joint, you can use the Kinematic Driver (DRIVER) for rotation or torque. To free or constrain the revolute joint, use the Joint Time Constraint (JCON).Revolute joints support a control node. For more information, see Control nodes or the G3 field in CJOINT.For more information on the revolute joint, see Hinge joint (HING) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Spherical	SPHERE	SPHESPFR (friction)	Connects two bodies, allowing three rotational degrees of freedom: the rotations about the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. The spherical joint allows relative rotation between the two nodes, but fixes their relative translation.For more information, see Spherical joint (SPHE) or Spherical joint with friction (SPFR) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Not applicable	UNIVSL	UNIV	Connects two revolving bodies such that they lie in a controlled angular misalignment. Universal joints are typically used to create a joint that allows two degrees of rotational freedom. The two nodes are coincident. This joint acts as two combined REVOLUTE joints and designs a cardan shaft.You create this joint in the Simcenter Nastran input file.For more information, see Universal joint (UNIV) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Not applicable	CONVEL	HOMO	Introduces one kinematic condition on the relative rotation of the two nodes. The two nodes are coincident. The CONVEL joint is similar to a universal joint, except that a CONVEL joint ensures a constant velocity through the joint's spin axis. You create this joint in the Simcenter Nastran input file.For more information, see Constant velocity joint (HOMO) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
Slider joints
	Inline	INLINE	SLID	Constrains node N2 to slide along the straight line that joins both nodes, but doesn’t constrain the relative rotation between the nodes.If the two nodes are coincident, you can define a direction along the X-axis of the coordinate system.To drive the inline joint, you can use the Kinematic Driver (DRIVER) for displacement or force. To free or constrain the inline joint, use the Joint Time Constraint (JCON).Inline joints support a control node. For more information, see Control nodes or the G3 field in CJOINT.For more information on the inline joint, see Rigid Curvilinear Slider (SLID) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Cylindrical	CYLDR	CYLI	Connects two bodies, allowing two degrees of freedom: one translational and one rotational.The cylindrical joint constrains node N2 to slide along the straight line that joins both nodes, and allows a relative rotation between the nodes along that axis. If the two nodes are coincident, you can define a direction along the X-axis of the coordinate system.To drive the cylindrical joint, you can assign a Kinematic Driver (DRIVER) for displacement, force, rotation, and torque. To free or constrain the cylindrical joint, use the Joint Time Constraint (JCON).Cylindrical joints support a control node. For more information, see Control nodes or the G3 field in CJOINT.For more information on the cylindrical joint, see Cylindrical joint (CYLI) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Slider	SLIDER	PRIS	Connects two bodies, allowing one translational degree of freedom between them. Slider joints do not allow rotational movement between the two bodies. The slider joint constrains node N2 to slide along the straight line that joins both nodes, but fixes the relative rotation between the nodes. If the two nodes are coincident, you can define a direction along the X-axis of the coordinate system.To drive the slider joint, you can use the Kinematic Driver (DRIVER). To free or constrain the slider joint, use the Joint Time Constraint (JCON).Slider joints support a control node. For more information, see Control nodes or the G3 field in CJOINT.For more information on the slider joint, see Prismatic joint (PRIS) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Slider-Universal	SLIUNV	TWIS	Introduces a universal joint between the rotation of two nodes.The slider-universal joint constrains node N2 to slide along the straight line that joins both nodes. The relative rotation between the nodes is driven by a universal joint. If the two nodes are coincident, you can define a direction along the X-axis of the coordinate system.To drive the slider-universal joint, you can use the Kinematic Driver (DRIVER) for displacement or force. To free or constrain the slider-universal joint, use the Joint Time Constraint (JCON).Slider-universal joints support a control node. For more information, see Control nodes or the G3 field in CJOINT.For more information on the slider-universal joint, see Universal joint combined with slider element (TWIS) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.
	Not applicable	SCREW	SCRE	Acts the same as the CYLDR joint, but the relative rotation around and translation along the straight line that joins both nodes are related by the pitch property of the screw. If the two nodes are coincident, you can define a direction along the X-axis of the coordinate system.You can assign a driver to a screw joint.You create this joint in the Simcenter Nastran input file.For more information, see Screw joint (SCRE) in the Simcenter Samcef solver documentation.

Note:

The slider joints are rigid, that is, the sliding body follows a straight axis. To create a flexible slider joint where the track is flexible, can be curvilinear, and is made of beam elements, see Create a flexible slider joint or FLXSLI.

How do I

Add joints to your kinematics model using universal connections

Create a flexible slider joint

Create and assign control nodes

Learn more

SOL 402 structural analysis with kinematics

1D connection elements for kinematic joints

Kinematic Driver boundary condition

Joint Time Constraint boundary condition

Flexible slider joint

Control nodes

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Pre/Post video examples

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Kinematic joints for SOL 402, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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