Beams From Lines

These tools enable the creation of 1D elements from surface lines, organizing them into components. They also offset/orient these elements based on the attached shell elements and calculating properties of these 1D elements from 3D solid or shell FE element sections.

Use this tool to create 1D elements to match the existing shell elements from lines (surface edges). Normally surfaces are split into panels using lines and planes. Then shell meshes are created on those split surfaces. This tool extracts 1D elements to match the shell elements along the split lines of the surface and separates them into predefined components based on system direction. Each system direction can have different types of 1D elements (bar, beam or ROD properties).

shell_element_model

This image shows a shell element model with panel surface edges (green edges) where the beam will be created

select_beamsection

1.	Select all of the surface edges. This tool works on surface edges without free floating lines. Therefore, you need to mask or delete all of the free lines.

2.	Click Aerospace > Beams > Beam Section from CSV to import the standard beam section from a .csv file. In this example the CSV format and the +Y axis of the beam will be aligned with the shell normal.

beam_section_csv

This image shows standard beam section definitions from a .csv file

3.	Select Local as the System Type.

4.	Assign beam section to each system axis. If the axis does not need a beam, you can make the selection Unspecified.

beam_tool_2

5.	Click Create. A beam will be created with the correct beam section properties and type (CROD, CBAR, CBEAM) along each system axis.

id_elements

1D elements are created to match the shell elements and correct beam sections are assigned

This tool is identical to the Assembly Organize by Coordinate System tool. The purpose is to separate all of the 1D beam elements into components based on local system directions.

1.	Create empty components in each system direction.

2.	Move the beams automatically to those components.

beam_tool_3

Use this tool to update 1D element properties, change the orientation, or assign offset to existing BEAM elements. The offset and orientation is based on the attached shell element normal and shell element thickness.

beam_tool_4

Using the beam Update tool, beam sections can be automatically calculated from 3D solid or FE shell/beam models.

beam_tool_5

The beam properties are calculated from the FE model and are assigned to the center beam (the white line in the middle).

beam_properties

beam_properties_2

beam_properties_3

Beam properties are calculated and assigned to each beam

Use this tool to quickly display the beam properties without using the HyperBeam tool or using 3D beam display.

1.	Click Pick.

2.	In the graphics area select a beam.

3.	Click Display to see the beam's property values.

4.	Click Clear and repeat the process for the next beam.

beam_property_display

Beam property Display tool

Beams From Lines

Beams From Lines

Beams From Lines

See Also: