Input

Action

entity selector

Choose between nodes, comps, surfs, sets, points or lines.

In any case, the constraints are applied to nodes; this selection simply determines how those nodes are selected.  Geometric points select the nodes at which they exist. Comps select all of the nodes contained within the chosen component.

If you choose comps or sets, the constraints are drawn using a single indicator.

When nodes is selected, use the switch to change the selection mode.

nodes

Select individual nodes.

faces

Select all of the nodes on 2D and 3D faces.

If there are discontinuities on a 2D face, then only the nodes inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.

2D faces ext

Select all of the nodes on a 2D face that contain discontinuities.

loops

Select all of the nodes on continuous free edges that make a closed loop simultaneously, such as the perimeter of a hole.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

free edges

Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements.

If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the free edges inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

free edges ext

Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements that contain discontinuities.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

edges

Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements.

If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the edge inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

edges ext

Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements that contain discontinuities.

Only valid for SHELL elements.

display

Appears when comps or sets are selected. This button allows you to indicate where in the model you wish the indicator to be drawn.

relative size

Determines how large, in model units, constraints are  displayed relative to the model size.

label constraints

Check this box to have the constraints include text labels.

constant value / curve

Determine whether the constraint should be a constant value or use curve-based values. If curve, choose the desired curve.

face angle / individual selection

Face angle

Value used to determine which of the selected elements are to have constraints applied. For constraints applied to faces, once the starting face has been identified, the normals of the adjacent remaining faces are tested. If the angle between the normals is less than the face angle, a constraint is applied to the adjacent element. This process continues until all of the free faces have been tested. For a constraint applied to edges, the process is similar except that the angle between edges is used instead of the angle between faces.

Only available when the entity selector is set to nodes and the selection mode is set to faces, 2d faces ext, free edges, free edges ext, edges, or edges ext.

Individual Selection

Select individual elements on a face or select individual free/shared edges of elements.

Only available when the entity selector is set to nodes and the selection mode is set to faces, free edges, or edges.

edge angle

Splits edges that belong to a given face.

When the edge angle is 180 degrees, edges are the continuous boundaries of faces. For smaller values, these same boundary edges are split wherever the angle between segments exceeds the specified value. A segment is the edge of a single element.

Only available when the entity selector is set to nodes and the selection mode is set to free edges, free edges ext, edges, or edges ext.

xscale

Can be used instead of selecting a curve. Specify a scale factor for the curve’s X values.

dof1 - dof6

For each degree of freedom that you wish to constrain, click the checkbox that corresponds to it. Type in a value for the constraint.

load types

Click the button to reveal a list of available load types to choose from.  The available types depend on the current solver profile.

Input

Action

entity selector

Choose between nodes, surfs, comps, points or lines.

In any case, the constraints are applied to nodes; this selection simply determines how those nodes are selected.  Geometric points select the nodes at which they exist. Comps select all of the nodes contained within the chosen component.

If you choose comps or sets, the constraints are drawn using a single indicator.

display

Appears when comps or sets are selected. This button allows you to indicate where in the model you wish the indicator to be drawn.

relative size

Determines how large, in model units, constraints are  displayed relative to the model size.

label constraints

Check this box to have the constraints include text labels.

constant value / curve

Determine whether the constraint should be a constant value or use curve-based values. If curve, choose the desired curve.

xscale

Can be used instead of selecting a curve. Specify a scale factor for the curve’s X values.

dof1 - dof6

For each degree of freedom that you wish to constrain, click the checkbox that corresponds to it. Type in a value for the constraint.

load types

Click the button to reveal a list of available load types to choose from.  The available types depend on the current solver profile.