Location: 1D page
Use the Gaps panel to create gap elements. When using the OptiStruct user profile, it allows the creation of multiple node-element gap elements.
A gap element is an element created in a space between two nodes, or between a node and an element, of a model where contact may occur. Use a gap element when you want to impose a nonlinear constraint on a model; this constraint will limit the amount of movement possible during analysis. Gap elements have property pointers.
Gap elements are element config 70 and are displayed as a line between two nodes with GAP written at the centroid of the element.
Gaps can translate to CGAP or CGAPG elements in OptiStruct.
Subpanels and Inputs
The Gaps panel contains the following subpanels:
Panel Inputs
Input
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Action
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from node
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Select the elements' starting node.
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to node
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Select the elements' ending node.
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orientation
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Use the switch to choose between methods of orienting the element. Orientation is only necessary when the nodes are coincident.
| • | default - no orientation is used, or the global coordinate system is used if necessary. |
| • | node - specify a node; the vector from the coincident nodes to this one is the orientation vector. |
| • | vector - use the plane and vector selector to specify a vector along which to orient the element. |
| • | coordinates - specify a point in space; the vector from the coincident nodes to this one is the orientation vector. |
| • | system - the element is oriented based on a selected local coordinate system. |
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property =
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The property collector which the new elements should point.
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elem type =
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Click the button and pick the appropriate element type. Available options depend on the solver profile.
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Panel Inputs
Input
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Action
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nodes
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Select the elements' starting node.
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elems
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Select the elements that you want the nodes to connect to to via gap elements.
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orientation
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Use the switch to choose between methods of orienting the element. Orientation is only necessary when the nodes are coincident.
| • | default - no orientation is used, or the global coordinate system is used if necessary. |
| • | node - specify a node; the vector from the coincident nodes to this one is the orientation vector. |
| • | vector - use the plane and vector selector to specify a vector along which to orient the element. |
| • | coordinates - specify a point in space; the vector from the coincident nodes to this one is the orientation vector. |
| • | system - the element is oriented based on a selected local coordinate system. |
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property =
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The property collector which the new elements should point.
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elem type =
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Click the button and pick the appropriate element type. Available options depend on the solver profile.
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search tol =
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Enter a value within which HyperMesh will search for the projection of a selected node onto a selected element to create a node-elem gap.
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face nodes
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If the elements you are creating the gaps to are 3D elements, use this selector to pick the face to which you want the gaps created.
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break angle =
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For 3D elements, this helps determine the extent of the face to which the gap projection occurs. Any feature on the face that exceeds this angle is treated as a boundary of that face for purposes of gap element projection.
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Use the Update subpanel to alter the characteristics of existing gap elements.
Panel Inputs
Input
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Action
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elems
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Select the gap elements that you wish to alter.
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orient vector /
no vector
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Use the toggle to choose between a an orient vector collector, which defines the element orientation, or no vector (in which case the element is oriented by the from and to nodes).
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property =
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The property collector which the new elements should point.
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elem types =
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Click the button and pick the appropriate element type. Available options depend on the solver profile.
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See Also:
An Alphabetical List of HyperMesh Panels
gaps panel - HyperMesh profile
