*alternatejointcreate

Creates a joint element for use with the OptiStruct MBD solution sequence.

Syntax

*alternatejointcreate type node1 node2 orient1_node orient2_node orient1_x orient1_y orient1_z orient2_x orient2_y orient2_z curve_set1 curve_set2

Type

HyperMesh Tcl Modify

Description

This command creates a joint element that corresponds to a JOINT, MBPTCV, MBCVCV, MBPTDCV or MBPTDSF card.

Inputs

type
Joint element type. Supported values are:
  • 8 - Ball
  • 9 - Fixed
  • 10 - Revolute
  • 11 - Translational
  • 12 - Cylindrical
  • 13 - Universal
  • 14 - Constant velocity
  • 15 - Planar
  • 16 - Inline
  • 17 - Perpendicular
  • 18 - Parallel axes
  • 19 - Inplane
  • 20 - Orient
  • 21 - Point to Curve
  • 22 - Curve to Curve
  • 23 - Point to Deformable Curve
  • 24 - Point to Deformable Surface
node1
The ID of the first node of the joint element.
node2
The ID of the second node of the joint element.
orient1_node
The ID of the first orientation node of the joint element.
orient2_node
The ID of the second orientation node of the joint element.
orient1_x
x coordinate defining the first orientation vector.
orient1_y
y coordinate defining the first orientation vector.
orient1_z
z coordinate defining the first orientation vector.
orient2_x
x coordinate defining the second orientation vector.
orient2_y
y coordinate defining the second orientation vector.
orient2_z
z coordinate defining the second orientation vector.
curve_set1
The ID of the first entity set used to define the MBD curve.
curve_set2
The ID of the second entity set used to define the MBD curve.

All joint elements, except those with type 23 or type 24, require both node1 and node2 to be valid, non-zero IDs. For joints that are either of those two types, node2 may be specified as zero. In addition, for those types, this command will always set node2 to be equal to node1.

Examples

To create a fixed joint connecting nodes 10 and 25:

*alternatejointcreate 9 10 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

The following command creates an inline joint connecting nodes 20 and 100, using node 50 as the first orientation node:

*alternatejointcreate 16 20 100 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

To create a point to curve joint element connecting nodes 15 and 16, using a MBD curve defined by an entity set of ID 4:

*alternatejointcreate 21 15 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0

Errors

Incorrect usage results in a Tcl error. To detect errors, you can use the catch command:
if { [ catch {command_name...} ] } {
   # Handle error
}

Version History

9.0