Gaps Panel - OptiStruct
Use the Gaps panel to create gap elements. When using the OptiStruct solver interface, it allows the creation of multiple node-element gap elements.
Location: 1D page
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.
Create: Node-Node Subpanel
Option | Action |
---|---|
from node | Select the elements' starting node. |
to node | Select the elements' ending node. |
orientation | Choose between methods
of orienting the element. Orientation is only necessary when the
nodes are coincident.
|
property = | Select the property collector which the new elements should point. |
elem type = | Select an element type. |
Create: Nodes-Elems Subpanel
Option | Action |
---|---|
nodes | Select the elements' starting node. |
elems | Select the elements that you want the nodes to connect to to via gap elements. |
orientation | Choose between methods
of orienting the element. Orientation is only necessary when the
nodes are coincident.
|
property = | Select the property collector which the new elements should point. |
elem type = | Select an element type. |
search tol = | Specify a value within which Engineering Solutions will search for the projection of a selected node onto a selected element to create a node-elem gap. |
face nodes | If the elements you are creating the gaps to are 3D elements, use this selector to select the face to which you want the gaps created. |
break angle = | 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. |
Update Subpanel
Option | Action |
---|---|
elems | Select the gap elements that you wish to alter. |
orient vector / no vector | Choose between 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). |
property = | Select the property collector which the new elements should point. |
elem types = | Select an appropriate element type. |