Rigid Walls Panel

Use the Rigid Walls panel to create and update rigid walls.

Location: Analysis page or Analysis page > Safety module

Rigid walls are used to define a contact or sliding rigid wall in an analysis code. In all solver interfaces except for LS-DYNA, rigid walls are created as group entities with configuration 5. In the LS-DYNA solver interface, rigid walls are created as rigid wall entities.

You can define the nodes included in a rigid wall using one of the four methods.
nodes
Create a secondary node for each node included in the rigid wall.
components
Provide a list of components. In this case, the analysis code is provided with a list of component IDs.
sets
Select one or more previously defined entity sets. In this case, the analysis code is provided with a list of the entity set IDs.
all
Include all the nodes in the model. If you select all, the keyword ALL is used.
You can also select one or more previously defined entity sets. In this case, the analysis code is provided with a list of the entity set IDs.

The Rigid Walls panel displays fields for dictionaries or card images depending on the type of solver template that is referenced. If a card image template is loaded, or no template is loaded, the panel displays card image related fields. If a dictionary template is loaded, the panel displays dictionary related fields. Card image and dictionary entry fields are used in the same way except that when a card image solver is being used and edit is selected, the card image is displayed in a new area of the screen. For dictionary solvers, the data is shown in the existing menu area.

This function requires a template file.

Create Subpanel

Option Action
name = Specify a name for the rigid wall that you wish to create.
type = Select a rigid wall type.
creation method
Select a card image.
card image
Select a card image.
no card image
Do not use a card image.
same as
Select a collector that already uses the desired card image.
rgdwall color Select a color for the entity.
size = Specify a size for the new rigid wall.

Update Subpanel

Option Action
name = Click to select an existing rigid wall.
type = Select a rigid wall type.
rgdwall color Select a color for the entity.

Geom Subpanel

Option Action
name = Click to select an existing rigid wall.
shape: Select the desired shape.
base node Select the base node for the rigid wall. Click edit to directly change the node's coordinates.
normal vector: Choose a method for defining the rigid wall's normal vector.
vectors
Use a standard plane and vector selector to define the vector via nodes or axes.
components
Manually specify the X, Y, Z components of the vector.
systemid
Define the vector by means of selecting a local system.
shape: Define the geometric information.
finite plane
Define a finite plane using the selector to choose either the corner or dist/axis creation method.
  • Use the corner method by selecting two nodes.
  • Use the dist/axis method using the vector selector to specify the local x axis of the plane, then specify the lengths of the local x and y directions of the plane.
finite prism
Define a finite prism using the selector to choose either the corner or dist/axis creation method.
  • Use the corner method by selecting two nodes.
  • Use the dist/axis method using the vector selector to specify the local x axis of the prism, then enter the lengths of the local x, y, and z directions of the prism.
cylinder
Define a cylinder using the selector to choose either the node or radius creation method.
  • Use the node method to select a node that describes the radius of the cylinder.
  • Use the radius method to enter the desired radius of the cylinder.
  • Specify the desired length of the cylinder. If the length of a cylinder is zero, it is assumed to be infinite.
sphere
Define a sphere using the selector to choose either the node or radius creation method.
  • Use the node method to select a node that describes the radius of the sphere.
  • Use the radius method to enter the desired radius of the sphere.
parallel
Specify two nodes as corner nodes of the parallel shape.
shape: infinite/finite If plane or prism is selected for the shape, select infinite or finite. To describe an infinite plane or prism, no additional input is needed, additional details for a finite plane are described for shape.

Add Subpanel

Option Action
name = Specify a name for the rigid wall.
secondary: Select the secondary entities.
nodes
Create a secondary node for each node included in the rigid wall.
components
Provide a list of components. In this case, the analysis code is provided with a list of component IDs.
sets
Select one or more previously defined entity sets. In this case, the analysis code is provided with a list of the entity set IDs.
all
Include all the nodes in the model. If you select all, the keyword ALL is used.

Motion Subpanel

Option Action
name = Specify a name for the rigid wall to which you want to add a motion description.
motion switch Choose between vectors and components to define the direction and magnitude of the motion.
vectors
Specify a value in the magnitude= field, then use the standard plane and vector selector to define the direction.
components
Specify the x,y,z values of the components.
type of motion: Select the type of motion.

Card Subpanel

Option Action
name = Specify the name of the rigid wall.
card image = Specify the name of the rigid wall, its card image or dictionary displays in this field. Click edit to open the card image in edit mode, allowing you to modify the values in the card image or dictionary.

Command Buttons

Button Action
create Create the new rigid wall.
create/edit Create the new rigid wall and open its card image in edit mode.
update type Update the rigid wall type.
reject type Undo the most recent update to the rigid wall type.
update color Update the rigid wall's color, leaving all other traits the same.
review  
update Update the rigid wall's geometry, nodes, or motion.
add Add the selected nodes to the rigid wall.
load Load the specified card image.
load/edit Load the specified card image and open it in edit mode.
edit Edit the specified card image.
reset Reset the specified card image, undoing any edits made to it.
reset all Reset all card images, undoing any edits made to them.
return Exit the panel.