multiple bars - connection

[valbe]

Hello. I need to make a connection between multiple - eight - bars. Four bars are on the xy plane and must be free to rotate around the z-axis. Four bars are on the yz plane and must rotate around the x-axis. Therefore, I thought that I could neither set them as trusses nor apply a rotation connector. My idea was to create wires between each of the eight bars and a shared Reference Point. I tried the approach with one unit (I have many) and it seems to work, but I was wondering if there can be more straightforward approaches. Image attached. thanks!!

 

[FEA way]

My idea was to create wires between each of the eight bars and a shared Reference Point.

Wires are just geometrical supports for connector sections. Which connector type did you use ?

Your problem sounds similar to a common application of pinned joints in frames/trusses.

 

[valbe]

Wires are just geometrical supports for connector sections. Which connector type did you use ?

Your problem sounds similar to a common application of pinned joints in frames/trusses.

Join + revolute, with the revolute axis being either x or z according to the bar involved

 

[FEA way]

Sounds good. Hinges in frames are typically modeled using just the Join connector but linear equation constraints is another way. You could try it here too but you will need one per DOF.

 

[valbe]

Sounds good. Hinges in frames are typically modeled using just the Join connector but linear equation constraints is another way. You could try it here too but you will need one per DOF.

Thank you. Then I will proceed this way. I saw a nice tutorial about setting linear equation constraints on trusses indeed. It may be easier to avoid errors that way.