Beams and Connector questions 1

[flyforever85]

First: when I create a part made by beams (let's say a bridge) the points between wires work as pin connector automatically?

I have a complex beam structure and a part of it has hinges because it can be disconnected and folded when on the ground. I have the whole structure as one part and I'm trying to create connectors (hinges) onlt for specific points. Is this correct? Or I have to create 2 different parts and connect them through connectors in the assembly module?

 

[FEA way]

If you are talking about making this part using Create Part --> Shape: Wire then connections between wires will be stiff by default. It will be different if you create beam structure by connecting wires added to assembly and assigning beam type connector to them. In such case you would have to define joint manually.

Because of the fact that a single part consists of rigidly connected wires, you should create separate parts to add hinge between them.

 

[Mustaine3]

Exactly.

Or in other words: If the two lines are within one part an share a common point, then they will have a common node after meshing. So they are directly connected.
If you don't want that, then don't attach them to a common point when creating them in one part. Or create the lines in separate parts. Now you have two separate points where you can add a connector in between.

 

[flyforever85]

Thank you very much for your help.

One more question: part of the beam structure has a floor attached to it through hinges. If I create a point on the parts that I have to join (in the Part section) will these point belong to each part of they will be just geometric features?

 

[FEA way]

Each of the points to be joined must have corresponding node in the underlying mesh. Simply adding datum point to the part won't be enough. To force the creation of node in selected point you will have to add partition.