Is there any way to set a constraint after a deformation? More info inside...

[msantoro]

So I am building a piping system, and I want one part of the system to move, and then in the next step I want the two parts to move together. So what I did, was make a cut at the connection of the two parts and moved the first part. I then want to set a constraint to allow the two cut faces to move in unison in the next step. Is there any way to accomplish this?

 

[Mustaine3]

I see 3 options:

1. When the two regions touch each other sometimes and then should move together (possible also within one step):
Define a contact between the two potentially touching regions. As contact property use Friction=Rough in tangential direction and the option "No Separation" in normal direction. That means, when a node touches the opposite face, he will be stuck there from now on.


2. When the regions don't touch during the analysis:
Create two couplings and connect each region to a reference node. Define a connector between the ref nodes and use Cartesian+Cardan as type. This allows full relative movement first. In step 2 define a boundary condition for the connector (not the nodes!) and set all velocities to zero. With that you prevent any relative movement between the two ref nodes.

3. A user subroutine DISP.