Joining volumes without booleans

[AlanTomlinson]

Hello,

I've been asked to join two plates with a solid rivet (simulated by a slug of material). I understand that applying a Booleans operation can alter the properties of the model and am told i can model the connection by simply using the meshtool to give the lines around the holes in the plate and the lines comprising the rivet the same element edge length. However, when i then use the volume sweep function, apply constraints to the free end and a force to the other it comes up with a warning saying rigid body motion is present.

Any help would be most appreciated
Alan.

 

[meshparts]

Even if the meshes are conform on the interface, they are not bounded together. You will have to issue NUMMRG,NODE to merge the coincident nodes on the interface!

Regards
Alex

 

[Stringmaker]

Alex is correct. You should have a continuous mesh. If you only care about stiffness and not stress you may use constraint equations or MPC contact to interface the two regions.

 

[AlanTomlinson]

Thanks very much for your help.