Simple beam question

[gregthomas]

Hi,

I have a beam that has two layers. I make each layer using the
"block" command so that one is on top of the other. When I apply forces or do a modal analysis, can I assume that the two layers are stuck together, and they'll behave as one single beam? Or do I need to do something to make them stick together?

Thanks for your help, i'm a beginner!

Greg

 

[Stringmaker]

If the volumes shared a common area the mesh would be continuous where they meet. However, it sounds like this is not the case. The easiest route you can go is to make sure the two area where the touch, have an identical mesh and use the VGLUE command. You could also couple the nodes together on the interface, use constraint equations, or contact elements. There are so many ways to do the same thing. Stay simple here and use the VGLUE command though. Just throwing the other ways out there to give you and idea of what options you do have in the future.

-Brain

 

[gregthomas]

The two layers are different materials, so I have to mesh them separately. Do i do use vglue before or after meshing? I tried doing it before, and found that I got errors when I tried to mesh them separately afterwards.

Greg

 

[meshparts]

All boolean operations have to be made before meshing. After vglue the volumes shear a common area but are deferent volumes. So you can mesh them separately with vmesh,1, mesh,2. Or you can assign different material properties with vatt and then mesh all volumes with vmesh,all.

Regards,
Alex

 

[polybog]

Hi,

you can mesh after the glue operation. then you can go to mesh attributes and define the material no according to your definition. Also u can define 2 different element type to mesh your area if that is the case.

Polybog