Bolt Panel
Use the Bolt panel to create connectors which will be represented as a 1D element construct.
Location: Connectors module
There are three base methods to determine the nodes to be connected: hole detection, cylinder definition, and a combination of both. Shell holes can be connected by their edges and/or any washer nodes. The default behavior for bolt holes is to connect every node within the solid hole, but if you add the line *ce_fe_solid_bolt_setup(0) to your hm.cfg file, then only the nodes of the top and bottom rings are connected.
When the Bolt panel is active, only bolt-type connectors display in the modeling window; graphics for other connector types are suppressed until you exit the panel.
Subpanel Organization
- Bolt Subpanel
- Create and realize bolt connectors.
- Create Subpanel
- Create, but do not realize bolt connectors.
- Realize Subpanel
- Realize existing bolt connectors (no creation or editing possible).
- The first column contains everything related to connector creation and link detection.
- The second column contains everything related to realization type, post script and property assignment.
- The third column contains everything related to the final connection to the link entities.
Connector Creation and Link Detection Options
Option | Action |
---|---|
location | Specify the location of the connector to be created.
|
spacing/density |
The number of bolt points is approximated to the closest integer, based on the length of the line and spacing given while considering the end offset value given (or half spacing). The spacing is also calculated based on the length of the line and density for the half-spacing option on the Options panel. Note: Only available when location is set to lines.
|
split to points | Split the line into individual points and create bolt
connectors for each resultant point. Note: Only available when
location is set to nodelist/nodepath or line.
|
connectors | Select the connector(s) to be realized. |
connect what | Select the link entities which should become link
candidates. Link candidates are certain entities of a
chosen Link Type, which are supposed to be connected during
the realization. Entities outside the tolerance are not
taken into account.
|
num layers |
Define how many thicknesses (layers) have to be connected at the connector position. When link detection is performed the valid connector links are established with respect to the given tolerance and the selected link candidates. By default the links are reduced to the minimum needed. The number of links is typically higher than the number of layers, because a valid pair of projections need to be found per test point. |
tolerance |
Define a distance from the connector location (per each test point). Only entities within this tolerance can be taken into account for the link detection and the final realization. Thus, the tolerance is used twice: first for the link determination and again for the realization. In the second step the tolerance is used to verify whether adequate link candidates are available to be connected. During pure connector creation on the Create subpanel, the tolerance is used for the link determination, but not necessarily stored on the connector unless the checkbox in front of the tolerance field is marked. In this way different tolerances can be used. The tolerance used during the realization process is always written to the connector. This approach is the same for all connector types. For most of the bolt realization types the approach is the same, though further requirements like holes of certain diameters on the links might be required for a successful realization. For cylinder bolt realization types a cylinder volume is defined by a diameter, a length L1 in the positive and a length L2 in the negative connector direction. Only links penetrating this cylinder volume are considered for the realization. If the tolerance value is lower than L1 or L2 it is updated to the higher of both values during realization. |
connect when |
Select when to perform link detection.
|
reconnect rule |
While realizing the connector, HyperWorks
looks for link entities based on the re-connect rule.
Tip: This option is
useful in situations where the parts to be connected have been
changed/replaced.
|
Post Script and Property Assignment Options
Option | Action |
---|---|
type |
Select the realization type which should be used. The
realization type is a description of the FE representation.
Note: The available
realization types are dependant on the configuration file loaded under fe file
on the general connector Options panel.
|
post script treatment |
Choose whether or not a post script has to be used for
the specific realization type. These scripts are used to automatically create
materials, properties, and/or contacts necessary for realizing the connectors.
|
elems to current comp / connector comp |
Select which component the FE representations
are stored in once they have been realized.
Note: Only available in the realize subpanel when post script treatment is set
to no/skip post script.
|
property treatment |
Select a property treatment.
Note: Only available when post script treatment is set to no/skip post
script.
|
direct property assignment |
Directly assign the property, otherwise assign the
property to the destination components.
Note: Only available when property treatment
is set to property =, and the solver interface is Nastran, OptiStruct, Radioss or Abaqus.
|
use dynamic vector/use existing vector/define a new vector | Select how to determine the bolt direction vector. Every bolt
connector gets a vector associated during its realization.
|
Final Connection to Link Entities Options
Option | Action |
---|---|
mesh dependent/mesh Independent |
Determine whether the realizations require
a node connection.
|
thread length | Define the dimensions of the rigid elements connecting the bolt shaft models as bar. |
consider existing holes only/create hole, if none/use hole, if available/fill and remesh hole, if available | In the past a bolt realization always required a hole for each layer existent in the initial mesh. For 2D meshes this is not necessary anymore, because the imprint capability allows punching the needed holes into the mesh before the final realization is performed, so the mesh can be manipulated in a pre-step. This makes it possible to punch holes, to move holes, to close holes, to create washers, and so on. |
realize and hole detect details | Open a temporary panel, from which you can define hole detection requirements. |
Command Buttons
Button | Action |
---|---|
create | Create the connector(s) with provided input (if sufficient). |
realize | Realize the bolt connector. |
reject | Revert the last action. |
preview | Analyze bolt connectors that contain some sort of cylinder
definition in the modeling window.
Once you click preview, HyperWorks unrealizes and updates the selected connectors to reflect its realization type. HyperWorks also updates all of the cylinder dimensions (diameters, lengths, factors) and displays the appropriate cylinders. |
options | Open the Connector Options panel, where various settings can be defined. |
return | Exit the panel. |