hm_getconnected2delems

Returns lists of 2D shell elements and nodes that form t-connections or share edges at component/material/property boundaries.

Syntax

hm_getconnected2delems entity_type mark_id string_array

Type

HyperMesh Tcl Query Command

Description

Returns lists of 2D shell elements and nodes that form t-connections or share edges at component boundaries. Advanced options are available to categorize the connected entities (T-connected, L-connected, Butt-connected or Overlap connected), as well as to specify the format of the return values.

Elements that have t-connected edges and have a feature larger than the specified feature angle are considered t-connected, with the remainder being overlap-connected.

Similarly, elements that have shared edges and have a feature larger than the specified feature angle are considered l-connected, with the remainder being butt-connected.

The return from this command are lists of 2D elements and/or nodes. Each list is a unique continuous connection, based on the specified options. A unique connection is defined as one that is of a single type and spans only a single boundary.

For example, if element output only is requested:

{type1 elems elems1_1 elems1_2 … elems1_N} {type2 elems elems2_1 elems2_2 … elems2_N} …

For example, if node list output only is requested:

{type1 nodes nodes1_1 nodes1_2 … nodes1_M} {type2 nodes nodes2_1 nodes2_2 … nodes2_M} …

For example, if node list and element output is requested:

{type1 elems elems1_1 elems1_2 … elems1_N} {type2 elems elems2_1 elems2_2 … elems2_N} {type1 nodes nodes1_1 nodes1_2 … nodes1_M} {type2 nodes nodes2_1 nodes2_2 … nodes2_M} …

Inputs

entity_type

The type of entity to query. Valid values are comps and elems. Only 2D shell elements are considered from the input.

mark_id

The ID of the mark containing the entities. Valid values are 1 and 2.

string_array

The ID of the string array that contains the additional input options. The string array is created using the *createstringarray command. This should always be set to 1.

number_of_strings

Integer indicating the size (number of strings) in the string array created using *createstringarray. Each argument must be space separated.

Each string is required and is introduced as follows:

"find: t o l b"

t: 0 - Do not find and include T-connected elements; 1 - Find and include T-connected elements

o: 0 - Do not find and include overlap-connected elements; 1 - Find and include overlap-connected elements

l: 0 - Do not find and include L-connected elements; 1 - Find and include L-connected elements

b: 0 - Do not find and include butt-connected elements; 1 - Find and include butt-connected elements

"features: overlap_angle l_angle boundary_type"

overlap_angle: The maximum angle allowed between two components when categorizing as an overlap connection. The angle measured is the smallest angle between the two components.

l_angle: The maximum angle allowed between two components when categorizing as an l-connection. Must be > overlap_angle and less than 180. The angle measured is the smallest angle between the two components.

boundary_type: comp - Consider component boundaries when finding and categorizing connections

"output: single_node_elems elems nodes"

single_node_elems: 0 - Do not return elements that have only a single node along the connection; 1 - Return elements that have only a single node along the connection

elems: 0 - Do not return element lists; 1 - Return flat list of uncategorized elements; 2 - Return lists of categorized elements; 3 - Return lists of categorized and grouped elements

nodes: 0 - Do not return node lists; 1 - Return flat list of uncategorized nodes; 2 - Return lists of categorized nodes; 3 - Return lists of categorized and grouped nodes

Example

To find and output categorized and grouped t-connected and butt-connected elements, with an overlap angle of 5 degrees, an L angle of 185, and using component boundaries, from the displayed components:

*createmark comps 1 displayed
*createstringarray 3 "find: 1 0 0 1" "features: 5.0 185.0 comp" "output: 0 3 0"
set elem_lists [hm_getconnected2delems comps 1 1 3]

Errors

Incorrect usage results in a Tcl error. To detect errors, you can use the catch command:

if { [ catch {command_name...} ] } {
   # Handle error
}

Version History

12.0.110