Advanced 1D Element Creation

Use the Line Mesh panel to create a chain of one-dimensional elements such as beams along a line. This functionality is used for creating beam models or beam representations of structural models. Line mesh can be created from lines or node lists. Once the selection is complete, click mesh to preview the node seeding of the mesh. It also invokes the density and biasing subpanels, similar to those in the automeshing module, allowing you to interactively modify the element density and biasing.

Line mesh (continuous chain of one-dimensional elements) can be created for a selection of lines or list of nodes (node list). Mouse over the panel inputs below for more information.

The Beams from Lines tools enable the creation of 1D elements from surface lines, organizing them into components. They also offset/orient these elements based on the attached shell elements and calculating properties of these 1D elements from 3D solid or shell FE element sections. The tools are found in the Aerospace User Profile in the Aerospace menu.

Use this tool to create 1D elements to match the existing shell elements from lines (surface edges). Normally surfaces are split into panels using lines and planes. Then shell meshes are created on those split surfaces. This tool extracts 1D elements to match the shell elements along the split lines of the surface and separates them into predefined components based on system direction. Each system direction can have different types of 1D elements (bar, beam or ROD properties).



This image shows a shell element model with panel surface edges (green edges) where the beam will be created.



1D elements are created to match the shell elements and correct beam sections are assigned

The Beams from Lines tools enable the creation of 1D elements from surface lines, organizing them into components. They also offset/orient these elements based on the attached shell elements and calculating properties of these 1D elements from 3D solid or shell FE element sections. The tools are found in the Aerospace User Profile in the Aerospace menu.

This tool is identical to the Assembly Organize by Coordinate System tool. The purpose is to separate all of the 1D beam elements into components based on local system directions.

1. Create empty components in each system direction.
2. Move the beams automatically to those components.

The Beams from Lines tools enable the creation of 1D elements from surface lines, organizing them into components. They also offset/orient these elements based on the attached shell elements and calculating properties of these 1D elements from 3D solid or shell FE element sections. The tools are found in the Aerospace User Profile in the Aerospace menu.

Use this tool to update 1D element properties, change the orientation, or assign offset to existing BEAM elements. The offset and orientation is based on the attached shell element normal and shell element thickness.



Using the beam Update tool, beam sections can be automatically calculated from 3D solid or FE shell/beam models.



The beam properties are calculated from the FE model and are assigned to the center beam (the white line in the middle).





Beam properties are calculated and assigned to each beam.

The Beams from Lines tools enable the creation of 1D elements from surface lines, organizing them into components. They also offset/orient these elements based on the attached shell elements and calculating properties of these 1D elements from 3D solid or shell FE element sections. The tools are found in the Aerospace User Profile in the Aerospace menu.

Use this tool to quickly display the beam properties without using the HyperBeam tool or using 3D beam display.

1. Click Pick.
2. In the graphics area select a beam.
3. Click Display to see the beam's property values.
4. Click Clear and repeat the process for the next beam.

Beam property Display tool

Use this tool to calculate beam properties from a solid or FE model.

1. Create beam elements (Plotel) where the beam elements need to be located.
2. Assign a solid model or existing FE model.
3. Click Create.
4. If you need equal offset at each end, activate the Equal offsets on both ends checkbox.

Automatic beam sections created by cutting the solid model