Beams and Frames: Nodes 2023

Select nodes

Nodes of active study can be selected from 3d model.

• Node is selectable when a small circle appears next to the cursor.
  
• The coordinate system of selected nodes are shown in 3d model.
  
• Hold Ctrl to select multiple nodes.
• Node selection can be cleared by clicking empty space from 3d model or pressing Esc.

Set the coordinate system of the node

1. Select nodes.
2. Press Local Coordinate System checkbox from the ribbon tab.
   • When the checkbox is checked, the coordinate system of the node is the main principal coordinate system of the part's cross section.
   • When unchecked, the coordinate system is the global coordinate system of 3d model.

Set the degrees of freedom for nodes

1. Select nodes.
2. Press X, Y, Z translation or rotation to change the support or link definition of certain degree of freedom.
   • Supports and link definitions are set always in the selected coordinate system of the node

   • Support options and their descriptions for unlinked and main node are listed in the table below

     Symbol in ribbon tab	Support definition	Description
     	Free	The degree of freedom is free to translate or rotate in the solution.
     	Fixed	The degree of freedom is fixed to place in solution. Its translation or rotation is zero.

   • Link options and their descriptions for linked node are listed in the table below

     Symbol in ribbon tab	Support definition	Description
     	Free	The degree of freedom is free to translate or rotate in the solution.
     	Linked	The degree of freedom is linked to the main node in the solution.

Link nodes

1. Select unlinked nodes which are going to be linked.
2. Press  Link from the contextual tab.
   • The preset for link can be selected from five options.
     • Fully connected
     •  Hinged about axis X
     •  Hinged about axis Y
     •  Hinged about axis Z
     •  Hinged about axes Y,Z
   • Type of the link can be defined as Rigid Link or Master-Slave.

   • The firstly selected node will be the main node. The main node is marked in violet color in the model when the Link nodes dialog is open.

   • The other selected nodes will be linked nodes with selected link preset.
     

Unlink nodes

1. Select nodes.
2. Press Unlink from the contextual ribbon tab.
3. Selected nodes will be changed to unlinked nodes.

Change the main node of link

1. Select linked nodes which are going to be main nodes.
2. Press Main node checkbox from the contextual ribbon tab.

Change the type of the link

1. Select nodes which type are going to be changed.
2. Select from the contextual tab option Rigid link or Master-slave.

Set support or link preset

• Support preset can be set for unlinked nodes or main nodes.
  1. Select nodes.
  2. Select support preset and possible extra definition from contextual tab.
     • Descriptions of presets are listed in the table below

• Link preset can be set for linked nodes.
  1. Select nodes.
  2. Select link preset and possible extra definition from contextual tab.
     • Descriptions of presets are listed in the table below