Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

Chapter 6

1D Meshing and Connectors

1D elements perform a critical function in Finite Element Analysis as they can be used to
connect nodes together, attach dissimilar meshes, distribute loads and in general provide a
quick and easy way to attach things together.
There are numerous types of 1D elements ranging from infinitely rigid simple connections to
complex cross sectioned elements that can be stressed.
This chapter will cover many of the most widely used 1D elements and also cover an
important tool in HyperMesh called connectors. Connectors can provide a quick and easy
way to create many 1D elements with little work

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 139

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

Connectors: What are they?

Connectors are a geometric representation of connections between entities. The advantage
of connectors is the ability to create multiple connections at a single time. Hundreds or even
thousands of connections that would normally have to be created manually one at a time
can be mass created, even before the part is meshed. They can be used to create
numerous types of connection elements such as:

 Spot Welds

 Bolts

 Trim Masses

 Seam Welds

 Area Connections (Adhesives)

Connectors: Terminology
 Link Entities - The entities that are being connected
o User can explicitly define link entities or specify a search tolerance
o Can be components, elements, surfaces, nodes, or tags
o Typically components are linked
 Connector Location - Where the entities are linked
o Nodes – created at the node location
o Points – created at the point location
140 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0
Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

o Lines – created on the line

 The line may be split into multiple projection locations as specified by
the offset, spacing, and density values
o Elements – created at the element location (adhesives only)
o Surface – created at the surface location (adhesives only)
 Connector Realization – The creation of the finite element representation of that
connector
o Rigids, springs, etc., or custom configurations such as ACMs, CWELDS, etc.
 Connector State – Whether an FE representation of a connector has been created
o Unrealized - The initial status of the connector entity upon creation
o Realized - The status only if creation of the FE weld representation at the
connector was successful
o Failed – The status if creating the FE weld representation at the connector
was not successful
 # of Layers – number of FE weld layers to attempt to generate for the connector
o 2T, 3T, etc.
 Connect When – Specifies when the link entity information is added to the
connector
o Now - Allows you to add link entity information now. For this option, you must
select the connect what entities and num layers to successfully create a
connector.
o At FE Realize - The link entities to the connector are determined while
realizing the connector. The link entities are determined by the projections
and proximity from the connector location.
 Re-Connect Rule – Defines method for connector re-attachment during part
swapping/replacement
o None - If a link entity is deleted, the link entity is removed from the connector
o By ID - If a link entity is deleted, the connector retains the ID of the link entity,
and will to a new entity with that ID upon realization
o By Name – Same as the by id rule except that the entity name is retained

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 141

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

Connectors: Tools
 Connectors Module
 Spot
 Bolt
 Seam
 Area
 Apply Mass – adds a mass value to entities
o Used to represent mass of parts that are not present in the model
 FE Absorb – Create new connectors from existing elements of recognizable FE
representations of welds, bolts, adhesives, etc.
 Add Links – Add link entities to existing connectors
 Unrealize – Delete FE representations of welds / bolts / adhesives associated
with existing connectors
 Compare – Checks the MCF against displayed model file
 Quality – Check for duplicate connectors, combines connectors, and checks the
quality of realized elements
 Connector Browser – Hierarchal browser that provides information and the ability
to edit connectors.
 Shows:
o Type of Connector
o Link Information
o State of connector
 Editable
o Edit link entities, export mwf files, etc
 Found in Tab Browser Area

142 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

 Visualization – Controls how connectors are displayed:

 Color connectors by state, layers, or component
 Visibility by state or layers (can turn the display on or off)
 Control size of connector display

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 143

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

144 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

Exercise 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

This exercise will cover the basics behind the creation and visualization of 1D elements,
ranging from simple rigid entities to more complex 1D elements with a defined cross
section to automatic 1D element creation through the use of connectors.

Step 1: Load the model Exercise_6.hm and set the user profile to Radioss
Bulk Data.

Step 2: RBE2 Elements

RBE (Rigid Body Elements) are the most
simple of 1D elements and simply connect
two or more nodes together.
In the case of an RBE2, one node serves as
the Independent and the other(s) the
Dependant node(s). The Dependant
node(s) simply “follow” the motion of the
Independent node in the Degrees of
Freedom that have been linked. These
elements are useful to simply represent
welds or to tie together two dissimilar
meshes. One word of caution though is that
RBE2 elements, as they rigidly link nodes
together, can induce a stiffness to the model
that may not be desired.
1. Create a component called Rigids and
make the color red.
2. Rotate the model as shown in the picture
and zoom into the highlighted region.
3. Enter the mesh creation panel for Rigids.
4. Make sure the create sub panel is active.
5. Ensure that all 6 DOFs are selected.

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 145

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

6. Select the red circled node first (Independent

Node) and the yellow circled node second
(Dependant Node).
A rigid element (RBE2) will be created connecting
the two nodes.
7. Continue to make a few more RBE2 elements
down the line.
8. Change the switch next to dependant node to multiple nodes.
9. Pick a node for the independent node and then pick multiple nodes for dependant.
10. Click create.
An RBE2 with multiple dependant nodes connected
to one single independent will be created.
11. Select the update sub-panel
12. Pick the RBE2 created with multiple dependant
nodes.
13. Click the connectivity radio button
14. Click the nodes button next to dependant:
15. Right click one of the dependant nodes, it will
become de-selected.
16. Left click a new node to select as the dependant node.
17. Click update.
You will note that the connectivity of the RBE2 has changed to remove the deselected
node and include the newly selected node. Update can also be used to change the
independent node, the DOFs of the element, and on a two noded RBE2 the independent
and dependant node can be switched.
18. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 3: RBE3 Elements

RBE3 elements, on the other hand, serve to distribute loads without inducing unwanted
stiffness. It is not an element to be used to model a connection, but rather an element to
induce a motion in a node as a function of the weighted average of other nodes.
1. From the 1D page click rbe3.
The RBE3 panel will open. You will notice it looks similar
to the RBE2 with the only changes being the reversal of
the Independent and Dependant nodes and the addition
of a weight field.
2. Rotate and zoom so that you are looking down at the
large hole in the blue upper part.
In this step you will create a very common rigid element feature often called the “wagon
146 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0
Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

wheel” or the “spider web”. When complete the reason will be obvious.
This type of feature is used to link the nodes around the circumference of a hole to a
single node in the center. This can then be used to:
 Connect the feature to something else (bolting two parts together).
 Constrain the central node. (Bolting to a fixture) (RBE2)
 Distribute a central load. (RBE3)
To create this feature, a node must be placed at the center of the hole. This can be
accomplished through the use of the Distance panel.
3. Press F4 to enter the Distance panel.
4. Pick the 3 nodes sub panel.
5. Pick any three nodes around the interior of the hole.
6. Click the green circle center button.
A yellow temp node will be placed at the circle center.
7. Return out of the function back into the RBE3 panel.
8. Select the new temp node as the dependant node.
9. Pick all the nodes around the interior of the hole as the independent nodes.
HINT: Using the extended selection by path option will make this task much quicker.
Simply select the by path option, click any node on the
circumference then click another node a ways further
around. HyperMesh will automatically select all the
nodes between using the shortest route. Continue in this
manner until all the nodes are selected.
10. Set the weight at 1.
11. Click create.
The Wagon Wheel or Spider Web will be created.

Step 4: Bar Elements – Creating the beam section

RBE2 and RBE3 elements are considered “rigid” elements. They are infinitely strong
and as such experience no stress and thus cannot be analyzed. In the event the 1D
element is actually a structural entity that needs to be studied, a bar is used. The bar
element (CBEAM in Radioss) has a definable cross section and material assigned to it
and thus will display stress results in post processing.
Before the element can be created, a cross section, a material, and a property need to
be defined and then applied to the element(s).
1. From the menu bar, select Properties > HyperBeam.
HyperBeam is a tool within HyperMesh that allows for easy and graphical creation of
cross sections for beam elements.

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 147

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

2. From the HyperBeam panel select the standard section sub panel.
3. From the standard section type switch pick standard H section.
4. Click create.
The graphical HyperBeam interface will now open

From within this interface the physical dimensions of the beam section can be defined.
5. Set the dimensions as shown below:

6. Right click on the words auto_standardsection.1, select Rename and rename it

H_Beam.

7. Click File > Exit.

148 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0
Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

The beam section has now been created.

8. Right click in the Model Browser window and create a property.
9. Name it H Beam.
10. Assign it a Card Image of PBEAM.
11. Assign it the material Steel.
12. Check the box for Card edit property upon creation.
13. Click Create.
The Card Edit panel will open and display the PBEAM card. The beam section needs
to be assigned to this card.

14. Click the yellow beamsec button twice and select the H_Beam cross section.
You will notice that the inertial information calculated from the cross section will
automatically be placed into the value fields in the card.
15. Click return to exit.

Step 5: Bar Elements – Creating the bar elements

With the property and cross section defined the element can now be created.
1. From the 1D page, select the bars panel.
2. Click the orientation switch immediately next to the N1 button and
select x-axis.
3. Click the property = button and pick the H Beam property.
4. Pick any node on the blue upper component elements for node A.
5. With the focus automatically switching to node B pick any node on
the green lower component elements.
The Beam element will automatically be created.

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 149

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

You will note that the element is displayed as a line in the color of the component it was
created in. Aside from the CBEAM label, it looks identical to the RBE2 and RBE3
elements created previously.
The 1D visualization mode allows for the graphical representation of the cross section
of the 1D element.
6. Click the Element Representation button ( ) and pick the 3D Element Representation
icon ( ).

7. Zoom on the CBEAM element.

It now shows the actual cross section. This cross section is
selectable and reflects the color of the component. It also is a
live view so that if any aspect of the element is changed, it will
show that.
8. Re-open HyperBeam and change the dimensions to see the
changes reflected on the part.
9. Create a brand new cross section of some other standard type.
10. Right click on the H Beam property card in the HyperMesh Model Browser and card
edit the property.
11. Click the beamsec button and pick the new cross section.
12. Return out of the card and see the change in the model.

Step 6: Combining 1D Elements

A typical bolt representation consists of a “wagon wheel” inside the two bolt holes
connected at their centers with a CBEAM that has a solid circle section that represents
the bolt. In this step you will create one of those common structures.
1. Create a component called Bolts and give it a unique color.
2. Create a standard solid circle beam section with a diameter of 5
3. Create a PBEAM property named Bolt with a material of Steel and the solid circle
beam section just created.
4. Pick one of the two circle pairs between the Blue
Upper Component and the purple Flanges
Component to create the bolt in.
5. Put temp nodes at the center of both the upper and
lower holes
6. Create an RBE2 “wagon wheel” in each of the holes.

150 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

7. Create a CBEAM element connecting the center of the RBE2 elements with the Bolt
Property.
8. Repeat this for the other hole.

Step 7: Connectors
Connectors are a quick way of creating multiple and complex rigid entities representing
welds, bolts and adhesives.
First you will use the Connectors panel to create a weld of rigid elements similar to
those created in Step 2, Item 6. In that case, two nodes were selected and a single
RBE2 was created. To run down the entire length of the edge would have required each
node be picked individually. You will now accomplish the same result using connectors
in a fraction of the time.
1. From the menu bar, select Connectors > Create > Spots.
2. From the spot submenu, next to location, click the nodes button and pick by path.
3. On the opposite edge from the one used in Step 2, Item 6 to create the RBE2 elements,
pick the first node and using the by path option, proceed down the entire edge until all
the nodes are selected
4. Next to connect what, make sure comps is selected and pick the blue Upper Plate
collector and the teal Arm collector.
5. Make sure elems is selected by the toggle beneath and num layers should be total 2
as there are only 2 layers being connected.
6. tolerance = should be set for 10 (this determines the distance HyperMesh will search
from the node to find nodes of both collectors to create the welds. The distance is a bit
over 6, so 10 should work fine.)
7. For type= select rigid (this option allow you to establish what type of element will be
created.)
8. Change the mesh independent switch to mesh dependant.
9. Under mesh dependant, change the switch from quad transition to remesh.
10. Verify the panel has all the settings shown below:

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 151

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

11. Click create.

The entire row of rigid elements will be created with this one click.

The process can be used to create these types of rigids or rigids that will represent spot
welds. These elements can even be created before the part is meshed (must pick geom
instead of elems for the connect what option) and in that case a fixed point will be
placed at either end of the element, guaranteeing that a node will be there when the
mesh is created.
12. Experiment with creating other connectors in the model with other options in the panel.
13. From the connectors modulel enter the bolt panel.
14. Zoom to the section of the model shown to the right.
15. Pick one node on the circumference of each of the
holes on the purple Flanges component.
16. Set connect what to comps and pick the purple
Flanges component and the green Lower
component.
17. Set the rest of the panel as shown below.

18. Click create.

Immediately two rigid bolts are created. If desired, the type can be set as Bolt (CBAR),
and a PBAR card in combination with a beam section can be defined, and the bolt can
be analyzed. Bolt (Washer) types will not only select the nodes around the
circumference but will grab nodes around a washer ring as well.
19. Experiment with other options in the panel.

152 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc
 Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

Step 8: Connector Browser

1. From the View menu activate the Connector Browser by selecting Browsers >
HyperMesh > Connector.

The Connector Browser will appear and display all of the

connectors in the model. From the browser you can see information about the
connectors, reasons for realization failure and when you right click on a connector you
can edit the connectors.
2. Experiment with the Connector Browser.

HyperWorks 11.0 HyperMesh Introduction 153

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

154 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 11.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc