Hexa (Contact)

This realization creates hexa elements between shell and/or solid elements in order to connect them using a contact definition.

The hexa element nodes will project and touch the shell and/or solid element faces. During the realization, a contact and referencing main and secondary sets are created; unless defined differently, the hexas are assigned a default property and material, and are organized into a component with the same name base as the property.

Figure 1. Hexa (Contact) Realization Example

Legacy Realizations

The following realizations are replaced by Hexa (Contact):

hexa (seam tie)
hexa (adhesive – contact)

Hexa Realization Options

Exclusive options available for seam realization types with hexa row(s) representing the connection.


Option	Action
width	Define the width of the continuous hexa weld in the direction perpendicular to the seam direction. Note: Only available for hexa (adhesive) and hexa (RBE2-RBE3).
strips	Define the number of hexa elements required along the width.
coats	Defines the number of hexa elements required along the thickness.
thickness	Select a method for defining the thickness of a hexa weld. shell gap Project the hexa to touch the shell elements. The position is independent from any thickness. (T1+T2)/2 Hexa size (thickness) depends on the shell thickness of the connected parts. mid thickness Calculate the hexa size (thickness) as the air gap between the two connected parts. If there is no gap, or even a penetration, the hexa size is always modeled with 1.0. const. thickness Specify the hexa size (thickness). maintain gaps Calculate the hexa size (thickness) as the gap distance reduced by two times the specified value for maintain gaps. The position is independent from any thickness. Note: The exact hexa position is also influenced by the consider shell thickness and offset for solid positioning option. Only available for hexa (adhesive) and hexa (RBE2-RBE3). Figure 3.
thickness dependent / angle, D and H / H1, H2 and D	Select a method to define how hexas are positioned and located, and assign appropriate values to any corresponding inputs. thickness dependent t_min min(t₁;t₂) d factor_a * t_min h₁ factor_b + 2.5 * t₂ h₂ factor_b + 2.5 * 2₁₁ Figure 4. angle, D and H angle α angle to the base sheet d thickness of hexa h height from the basesheet Figure 5. H1, H2 and D h1 distance on T sheet h2 distance on basesheet d thickness of hexa Figure 6.
discontinuity	By default, the length and pattern of a hexa weld is defined by test points along the seam connector. To ignore the predefined test points, and define a specific element length, weld length, and break length to realize the connector with, select the discontinuity checkbox. With this option, a hexa adhesive seam with alternating weld pieces and gaps is created. When discontinuity is enabled, you must define the following inputs: elem length Specify the length of a hexa along the seam connector. weld length/scale (elem) Specify the length of the hexa weld. break length/scale (elem) Specify the amount of space to place in between the hexa welds. If the defined lengths do not fit exactly to the seam connector length, mathematical correct rounding is used. To guarantee, that the rounded lengths are not too far away from the expected values, minimum and maximum deviations are defined in the seam options. Note: Only available for hexa (adhesive) realizations.
hexa position to edge	Select a location to create the hexa from the edge. midpoint Position the hexa to the exact location of the connector after snapping. offset from edge Specify a distance from the edge to offset the hexa. positive edge Position the hexa to the outside of the edge. The positive side is normally the side with the larger angle. negative edge Position the hexa to the inside of the edge. The negative side is normally the side with the smaller angle. The angle that is close to 90° (88° to 90°) the element normal of the first found shell element at the free edge decides which side is the positive and the negative side. Note: Only available for hexa (adhesive) and hexa (RBE2-RBE3).
edge details	In many cases, the connector position is not very precise. To create the requested result, an automatic edge snapping can be enabled. In the first step the connector snaps to, for example, the closest free edge, and then from there the projection and FE creation starts. Select how many element rows away from the free edge to snap the connector to for L and T connections. maximum 1 element row maximum 2 element rows no Do not snap the connector.