Create Connections

Automatically and manually create connections.

Automatically Create Connections

  1. From the SnRModelBuild ribbon, select the Create Connections tool.
    Figure 1.


  2. From the guide bar, select the connection type.
    Figure 2.


  3. From the guide bar, select Nodes, Features, or Solids.
  4. In the modeling window, select the chosen entity to create connections.
    Tip: Use the middle mouse button to quickly navigate through the selections.
  5. On the guide bar, complete one of the following:
    • Click to apply and stay in the tool.
    • Click to apply and close the tool.
    • Click to exit the tool without applying.
Examples:
Nodes
Selecting just one node around the clip hole is enough to generate the connection.
Figure 3. Input
Figure 4. Output
Features
Create multiple connections at once after detecting 2D holes using the Features tool.
Figure 5. Input
Figure 6. Output
Solids
If clip geometry (CAD) is available, it can be used to generate connections as well.
Figure 7. Input
Figure 8. Output

Manually Create Connections

  1. From the SnRModelBuild ribbon, select the Create Connections tool.
    Figure 9.


  2. From the guide bar, select Manual.
  3. Select the connection type, CBUSH or CBAR.
  4. If the connection type is CBUSH, you must also select the method for the Local Coordinate System creation.
    • Automatic A-B: the coordinate system is automatically defined based on the vector from node A to node B of CBUSH element.
    • Select System: select a coordinate system that already exists in the model to be assigned to the CBUSH.
    • Define System: define the coordinate system that will be assigned to the CBUSH by selecting its origin, axis and plane.
  5. Select the elements that should be connected.
    Tip: Use the Sync with Quick Selection option to quickly capture elements. From the guide bar, click to open advanced selection. Select By Edge and Free loops only to quickly capture the nodes around the hole using the Alt key.
    Figure 10.


    Figure 11.


  6. Optional: If the connection type is CBUSH, select or define the coordinate system.
  7. On the guide bar, complete one of the following:
    • Click to apply and stay in the tool.
    • Click to apply and close the tool.
    • Click to exit the tool without applying.
Examples:
CBAR
Figure 12. Input
Figure 13. Output
CBUSH - Automatic A-B
The coordinate system is automatically defined based on the vector from node A to node B of CBUSH element.
Note: Depending on the alignment of the input nodes/elements, the local coordinate system matches the other methods and requires no adjustment.
Figure 14. Input
Figure 15. Output
CBUSH - Select System
Select a coordinate system that already exists in the model to be assigned to the CBUSH.
Figure 16. Input
Figure 17. Output
CBUSH - Define System
Define the coordinate system that will be assigned to the CBUSH by selecting its origin, X-axis, and XY-plane.
Figure 18. Input


Figure 19. Output


Connection Options

Define connection options, such as connections properties and adjacent RBE elements handling, via the Options dialog.

  1. From the SnRModelBuild ribbon, select the Create Connections tool.
    Figure 20.


  2. From the guide bar, click .
    The Options dialog opens.
    Figure 21.


  3. Define additional options.
    Auto Method Properties
    Define the number of layers that will be connected in the automatic method.
    Attachment Properties - CBUSH
    Define the CBUSH translational stiffness value for X, Y, and Z directions for both automatic and manual methods. The property and a local coordinate system will be automatically created and assigned to the new CBUSH elements. For the automatic method, the directions alignment will always be as follows:
    Figure 22.


    Figure 23.


    Figure 24.


    Attachment Properties - CBAR
    Define the CBAR radius and material properties for both automatic and manual methods. The material, property and beam section will be automatically created and assigned to the created CBAR elements.
    Advanced - Delete adjacent RBE elements
    The clips and snaps across the NVH model are traditionally modelled with rigid body elements. Checking this option will automatically delete any RBE2 element connected to the new RBE2 elements that will be created by the Create Connections tool. This avoids potential double dependency errors in the solver.
    Figure 25.