Create a Flexible Body

Convert one or more rigid bodies or rigid groups to flexible bodies. A flexible part will have flexibility properties that allow it to deform under loads.

CAUTION: Before creating a flexible rigid group, resolve open gaps and overlaps between parts in the same rigid group. Otherwise these parts will not be bonded properly. For more information, see Part Gaps and Overlaps.
  1. Select the Create Flexible Body tool.
    Tip: To find and open a tool, press Ctrl+F. For more information, see Find and Search for Tools.
  2. Select one or more parts in the modeling window.
    The microdialog appears.
  3. In the dropdown menu, select Normal Modes or Maximum Frequency, then enter a value to include in the flex body mode analysis.
  4. Turn on Stress and/or Strain if you would like to include these result types in the flex body results.
  5. Click , then select Faster if you would like to generate a flexible body with first-order elements, or More Accurate if you would like to generate a flexible body with second-order elements.
    Note:
    • You can adjust the settings for Faster or More Accurate in the Property Editor.
    • You can also view and adjust the Mesh size for the flexible body in the Property Editor.
  6. To use mesh controls, see Mesh Controls.
  7. Click Apply to convert the selected rigid bodies to flexible bodies.

    A green flag will appear over the Flex Body icon when the conversion is complete. Click the flag to review the flex body modes.

Tip:
  • Right-click a part and select Flexible for Motion to quickly designate a part as flexible. The next time you run a motion analysis, all selected parts will be converted before the analysis.
  • Two methods are available for enhancing the behavior of flexible bodies: FlexContact+ and FlexContact+ for Joints. For more information, see Flexible Body Contact.

  • Click the satellite icon that appears when you hover over the FlexBody icon to view the status of conversion runs that are already in progress or that have not yet been viewed.

  • See Review Flexible Body Modes and Review Flexible Body Results for more information on how to view the results.

Microdialog Options

Use the options in the microdialog to determine what is included in the flex body analysis.

Normal Modes

Enter the number of flex body modes to include in the analysis.

Maximum Frequency
Enter the maximum frequency cutoff.
Apply

Make the selected parts flexible.

Stress

Include stress in the flexible body results.

Strain

Include strain in the flexible body results.

Speed/Accuracy

Select between Faster flexible body result types with first-order elements, or More Accurate flexible body result types with second-order elements.

Mesh Control
Assign an element size to parts or faces.