Interfaces

Bushing interface

Define interfaces which do not change the position of action on a flexible body. The set of finite element nodes does not change and are thus stationary interfaces.

Name

Change the name of the interface. Consistent naming of the interfaces simplifies the handling of the links. Physics type shows if the interface is mechanical or thermal. Interface type shows if the interface is abushing or a fourier interface.

Interface topos

Click on the select button to open the topo-picker. The selected topology is highlighted red.

Type to pick: Choose topology and click on the desired topology. If the topology is hidden click on a node of the topology. This selects all topologies in contact with this node. Click then on undesired topologies to deselect them.

Coordinate System

Local coordinate system of the interface. The following color code is used.

Color

Direction

Name

Red

Axial

u

Green

Transversal

v

Blue

Normal

w

Select topologies

Define the origin of the coordinate system. If it should be in the middle of two faces, click on both and it will automatically be in the middle of the selected topologies. The default topology is the topology selected as 6DOF interface.

Offset

Move the origin of the coordinate system in x-, y- or z-direction of the local coordinate system.

Main/Second axis

Define the direction of two axes of the local coordinate system compared to the global coordinate. The third axis is then given.

Result

Show the resulting coordinate system.

Visible

Show/Hide the coordinate system and scale the arrows of it.

Gauss quadrature order

Order of the numerical integration to calculate the nodal values at the interface.

Visible

Show/Hide the interface. In the field a DOF can be selected, which is then shown. The arrow scale can be changed in the arrow scale field.

DOFs for reduction

A ticked box means that the interface can transmit a force/torque in the given direction according to the table below.

Name

Definition

u

Force in axial direction

v

Force in transversal direction

w

Force in normal direction

ru

Torque around axial direction

rw

Torque around transversal direction

rv

Torque around normal direction

Start calculation

Start the calculation of nodal weights for the specific force distribution. When the calculation is finished, the * in front of the name of the interface disappears. If a * is present, the interface must be updated by running the calculation.

Fourier Interface

Moving axes of machine tools lead to changing position of coupling elements. The interfaces move depending on the axis position and finite element nodes affected by the interface change. These interfaces are moving interfaces.

Name

Change the name of the interface here. Consistent naming of the interfaces simplifies the handling of the links.

Interface topos

Click on the select button to open the topo-picker. The selected topology is highlighted red.

Type to pick: Choose topology and click on the desired topology. If the topology is hidden click on a node of the topology. This selects all topologies in contact with this node. Click then on undesired topologies to deselect them.

Path

Define the movement path of the carriage. There are two modes to do that task.

Start End Mode

Start topologies

Select the start topology. Click choose start topos to open the topo-picker.

End topologies

Select the end topology. Click choose end topos to open the topo-picker.

Normal direction

Define the direction of the normal vector. If the path is not shown like in the picture below, the normal direction of the path has to be changed such that it does not point in the same direction as the path.

Attention

The definition of the path only works if the topo-picker the type to pick selection is face, edge or node.

Offset

Move the path in a desired direction.

edges mode

Edges

Choose the edges along which the path should run. Click choose edges to open the topo-picker, where the edges can be selected.

Normals

Define the direction of the normals of the path. Select one of the three modes:

Normals mode

Normal direction

elemface_const

Normal to the selected normal topology face

elemface_area

Normal to the selected normal topology face

in_plane

In the normal topology face

Click choose normtopos to open the topo-picker, where the normals topologies can be selected. Reverse the normal direction by selecting the Reversenormal box.

Direction

Click choose dirtopo to open the topo-picker, where the dirtopo can be selected. Change the direction by selecting the Reversedir box.

Offset

Move the path in a desired direction.

N harmonics

The number in this field is defined as follows: N=(length of rail)/(length of carriage)

Normalize

Option for the normalization of the interface matrix.

DOF type

Choose between 6dof or 3dof surface.

Maximum distance to path

Define the maximum distance to the path.

Gauss quadrature order

Order of the numerical integration to calculate the nodal values at the interface.

Visible

Select if and how the interface should be shown.

DOFs for reduction

A ticked box means that the interface can transmit a force/torque in the given direction according to the table below.

Name

Definition

u

Force in axial direction

v

Force in transversal direction

w

Force in normal direction

ru

Torque around axial direction

rw

Torque around transversal direction

rv

Torque around normal direction

Start calculation

Start the calculation of nodal weights for the specific force distribution. When the calculation is finished, the * in front of the name of the interface disappears. If a * is present, the interface must be updated by running the calculation. This may takes some time.

Context menu

New interface

Create a new bushing or fourier interface.

Duplicate/Delete

Duplicate/Delete the selected surface.