Create springs

When you click on the Add spring button without selection, the left panel shows a message :

Select 1 node

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The selection mode is automatically set to POINT. You can so directly select a node.

1. Create a spring

  • Select the current section/material in the specification box.
  • Select a node.
  • Click the Add spring button.

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SPRING PROPERTIES :

Property Description Unit Metric Unit USA
Length - m ft
Kx Translation stiffness in X direction kN/mm kips/in
Kx Translation stiffness in Y direction kN/mm kips/in
Kx Translation stiffness in Z direction kN/mm kips/in
Krx Rotation stiffness in X direction kN.m/rad kips.ft/rad
Kry Rotation stiffness in Y direction kN.m/rad kips.ft/rad
Krz Rotation stiffness in Z direction kN.m/rad kips.ft/rad

The length must be defined by the orientation tool.

MATERIAL :

Select the material of the spring.

Click here for more information about the materials definition.

X-AXIS DIRECTION :

You can define the X-axis vector by defining Xx, Xy, Xz in global coordinates.

Label :

You can define a label to this element. The labels are shown with the node names view button.

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You can then define the second point of the spring thanks to the Orientation tool.

Click here for more information about the orientation tool.

Create the spring (represented by a black line) :

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2. Modify/Remove a spring

Change the Selection mode to ELEMENT and select a spring by dragging a selection rectangle :

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Click here for more information about the selection tool.

You can change the properties of the selected spring (except the length) :

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Click on the Modify button to change the selected spring with these new properties.

You can undo this command.

Click on the Remove button to delete the selected spring.

You can undo this command.

3. Insert a spring on an intermediate node

Click on the Add spring button and select an intermediate node between 2 elements.

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Fill the properties (see §1) and select the insertion mode :

  • Shift forward
  • Shift backwards
  • Reduce the next element
  • Reduce the previous element
  • Symmetrically reduce the neighboring elements

ATTENTION, if the length is null, no mode will be proposed (empty list)

Based on the length of the spring and the lengths of the neighboring elements, some mode could be hidden.

Select for example “Reduce the next element” and click the Insert button :

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You can undo this command.