Rigids Panel

Use the Rigids panel to create rigid or rigid link elements.

Location: 1D page

A rigid element is an element created in a space between two nodes of a model where a rigid connection is desired.

Rigid elements are element config 5 and are displayed as a line between two nodes with the letter R written at the centroid of the element.

Rigid link elements are element config 55 and are displayed as lines between the independent node and the dependent node(s) with RL displayed at the independent node of the element.

Rigid link elements can be created with dependent nodes attached to an element as a SET. If a rigid link with a dependent node set is deleted, the associated node set is also deleted. If the dependent node set in any panel is deleted, the connected rigid link element is also deleted. Dependent node sets are automatically created when rigid link elements are created. A node set created in the Sets panel can be connected as a set of dependent nodes to a rigid link element independent node.
Note: Two-node rigids with a dependent node set attached are always created as rigid link elements (config 55), not as rigid elements (config 5).

Rigids can translate to RBE2 in Nastran or *MPC in Abaqus.

Create Subpanel

Option Action
independent: node Select the node that you want to be the independent node of the rigid element.
dependent: (switch) Choose between single node and multiple nodes, then select the node(s) that you want to be the dependent end of the rigid element.


Figure 1. Single Node Rigidlink


Figure 2. Multiple Nodes Rigidlink
When you select multiple nodes, click the switch to change the selection mode.
nodes
Select individual nodes.


Figure 3. Example: Nodes Selection
faces
Select all of the nodes on 2D and 3D faces. If there are discontinuities on a 2D face, then only the nodes inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.


Figure 4. Example: Faces Selection
2D faces ext
Select all of the nodes on a 2D face that contain discontinuities.


Figure 5. Example: 2D Faces Ext Selection
loops
Select all of the nodes on continuous free edges that make a closed loop simultaneously, such as the perimeter of a hole.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 6. Example: Loops Selection
free edges
Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements. If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the free edges inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 7. Example: Free Edges Selection
free edges ext
Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements that contain discontinuities.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 8. Example: Free Edges Ext Selection
edges
Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements. If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the edge inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 9. Example: Edges Selection
edges ext
Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements that contain discontinuities.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 10. Example: Edges Ext Selection
attach dependant nodes as a set Create a two-node rigid link element 55 with an attached node set.
elem types = Click to select the desired type for the new rigid element.
(dof checkboxes) Select the degrees of freedom (DOF) for the rigid connection you want to create.
Note: When creating rigids with single dependent nodes, new rigids are created immediately upon specifying the dependent and independent nodes; ensure that the other inputs are set as you wish them to be before selecting nodes.

Update Subpanel

Option Action
elems Select the rigid elements that you wish to edit.
elem Select the element that you wish to change the connectivity for.
Note: Available when updating connectivity.
dof Select/deselect the desired degrees of freedom (DOF) for the selected rigid elements.
connectivity Update the connectivity of a rigid link element.
  • Indicate which element you want to update by selecting it on your model, or click elems to display the extended entity selection window.
  • Add or remove dependent node(s) by clicking nodes after dependent: and then begin selecting the node(s). Left-click to add the node(s) or right-click to remove the node(s).
The dependent node can be selected, or automatically calculated.
Click the switch to change the selection mode.
nodes
Select individual nodes.


Figure 11. Example: Nodes Selection
faces
Select all of the nodes on 2D and 3D faces. If there are discontinuities on a 2D face, then only the nodes inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.


Figure 12. Example: Faces Selection
2D faces ext
Select all of the nodes on a 2D face that contain discontinuities.


Figure 13. Example: 2D Faces Ext Selection
loops
Select all of the nodes on continuous free edges that make a closed loop simultaneously, such as the perimeter of a hole.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 14. Example: Loops Selection
free edges
Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements. If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the free edges inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 15. Example: Free Edges Selection
free edges ext
Select all of the nodes on free edges of elements that contain discontinuities.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 16. Example: Free Edges Ext Selection
edges
Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements. If there are discontinuities on an edge, then only the nodes on the edge inbetween the discontinuities will be selected.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 17. Example: Edges Selection
edges ext
Select all of the nodes on free edges or shared edges (butt joints, L/corner joints, and T-joints) of elements that contain discontinuities.
Important: Only valid for SHELL elements.


Figure 18. Example: Edges Ext Selection
switch Select rigid elems whose dependent and independent nodes you wish to switch.
attach/detach set Attach or detach dependent nodes of rigid or rigid link element as a node set.
  • Indicate which element you want to update by selecting it on your model, or click elems to display the extended entity selection window.
  • Enable or clear the Attach dependent nodes as a set checkbox.
If selected elements have dependent nodes as attached nodes sets and you clear the Attach dependent nodes as a set checkbox, the corresponding nodes sets are deleted and dependent nodes appear connected to the elements directly. Two-node rigid link elements 55 are converted to rigid elements "5".

If selected elements do not have dependent nodes as attached nodes sets and you enable the Attach dependent nodes as a set checkbox, a node set with automatically generated names is created for each selected element. Selected rigid elements "5" are converted to two-node rigid link elements "55" with node sets attached.
elem type Select the elems that you wish to modify, then select a new type for them.

Combine Subpanel

Option Action
elems Select the rigid elements that you wish to combine. The rigids and rigidlinks must have the same independent node and DOFs.

If any combined rigid link elements have dependent nodes attached as a set, the resulting rigid link will also have dependent nodes attached as a set. This set is created for a result element. The nodes sets attached to combined elements are deleted after combining.
combine rigids with: Choose between common independent node and any common node.

Command Buttons

Button Action
create Create a new rigid link with multiple dependent nodes.

To create a rigid element that has some or all of the degrees of freedom as an existing one, review the existing element. This places the appropriate degrees of freedom into the panel, so that you can make any required minor changes and then create the new rigid.

Note: Not available for rigids with single dependent nodes.
reject Undo the most recent link creation, update, or combination.
review Review a rigid by clicking review and then selecting the rigid you want to review.

After each rigid is selected, Engineering Solutions will indicate which degrees of freedom (DOF1 through DOF6) are active for the element.

This function assumes that the rigid element is active and on the screen.

If a selected rigid-dependent node is attached as a node set, the name of the node set attached to the selected element is highlighted during review.

When reviewing, Attach dependent nodes as a set indicates if a selected rigid element has a dependent node set attached.
update Update the selected rigid element or elements to use the current input settings.
switch Switch the dependent and independent nodes of the selected rigid elements.
combine Combine the selected rigids. The rigids and rigidlinks must have the same independent node and DOFs.

If any combined rigid link elements have dependent nodes attached as a set, the resulting rigid link will also have dependent nodes attached as a set. This set is created for a result element. The nodes sets attached to combined elements are deleted after combining.
return Exit the panel.