Create, Review, and Edit RBE3 Elements
Create RBE3s
RBE3 elements are commonly used to connect parts, attach nonstructural concentrated masses, apply loads and boundary conditions, and in other places where a distributed connection is needed. In contrast to RBE2s and contrary to the name, RBE3s do not behave as rigid bodies. An RBE3 creates a flexible connection between the constituent nodes and degrees of freedom where the displacement of the center node is equated to the weighted average of the displacement of the other nodes. This context may be used to quickly create and modify RBE3s directly when the use of Connectors technology is not necessary/desired.
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From the Model ribbon, click the
RBE3 tool.
Figure 1.Note: The RBE3 context is part of a drop down action group that also includes RBE2 and Rigid Body. If RBE3 is not visible, click the drop-down arrow next to the icon. - Optional:
Click
and 
on the microdialog to adjust
the degrees of freedom of the dependent and independent nodes to be included in
the RBE3.
- Optional:
Click
on the microdialog to specify a uniform weighting factor or
automatically calculate the weighting factors of the independent nodes based on
their respective distance from the dependent node.
- Optional:
Click
on the microdialog to enter node-based editing mode.
- Optional:
Click
on the microdialog to reposition the dependent node using the
Move tool.
If the dependent node is attached to other elements, a new node will be created and moved to the new location.
-
On the guide bar, click
to create another RBE3 or click 
to exit the tool.
Review and Edit RBE2s
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To open the RBE3 context in edit mode, do one of the following from idle:
- Double-click on an RBE2.
- Select an RBE2, then select Edit from the right-click menu.
- Select an RBE2, then access the tool via the ribbon icon.
- Utilize any of the actions noted above to review or modify the RBE3 connectivity, DOF, weighting factors, and/or dependent node location.
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On the guide bar, click to create another RBE2 or click to exit the tool.
- Refer to the entity status icon on the guide bar for status and feedback. Clicking the icon will fit the view to the current RBE3.
- Changes made in the RBE context are automatically committed to the database. If a change is made that invalidates the RBE (for example, clearing the independent node selection), the RBE will turn grey and the database will not be updated until the RBE is made valid again. The entity status icon and error flags on the selectors help identify required inputs.
- Hold Ctrl (add) or Shift (remove) in to select individual nodes in quick succession. The RBE will be updated upon releasing Ctrl/Shift.