/BEAM

Block Format Keyword Describes the beam elements. Two properties (/PROP/TYPE3 (BEAM) and /PROP/TYPE18 (INT_BEAM)) are available for this beam element. The properties describing a beam element are all defined in a local beam coordinate system.

Format

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
/BEAM/part_ID
beam_ID node_ID1 node_ID2 node_ID3            

Definitions

Field Contents SI Units Example
part_ID Part identifier of the block

(Integer, maximum 10 digits)

 
beam_ID Element identifier

(Integer)

 
node_ID1 Node identifier 1

(Integer)

 
node_ID2 Node identifier 2

(Integer)

 
node_ID3 Node identifier 3

(Integer)

 

Comments

  1. The identifier (ID) must be unique in each element family, but it is advised for each element type to have a unique element identifier in the global model.
  2. More than one beam block may be used to define a part.
  3. Any number of beams may be defined in one block.
  4. Local coordinate system of beam:

    Nodes 1 and 2 define local X-axis.

    Nodes 1, 2 and 3 define local axis (X,Y) plane at time t =0.

    The third node is only used to define initial local frame position.

    Z axis is orthogonal to (X,Y) plane.


    starter_beam_x-axis
    Figure 1.