Element Orientation Vector
Element Orientation Vector
(OP)
I just started using NEiNastran v9.02 recently and for practice, i am modeling basic line models (steel beam structure for example).
When I mesh each line (or curve), I designate the material, beam cross section, and then it asks for the element orientation vector. I presume this is to identify the major and minor axis of the cross section.
However, when I have a beam that is not horizontal or vertical, obtaining the correct element orientation vector is perplexing. Is this step crucial in calculating the global stiffness of my structure? For now, I designate a unit vector in the x, y, or z axis that is not collinear to the beam's length. Thanks for the help...
When I mesh each line (or curve), I designate the material, beam cross section, and then it asks for the element orientation vector. I presume this is to identify the major and minor axis of the cross section.
However, when I have a beam that is not horizontal or vertical, obtaining the correct element orientation vector is perplexing. Is this step crucial in calculating the global stiffness of my structure? For now, I designate a unit vector in the x, y, or z axis that is not collinear to the beam's length. Thanks for the help...





RE: Element Orientation Vector
RE: Element Orientation Vector
RE: Element Orientation Vector
RE: Element Orientation Vector
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Element Orientation Vector
RE: Element Orientation Vector
How about giving them a "purple star". In the lower left hand corner of all posts is a purple star and a "Thank ______ for this valuable post". Click on that for each person that gave you a valuable post and they get a vote for "Tipmaster of the week".
Thanks!
RE: Element Orientation Vector
I am trying to mesh a line (set of curves) that uses all three golbal planes with beam elements. Is there a way I can make the element orientation vector to be always perpendicular to the direction of the curve, rather than being relative to the global coordinate system?
At the moment I get errors as at some points since the "element orientation is colinear with element x-axis". I do not want to define a random out of plane vector as the element orientation is important to the analysis.
RE: Element Orientation Vector
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Element Orientation Vector
RE: Element Orientation Vector
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Element Orientation Vector