Hello!,
I told you before: if your GAP is working in tension-only, then enter a value for tension stiffness. But if your CGAP element is working in compression-only, then enter a value for compression-stiffness. I don't understand the physical problem you are running, then I can not give you more help.
Regarding meshing with one or more CGAPs elements, this is clear: the CGAP is a contact element, NOT A BEAM, don't have initial stiffness, the NX NASTRAN solver has to perform contact iterations to know if the gap is working in tension or compression, then depending the GAP properties the solver will close or open (no stiffness) the gap. If you mesh with more than ONE CGAP element, then you have a chain, and the problem will be singular, you have a MECHANISM!!.
To simplify things please consider to mesh the ropes using CROD elements, this way the stability of the model is more easily achived: play with length, cross section area and Young module to achive the stiffness desired (K = AE/L).
To understand to detect singularities take a look to this post:
Best regards,
Blas.
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Blas Molero Hidalgo
Ingeniero Industrial
Director
IBERISA
48004 BILBAO (SPAIN)
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