Beam & Shell tie 1

[matcunni]

Hello!

I'm in need of some thoughts about this problem, which seems pretty simple, but yet I'm unable to resolve..

I would like to model a tubular space frame structure, (In the attached picture, the model on the left would be just a small part of it..)
To reduce computation times I was thinking in replacing the middle part of the shell modeled tubes with a beam element, connecting the center of each shell tube.

I already tried constraining the perimeter of the tube to the reference point and then the reference point to the beam, but I'm getting a "Just one reference point per constraint error" and I don't know where to go from there..

Any thoughts would be really appreciated..

Thanks in advance!

Matias

 

[Mustaine3]

Use a coupling to connect the end of the beam to the edge of the shell.

 

[matcunni]

Thanks Mustaine3! that was it!

Matias