Creating permanent nodes for meshing

[ez125]

Greetings!
I'm currently trying to create permanent nodes on a 3D model, so that when meshed, (regardless of how coarse or how fine) the nodes will always be present in the same location. I'd like to keep certain nodes in the same location for consistency with respect to loading.

I've tried two ways of doing it:
1. Create hardpoints-->on area-->by coordinates, then create nodes on those hardpoints. Then mesh.
2. Create nodes, then mesh.

My problem is that with option 1, Ansys just crashes. (I'm using Ansys 6.0.) With option 2, the nodes I created don't get incorporated into the model.

Can anyone shed some light into this? Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[juzz]

Hello, ez125!

Indeed there is a good choice to maintain fixed locations for nodes in order to apply some loadings is to create hardpoints.
But the procedure that you follow is wrong. First you need to read chapter 5.2.2 from your Modeling and Meshing Guide (i.e. "Hard Points&quot.
Anyway, for your objectif (create permanent nodes) there is two ways:

1. Use direct generation (that means create all your nodes end connect them by elements). You need to use commands from "E" group and not to use mesh commands that are appropriate only when you create the geometry and mesh that geometry. That is why your second option has not worked (you mixed direct generation with solid generation).

2. Create hardpoints at the locations desired and after that you could use mesh commands but only free meshing commands (probably you try to use mapped mesh and that is the cause of your Ansys were crashing).

I hope that my advice is helpful for you!

Best regards,

juzz