Bolt Shell to Solid 1

you`re right, solids have only 3 dof at each node. So I`d make the solid end with a vertical face, with pairs of nodes (at least nodes on the upper and lower surface, yes).

then glue the 2D shell to the 3D solids, and you should get moment continuity.

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

Hello!,
Your model is wrong defined, then the error.

First at all when posting a FEMAP model not any reason exist to post as NEUTRAL (*.NEU), simply post your FEMAP model with the regular file extension *.modfem.
We use NEUTRAL file feature when the model need to be exported to an older FEMAP version, for instance we run currently FEMAP V2020.2, then if other user still running old version of FEMAP V12 then exporting NEUTRAL will allow to write the model in version V12 format and will be possible to open in FEMAP V12, but this is not the case.

Back to your model: when you define a BOLT PRELOAD you must be aware that a contact between plate & solid should be defined, if not error for sure: the bolt is preloaded, and the plate is free to move in any direction, then if not contact exist then error, the plate will move as a rigid body, understood?.

Also, the RBE2 should have activated only DOF TX, TY, TZ, the rotations should be free, this is a bolted joint, not welded joint.



Also, mesh your componentes with quality mesh, cost the same effort doing correct mesh or bad mesh.
Also, when solving use integrated solver of Simcenter Nastran, not need to use the option LINKED SOLVER.

This is the model info tree:


And finally, if you define separate load caseS, ONE the SERVICE LOADS and other the BOLT PRELOAD


This is the animation of displacement results with bolt preload + service loads:


Best regards,
Blas.

pd
To learn more visit my FEMAP support page:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blas Molero Hidalgo
Ingeniero Industrial
Director

IBERISA
48004 BILBAO (SPAIN)
WEB: Blog de FEMAP & NX Nastran:

Thank you Blas! Do you think you could quickly show how you created that mesh? I'm not quite able to create such a nice mesh outside of the washer using the mesh by surface command. It seems you are able to use an additional control that I am not aware of.

Hello!,
Is very easy: simply prepare the surface geometry splitting in regular regions and the QUAD mesh will be immediate!.
Next copy the 2-D CQUAD4 mesh to the solid face as PLOT PLANAR, and use it a SEED MESH to generate the HEX mesh using command MESH > SWEEP > ELEMENTS using 5 layers, and finally associate the HEX mesh to the solid automatically and you are done!



Best regards,
Blas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blas Molero Hidalgo
Ingeniero Industrial
Director

IBERISA
48004 BILBAO (SPAIN)
WEB: Blog de FEMAP & NX Nastran:

Great! Thanks Blas