Assign Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) / temperature to RBE2 Element

Hello,

I am using Optistruct for my thermoelastic simulation. I am investigating the thermal expansion of some components connected with RBE2 elements.

I am trying to assign CTEs to RBE2 elements. I have read that this is possbile by doing a card edit (screenshot).

After that I have chosen the nodes of the RBE2 elements (2 rigid spiders and a RBE2 connection for a bolt) and assigned the Temperature increase (BCs -> create -> Temperature).

I have included in the load step the initial temperatures for all nodes with subcase TEMP and the increased temperatures with subcase TEMP_LOAD.

Unfortunately the RBE2 element is not expanding. Surrounding solids and shells are normally expanding.

I guess that the CTE is assigned, but somehow the RBE2 element does not know, that its temperature increased... Does somebody have experience with that.

Thank you for your help.

Vincent

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Rahul Rajan_21763

Which version of OptiStruct you have used for analysis? Can you please share us the .out file of the run.

Note: If using any lower version of OptiStruct 14.220 then please migrate to 14.230(rbe2 thermal expansion issue fixed) or latest version 2018.0.1

Altair Forum User

Hello Rahul,

i am using the latest version of optiscruct.

Anyway, I solved the problem by repeating every step properly and the RBE2 element is expanding now. It seems like works exactly like I described.

(assign alpha by card edit -> assign initial temp -> assign increased temp -> solve).

Another question: As I need to card edit every rbe2 spider, is there the possibility to card edit all the elements at once?

When I selected mutiple spiders and try to edit it, I get the message: 'No valid entities were selected'

Thank you for your help.

Rahul Rajan_21763

Please set the config to rigidlink instead of rigid while card editing.

Altair Forum User

Thank you. What is the difference between both?