How to Model a Revolute Joint Correctly with Nastran

Altair Forum User
Altair Forum User
Altair Employee
edited October 2020 in Community Q&A

Hi,

 

I'm trying to model a revolute joint as part of a 1D element actuator mechanism in NASTRAN. I have created the simple model in MotionView and it works, however I need to understand how to model this correctly and that the kinematics work for a static analysis when I introduce the rest of the structure and stops into the system.

 

My problem is that my RBE2 is elongating - I need it to stay the same length so that the actuator deforms correctly. Can someone check my .bdf input and see if I've made any errors with the DOFs or missed something simple? It is really very simple - only 4 GRIDS!

 

For reference, I've attached the MotionView output of how the elements should displace.

 

Thanks in advanced,

Matt

 SOL 101 CEND   VECTOR(PLOT,SORT1,REAL)=ALL   DISPLACEMENT = ALL   ELFORCE = ALL   GPFORCE = ALL   SPCFORCES = ALL  $ SUBCASE       1   LABEL= Lift   SPC =        1   DEFORM =        2   ANALYSIS = STATIC BEGIN BULK       PARAM,POST,-1        GRID           1        0.0     0.0     0.0                              GRID           2        345.656 0.0     -15.423                          GRID           3        287.795 0.0     -36.262                          GRID           4        287.795 0.0     -36.262                                  RBE2           2       2  123456       4         RJOINT         3       4       3   12346 CROD           1       1       1       4 $                                                                                PROD           1       1314.159315707.96                 MAT1           172000.0         0.3                                      $ $ SPC            1       1  12346 0.0      SPC            1       2  12346 0.0      DEFORM         2       1  109.71 $ ENDDATA

 

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Answers

  • tinh
    tinh Altair Community Member
    edited August 2018

    Hi

    DOFs settings were fine I think.

    But your RJOINT is not working because its end is free ! (F10 check 1D>free node)

    RBE2 and CROD are connecting to grid 4, while one must connect to grid 3

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited August 2018

    Hey, I noticed this problem after I posted - but it still doesn't work.

     

    For example,  the deflections of Node 3 are never on the circle produced by the radius of the RBE2 element - I've tried with DEFORM cards, Forces applied along the CROD element on Node 3, non-linear analyses, modal analyses... 
     

    I'm not sure if I am missing something stupid or if there is a nuance with the maths within the NASTRAN code.

  • tinh
    tinh Altair Community Member
    edited August 2018

    :rolleyes:/emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif' title=':rolleyes:' /> nastran code is ok, i think.

    Could you show result? (Result values in f06, do not show results by hyperview)

    Anyway i tested with optistruct, it is ok

    You don't need RJOINT because CROD has no bending dofs

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited August 2018

    I ran the following bdf:

     

     SOL 101 CEND   DISPLACEMENT = ALL   ELFORCE = ALL   GPFORCE = ALL   SPCFORCES = ALL  $ SUBCASE       1   LABEL= Lift   SPC =        1   DEFORM =        2   ANALYSIS = STATIC BEGIN BULK       PARAM,POST,-1        GRID           1        0.0     0.0     0.0                              GRID           2        345.656 0.0     -15.423                          GRID           3        287.795 0.0     -36.262                                                         RBE2           2       2   12346       3         CROD           1       1       1       3 $                                                                                PROD           1       1314.159315707.96                 MAT1           172000.0         0.3                                      $ $ SPC            1       1  12346 0.0      SPC            1       2  12346 0.0      DEFORM         2       1  109.71 $ ENDDATA

    This gives the following displacements from the .f06:

           POINT ID.   TYPE          T1             T2             T3             R1             R2             R3              1      G      0.0            0.0            0.0            0.0            0.0            0.0              2      G      0.0            0.0            0.0            0.0           -3.931020E+00   0.0              3      G      8.191853E+01   0.0           -2.274528E+02   0.0            0.0            0.0

    Note that the length of the RBE2 is [(345.656 - 287.795)^2 + (36.262-15.423)^2]^0.5 = 61.499

     

    Therefore, the equation of the line that Node 3 can move is x^2 + y^2 = 61.499^2 relative to the origin of the circle which is Node 2.

     

    In the reference system where Node 2 is the origin, the original position of Node 3 is 57.861, 0.0, -20.839. Double checking it lies on the circle: (57.681^2+20.839^2)^0.5 = 61.499

     

    When we calculate the new position of Node 3, we get 57.861+81.19853 = 133.06 and -20.839 - 227.4528 = -248.292. Obviously we can already see that the model has not behaved as expected since the X and Z positions shouldn't be able to be more than +/- 61.499. I have also tried the model with forces applied instead of DEFORM cards for similar results.

     

    Just to prove with the equation of the circle: (133.06^2 + 227.839^2)^0.5 = 263.85 (i.e. not 61.499).

     

    When you say it's OK, do you mean the model ran? Because my model runs, but the results are incorrect based on the structure I am trying to model.

  • tinh
    tinh Altair Community Member
    edited August 2018

     Are you sure your calculation is correct?

    I think you need to be more careful !

    Please calculate it again.