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General Mechanical

General Mechanical

Topics related to Mechanical Enterprise, Motion, Additive Print and more.

Beam End Release For Simulating Pinned Connection

    • jo388c
      Subscriber

      Hello,

      I am hoping to simulate a pinned connection between two beam elements using an end release, however when I go to select a vertex and edge I get the following error message "You have a beam end release where the vertex is not on the edge."

      I have read that is caused by not having a shared vertex/node between the two memebers at the selected point which can be fixed by sharing the topology. However I my case since I want a pinned connection between the two members I figure that sharing topology would "bond" the two memebers at that point which I don't want.

      I've checked the intersection point of the two memebers at which I intended to place a end release and they share a node so I don't understand why I am getting the error.

      I've tried selecting both the horizontal beam and the angle beam as the edge and neither fixes the error. I've also checked that the selected vertex appear on both beams by alternating hiding the two bodies and checking that the vertex still displays.

      Is there a way to fix the error without sharing topology, or conversely sharing topology without bonding the pinned connection?

      Thanks!

    • peteroznewman
      Subscriber

      Hello jo

      I suggest you use Shared Topology.  If you have 2 beams before sharing…

      ... you will get 3 beams after sharing.

      When you read it into Mechanial, there is only one beam.

      Here is the result before inserting the Beam End Relase, note the bending in the support leg.

      Since 3 edges meet at a vertex, you have to select the one edge you want to release from the vertex.

      Here is the result after inserting the Beam End Release, note the support leg is straight.

      Good luck,

      Peter

    • jo388c
      Subscriber

      Hi Peter,

      Thanks for the quick and helpful response, you're truly the GOAT!

      I redid my shared topology and end release as you advised and I am now getting the results I was expecting. I checked the nodal moment as the end release and found it to be zero in the direction the end release was freed in (x direction) as I was expecting for the pin joint.

      Thanks again for your help!

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