Support properties
Use the Support properties to view or modify the properties of a support.
When a support is first created, it's properties are taken as those displayed in the Properties window at that time.
You can either set the properties prior to placing the support, or select a support in the model afterwards to review or modify its properties.
Property | Description |
---|---|
General |
|
Name |
Automatically created name based on the grid point location. Note: This property is only displayed when editing an existing support
|
User Name |
You can enter a user name to replace the automatically created name if required. Note: This property is only displayed when editing an existing support
|
Plane |
Describes the level at which the support was placed. Note: This property is only displayed when editing an existing support
|
3 Grid Points |
The options are:
Note: This property is only displayed when creating a new support
|
Fx, Fy, Fz |
The translational degrees of freedom can be set as either Free, or Fixed in each direction. |
Mx, My, Mz |
The rotational degrees of freedom can be set as either Free, or Fixed in each direction. |
Angles |
|
Inclination, Azimuth and Rotation |
When creating new supports, the angles are calculated automatically depending on the placement method (3 Grid Points Checked/Unchecked). When editing existing supports, the angles can be edited in order to redefine the direction in which the support acts. |
Translational stiffness x, y, and z |
|
Type |
In order to define a translational spring in a particular direction, the translational degree of freedom in the same direction must first be set to Free. The available types are:
|
Stiffness |
The options are:
|
Fmax -ve and Fmax +ve |
For non-linear springs you are also able to define the spring capacity in each direction. (Note that this must always be entered as a positive value, for both +ve and -ve directions). |
Rotational stiffness x, y, z |
|
Type |
In order to define a rotational spring in a particular direction, the rotational degree of freedom in the same direction must first be set to Free. The available options are:
|
Stiffness |
The options are:
|
Stiffness Percentage |
The options are:
Note: In the above equations, L is the length from the base of the column to the level of the next column stack that is denoted as a floor, or it is the distance to the top of the column if shorter.
|
Fmax -ve and Fmax +ve |
For non-linear springs you are also able to define the spring capacity in each direction. (Note that this must always be entered as a positive value, for both +ve and -ve directions). |