Curve mesh parameters definition
- @CURVE_MESH_PARAMETERS_DEFINITION {
- @CURVE_MESH_PARAMETERS_NAME {MeshCurvName} {
- @NUMBER_OF_ELEMENTS {Nel}
- @ORDER_OF_ELEMENTS {oel}
- @ETA_VALUE { η1, η2,... ηn}
- @COMMENTS {CommentText}
- }
- }
Notes
-
When creating a finite element discretization of the multibody system, structural components will be broken into several finite elements. Structural components can be defined along a curve, 1-D components such as beam and cables), or on a surface, 2-D components such as plates and shells. This section provides the parameters that will control the meshing process. For 1-D components, these parameters fully define the mesh. For 2-D components, the mesh is defined by the parameters associated with two adjacent curves of the surface.
-
The mesh is defined by the number of elements along the curve and their order. The curve will be broken into Nel elements, each of order oel.
-
If oel = 1, the corresponding elements will use linear shape functions; i.e. the element has two nodes.
-
If oel = 2, parabolic shape functions are used; i.e. the element has three nodes.
-
If oel = 3, cubic shape functions are used; i.e. the element has four nodes.
For example, the discretization of a beam with the following mesh parameters, Nel = 4 and oel = 3, will feature a total of 4 × 3 + 1 = 13 nodes. Since the beam has six degrees of freedom per node, the discretization involves 13 × 6 = 78 degrees of freedom.
-
In general, the curve will be divided into Nel elements of equal size. However, if element of unequal size are desired, the size of each element can be specified with their optional @ETA_VALUE. Nel + 1 entries must appear, the first entry must be η1 = 0.0, the last ηn = 1.0, and the non-decreasing intermediate values determine the size of the various elements. The η values correspond to the parameterization of the curve inherent to its NURBS representation.
-
It is possible to attach comments to the definition of the object; these comments have no effect on its definition.