connector
defines springs that can resist tension only (cables), compression only,
or tension and compression. A Spring connector
defines springs that can resist tension only (cables), compression only,
or tension and compression.
The following input is needed to define the Spring
connector.
To define a spring connector:
Select the type of the spring:
Compression
Extension 
. Defines a two-way spring that resists
tension and compression. Available for static, frequency, buckling, and
nonlinear studies.
Compression
only 
. Defines a one-way spring that resists compression
only. Available for static and nonlinear studies only.
Extension
only 
. Defines a one-way spring that resists tension
only. Available for static and nonlinear studies only.
Specify the type of entities for the spring connector:
Flat parallel faces. To connect two sets of planar parallel faces.
Concentric cylindrical faces. To connect two sets of concentric cylindrical faces.
Between vertices. To connect two vertices.
Select the entities for the spring connector:
For Flat parallel faces:
Planar Faces
of Component 1 
. Select planar faces from a component
or a body.
Parallel
Faces of Component 2 . Select planar faces from
another component or a body. This face should be parallel to the face
selected above.
The springs are introduced
in the common area of projection of one of the faces onto the other.
For Concentric cylindrical faces:
Cylindrical
Faces of Component 1 . Select cylindrical faces
from a component or a body.
Cylindrical
Faces of Component 2 . Select cylindrical faces
from another component or a body. This face should be concentric to the
face selected above.
For Two locations:
Vertex or
point for first location 
. Select a vertex or a
reference point from a component or a body.
Vertex or
point for second location . Select a vertex or a
reference point from the same or different component or a body.
Define the stiffness of the spring connector:
Units
. Select a unit system for specifying stiffness and preload.
Distributed. Type the value of the stiffness per unit area. The equivalent total stiffness is equal to the common area of projection times distributed stiffness.
Total. Type the value of the total stiffness. The total stiffness is distributed uniformly on the common area of projection.
Normal Stiffness
. Type the value of the stiffness in the direction
normal to the selected faces.
Tangential
Stiffness 
. Type the value of the stiffness in the
plane of the faces.
Define the preload in the spring:
Compression preload force. Type the value of the compressive preload. Not available for Extension-only spring.
Tension preload force. Type the value of the tensile preload. Not available for Compression-only spring.
Set symbol settings:
Edit color. Select a color for the connector symbols from the color palette.
Symbol Size 
. Use the spin arrows to
change the size of the connector symbols.
Click 
.
TIPS
When viewing results, it is important to plot the deformed shape with 1.0 scale factor to make sure that no interference between parts has developed. When interference occurs, the results are not valid. You can define contact conditions between the interfering faces to eliminate this unrealistic condition before re-running the study.
More accurate results are obtained when each face is identical to the projection of the other face onto it. If the original faces do not satisfy this criterion, you can do one of the following things to improve the accuracy:
Split one or both faces, as needed, by projecting one face onto the other and then define a spring between the aligned faces resulting from projection.
Define two spring connectors with reverse selection order specifying half the stiffness for each connector.
No springs are created if the faces have no common area of projection.
The faces can be coinciding. This enables you to simulate the stiffness of a thin elastic layer of material separating the two faces without actually modeling the material or leaving a gap for the space it occupies. The imaginary springs in this case are initially of zero length.