joint properties |
Joints have a large influence on the behaviour of the structure. The joints determine where and how the structure is supported. They also determine whether the members are connected rigidly or not.
simple support
The simplest form of support is locking the position and/or orientation of the joint: Blocking translation and rotation.
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Block Translation
Block movement of the joint due to deformation of the structure.
[default accelerator: none]
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Block Rotation
Block rotation of the joint due to deformation of the structure.
[default accelerator: none]
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The support conditions of a joint is visually indicated by geometry, roughly based on the classic symbols used in static analysis.
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no support
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locked translation
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locked translation locked rotation
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rigid connection
Joints also determine whether it's members are connected rigidly. By default joints are set to "Rigid". To change this setting use Toggle Rigid Joint
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Toggle Rigid Joint
Connect members rigidly to the joint.
[default accelerator: none]
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This option is visually indicated as well:
- Rigid joints are cube shaped.
- Non-rigid joints, hinges, are sphere shaped.
 default: rigid joint |
|  non-rigid joint, hinge |
advanced joint properties
The "Select and Modify"-tab of the Main Console allows modification of currently selected objects. Here a more complex setup of the support properties can be done.
The support conditions of the selected joints can be set using the "Joint Support Conditions"-page. This will become visible as soon as "Joint Creation" is selected in the "History"-page.
The History page shows the history of the selected items. Any modifiers (such as Move, Rotate and Scale) that were ever applied to the selected objects, will be listed in the history. The top items in the history are the 'youngest' and at the bottom is the 'oldest' history-event for the selected objects: Creation.
To change the support settings of the selected joints, click the checkboxes in the Blocking-section of the "Joint Support Conditions"-page.
The checkboxes on the left have the same functionality as the Block Translation and Block Rotation buttons on the toolbar. The checkboxes on the right switch blocking in either X, Y or Z direction.
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These advanced settings are also displayed graphically
 Translation in Z locked Rotation locked |
 Translation in Z locked |
 Translation in Y and Z locked |
 Rotation round X-axis locked
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 Translation in Z locked Rotation round X-axis locked |
 Translation in Y and Z locked Rotation round X locked |
 Rotation locked |
 Translation in Y and Z locked Rotation round X and Y locked |
 Translation in Y and Z locked Rotation locked |
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