About Connectors

There are two types of simple connectors available:

• Translational basic connectors affect translational degrees of freedom at both nodes and might affect rotational degrees of freedom at the first node or at both supports.

• Rotational basic connectors affect only rotational degrees of freedom at both nodes.

Connectors have relative displacements and rotations that are local to the connector. These relative displacements and rotations are referred to as components of relative motion. Available components of relative motion are displacements and rotations that are not constrained kinematically and, hence, remain available for defining material-like behavior, specifying time-dependent motion, and applying loading.

For descriptions of the available connector-related output variables, see Connector Elements.

Table 1. Translational Connectors

Type	Definition
Accelerometer	Provides a connection between the supports to measure the relative acceleration, velocity, and position of a body in a local coordinate system. This connection type is available only in Abaqus/Explicit. If it is defined in an Abaqus/Standard model, it is converted to a CARDAN connector type by the solver.
Axial	Provides a connection between the supports that acts along the line connecting them.
Cartesian	Provides a connection between the supports where the change in position of the second support is measured along three local connection directions defined at the first support.
Join	Joins the position of the supports.
Link	Maintains a constant position between the supports.
Projection Cartesian	Provides a connection between the supports where the response in three local connection directions is measured.
Radial Thrust	Provides a connection between the supports that allows different behavior for radial and thrust displacements.
Slide Plane	Provides a slide-plane connection to make the position of the second support remain on a plane defined by the orientation of the first support and the initial position of the second support.
Slot	Provides a connection that constrains the position of the second support to a line defined by the orientation of the first support and the initial position of the second support.

Table 2. Rotational Connectors

Type	Definition
Align	Provides a connection between the supports that aligns their local directions.
Cardan	Provides a rotational connection between the supports where the relative rotation between them is parameterized by Cardan (or Bryant) angles.
Constant Velocity	Provides a constant velocity connection between the two supports.
Euler	Provides a rotational connection between the supports that is parameterized by Euler angles.
Flexion-Torsion	Provides a connection between the supports that defines a finite rotation by three angles: flexion, torsion, and sweep.
Flow-Converter	Provides a means of converting the material flow (degree of freedom 10) at a connector support into a rotation.
Projection Flexion-Torsion	Provides a connection between the supports that defines a finite rotation by three angles: two component flexion and torsion.
Revolute	Provides a revolute connection between the supports.
Rotation	Provides a rotational connection between the supports that is parameterized by the rotation vector.
Rotation Accelerometer	Provides a connection between the supports to measure the relative angular acceleration, velocity, and position of a body in a local coordinate system. This connection type is available only in Abaqus/Explicit. If it is defined in an Abaqus/Standard model, it is converted to a CARDAN connector type by the solver.
Universal	Provides a universal connection between the supports.

You can use predefined connector types that combine the relative translations and rotations.

Predefined connectors combine simple translational and rotational basic connection components. These commonly used combinations are included for convenience. The equivalent basic connection components used for each assembled connection are listed in parentheses.

Type	Definition
Beam	Provides a rigid beam connection between the supports. (Join + Align)
Bushing	Provides a connection between two nodes that allows independent behavior in three local Cartesian directions that follow the system at both endpoints and that allows different behavior in two flexural rotations and one torsional rotation. (Projection Cartesian + Projection Flexion-Torsion)
CV Joint	Joins the position of two nodes, and provides a constant velocity connection between their rotational degrees of freedom. (Join + Constant Velocity)
Cylindrical	Provides a slot connection between the supports and a revolute constraint where the free rotation is about the line of the slot. (Slot + Revolute)
Hinge	Joins the position of the supports, and provides a revolute connection between their rotational degrees of freedom. (Join + Revolute)
Planar	Provides a slide-plane connection between two nodes with a revolute connection about the normal direction to the plane. This connector creates a local two-dimensional system in three-dimensional simulations. (Slide-Plane + Revolute)
Retractor	Joins the position of two nodes, and converts material flow into rotation. (Join + Flow-Converter)
Translator	Provides a slot constraint between the supports, and aligns their local directions. (Slot + Align)
U Joint	Joins the position of two nodes, and provides a universal connection between their rotational degrees of freedom at the nodes. (Join + Universal)
Weld	Joins the position of two nodes, and aligns their three local axis directions. Provides a fully bonded connection between the supports. (Join + Align)

When you create a connector, you can save the connector definition to a template file. Once you create a template file, you can load the parameters back into the editor when you create other connectors. After you have loaded parameters into your connector definition, you can edit any of the parameters for that connector as required. If you edit a template after you have created connectors using the template, the connector definitions do not update automatically. To apply the changes, you need to reload the template file into the connector definitions.