Defining Virtual Bolts

You can apply a virtual bolt connection as an enhanced coupling connection between two or more supports, or between a single support and ground.

You can use a virtual bolt as a support for bolt forces and restraints when you create the simulation scenario.

See Also
About Virtual Bolts
Connections Section
Connection Manager
About Engineering Connections in Simulations
In Other Guides
Support Selection
  1. From the Connections section of the action bar, click Virtual Bolt .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. From the Engineering connection options, select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Default Automatically creates a free engineering connection or selects the existing engineering connection if there is only one.
    Select existing Allows you to pick an existing engineering connection from a list.

    Note: If you select an existing connection, you must choose a support from the part instances used when the engineering connection was created.

  4. Select the supports. For a bolt connection to ground, leave the second support empty.
  5. Optional: To load bolt properties from a saved template file:
    1. Click .
      The Object Selection dialog box appears.
    2. Select one of the following options:

      • Search and select a template document from all the documents stored in the database.
      • Click Import a file to import a document stored on your computer, and click the check mark in the object selection prompt after the document has been imported.

    The parameters are applied to the current bolt definition.
  6. Optional: Click to save the parameters of the current bolt to a reusable template document, and specify a name for the document. For more information, see Template Files.
  7. From the Head support options, select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Standard Bolt Defines a circular bolt head that models frictional clamping on the bolted surface. The distinction between the bolt head and the nut is mostly arbitrary.
    Tight Fit Defines a bolt whose body transmits fastener shear loads directly to the cylindrical faces of the bolt hole.
    Tight Fit with Head Combines the frictional clamping of a standard bolt with the shear load transmission of a tight fit bolt.
    Countersunk Defines a bolt with a conical head and a circular nut. Select a conical face for this support.
  8. From the Nut support options, select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Standard Nut Defines a circular nut that models frictional clamping identical to the head of a standard bolt.
    Tight Fit Models a threaded hole. Transmits shear loads directly to the cylindrical faces of the bolt hole.
    Tight Fit with Nut Defines a circular nut for a tight fit bolt; combines the frictional clamping of a standard nut with the shear load transmission of a tight fitting bolt.

    For grounded bolts, the nut type selector does not appear for support 2.

  9. For Standard Bolt and Tight Fit with Head options, use one of the following options to define the Head Diameter:
    OptionDescription
    Diameter Enter the diameter value directly.
    Number of Node Rings Enter the number of rings of nodes surrounding the hole.
  10. For Standard Nut and Tight Fit with Nut options, use one of the following options to define the Nut Diameter:
    OptionDescription
    Diameter Enter the diameter value directly
    Number of Node Rings Enter the number rings of nodes surrounding the hole.
  11. Optional: Enter a value for the Nominal diameter.

    This value is required if you apply a bolt torque load in the simulation scenario app. See Applying Bolt Torque in the guide for your scenario app.

  12. Define the mechanical behavior of the bolt. See Defining the Mechanical Behavior of Virtual Bolts.
  13. Optional: Click Update Mesh to see the mesh created for the bolt.
  14. Click OK.