Connections

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform supports exporting connection features to Nastran.

See Also
Exporting Meshes to Nastran
Exporting Files to Nastran
3DEXPERIENCE Feature Abaqus Equivalent Nastran Complement (NAS Entry)
All/[Coupling] Distributing *COUPLING

If *DISTRIBUTING, COUPLING=CONTINUUM, the Nastran complement has 123 as its REFC

If *DISTRIBUTING, COUPLING=STRUCTURAL, the Nastran complement has 123456 as its REFC

 RBE3
All/[Coupling] Kinematic *COUPLING

*KINEMATIC

 RBE2
All/[Coupling] Distributing or Kinematic Supports *COUPLING

References the element-based SURFACE and INFLUENCE RADIUS parameters

 RBE2 or RBE3 with the relevant dependent and independent nodes within the INFLUENCE RADIUS parameter as well as nodes on element surface definitions crossing the INFLUENCE RADIUS parameter.
*DISTRIBUTING, WEIGHTING METHOD=

Based on the independent node distance from REFNODE, the WEIGHTING METHOD parameter can be UNIFORM, LINEAR, QUADRATIC, or CUBIC.

 RBE3 with the relevant independent nodes and weight factors. Nodes on element surface definitions also have area facets and influence radii ratios applied in the final weighting factors. Linear, quadratic, and cubic formulas used for Nastran export apply an averaging technique to prevent zero-value weights on the furthest-out nodes and to improve the weighting balance.
Coupling *COUPLING or *COUPLING

*COUPLING

 2 x or 1 x RBEx
Coupling/[Use spring] > 'Axial Spring' *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

AXIAL

 CELAS + PELAS or CELAS2
Coupling/[Use spring] > 'General Spring' *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BUSHING

 CBUSH + PBUSH
Connector/Axial or

Connector/Specify > Translation > Axial

 *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

AXIAL

 If the connector section has elasticity behavior but no connector stop, CELAS1 + PELAS or CELAS2.
*CONNECTOR STOP If the connector section has a connector stop, CGAP + PGAP.
Connector/Beam *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BEAM

RBE2 or RBE3 + CBUSH + PBUSH
Connector/Bushing *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BUSHING
Connector/Cylindrical *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

CYLINDRICAL
Connector/Hinge *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

HINGE
Connector/Planar *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

PLANAR
Connector/Specify > Translation > Accelerometer (Grounded) *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

ACCELEROMETER

"Name of local orientation if specified"

The local orientation associated with the accelerometer connector is translated to CORD cards.

The ID of the local coordinate system is referenced in the CD parameter field of the associated connector node (7th field in the GRID card).
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Cardan *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

CARDAN

RBE2 or RBE3 + CBUSH + PBUSH
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Euler *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

EULER
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Flexion-Torsion *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

FLEXION-TORSION
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Projection Flexion-Torsion *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

PROJECTION FLEXION-TORSION
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Revolute *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

REVOLUTE
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Rotation *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

ROTATION
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Rotation-Accelerometer (Grounded) *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

ROTATION-ACCELEROMETER

"Name of local orientation if specified"

The local orientation associated with the accelerometer connector is translated to CORD cards.

The ID of the local coordinate system is referenced in the CD parameter field of the associated connector node (7th field in the GRID card).
Connector/Specify > Rotation > Universal *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

UNIVERSAL

RBE2 or RBE3 + CBUSH + PBUSH
Connector/Specify > Translation > Cartesian *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

CARTESIAN
Connector/Specify > Translation > Projection Cartesian *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

PROJECTION CARTESIAN
Connector/Specify > Translation > Radial Thrust *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

RADIAL THRUST
Connector/Specify > Translation > Slide Plane *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

SLIDE PLANE
Connector/Specify > Translation > Slot *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

SLOT
Connector/Translator *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

TRANSLATOR
Connector/U Joint *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

U JOINT
Rigid Connection *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BEAM
Equation *EQUATION MPC (Case Control Command) + MPCADD + MPC (Bulk Data Entry)
Line Fastener *ELEMENT, TYPE=C3D8

*MATERIAL

*SOLID SECTION

 CHEXA + PSOLID with MAT1
Point Fastener/Coupling *COUPLING

*COUPLING

 2 x RBEx
Point Fastener/Rigid *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BEAM

 CBUSH + PBUSH
Point Fastener/Solid Hex *ELEMENT, TYPE=C3D8

*MATERIAL

*SOLID SECTION

 CHEXA + PSOLID with MAT1
Point Fastener/Spring *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

AXIAL

 CBUSH + PBUSH
Point Fastener/Assembled *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BUSHING

 CBUSH + PBUSH
Point Fastener/Beam *ELEMENT, TYPE=B31

*MATERIAL

*BEAM SECTION

 CBEAM + PBEAM(L) with MAT1
Spring/Axial *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

AXIAL

CELAS + PELAS or CELAS2
Spring/General *ELEMENT, TYPE=CONN3D2

*CONNECTOR SECTION

BUSHING

 CBUSH + PBUSH
Surface-Based Contact (with tied surfaces) *CONTACT PAIR, TIED BCONTACT + NLOPRM (MPCPCH = BEGN) (Case Control Commands)

BCONECT (Bulk Data Entry)

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
Main and secondary surfaces BCBODY1 + BSURF

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
*SURFACE TYPE=ELEMENT BSURF

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
Surface-Based Contact (with tied surfaces) > Adjust Options ADJUST=NO/<value> BCONPRG + IGLUE + ERROR + OPINGP

If the surface has faces from only solid elements:

  • ADJUST=YES, IGLUE=1
  • ADJUST=NO, IGLUE=2

Otherwise:

  • ADJUST=YES, IGLUE=3
  • ADJUST=NO, IGLUE=4

In addition:

  • If ADJUST=YES, OPINGP is not written.
  • If ADJUST=<value>, ERROR=<value> and OPINGP=1.
  • If ADJUST=NO, OPINGP=1.
  • If POSITION TOLERANCE=<value>, ERROR=<value> and the OPINGP parameter is governed by ADJUST, as described above.
Surface-Based Contact (with tied surfaces) > Tolerance POSITION TOLERANCE=<value>, if specified POSITION TOLERANCE parameter at *TIE converts to BCONPRG + ERROR.
Surface-Based Contact (with tied surfaces) > Ignore shell thickness (ON) NO THICKNESS BCONPRG + COPTM + COPTS

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
Tie *TIE BCONTACT + NLOPRM (MPCPCH = BEGN) (Case Control Commands)

BCONECT (Bulk Data Entry)

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
*TIE, for main and secondary surfaces BCBODY1 + BSURF

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
*SURFACE TYPE=ELEMENT, for main and secondary surfaces BSURF

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
*SURFACE TYPE=NODE, for edges and vertices BSURF

For more information, see Notes About Tie.
Tie > Adjust secondary surface initial position ADJUST=YES/NO BCONPRG + IGLUE
  • If ADJUST=YES and NO ROTATION, IGLUE=1.
  • If ADJUST=NO and NO ROTATION, IGLUE=2.
  • If ADJUST=YES and if NO ROTATION is absent, IGLUE=3.
  • If ADJUST=NO and if NO ROTATION is absent, IGLUE=4.

In addition:

  • If ADJUST=YES, OPINGP is not written.
  • If ADJUST=<value>, ERROR=<value> and OPINGP=1.
  • If ADJUST=NO, OPINGP=1.
  • If POSITION TOLERANCE=<value>, ERROR=<value> and the OPINGP parameter is governed by ADJUST, as described above.
Tie > Tie rotational degrees of freedom (OFF), if applicable NO ROTATION BCTABLE + IGLUE
Tie > Tie rotational degrees of freedom (OFF), if applicable + Specify constraint ratio CONSTRAINT RATIO=<value>, NO ROTATION Not supported
Tie > Discretization method TYPE=SURFCE TO SURFACE or

TYPE=NODE TO SURFACE or SURFACE TO SURFACE

 NODESURF might be applied for all surface pairs in the exported data.
Tie > Specify position tolerance POSITION TOLERANCE=<value> POSITION TOLERANCE parameter at *TIE converts to BCONPRG + ERROR.
Tie > Use shell thickness (OFF) NO THICKNESS BCONPRG + COPTM + COPTS

For more information, see Notes About Tie.

Notes About Tie

For the main and secondary surfaces, BCONECT references the BCBODY1 cards. For example:

BCONECT, 1, 1, , 2, 3

where 3 and 2 are IDs in BCBODY1 for the main and secondary surfaces, respectively.

Each BCBODY1 refers to BSURF for a surface definition. The BSURF cards include all elements involved in the surface definition. For example:

BCBODY1, 2, , 3D, DEFORM, 4

BCBODY1, 3, , 3D, DEFORM, 5

BSURF, 4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

BSURF, 5 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

BSURF does not provide a surface definition that indicates which side of the surface contacts the other surface; instead, the BCONPRG card provides this information as COPTM (for the main surface) and COPTS (for the secondary surface) parameters. The COPTM and COPTS parameters indicate the nature of the contact between main and secondary surfaces. For element-based surfaces using *SURFACE TYPE=ELEMENT, the COPTM and COPTS parameters in the BCONPRG card are as follows:

Element Type Surface Parameters
Shell SPOS COPTM=40 and COPTS=40

If NO THICKNESS, COPTM=50 and COPTS=50
SNEG COPTM=20 and COPTS=20

If NO THICKNESS, COPTM=30 and COPTS=30
Both surfaces COPTM=10 and COPTS=10

If NO THICKNESS, COPTM=60 and COPTS=60
Solid Either surface No parameters in the BCONPRG, so A=1, B=1, and C=1.

For node-based surfaces using *SURFACE TYPE=NODE, the COPTM and COPTS parameters in the BCONPRG card are as follows:

Element Type Surface Parameters
Solid elements only or beam elements only Either surface No parameters (A=1, B=1, and C=1)
All other cases SPOS COPTM=11010 and COPTS=11010

(B=1, when considering both surfaces; and C=11)
SNEG