Structural Units

Assign boundaries to particular structural units

The cross sections or cross section parts which form a unit in regard to the structural model are assigned to a respective structural unit by a number.

In this way it is also possible to define composite sections comprised of different components by assigning the respective cross section parts to different structural units.

In the same way it is possible to set up systems consisting of several girders (grillage) with one and the same cross-section by defining the individual cross sections of the different main girders by respective structural units (see e.g. the Example Steel-concrete composite bridge).

The allocation of numbers for the structural units is done automatically consecutively.

Via the Properties window (after selecting a particular structural unit), certain settings for the generation of the FE mesh can be made for the assigned cross section part. In the course of this, one of the available mesher can directly be selected or a user-defined mesh set can be created via the option “Add” (+ symbol), whereby additional parameters can be defined.

Mesh Generation

Mesh set

Select a set of settings for the mesh generation

Use the plus symbol to create a user-defined set. Note: In Calculation Options / Advanced there is a list of all user-defined mesh sets with the respective cross sections.

Automatic Uses TRIMESH with internal settings of parameters

TRIREMESH The triangular mesh generated by Parasolid is internally transformed into a quadrangular mesh, whereby two parameters for the mesh refinement (Global and Web refinement level) can be defined in case of user-defined mesh sets.

CM2REMESH: The quadrangular mesh of the mesh generator TRIREMESH is optimized based on the edge length (parameter Max. edge length for user-defined mesh sets).

CM2ANISO: Directly creates a quadrangular mesh based on the edge length (parameter Max. edge length for user-defined mesh sets).