Creating Node Interface Properties

A node interface property defines the properties of the spring of an existing point analysis connection. Abaqus models the spring using CARDAN and CARTESIAN connectors. See Connection-type library in the Abaqus Elements Guide for more information. You can request history output of relative displacements and rotations and of total, elastic, viscous, and reaction forces and moments from a node interface property. The support for the history output request is the connection mesh.

This task shows you how to create a node interface property between two parts.

  1. Click the Node Interface Property icon .

    The Node Interface Property dialog box appears. A Node Interface Property object appears in the specification tree under the Properties objects set, and a Node Interface Mesh appears under the Nodes and Elements set.

  2. You can change the identifier of the node interface property by editing the Name field.

  3. In the specification tree, select a Points to Points Analysis Connection created previously in the Abaqus for CATIA V5 workbench.

    The Supports field is updated to reflect your selection.

  4. Abaqus for CATIA V5 supports only Spring type node interface properties.

  5. By default, a node interface property has a stiffness of 10 N/m in the three translational degrees of freedom and a stiffness of 0 Nm/rad in the three rotational degrees of freedom. In addition, by default a node interface property is associated with the global, rectangular Cartesian axis system. To change the default behavior, click the Component Editor icon and do the following from the Definition dialog box that appears:

    1. Change the translational and rotational stiffness.

    2. Specify a local coordinate system for the degrees of freedom. Local coordinate systems are defined in the CATIA Part Design workbench.

    3. Click OK to accept your changes and to close the Definition dialog box.

  6. Click OK in the Node Interface Property dialog box.