Analyzing rotation of tube

[Anonymous]

Hey,

I'm analyzing an anti-roll bar for a car. Essentially there is a lever arm on both sides of a long tube, and then an opposite direction force is applied to each lever arm, causing the bar to twist. Since I am using block elements, I know that the nodes don't actually rotate, but translate instead. What I'd like to find out, is the degree of rotation of the bar. Looking around, it seems like I need to use beam elements, but I couldn't find much about applying those to block elements, namely at the center of the bar going its length. I tried to do it but seemed to fail catastrophically. Anyone have tips for adding a beam element to a hollow tube and analyze its rotation? 

Thanks for your help.

[AstroJohnPE]

Hi,

I suggest you look at the page titled "Examples of Contact" in the online Help ("Start & Learn > Learn > Help"). The page has an example of connecting beam elements to brick elements. Please ignore the poor typing job . It should read as follows:

"The connection between beams and bricks has a similar problem to the plate-to-brick connection: the bricks cannot prevent the beams from rotating. The solution is likewise similar: make a web of beams (or spokes) to connect the beam elements to the bricks. The beams must connect to the bricks at three or more points, not in a straight line, to form a statically stable solution. Figure 3 shows an example."