hinge contact? is this possible

[andres_urrutia]

hi colleagues.

I have to connect the bodies showed on the picture but I need to connect them as a hinge connection across he edge. is this possible??

[John_Holtz · Accepted solution]

Hi @andres_urrutia 

Just to clarify for other readers, you are trying to do a simulation (static stress is set) where you have edge-to-edge contact to simulate a hinge.

I think that will not be possible as modeled. The contact in a simulation is between faces. One you select both faces on the bevel, it will create contact between multiple nodes which will resist the free rotation that a hinge would allow. But since you have a model all ready to go, try creating contact and choosing unsymmetric. Enter a maximum activation distance slightly larger (1.05 times) the mesh size on the edge or the bevel faces. What are the results?

Another option which may or may not work very well would be to create a thin strip of material between the two halves. So instead of an edge-to-edge contact between the two pieces, it is one continuous part but with a small thickness (such as 1% to 2% of the thickness). Although this would still transmit a moment between the two sides, the resistance will be small. The potential problem is getting such as thin feature to mesh.

Let us know what you find out.

[andres_urrutia]

thank you john. the second alternative you described was the method that I used to solve it. the model wors fine.

best regards