Setting contact between parts

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Can anybody say, why the contact between two parts option is hidden in the attached simulation file.

Thanks in advance.

Giridharan S

[John_Holtz]

Hi Giridharan,

1. What version of Simulation Mechanical are you using?
2. Can you explain what you mean by hidden? When I select parts 1 and 3, right-click, I have the option "Contact" from which I can define the type of contact that I desire. What happens when you do that?

Of course I have no idea what you are trying to analyze, but the grounded bolts (part 2) are an unusual arrangement. I would have expected to see the bolts tied into holes in the RCC Substrate (part 1) instead of being constrained to "the ground". Maybe your arrangement is what you want, but I wanted to mention this.

For future reference, the .fem file is not the complete model. When sending a model to someone, you should create an archive (app button > Archive > Create) and attach the .ACH file.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

First of all thanks for your concern regarding ground bolts. I want to model a clamp which connected to RCC substrate using two anchors, that is what i want to create. Does the model created by me suits the situation which i explained in above line, if not kindly suggest me how to model and analyse it.

1. Answer to your question, I am using version 2016. 

2. When I selected it, the contact option was hidden, so i raised.

Also I have archive file for your reference.

Thanks,

Giridharan S

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@John_Holtzwrote:

Hi Giridharan,

1. What version of Simulation Mechanical are you using?
2. Can you explain what you mean by hidden? When I select parts 1 and 3, right-click, I have the option "Contact" from which I can define the type of contact that I desire. What happens when you do that?

Of course I have no idea what you are trying to analyze, but the grounded bolts (part 2) are an unusual arrangement. I would have expected to see the bolts tied into holes in the RCC Substrate (part 1) instead of being constrained to "the ground". Maybe your arrangement is what you want, but I wanted to mention this.

For future reference, the .fem file is not the complete model. When sending a model to someone, you should create an archive (app button > Archive > Create) and attach the .ACH file.

---

---

@John_Holtzwrote:

Hi Giridharan,

1. What version of Simulation Mechanical are you using?
2. Can you explain what you mean by hidden? When I select parts 1 and 3, right-click, I have the option "Contact" from which I can define the type of contact that I desire. What happens when you do that?

Of course I have no idea what you are trying to analyze, but the grounded bolts (part 2) are an unusual arrangement. I would have expected to see the bolts tied into holes in the RCC Substrate (part 1) instead of being constrained to "the ground". Maybe your arrangement is what you want, but I wanted to mention this.

For future reference, the .fem file is not the complete model. When sending a model to someone, you should create an archive (app button > Archive > Create) and attach the .ACH file.

---

---

@John_Holtzwrote:

Hi Giridharan,

1. What version of Simulation Mechanical are you using?
2. Can you explain what you mean by hidden? When I select parts 1 and 3, right-click, I have the option "Contact" from which I can define the type of contact that I desire. What happens when you do that?

Of course I have no idea what you are trying to analyze, but the grounded bolts (part 2) are an unusual arrangement. I would have expected to see the bolts tied into holes in the RCC Substrate (part 1) instead of being constrained to "the ground". Maybe your arrangement is what you want, but I wanted to mention this.

For future reference, the .fem file is not the complete model. When sending a model to someone, you should create an archive (app button > Archive > Create) and attach the .ACH file.

---

---

@John_Holtzwrote:

Hi Giridharan,

1. What version of Simulation Mechanical are you using?
2. Can you explain what you mean by hidden? When I select parts 1 and 3, right-click, I have the option "Contact" from which I can define the type of contact that I desire. What happens when you do that?

Of course I have no idea what you are trying to analyze, but the grounded bolts (part 2) are an unusual arrangement. I would have expected to see the bolts tied into holes in the RCC Substrate (part 1) instead of being constrained to "the ground". Maybe your arrangement is what you want, but I wanted to mention this.

For future reference, the .fem file is not the complete model. When sending a model to someone, you should create an archive (app button > Archive > Create) and attach the .ACH file.

---

[John_Holtz]

Hi @Anonymous

I have a few more questions.

1. Can you clarify what you have selected?
2. Can you attach a screen capture (an image) of the dialog where you are trying to define the contact? Or create a screencast of your workflow?

I think that you and I are doing something different.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

1. Kindly find the attached screen capture for your reference.\
2. And also kindly find the base plate picture, for which i want to model exactly in simulation mechanical and analysis. Help me in modelling with exact boundary conditions and analysis.

Thanks,

Giridharan S

[John_Holtz]

Hi @Anonymous

It looks to me that you have selected all of the parts which includes the beam elements (the bolts). You do not need to define contact for the beam elements because they can only be bonded.

So do not select the beam element. Then the contact command will have the options that you are looking for.

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[Anonymous]

Hi John,

Thanks for you reply.

Can you help me doing a base plate modelling as mentioned in the above thread point 2.

Thanks,

Giridharan S

[John_Holtz]

Hi Giridharan,

Thank you for the images, but they do not indicate two important factors:

• Are you more interested in the results of the RCC substrate (the foundation), the clamp, or both?
• Are the bolts bonded to the RCC substrate, or do they pass through the substrate and are bonded to the foundation farther down? Or stated another way, do the bolts just pass through the RCC substrate like a bolt passes through a washer?

The original model that you provided is using a grounded bolt, so it is not connected to the RCC substrate. Therefore, the preload in the bolt (if you specified a preload) does not affect the RCC substrate directly. (Of course, the preload will load the clamp which affects the substrate.) Also, the loads on the clamp may pull on the bolt, but the bolts do not pull on the RCC substrate. In some analyses, this method is acceptable.

If the bolts are bonded to the RCC substrate, and therefore the tension load in the bolt affects the substrate directly, then you need to make holes in the substrate that the bolts go into, and use a "Bolt without nut" and a "Tight Fit" of the bolt in the hole.

I suggest that you review the documentation to help decide which bolt is correct for what you want to analyze. See Bolts and Other Fasteners.