Learning Forum

[Claudine Adelson]

I have created a beam model that consists of cocentric beams that are in frictional contact with each other. The beam-beam detection setting is "Internal Pipe Contact" and the pinball radius is set to be slightly larger than the outer tube inner diameter. There is considerable clearance between the beams.  

When I use the contact tool to make sure that all of my contacts are properly set up, I see that the gap and geometric gap calculated is not at all what it should be. 

The outer beam has a CTUBE cross section. Originally my inner beam had a user defined cross section. To test out the contact tool I changed it to a circular section(CSOLID) with an outer diamteter that envelopes the original section. The geometric gap is still not correct. 

I think what I am doing is straightforward and I do not understand what I could be missing. Could this be a bug in the system? FYI, the geometry was created in Spaceclaim. 

 

[Sampat Kumar]

Hi Claudine ,
Will you please upload the screenshot of the model and contact status so that we can verify the contact staus result?

Regards,
Sampat 

[Claudine Adelson]

Hello,

Below is an image of the two parts in contact: 

 

The contact status:  

Thank you for your response. 

[Sampat Kumar]

Hi Claudine,
Will you please check the offset value that you have provided for the beam or not? You should provide the offset value to the beam as equal to the radius of the beam and select the option "Add offset value and ramped effect". You can find this in the “geometric modification tab” of the contact settings.

Regards,
Sampat

 

 

[Claudine Adelson]

The interface treatment was set to "Add Offset, Ramped Effect" but the offset was set to 0. I must set it to the radius of the inner beam or that of the outer beam? Can you please explain why I must apply this offset? 

I thought the point of this offset is to maintain a gap between the parts when needed. I would like contact to be achieved once the gap is closed.