Copying and translating elements

Estimated time to complete: 5–15 minutes

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Element Copy and Translate command.

1: Setup

  1. On your desktop or the appropriate network drive, create a folder named strut2.

  2. Click the link below:

    Download the part

  3. Extract the file to your strut2 folder.

  4. Start Simcenter 3D or NX.

  5. Open strut_fem1.fem.

2: Reset dialog box memory

The options you select in dialog boxes are preserved for the next time you open the same dialog box within a given session. Restore the default settings to ensure that the dialog boxes are in the expected initial state for each step of the activity.

File

Preferences→User Interface

  • Options

  •   Reset Dialog Memory

  • OK

     
3: Copy the rib elements

Make a copy of the strut, rotated 30 degrees. Start with the rib elements.

Nodes and Elements

 Translate (Elements group→More list)

  • Type

    Element Copy and Translate

  • Method (Top Border bar)

    Related Elements

  • Type Filter (Top Border bar)

    Polygon Face

  •   the five ribs

     

  • CSYS

    Cylindrical

  • Specify CSYS

     CSYS of Object

  •  

  •  

  • DR

    0

  • DTheta

    30

  •   Preview

  • OK

     
4: Copy the strut elements

Copy the remaining elements in the strut.

  Translate (Elements group→More list)

  • Method (Top Border bar)

    Related Elements

  • Type Filter (Top Border bar)

    Polygon Face

  •   Select the faces of the strut model, excluding the ribs. Be sure to include the airfoil-shaped face on the bottom of the model.

  •  

     

  • Specify CSYS

     CSYS of Object

  •  

  • OK

     

The model represents a turbine exhaust strut. For an actual analysis, you would continue to copy the elements around in a circle. In this activity, for simplicity, you are only modeling two segments.

  Save

File

  • Close→All Parts