Connect rules - HiStructClient/femcad-doc GitHub Wiki

In each analysis case, a connect rules must be defined. This could be done through MeshConnect variable in fcs file with model_shell3d property.

MeshConnect  := {
   ConnectRules          := HopperDesignConnectRules,
   AutoConnect           := False, # this needs to be switched off for the roof/hopper design and swithed on for the continous beam
   OneMeshElementPerBeam := True,
   WeldNodes             := True, 
   ElementSize           := 0.1,
   DefaultElementType2D  := Fcs.Mesh.Element.Quadrilateral }

The _ConnectRules _class is FemCad native object: Fcs.Mesh.ConnectRules{ Rules = ( roofConnectRules + wallConnectRules + hopperConnectRules ) }

The rules can be described with Fcs.Mesh.ConnectRules.ConnectClub: Fcs.Mesh.ConnectRules.ConnectClub{ Entities = Fcs.Assembly.BeamsInLayers( [ "outloadPizduch", "hopperRing" ] ) }

Its convenient to use predefined HangLayerFn, which takes the nodes from two different layers displayced by specific distance and connects them:

HangLayerFn      := layerA,layerB,glue => Fcs.Mesh.ConnectRules.HangingNodes{
   HangingEntities    = Fcs.Assembly.MembersInLayer(layerA),
   SupportingEntities = Fcs.Assembly.MembersInLayer(layerB),
   GlueDistance       = glue,
   BindRotations      = False }

Keep in mind one rule about connecting 2D elements with 1D beam elements! The 1D FEM element needs to be divided to the same number of elements as adjacent 2D element. In other words, the mesh size of 2D panels has to be the same as the mesh size of 1D element. Only then will be the elements properly connected.