You can specify a linkage rod connector between cylindrical faces,
circular edges (for shells), or vertices to model the behavior of connecting rods in an
assembly.
To open the Linkage
Rod Connector PropertyManager:
In the Simulation study tree, right-click Connections
and click Linkage Rod
.
The linkage rod connector is available with SOLIDWORKS Simulation
Professional and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium.
You can replace a connecting part of an assembly with a linkage rod
connector to reduce the mesh size and speed-up the simulation.
Type
|
|
Linkage Rod
|
Defines a linkage rod connector
between the selected entities. |
 |
Unit
|
Specifies the units for the
linkage rod parameters. |
End Joint 1 / End Joint 2
Specifies the geometric entities to which you attach the connector
and the support conditions of the connector's end joints.
 |
Concentric cylindrical faces or edges (for shells)
|
Specifies cylindrical faces or
shell edges to attach a linkage rod connector. You select the geometric entities to position the End Joint 1 and End Joint 2 of the
connector.
|
 |
Vertex
|
Specifies two vertices to attach a linkage rod
connector. You can also select a vertex for
End Joint 1 and a
cylindrical face or shell edge for End Joint 2.
You cannot select beam
elements to attach a linkage rod connector.
|
| |
Offset
distance
|
Specifies an offset distance to
position the end joints of the connector. You
can only select cylindrical faces or circular edges to define an
offset distance. The offset distance is measured from the center
of the selected cylindrical face or circular edge and aligns
with the centroid axis of the selected entity.
|
 |
Reverse offset direction |
Reverses the direction of the
offset distance. You can preview the position of
the end joint in the graphics area as you modify the offset
distance.
|
 |
Rigid
joint
|
Specifies the connector's end
joint to a rigid joint. A rigid joint prevents
any rotations or deformations between the linkage rod and the
connected parts. A linkage rod connector with rigid joints is
considered bonded to its connected parts.
|
 |
Pivot joint
|
Specifies the connector's end
joint to a pivot joint. A pivot joint is similar
to a rigid joint, but it allows the connector to rotate about
the axis of the selected cylindrical face (or edge).
|
 |
Spherical joint
|
Specifies the connector's end joint to a spherical
joint. A spherical joint acts like a ball and
socket joint where the ball can rotate inside the socket, but it
cannot dislocate from the socket. A spherical joint allows the
connector to rotate freely, but it cannot detach from the
connected parts.
|
Section Parameters
Specifies the beam element cross section of the linkage rod connector. Four
standard cross sections are available.
| Solid
circular |
Defines the radius Ro of a solid circular rod. |
| Hollow circular |
Defines the outer radius
Ro and the thickness
T of a hollow circular
rod. |
| Solid
rectangular |
Defines the width W and height H of a solid rectangular
rod. |
| Hollow rectangular |
Defines the width W, height H, and thickness T of a solid rectangular
rod. |
Material
Specifies the material of the linkage rod connector.
| |
Library |
Selects a material from the SOLIDWORKS material database. Click Select
Material to open the Material dialog box.
- SOLIDWORKS Simulation selects Alloy steel from the
SOLIDWORKS Material library as the connector's material
by default.
- For nonlinear studies, you can only select a linear
elastic isotropic material type.
|
| |
Custom |
Defines custom material
parameters for the connector.
- Young's
Modulus
- Poisson's
Ratio
- Thermal
expansion coefficient
Temperature-dependent material properties
are not supported for the linkage rod connector. Only constant
material properties are supported.
|
 |
Include
mass
|
Includes the mass of the connector in the
simulation. The mass value is used in static and
frequency studies when you apply gravity and centrifugal
loads.
|
Symbol Settings
| |
Edit Color |
Selects a color to display
the connector. |
 |
Symbol size |
Specifies the size of the
connector's glyph. |
| |
Show preview |
Displays the connector in the
graphics area. |