Connectivity

Connectivity definition

Definition of the elastic connectivity joint is possible:

On the hybrid 2D-Grillage/Plate structure only.

By using of discrete (calculational) modeling, the connectivity between structural beams and plates is treated as the bracing between nodes of the discrete (calculational) model:

The same interpretation of interaction appears by modeling connectivity of the structural parts of the slab:

Elastic joint of the connectivity establishes length less connection between nodes defined in the global coordinate system

Properties of the connectivity are described by definition of the stiffnesses of the length less connectivity joint as:

E_x – axial stiffness of the length less connectivity in the global X direction [kN];

E_y – axial stiffness of the length less connectivity in the global Y direction [kN];

E_z – axial stiffness of the length less connectivity in the global Z direction [kN].

The axial stiffness describing "fixed" connectivity joint between plate/slab can be calculated as:

where:

E – Youngs modulus [Pa];

h – thickness of the plate/slab;

v – Poisson's ratio.

The flexural stiffness describing "fixed" connectivity joint between plate/slab can be calculated as:

The stiffness magnitudes of the connectivity joint defined in the range between zero and "fixed" are describing semi-rigid connectivity joint, while the defined zero value(s) – rigid less (free) connectivity joint.

Elastic beam-to-plate connectivity properties can be applied on the structural beam element(s) only

Elastic plate-to-plate connectivity properties, that can be applied on the structural plate element(s) only by selecting/creating the contour track, should be related to the plate-to-plate connectivity;

Placement of the supports (on the beam or on the plate/slab) does influence on the interpretation of the connectivity calculation results: