ansys.mapdl.core.Mapdl.swgen

Mapdl.swgen(ecomp='', swrd='', ncm1='', ncm2='', snd1='', snd2='', shrd='', dirx='', diry='', dirz='', itty='', icty='', **kwargs)

Creates a new spot weld set.

Mechanical APDL Command: SWGEN

Parameters:

ecompstr

Name to identify the new spot weld, used for the element component containing the new contact, target, and beam elements generated for the spot weld set.

swrdstr

Spot weld radius.

ncm1str

Name of a component containing nodes on the first spot weld surface, or a meshed area number for the surface.

ncm2str

Name of a component containing nodes on the second spot weld surface, or a meshed area number for the surface.

snd1str

Node number of the first spot weld node corresponding to the first surface ( NCM1 ). This node can be on or close to the first surface.

To define multiple spot welds between two surfaces, input the name of a table array parameter containing the node information for each spot weld. The table name must be enclosed in % signs (for example, tabname). If SND1 is defined by tabular input, SND2 is ignored.

snd2str

Node number of the second spot weld node corresponding to the second surface ( NCM2 ). This node can be on or close to the second surface. Mechanical APDL creates the node if not specified.

shrdstr

Search radius. Defaults to 4 times the spot weld radius SWRD.

dirxstr

Spot weld projection direction in terms of normal X, Y, and Z components.

dirystr

Spot weld projection direction in terms of normal X, Y, and Z components.

dirzstr

Spot weld projection direction in terms of normal X, Y, and Z components.

ittystr

Target element type ID.

ictystr

Contact element type ID.

Notes

This command creates a new spot weld set. You can add more surfaces to the set using swadd after the initial swgen command. However, the maximum number of allowable surfaces (including the two surfaces used for the original set) for each spot weld set is 11.

Ecomp, SWRD, NCM1, NCM2, and SND1 must be specified. SND2, SHRD, DIRX, DIRY, DIRZ, ITTY, ICTY are optional inputs. If the second spot weld node ( SND2 ) is specified, that node is used to determine the spot weld projection direction, and DIRX, DIRY and DIRZ are ignored.

If ITTY (target element ID) is specified, the following corresponding target element key option must be set: KEYOPT(2) = 1.

If ICTY (contact element ID) is specified, the following corresponding contact element key options must be set: KEYOPT(2) = 2, KEYOPT(4) = 1, KEYOPT(12) = 5.

After SND1 and SND2 are projected onto surface 1 and surface 2, respectively, two new pilot nodes (which represent the spot weld nodes) are generated at the locations of SND1 and SND2 and meshed with TARGE170 target elements ( tshap,PILO).

By default, the contact pair created at each spot weld surface is an MPC-based force-distributed constraint. To use force-distributed constraints based on the Lagrange multiplier method, you must set KEYOPT(2) = 3 for the contact elements after swgen is issued.

To automatically define multiple spot welds between two surfaces, use tabular input in the SND1 field. The table array that you input must be a 2D array parameter. For more information, see Automatic Generation of Multiple Spot Welds

To use the relaxation method to eliminate overconstraint, you must set KEYOPT(11) = 1 for the target elements after swgen is issued.

Issue swlist and swdel to list or delete spot welds, respectively. For more information about defining spot welds, see Creating a Basic Spot Weld Set with SWGEN