Flexcom > Data Inputs > $MODEL > *ELEMENT,AUXILIARY

Purpose

To specify the connectivity of auxiliary elements in the model.

Theory

Refer to Auxiliary Bodies for further information on this feature.

Note also that the old auxiliary body keywords (*NODE,AUXILIARY, *ELEMENT,AUXILIARY, *AUXILIARY, *PANEL,AUXILIARY and *PANEL SECTIONS,AUXILIARY) keywords have effectively been superseded by the integrated vessel/body features which provide a range of standard vessel and subsea component profiles. Refer to *VESSEL,INTEGRATED and *BODY,INTEGRATED for further information.

Keyword Format

Two types of line that may be mixed and/or repeated as often as necessary.

Line defining a single element:

Element, Start Node, End Node [, Display Diameter]

Line generating a number of elements from an existing element:

GEN=Master Element, No. of Elements [, Element Increment] [, Display Diameter]

If the generation option is used then the master element must be defined previously. Element Increment defaults to 1. Display Diameter defaults to 0.1.

Table Input

Auxiliary Elements - Define Directly

Input:	Description
Element:	The number of the auxiliary element being defined.
First Node:	The number of the first auxiliary node of this element.
Last Node:	The number of the second auxiliary node of this element
Diameter:	A display diameter for the auxiliary element. This defaults to 0.1 if unspecified.

Auxiliary Elements - Generate

Input:	Description
Master Element:	The number of the auxiliary element defining the node numbering pattern to be copied in the generated elements.
Number of Elements:	The number of auxiliary elements to be generated, where this number includes the master element.
Element Increment:	The element number increment to be used in assigning numbers to the generated elements. The default value is 1, which will apply in the majority of cases.
Diameter:	A display diameter for the auxiliary elements. This defaults to 0.1 if unspecified.

Notes

(a)Auxiliary nodes, elements and bodies allow you to include objects in your model that are not part of the finite element discretisation, but which are included for illustrative purposes only. Outline vessel models are the most common example of such objects.

(b)Auxiliary elements and structural elements (elements that are included in the finite element discretisation) cannot use the same element number. Each element in the model must be assigned a unique element number, irrespective of whether it is a structural element or an auxiliary element.