Theory
As described above, you must associate a contact element set with each guide surface that you define. Flexcom then checks each node on every element of the appropriate contact element set for contact with the guide surface. When carrying out this check for flat/cylindrical guide surfaces, the program automatically takes account of the diameter of the structure at the node. For this purpose, you have the option of specifying a contact diameter for each element. The contact diameter at a node is defined as the largest contact diameter of any of the elements connected at that node. In this way, contact between a node on the structure and a guide surface always occurs at the external surface of the structure at the node.
Relevant Keywords
•*GEOMETRIC SETS is used to assign geometric properties to element sets, including contact diameter.
