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Each of the Nodal Static Support, Nodal Spring Support and Nodal Support Settlements functions open a common interface, where each type of nodal support can be accessed, defined and applied to the model. For each support type, different types of restraint can be defined to give different support conditions, to be applied either to different nodes, or, supports can be defined to apply to particular loadcases. so, it is possible to have different support conditions apply to the same node, with the support type determined per loadcase.
The typical restraint interface is shown below. The active icon in the window below is the Static Support icon.
Nodal Support Window
The static supports are all specified in relation to the global axes. Regardless of the orientation of the members in a model.
The Nodal Static supports act on specified nodes and can be defined to give no translational movement in the global x, y or z-axes. Nodal Static supports can also be defined to provide rotational restraint about specific global axes.
The Nodal Static supports can be accessed by going to Restraints>Nodal Static Supports from the top text menu bar. Alternatively, if in the Static Support window, the Static Supports can be accessed by selecting the Static Support icon.
On entering the Static Support window, the static support indicators are automatically turned on and displayed for the structure, or part of the structure, currently displayed in the graphics window.
The bottom pane of the Static Support window gives the following information.
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Sort brief order – reorder the support briefs
Current brief – indicates the current brief order
Selected nodes – indicates the nodes which the current nodal support has been applied to
Select support brief – indicates the current support brief information. Support briefs can be selected from the drop down
Load group selector – nodal supports can be assigned to a load group so they are active in particular load combination. This includes selecting the main load group and also the load group number.
Exit – closes the nodal support window and returns to the main MasterFrame window.
To create a nodal support group: -
1.Ensure the ‘Static Supports’ icon is selected
2.Click on the ‘Add‘ icon
3.Define the restraint conditions
4.Select the required load groups
5.In the graphics window, select the required nodes to have the support condition to be applied to.
When selecting nodes, the individual nodes can be clicked on individually. Alternatively, multiple nodes can be selected by left clicking and hold the mouse and windowing the required portion of the model. Note this will select all the nodes in the window, thus it may be necessary to use the frame views or zoom filter to display only the required part of the model.
Once the nodes have been selected, the nodal support indicators will appear in the graphics display.
To delete a nodal support group: -
1.Select the required support groups from the brief selector drop down
2.Click on the ‘Delete’ icon
To display all the support restraints in the graphics window, click the ‘Show’ icon. This will show all restraint types on all nodes currently displayed. This helps identify any nodes which are intended to have some form of a nodal restraint but have not yet been included in any restraint briefs.
The Nodal Spring Supports act on specified nodes and can be defined to provide an elastic linear spring restraint at the selected nodes. The directional spring restraints act in the global x, y or z-axes and are specified in terms of a linear spring stiffness, specified in kN/m. Thus, the force in the spring is proportional to the linear displacement of the node. Rotational springs can also be defined at any node, specified in kNm/radian.
The Nodal Spring supports can be accessed by going to Restraints>Nodal Spring Supports from the top text menu bar. Alternatively, if in the Nodal Spring window, the Spring Supports can be accessed by selecting the Spring Support icon.
On entering the Spring Support window, the Spring support indicators are automatically turned on and displayed for the structure, or part of the structure, currently displayed in the graphics window.
The bottom pane of the Spring Support window gives the following information.
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Sort brief order – reorder the support briefs
Current brief – indicates the current brief order
Selected nodes – indicates the nodes which the current nodal spring support has been applied to
Select spring support brief – indicates the current spring support brief information. Spring support briefs can be selected from the drop down
Load group selector – nodal spring supports can be assigned to a load group so they are active in particular load combination. This includes selecting the main load group and also the load group number.
Exit – closes the nodal restraint window and returns to the main MasterFrame window.
To create a nodal spring restraint group: -
1.Ensure the ‘Spring Supports’ icon is selected
2.Click on the ‘Add‘ icon
3.Input the spring restraint stiffnesses in the required directions
4.Select the required load groups for the Spring Supports
5.In the graphics window, select the required nodes to have the support condition to be applied to.
When selecting nodes, the individual nodes can be clicked on individually. Alternatively, multiple nodes can be selected by left clicking and hold the mouse and windowing the required portion of the model. Note this will select all the nodes in the window, thus it may be necessary to use the frame views or zoom filter to display only the required part of the model.
Once the nodes have been selected, the nodal support indicators will appear in the graphics display.
To delete a nodal support group: -
1.Select the required support groups from the brief selector drop down
2.Click on the ‘Delete’ icon
To display all the support restraints in the graphics window, click the ‘Show’ icon. This will show all restraint types on all nodes currently displayed. This helps identify any nodes which are intended to have some form of a nodal restraint but have not yet been included in any restraint briefs.
The Nodal Support Settlements act on specified nodes and can be defined to simulate a lateral displacement in the global x, y and z-axes or a rotation about the global axes. Lateral displacements are specified in millimetres, while the rotations are specified in radians.
The Nodal Support Settlements can be accessed by going to Restraints>Nodal Support Settlement from the top text menu bar. Alternatively, if in the Nodal Support window, the Support Settlements can be accessed by selecting the Support Settlement icon.
On entering the Support Settlements window, the Support Settlements indicators are automatically turned on and displayed for the structure, or part of the structure, currently displayed in the graphics window.
The bottom pane of the Support Settlements window gives the following information.
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Sort brief order – reorder the support briefs
Current brief – indicates the current brief order
Selected nodes – indicates the nodes which the current nodal support settlement has been applied to
Select support brief – indicates the current support settlement brief information. Support settlement briefs can be selected from the drop down
Load group selector – nodal support settlements can be assigned to a load group so they are active in particular load combination. This includes selecting the main load group and also the load group number.
Exit – closes the nodal restraint window and returns to the main MasterFrame window.
To create a nodal spring restraint group: -
1.Ensure the ‘Supports Settlements’ icon is selected
2.Click on the ‘Add‘ icon
3.Input the support settlement values in the required directions
4.Select the required load groups for the Supports Settlements
5.In the graphics window, select the required nodes to have the support condition to be applied to.
When selecting nodes, the individual nodes can be clicked on individually. Alternatively, multiple nodes can be selected by left clicking and hold the mouse and windowing the required portion of the model. Note this will select all the nodes in the window, thus it may be necessary to use the frame views or zoom filter to display only the required part of the model.
Once the nodes have been selected, the nodal support indicators will appear in the graphics display.
To delete a nodal support group: -
1.Select the required support groups from the brief selector drop down
2.Click on the ‘Delete’ icon
To display all the support restraints in the graphics window, click the ‘Show’ icon. This will show all restraint types on all nodes currently displayed. This helps identify any nodes which are intended to have some form of a nodal restraint but have not yet been included in any restraint briefs.