Hello, I would like to know if it is possible to merge nodes in PPM. If not, do you either intend to introduce it to PPM or do you have a recommended free S/W to carry out node merging?
The nodes belong to parts of different materials so Compound feature doesn‘t help in this case.
Thanks!
Are you talking about imported meshes or those created in PrePoMax from geometry ? The compound part operation can be used on the geometry that will later be assigned different sections (individual parts are still selectable in the FE Model tab). In addition to that, there’s also a Merge Parts option when you select multiple parts in the FE Model tab. This one won’t obey section assignments but you can always create element sets based on which different materials will be applied to a single part.
When it comes to other software, Gmsh has the Coherence Mesh command that removes all duplicate nodes.
I‘m talking about a mesh generated in PPM. If I use Create Compound, I cannot select the individual parts of the Compound in the Sections Tab anymore. Can you advice?
Strange, which version of PrePoMax are you using ?
Check this file from 1.3.5.1:
Compound.pmx (454.7 KB)
I‘m using V1.3.5.1.
It works with the 3D parts in your file. My analysis is 2D axis symmetric and there it seems not to work with the surfaces. The parts are in 2D also not shown underneath the Compound in the Geometry tab.
Right, it works differently in 2D. As a workaround, you can define sections based on element sets, like I’ve mentioned before. Or use tie constraint instead of creating compound part.
Some CAD softwares enable you to split a single surface into multiple connected faces. In Solidworks it is called a Split line command. If you export such surface into .step, it will also be split in PrePoMax.