# Split Surfaces Without Breaking References to Dependent Features/Contacts/Constraints

**URL:** <https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/split-surfaces-without-breaking-references-to-dependent-features-contacts-constraints/3527>\
**Category:** General Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2026, 8:28am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/split-surfaces-without-breaking-references-to-dependent-features-contacts-constraints/3527 "2026-06-12T08:28:06Z")\
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**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/split-surfaces-without-breaking-references-to-dependent-features-contacts-constraints/3527/16 "2026-06-30T17:40:06Z")

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Not necessarily, you could also try some simplified approaches with springs/beams or even just rigid body or coupling constraints. However, in the end, it’s usually easiest to just use solid cylinders to represent bolts. You can find many examples of that on the forum, sometimes even with just one cylinder for the shank (without modeling the head/nut): [Reaction forces in history output. Baseplate with bolt connection](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reaction-forces-in-history-output-baseplate-with-bolt-connection/1879)

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