Creating and modifying connector section assignments

You create connector section assignments by assigning connector sections to wire features (to define connectors) or attachment lines (to define discrete fasteners) and specifying local orientations associated with the endpoints of the wires or attachment lines. Depending upon the connection type, a local orientation for the first points of the selected wires or attachment lines is required, optional, or not applicable. Depending upon the connection type, a local orientation for the second points of the selected wires or attachment lines is optional or not applicable. For the local orientation requirements for each connection type, see Connection-Type Library. Table 1 relates the numerical coordinate axes referred to in the connection-type library to the coordinate system axis labels used in Abaqus/CAE. You can use the Query toolset to obtain connector assignment information for selected wires or attachment lines.

Table 1. Coordinate system axis labels used for displaying local orientations associated with the endpoints of the wires or attachment lines.
Local coordinate direction Cartesian Cylindrical Spherical
1 x r r
2 y t t
3 z z p

See Also
Understanding connectors
Connector section assignment editors
Using the Query toolset to obtain connector assignment information
Fasteners
Connectors

Context:

When you create connector section assignments, Abaqus/CAE generates identification strings to associate the assignments with connector orientations. These strings, referred to as tags, cannot be modified, and they are displayed in the connector section assignment manager, the Model Tree tooltips, and—optionally—the viewport (see Controlling the display of attributes).

  1. Display the connector section assignment editor using one of the following methods:

    • To create a new connector section assignment, do the following:

      1. Select ConnectorAssignmentCreate from the main menu bar.

        Tip: You can also create a connector section assignment using the tool in the Interaction module toolbox.

      2. Select the region (wires or attachment lines) to which you want to apply the connector section.

        Only wire features or attachment lines that have been created at the assembly level are available for selection. The best approach for selecting the region is to use the default geometry set name for the wire feature (see Creating or modifying wire features for multiple connectors, for more information) or attachment lines (see Creating attachment lines by projecting points, for more information). A single wire or attachment line feature may contain multiple wires or attachment lines. You can select individual wires or attachment lines of the feature; however, only one connector section can be associated with each individual wire or attachment line.

        Use one of the following methods to select the region:

        • Select from a list of existing sets. Click Sets on the right side of the prompt area, select the set of interest from the Region Selection dialog box that appears, and click Continue.

        • Select the wires or attachment lines in the viewport.

      3. Click Done in the prompt area.

        The connector section assignment editor appears.

    • To edit an existing connector section assignment, select ConnectorAssignmentManager from the main menu bar to display the Connector Section Assignment Manager. Select the row of data that you want to change, and click Edit.

      The connector section assignment editor appears, and the connector symbols become highlighted in the current viewport.

      If you want to select different wires or attachment lines for the connector section assignment, click in the Region portion of the editor and reselect the region.

  2. On the Section tabbed page, select a connector section. If desired, click to create a new connector section.

    The connection type is displayed in the editor; if applicable, you can click to see a schematic drawing of the connection type along with the Abaqus idealization of the connection.

  3. On the Orientation 1 tabbed page, you specify the orientation for the first points of the selected wires or attachment lines if the orientation is required or optional. If the orientation is not applicable, the Orientation 1 tabbed page is unavailable in the editor.
    1. If you want to specify an orientation other than the global coordinate system, click and use one of the following methods to select the datum coordinate system:

      • Select a predefined datum coordinate system by name. Click Datum CSYS List from the prompt area, select a name from the list, and click OK.

      • Select a predefined coordinate system in the viewport.

      The selected orientation is highlighted red in the viewport. The connector section assignment editor reappears and displays a description of the coordinate system used for the orientation of the first points of the selected wires or attachment lines.

    2. If applicable, you can specify an additional rotation about an axis of the datum coordinate system. Select the Additional rotation angle option, enter a value for the rotation angle in degrees, and select 1, 2, or 3 for the About axis option. The Additional rotation angle option is available only if you specify a datum coordinate system other than the global coordinate system.
  4. If the orientation for the second points of the selected wires or attachment lines is optional, Abaqus/CAE uses the orientation for the first points (including the additional rotation angle, if specified) as the default selection. You can specify a different coordinate system for the second points of the selected wires or attachment lines on the Orientation 2 tabbed page. If the orientation is not applicable, the Orientation 2 tabbed page is unavailable in the editor.
    1. On the Orientation 2 tabbed page, toggle on No modifications to CSYS and click . Use one of the following methods to select the datum coordinate system:

      • Select a predefined datum coordinate system by name. Click Datum CSYS List from the prompt area, select a name from the list, and click OK.

      • Select a predefined coordinate system in the viewport.

      The selected orientation is highlighted red in the viewport. The connector section assignment editor reappears and displays a description of the coordinate system used for the orientation of the second points of the selected wires or attachment lines.

    2. If applicable, you can specify an additional rotation about an axis of the datum coordinate system. Select the Additional rotation angle option, enter a value for the rotation angle in degrees, and select 1, 2, or 3 for the About axis option. The Additional rotation angle option is available only if you specify a datum coordinate system other than the global coordinate system.
  5. Click OK to save your connector section assignment and to close the editor.

    Symbols appear in the viewport that represent the connector section assignment that you just created. For more information, see Understanding symbols that represent interactions, constraints, and connectors.