SFLEX

SFLEX, FFAX, FFBY, FFBZ, FFTO, FFTSY, FFTSZ
Sets flexibility factors for the currently defined pipe element section.

Valid Products: Pro | Premium | Enterprise | PrepPost | Solver | AS add-on

FFAX

Factor to increase axial flexibility. The default value is 1.0.

FFBY

Factor to increase bending flexibility about element y axis (bending in the element x-z plane). The default value is 1.0.

FFBZ

Factor to increase bending flexibility about element z axis (bending in the element x-y plane). The default value is FFBY.

FFTO

Factor to increase torsional flexibility. The default value is 1.0.

FFTSY

Factor to increase transverse shear flexibility in the element x-z plane. The default value is 1.0.

FFTSZ

Factor to increase transverse shear flexibility in the element x-y plane. The default value is FFTSY.

Notes

The SFLEX command sets section-flexibility factors for sections used by pipe elements.

To increase stiffness, use a flexibility factor of less than 1.0.

The FFBY and FFTSY arguments affect motion in the element x-z plane, and the FFBZ and FFTSZ arguments affect motion in the element x-y plane. For stout pipe structures with low slenderness ratios, set both FFBY and FFTSY--and/or both FFBZ and FFTSZ (the related bending and transverse shear factors)--to the same value to obtain the expected flexibility effect.

When issued, the SFLEX command applies to the pipe section most recently defined via the SECTYPE command.

SFLEX is valid only for linear material properties and small strain analyses. The command does not support offsets, temperature loading, or initial state loading. While the resulting displacements and reactions are valid, the stresses may not be valid.

Menu Paths

Main Menu>Preprocessor>Sections>Pipe>Flexibility Factors