17.6.3.1. Fixed Support

This boundary condition prevents a selected geometric or mesh entity from moving or deforming.

This page includes the following sections:

Analysis Types

Fixed Support is available for the following analysis types:
Dimensional Types

The supported dimensional types for the Fixed Support boundary condition include:

  • 3D Simulation. Fixes one or more faces, edges, or vertices.

  • 2D Simulation. Fixes one or more edges or vertices.

Geometry Types

The supported geometry types for the Fixed Support boundary condition include:

  • Solid

  • Surface/Shell

  • Wire Body/Line Body/Beam

Topology Selection Options

The supported topology selection options for Fixed Support include:

  • Body: Supported for rigid bodies in an Explicit analysis.

  • Face

  • Edge. A fixed edge is not realistic and leads to singular stresses (that is, stresses that approach infinity near the fixed edge). You should disregard stress and elastic strain values in the vicinity of the fixed edge.

  • Vertex

    • A fixed vertex fixes both translations and rotations on faces or line bodies.

    • A fixed vertex is not realistic and leads to singular stresses (that is, stresses that approach infinity near the fixed vertex). You should disregard stress and elastic strain values in the vicinity of the fixed vertex.

    • This boundary condition cannot be applied to a vertex scoped to an end release.

  • Node

  • Element Face

Note:  If you are using a surface body model, see the Simply Supported boundary condition section.

Scoping Types

Fixed Support does not require a scoping type because no loading data is required.

Magnitude Options

Fixed Supports do not have loading data.

Applying a Fixed Support Boundary Condition

To apply a Fixed Support:

  1. On the Environment Context tab, click Supports>Fixed Support. Alternatively, right-click the Environment tree object or in the Geometry window and select Insert>Fixed Support.

  2. Define the Scoping Method.

Details Pane Properties

The selections available in the Details pane are described below.

CategoryProperty/Options/Description
Scope

Scoping Method: Options include:

  • Geometry Selection: Default setting, indicating that the boundary condition is applied to a geometry or geometries, which are chosen using a graphical selection tool.

    • Geometry: Visible when the Scoping Method is set to Geometry Selection. Displays the type of geometry (Body, Face, etc.) and the number of geometric entities (for example: 1 Body, 2 Edges) to which the boundary has been applied using the selection tools.

  • Named Selection: Indicates that the geometry selection is defined by a Named Selection.

    • Named Selection: Visible when the Scoping Method is set to Named Selection. This field provides a drop-down list of available user-defined Named Selections.

Definition

Type: Read-only field that describes the object - Fixed Support.

Suppressed: Include (No - default) or exclude (Yes) the boundary condition.

API Reference

For specific scripting information, see the Fixed Support section of the ACT API Reference Guide.