How model truss with "rigid" welded clusters, external moments and consider beam-column effects?

SandpointDave

Greetings all-
I have a 3D truss structure that has many instances of welded clusters which effectively rotate and translate as an unit when under load. There are also many moments applied usually at a cluster, but not always. This requires a non-linear static 3D analysis to account for the beam-column effects due to the moments. When significant external moments are applied, the moment distribution along the tube's axis rapidly changes more than what a single beam element can accurately represent so the particular tube is modeled with several beam elements. Because tubes with these moments are present, the beam element must be a Line3 which requires CCX. However, page 51 of the manual does not include non-linear static 3D analysis for the Line3 element.

So how might I model this?
Thanks,
Dave

Victor

That's an omission from the manual sorry. The table is only for the internal solver. So yes, you can use line3 tube elements with nonlinear 3D and CCX.

SandpointDave

Thanks Victor