Point Constraint

Create Point Constraint

Command	SOF_SE_POINT_CONSTRAINT
Tooltip	Creates a constraint between two structural points.
Sidebar	Structural Elements

Modify Point Constraint

Command	SOF_SE_POINT_CONSTRAINT_M
Tooltip	Modifies constraints between two structural points.
Sidebar	Structural Elements

Constraints are used to describe infinitely stiff elements and special boundary conditions that are numerically stable.

A constraint is an element with infinite stiffness. It is possible to define different types of constraint in constraint groups in order to achieve a clearly laid out project.

The type of constraint specifies the direction of the constraint with its associated permitted rotations or displacements. Only a symbol for the constraint is visible in the drawing.

In the case of assigning hinges to the constraint definition, a different symbol is used in the representation of the end points. The point picked first - when creating the constraint - gets a circle as a symbol, which represents the hinge. The second point is represented as the default point symbol.

The example below shows a simple 2D frame. The used constrain in the top left corner comes with a bending moment hinge; displacements are coupled. Depending on the orientation of the constraint (left to right / right to left) the effect of the hinge can be found in the bending moment diagram (My=0)

The direction of a constraint element is defined in its local direction and refers to the coordinate system at the constraint’s start point node. In case no structural point is defined at the end of the constraint one with default properties will be created during export the system into the database.

For a constraint with local direction we recomend to define and align a structural point at the constraint’s start point.

A detailed description of these properties can be found in the chapter ‘SPTP – Structural point properties’ of the manual SOFiMSHC.