Surface support group
Use the Surface support group tool to generate an orthotropic spring bed (or rigid backing) over an arbitrary surface.
When you select Surface support group, a tool palette opens.
Main tools
- Define - create a new surface support or edit an existing one with the active method
- Properties - check or edit properties of existing surface supports. Opens the Default settings dialogue for the selected elements
- Hole - cut an opening inside an existing surface support
- Delete stiffness points - erase selected stiffness points from a stiffness-point-type support
- Default settings - set the default parameters for new surface supports (read below in more detail)
Definition mode
Available while Define or Properties is selected
- Support - define an area with uniform stiffness values
- Stiffness point - define a support where stiffness can vary point-by-point. Only for modifying an existing uniform surface support
Additional functions
Only for Stiffness point mode
- Single point - place one stiffness point at each picked location
- Field - automatically populate the support area with stiffness points
- Point distance - spacing between points in the generated field
Line definition methods
- Straight line - pick two points to trace a straight edge
- Arc by center, start point and angle - define the centre, a start point and sweep angle
- Arc by 3 points - define three points on the arc
- Arc by start, end point and tangent - define start and end points plus the tangent at start
- Line by selection - select an existing line or edge to define the support edges
Area definition methods
Available when Support mode is selected or Field function is selected in Stiffness point mode. Some methods are also available for Hole tool.
- Rectangular - draw a rectangle by two opposite corners
- Circular - draw a circle by centre and radius
- Polygonal - pick consecutive corner points to close a polygon
- Pick lines - select existing lines or edges to form the boundary
- Pick existing region - convert an existing region (slab, plate or contour) to a support area. Unavailable when the Hole tool is active
Default settings
When you press the Default settings button, a dialogue window opens.
This dialogue contains two tabs: General and Data. These follow the settings used in all support elements and edge connections.
note
To read more about these settings, see:
User interface ➔ Tab menus ➔ Structure ➔ Additional dialogues ➔ Edge connections