Building Models

2 Adams/View
Parts

Parts
Parts define the objects in your model that can have mass and inertia properties and can move. All forces
and constraints that you define in your model act on these parts during a simulation. The next sections
explain more about parts:

Types of Parts
Adams/View provides you with three different types of parts that you can create:
• Rigid Bodies
• Flexible bodies - Basic Adams/View provides you with the ability to create Discrete Flexible
Link. For more functionality, you can purchase Adams/Flex. For information on purchasing
Adams/Flex, see your MSC sales representative, and for information on using Adams/Flex, refer
to Adams/Flex online help.
• Point mass

In addition, Adams/View provides a ground part that is already created for you.

About the Ground Part

The ground part is the only part in your model that must remain stationary at all times. Adams/View
creates the ground part automatically when you create a model. You can also define a new or existing
part as the ground part. The ground part does not have mass properties or initial velocities and does not
add Degrees of freedom into your model.
The ground part acts as the global coordinate system that defines the global origin (0,0,0) and reference
frame about which you create your model. You cannot specify its position. You can add geometry to the
ground part.
In addition, by default, the ground part also acts as the inertial reference frame with respect to which all
of the part velocities and accelerations are calculated. You can also select another part as the inertial
reference frame. You can select another part through the Command Navigator.
Note that although the ground part is the only part in your model that must remain stationary at all times,
you can move the geometry and constraints attached to the ground part. Since geometry and constraints
are tied to markers, you can use the Select List Manager to select all the markers on ground and then
translate and rotate the ground entities with the rest of your model.
Learn about Defining a New Ground Part.

Local Coordinate Systems

As you create parts, Adams/View assigns a coordinate system to each part, known as its local coordinate
system. A part’s local coordinate system moves with the part and its original position defaults to that of
the global coordinate system.
 Building Models 3
Parts

The local coordinate system is a convenient way to define the position and location of objects.
Adams/View also returns Simulation results, such as the position of a part, as the displacement of a part’s
local coordinate system with respect to the global coordinate system. It returns object results, however,
as the displacement of a part’s center of mass relative to the global coordinate system.

Degrees of Freedom
Each rigid body that you create can move within all Degrees of freedom; a point mass can move within
three translational degrees of freedom. You can constrain the movement of parts by:
• Adding them to the ground part, which means they are fixed to the ground and cannot move in
any direction. Each time you create geometry, Adams/View gives you the option to add it to
ground, create a new part, or add it to an existing part.
• Adding constraints, such as joints, to define how the parts are attached and how they move
relative to each other.

Naming Conventions
As you create parts, Adams/View automatically generates names for them based on their type and the
number of objects of that type in your model. For example, when you create a point mass, Adams/View
names it POINT_MASS_1. For all rigid bodies, except points and coordinate system markers,
Adams/View uses the name PART regardless of the type of geometry. For example, if you create a box,
Adams/View names it PART_1. When you create a second box, Adams/View names it PART_2, and so
on. You can rename your parts. Learn about Renaming Objects Through Menu Commands.

Rigid Bodies
The most common type of part in your model is a Rigid body. Adams/View provides a library of geometry
that you can use to create rigid bodies. A part can be made up of many different geometric objects. There
are two types of geometry that you can use to create rigid bodies.
• Construction geometry
• Solid geometry

Each time you create geometry, you can select to do one of the following:
• Create a new part containing the geometry.
• Add the geometry to an existing part.
• Add the geometry to ground. You add geometry to ground if the geometry does not move or
influence the simulation of your model. For example, if you are simulating a car driving around
a race track, the geometry that defines the race track can be added to ground. (You can also fix
parts temporarily to ground using a fixed joint.
In addition, you specify the location of the geometry in space. You can select to define the location of the
geometry:
4 Adams/View
Parts

• Graphically, by picking locations on the screen or by selecting an object on the screen that is at
the desired location.
• Precisely, by entering coordinate locations.

Learn more techniques for creating and placing objects.

Also See Geometric Modeling Palette and Tool Stack to learn more about creating rigid body geometry.

Modeling Two-Dimensional Body Using Planar Option

Adams/Solver (C++) only
After you create a rigid body, you can identify it as planar (as having only three degrees of freedom
(DOF)) instead of creating a planar joint (see Planar Joint Tool). The three DOFs are global x and y
translations and a rotation about the global z-axis. You can think of the body as a regular three-
dimensional body with a built-in planar joint. Unlike a body and a planar joint pair, however, which
combines to add 18 equations to an index-3 dynamic analysis in Adams/Solver, the planar body only adds
six equations.
Example of using the planar option.

Note: • Using planar parts does not limit your use of three-dimensional contacts. If you can
simplify your contacts to two-dimensional representations, however, you will usually
realize speed improvements.
• A planar body is implicitly constrained to move in a plane at a fixed global value of z.
Any force applied to the planar part in the global z direction is discarded. The same
applies to torques about the global x- and y-axes. It is not possible to measure the
reaction forces required to constrain the planar part to stay in plane. If such forces are
desired, you must subsitute the equivalent part and planar joint combination.

To set a part as planar:

1. Create the three-dimensional rigid body.
2. Display the Modify Body dialog box as explained in Accessing Modify Dialog Boxes.
3. Set Category to Name and Position.
4. At the bottom of the dialog box, select Planar.
5. From the option menu that appears, select the plane in which the planar part will move. The
default is for the planar part to move in the global xy plane.
6. Select OK.
 Building Models 5
Parts

Parameterization
As you create rigid bodies in your model, you can define them so that the location or orientation of one
object affects the location or orientation of another body. This is called parameterizing your model.
Parameterizing your model simplifies changes to your model because it helps you automatically size,
relocate, and orient objects. For example, if you parameterize the geometry of two links to the location
of a point, when you move the point, the link geometry changes accordingly, as shown in the figure
below.
Example of Parameterizing Locations

The ways in which you can build parameterization into your model while creating rigid bodies include
the following:
• Attach objects to points so that when you change the location of the points, the body locations
and orientations update accordingly.
As you create a point, Adams/View gives you the option to attach other nearby objects to the
point. The help that explain how to create points also explain how to attach objects to them.
• Define design variables to represent values of your rigid body geometry, such as the length or
width of a link. You can create design variables for any values you specify for a rigid body.
Design variables are needed when you run tests on your model, such as design studies. Learn
about Using Design Variables.
• Create expressions that calculate the values of your rigid bodies, such as the length or width of a
box. You can specify expressions for any values you specify for a rigid body geometry. For more
information on creating expressions, see Adams/View Function Builder online help.
You can also parameterize your model after you build it. For more information on parameterization, see
Improving Your Model Designs

Before You Begin

Before you begin creating the parts of your model, you might want to take some time to set up your
modeling environment and learn some drawing and placement techniques. To help you place parts
accurately, do the following:
6 Adams/View
Parts

• Turn on the Working grid so that the points snap to a grid. In addition, Adams/View draws objects
parallel to the current working grid so by displaying it you can better see how your objects are
being drawn. Learn about Setting Up the Working Grid.
• Display the Coordinate window so that you can view the coordinate values as you place points.
Learn about Working with the Coordinate Window.
• Be sure to set the current units to those required for your model. Learn about Setting Default
Coordinate System.
• Review the different tools for drawing and placing objects in Tools and Techniques.
 Building Models 7
Tools and Techniques

Tools and Techniques

There are several techniques in Adams/View that can help you create objects with precision and speed.

Turning Selection Highlighting On and Off

Adams/View provides a Dynamic Model Navigator that highlights entire objects or edges, faces, and
points on those objects so you can easily select, place, or align an object that you are creating or a rotate
a view.
The Model Navigator highlights objects and displays their names as you move the cursor over them
within the main window. For example, when you create a marker, the Model Navigator highlights edges,
faces, and points you might want to use to orient the axes of the coordinate system. In addition, if you are
adding a point or joint to a part, the Model Navigator highlights the different parts in your model to which
you can add the point or joint. The figure below shows the the Model Navigator highlighting line
geometry.

The Model Navigator only highlights those objects that are appropriate for the operation you are
currently performing. For example, when you are aligning the faces of two parts, the Model Navigator
only highlights faces. It does not highlight edges or points. In addition, if you are chaining together wire
geometry, the Model Navigator only highlights wire geometry.
Finally, when you are defining a direction, the Model Navigator lets you select points, edges, or faces.
When you select an edge or face, the Model Navigator then lets you select the direction along the object
that you want to define since edges and faces don't provide unique direction.
To improve performance you can turn off the Model Navigator.

To turn off the Dynamic Model Navigator:

• During a selection operation, press the Ctrl key.
8 Adams/View
Tools and Techniques

Setting Snapping to Objects

As you build your model through the graphical interface, Adams/View automatically snaps the object
that you are creating to surrounding geometric objects. This can help you quickly align parts or draw
objects that touch other objects.

To turn off object snapping:

• As you create an object, press the Ctrl key.

Note: If the Working grid is on, when you draw, move, resize, or reshape geometry, the geometry
automatically snaps to the grid points. Learn about turning on and off the working grid.

Entering Precise Location Coordinates

As you create an object, such as a design point or a force, Adams/View often asks you to select the
position of the object. You can do this graphically by clicking the mouse button when the cursor is in the
screen or you can enter location coordinates to precisely set its location. You can enter the location
relative to the origin of the working grid, the global coordinate system, or any other object on the screen.

To enter location coordinates:

1. When Adams/View asks you for a location, right-click.
The LocationEvent dialog box appears as shown below. The current coordinates of the cursor
appear in the upper box.

2. In the upper box, enter the coordinates at which to place the object.
3. Select the element (Working grid, global coordinate system, or modeling object) to which the
coordinates are relative. By default, the coordinates are relative to the working grid.
4. In the lower box, enter the object to which the coordinates are relative. You only need to enter an
object if you selected that the coordinates are relative to an object.
Tips on Entering Object Names in Text Boxes.
5. Select Apply.
 Building Models 9
Tools and Techniques

Selecting from a List of Objects

When you perform a modeling operation, such as set an object's appearance or specify a force direction,
and you need to select an object from the screen, you can display a list of all objects in the area
surrounding the cursor and then select the desired object from the list. Note that this only works during
a modeling operation. The objects include geometric objects, such as object faces, vertices, and more.

To display a list of all objects in an area of the screen:

1. Right-click the area of the screen containing the desired object.
A selection box of all the objects in the area appears.
2. Highlight the desired object from the list and select OK.
3. As you highlight the desired object in the list, Adams/View also highlights the object on the
screen. To see what objects the names in the list represent, scroll through the list to highlight the
objects.
10 Adams/View
Orientation Methods

Orientation Methods

Orientation
Orientation of rigid or flexible body using three rotation angles. Adams/View orients the body starting
from the initial coordinate system and applying three successive rotations.
Depending on the convention you select, the rotations occur about space-fixed or body-fixed axes in any
combination of the x, y, and z axes. By default, you supply body 313 (body-fixed z, x, z) angles.
Adams/View applies your orientation angles with respect to the coordinate system in the Orientation
Relative To or Relative To text box.

Along Axis Orientation

Orientation of a rigid or flexible body by directing one of its axes. Adams/View assigns an arbitrary
rotation about the axis.
Two points are needed to define an axis but you can enter either one or two points to direct the axis. If
you enter two points, the axis points from the first location to the second. If you enter one point,
Adams/View uses the location you specified in the Location text box as the first point and the new
location as the second point.

Along Axis Orientation

Adams/View applies the location coordinates in the coordinate system you identify in the Location
Relative To or Relative To text box.
Note that this does not completely dictate the orientation of the coordinate system. Adams/View positions
the coordinate system with an arbitrary rotation about the axis. If you must completely control the
coordinate system orientation, select Orientation or In Plane Orientation.
By default, you direct the z-axis of the coordinate system. You can use the DEFAULTS
ORIENT_AXIS_AND_PLANE AXIS_AND_PLANE_SETTING command to change this convention.
For example, selecting either X_AXIS_XY_PLANE or X_AXIS_XZ_PLANE directs the x-axis. The
plane-convention setting does not affect this parameter.
You can also direct the axis graphically using the marker’s position handle. Simply point the appropriate
axis on the marker in the desired direction.
 Building Models 11
Orientation Methods

In Plane Oriention
Orientation of the rigid or flexible body by directing one of the axes and locating one of the coordinate
planes.
In Plane Orientation

To define an axis and a plane, you need three points. You can enter either two or three locations, however.
If you enter three locations, the axis points from the first location to the second and the plane is parallel
to the plane defined by the three locations. If you enter only two locations, Adams/View uses the location
you specified in the Location text box as the first point and the other two locations as the second and third
points.
Adams/View applies the location coordinates in the coordinate system in the Relative To text box.
By default, you direct the z-axis of the coordinate system marker and locate the zx plane. You can use
the DEFAULTS ORIENT_AXIS_AND_PLANE AXIS_AND_PLANE_SETTING command to change
this convention. For example, selecting X_AXIS_XY_PLANE directs the x-axis and orients the xy
plane.