Nodes

Nodes are the most basic finite element entity. A node represents a physical position on the structure being modeled.

A nodes is used by an element entity to define the location and shape of that element. It is also used as temporary input to create geometry entities.

A node may contain a pointer to other geometric entities and can be associated directly to them.

Nodes are considered to be used if they are referenced in the definition of an element, system, vector, group, load, equation, or are referenced by any card image on any HyperWorks X entity. Unused nodes and any loads that are attached to unused nodes are automatically deleted .

Nodes can not be organized into components. Nodes can also be organized into HyperWorks X include files, which defines the solver include file they will be exported to.

A node as displayed a small circle or sphere, depending on the mesh graphics mode. Its color is always yellow.

Create Nodes

Use the Points tool to create nodes on geometry surfaces and lines or in space. Nodes can be used to establish reference locations for geometry construction and meaningful snap locations for use with other tools.

New nodes created on existing geometry are organized in the same component as the source geometry, and new nodes created in empty space are organized in the current component.
  1. From the Geometry ribbon, Create tools, click the Points tool.


    Figure 1.
  2. From the drop-down menu in the top-left of the modeling window, select Create/Edit Nodes.
  3. Create nodes.
    • Left-click on geometry or in space.
    • Left-click in the modeling window and enter X, Y, and Z coordinates in the microdialog, then press Enter.
    • Interpolate nodes by holding Ctrl while left-clicking new or existing nodes. Interpolate the midpoint of two nodes or the center of three nodes, or enter a number of nodes to interpolate in the microdialog and press Enter.


    Figure 2.
Tip: Create nodes at predefined points on geometry, such as end, middle, center, and intersection points. When interpolating points, you can also snap to points along the x, y, and z axis.

Edit Nodes

Use the Points tool to edit nodes on geometry or in space.

  1. From the Geometry ribbon, Create tools, click the Points tool.


    Figure 3.
  2. From the drop-down menu in the top-left of the modeling window, select Create/Edit Nodes.
  3. Double-click on a node.
  4. In the microdialog, edit the X, Y, and Z coordinates and press Enter.


    Figure 4.

Interpolate Nodes

Use the Extract Points tool to interpolate nodes to divide a line or edge into equal parts as references for use with other tools.

New nodes are organized in the same component as their source line.
  1. From the Geometry ribbon, Create tools, click the Extract Points tool.


    Figure 5.
  2. From the drop-down menu in the top-left of the modeling window, select Extract Nodes.
  3. Click on a line.
  4. In the microdialog, enter the number of nodes to extract and press Enter.


    Figure 6.
Tip:
  • Re-interpolate the number of nodes on the selected line by entering a new value in the microdialog and pressing Enter.
  • When interpolating nodes from multiple lines, the same number of nodes will be created on each line and distributed evenly along their respective source line’s length.
  • When interpolating nodes from a closed loop, the start and end points are the same, but separate nodes will be created at each location. To divide a circle into four equal lines, interpolate five nodes.

Find Curve Center

Use the Extract Points tool to find the center of an arc or fillet, or find the center of multiple curve segments.

  1. From the Geometry ribbon, Create tools, click the Extract Points tool.


    Figure 7.
  2. From the drop-down menu in the top-left of the modeling window, select Extract Nodes.
  3. Click on an arc.
  4. In the microdialog, click .
    Note: When calculating the curve center of multiple lines, a single node is created at the best matching curve center of the combined lines.


    Figure 8.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Mouse Controls

To do this Press
Create point/node Left Mouse Click
Edit point/node Double Click
Interpolate points/nodes or create midpoint Ctrl + Left Mouse Click or Left Mouse Drag
Lock direction while dragging Shift + Left Mouse Click
Exit tool Esc

Supported Solver Cards

Solver cards supported for nodes.

Abaqus

Card Description
*NFILL Generates nodes for a region of a mesh by filling in nodes between two bounds.
Note: Resolved to individual entities on import, and are written back on export the same way.
*NGEN Generates nodes incrementally.
Note: Nodes can only be created incrementally between two nodes.

Nodes generated along a parabola or curve are not supported (LINE=P or C parameter is not supported).

SYSTEM parameter is currently unsupported.

Resolved to individual entities on import, and are written back on export the same way.
*NODE Defines nodal coordinates.
Note: The SYSTEM parameter is created automatically during export based upon the type of reference coordinate system that is assigned to the nodes.

The card image for a node is displayed in global Cartesian coordinates in HyperWorks X.

ANSYS

Card Description
N Defines a node.
N Defines a node.
N Defines a node.
NBLOCK Defines a node.

EXODUS

Card Description
NODE  

LS-DYNA

Card Description
*NODE Defines a node and its coordinates in the global coordinate system.
Note: Card can be previewed, but not edited.
*NODE_RIGID_SURFACE Defines a rigid node and its coordinates in the global coordinate system.
Note: Card can be previewed, but not edited.

Nastran

Card Description
GRID Defines the location of a geometric grid point, the directions of its displacement, and its permanent single-point constraints.
Note: Permanent single point constraint field supported for feinput only. On export, equivalent SPC cards are output.
SPOINT Defines scalar points.
Note: Supported the same way GRID is supported. On import or export, all nodes that are designated to be SPOINT will be converted to nodes at the origin.

OptiStruct

Card Description
GRID Defines the location of a geometric grid point of the structural model, the directions of its displacement, and its permanent single-point constraints.
Note: Bulk Data Entry

Exported in large field format by the optistructlf template.
SPOINT Defines sets of single-point constraints, enforced displacements for static analysis, and thermal boundary conditions for heat transfer analysis.
Note: Bulk Data Entry

Ideally a scalar point has no location, but in HyperWorks X it is represented as a node.

PAM-CRASH

Card Description
CNODE/ Defines a common node.
NODE/ Defines a node.
Note: Use the find_cnodes summary template to highlight all CNODE nodes as temporary nodes.

Permas

Card Description
$COOR Defines nodal points and their coordinates.

Radioss

Card Description
/CNODE Defines the coordinate of common node, which could be merged to the nearest selected NODE or CNODE.
Note: Block Format Keyword
/NODE Defines the coordinate of node, which is fundamental unit of graphic in structure.
Note: Block Format Keyword

Samcef

Card Description
.NOE Defines the coordinates of the nodes of the structure.