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*DISTRIBUTED COUPLING

Keyword type: model definition

This option is used to apply loading (force or displacement) on a set of element faces in a global sense. There are two required parameters: SURFACE and NODE. With the parameter SURFACE an element face surface is to be defined on which the loading acts. The parameter NODE is used to define a reference node. This node should not be used elsewhere in the model. In particular, it should not belong to any element. The coordinates of this node are immaterial. The first degree of freedom of this node is used to define a force with *CLOAD or a displacement with *BOUNDARY. The force and the displacements are applied in a direction specified by the user underneath the *DISTRIBUTED COUPLING keyword. If the value of the force or displacement is negative, the action is in the opposite direction of the one given by the user. Notice that the surface must be defined by element faces, it cannot be defined by nodes.

Internally, a multiple point constraint is generated between the nodes expressing that the mean displacement of the nodes belonging to the element face surface is the displacement specified by the user. If a force is specified, it is equally distributed among all nodes.

First line:

- *DISTRIBUTED COUPLING
- Enter the SURFACE and NODE parameter and their values

Following line:

- First component in global coordinates of the direction vector
- Second component in global coordinates of the direction vector
- Third component in global coordinates of the direction vector

    Example:

    *DISTRIBUTED COUPLING,SURFACE=SURF1,NODE=234
    1.,0.,0.

defines a distributed coupling on a surface with the name SURF1 and reference node 234. The loading direction is defined as the positive global x-direction.

Example files:

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