10/4/22, 2:46 PM What is Translational Joint ?

HOME FEA ARTICLE DESIGN VIDEOS QUIZES FEA TIPS MORE SIMULATION MATERIAL PROPERTIES

HOME FEA ARTICLE DESIGN VIDEOS QUIZES FEA TIPS MORE SIMULATION

MATERIAL PROPERTIES

What is Translational Joint ?

Posted on April 20, 2021 by graspengineering

Translational Joint is a type of joint which allows one part to translate

along a vector in respect of another part. The parts can only translate, not
rotate, in respect of each other. This joint has one translational degree of
freedom, and the rotational degree of freedom is zero. An axis of the
translation is the z-axis, thus it has 5 constrained degrees of freedom such
as Uy, Uz, Rx, Ry, Rz, etc and One free translational degrees of freedom.
Figure 1 shows the translational joint between pipe and square block. 

Figure 1: Translational Joint

How to Create Translation Joint ?

In order to create  translational joint, the user needs to specifies its
location and orientation. The location of a translational joint does not
affect the motion of the joint. The orientation of the translational joint,
however, decides the direction of the axis along which the parts can slide
in respect of each other. The direction of the motion of the translational
joint is parallel to the orientation vector and passes through the location.
https://www.graspengineering.com/what-is-translational-joint/ 1/5
10/4/22, 2:46 PM What is Translational Joint ?

Figure 2 shows the translation joint definition details in ANSYS. You can
create translation joint by selecting reference body and mobile body. Here
you need to rotate the reference coordinate system system so that X axis
will align with pipe axis.  

Figure 2: Translational Joint Details

What is Sliding Joint ? What is difference between

sliding and translational joint?
The sliding Joint is most popular in oil and gas piping field to provide the
pipes support (clamp support or cable trays supports). The pipe carries
high temperature fluids resulting pipe expansion and contraction with
respect to temperature rise of fall. Hence, pipe supports are design in such
a way that, they will allow sliding (Axial translation movement) so that
stresses will be relaxed. In translational joints also the one translational
dof is allow and hence translational joints are also called as sliding joints.

Below Animation shows the working of translational joint. here, pipe is

sliding between the two square blocks.

https://www.graspengineering.com/what-is-translational-joint/ 2/5
10/4/22, 2:46 PM What is Translational Joint ?

Summary:

Translation joint is type of joint with one translational degree of

freedom.
Translational joint is used to provide support with sliding allow (axial
movement).
Translational Joint is also called as sliding joint.

fea sliding joint translational joint types of joints


Types of Joints / Uncategorized

« What is Fixed Joint ?

Joint Reactions in Response Spectrum Analysis using ANSYS Workbench
»

HOME FEA ARTICLE DESIGN VIDEOS QUIZES FEA TIPS MORE SIMULATION
MATERIAL PROPERTIES
Powered by WordPress and Merlin.

https://www.graspengineering.com/what-is-translational-joint/ 3/5
10/4/22, 2:46 PM What is Translational Joint ?

https://www.graspengineering.com/what-is-translational-joint/ 4/5
10/4/22, 2:46 PM What is Translational Joint ?

https://www.graspengineering.com/what-is-translational-joint/ 5/5