Book Bytes 10 - RBEs and MPCs

Book Bytes Practical Finite Element Analysis for Mechanical Engineers
CHAPTER 12
RBE's
and MPC's
@DominiqueMadier
OVERVIEW &
TERMINOLOGY
RBE's and MPC's are used when:
We need to connect the motion of a

node (translations and/or rotations)
to another node or several nodes
MPC’s & RBE’s define equations of constraint

between the degrees of freedom of the
nodes involved in the connection.
@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

OVERVIEW &
TERMINOLOGY
Multi-Point Constraint Rigid Body Element

MPC RBE (R-Type)
Specialized inputs of MPC

equations.
Constraint that involves
user-selected degrees of Require only that the user
freedom. specifies the degrees of
freedom involved in the
The user must compute equations of constraint.
and manually input the
coefficients in the All coefficients in these
equations of constraint. equations of constraint are
calculated internally by the
FEA software.
MPCs or RBEs can be used to model rigid bodies and rigid constraints.
Not all RBE elements are rigid.

OVERVIEW &
TERMINOLOGY
Any combination of these elements may be used in an FEA.

However, they should be used with care in geometric nonlinear analysis.

OVERVIEW &
TERMINOLOGY
The three major FEA software, NASTRAN,

ANSYS and ABAQUS, offer RBE and MPC
capabilities. However, there are variations
in the terminology used for these elements.
GENERIC
TERMINOLOGY
RIGID
COMPLIANT

INTRODUCTION TO
R-TYPE ELEMENTS (RBE’S)
An R-type element is mathematically equivalent

to one or more MPC constraint equations.
Each constraint equation expresses one dependent degree of freedom

as a linear function of the ìndependent degrees of freedom.
RBE elements impose fixed constraints among components of motion

at the nodes to which they are connected.
RBE elements are sometimes referred to as rigid elements, but the

term “rigid” is misleading:
N-node rigid element: rigid connection between an arbitrary number

of nodes (infinitively stiff)
Interpolation element between an arbitrary number of nodes (no

stiffness)

INTRODUCTION TO
R-TYPE ELEMENTS (RBE’S)
Some important points

concerning R-type elements
1. R-type elements are based on a linear displacement relationship,

not an elastic relationship.
2. R-type elements are not dictated by stiffness, mass, or force.
3. R-type elements follow the small displacement theory (should be

used with care in geometric nonlinear analysis).
4. Some R-type elements have different definitions for dependent vs

independent nodes.
5. The stiffness, mass, and loads at the dependent DoFs are

transferred to the independent DoFs.

THE RIGID ELEMENT
Definition of the N-node rigid element
Defines a rigid body whose independent degrees of freedom are

specified at a single node and whose dependent degrees of freedom
are specified at an arbitrary number of nodes.
Provides a very convenient tool for rigidly connecting the same

components of several nodes
Artificially adds stiffness by constraining the system to follow a linear

translational and/or rotational relationship between the connected nodes
Does not allow any relative motion among the dependent nodes
(undeformable)
Consider using this element in locations where the load path is stiff
Otherwise, use an R-type interpolation element as a means to transfer load

THE RIGID ELEMENT
Key points - N-node rigid element
Between an arbitrary number of nodes
One independent node with multiple dependent nodes
Independent DoFs specified by user
Artificially increases the stiffness of the structure
No relative motion among dependent nodes, i.e., no deformation

among dependent nodes

THE INTERPOLATION ELEMENT
Definition of the interpolation element
The applied loads and mass at a dependent node are distributed to an

arbitrary number of independent nodes.
The interpolation element is NOT a “rigid” element
Does not add artificial stiffness to the structure
The interpolation element allows warping and 3D effects
The reference node is the dependent node (the single node at the tip of
the element)
The dependent degrees of freedom cannot be constrained using SPCs
The dependent degrees of freedom are not allowed to be part of another

RBE element or MPC equation

The main purpose of the

interpolation element is
to transmit forces and
moments from a reference
point to several points.
The RBE interpolation element can produce unwanted

mechanisms, which will occur if there are insufficient
independent degrees of freedom to properly resolve the
applied loads and moments for static equilibrium.
Care must be taken when defining an interpolation

element. In general, three or more non-collinear
independent nodes will work for all degrees of
freedom.

FOUR RULES TO SETUP
AN INTERPOLATION ELEMENT
Rule #1:
The distribution of the applied loads is based on the geometry of the
interpolation element and on the weighting factors.
Rule #2:
The independent degrees of freedom must be able to describe all the
motions of the dependent node. If not, the solver will issue a fatal error.
Rule #3:
Only the translational components are used for the independent degrees
of freedom. Indeed, the rotations of the dependent point are fully defined
by the translational motion of the independent nodes (think in terms of
the free body).
Rule #4:
The ability to input the rotational independent degrees of freedom is
reserved for special applications such as when all the connected nodes
are collinear.

Key points - Interpolation element
The interpolation element is linear.
Do not specify rotational DoFs for independent grids, except when

necessary to avoid singularities.
The independent DoFs must be able to describe all the motions

of the dependent node.
The relationships are calculated based on the initial geometry.

RIGID (RBE2) OR
INTERPOLATION (RBE3)?
To select between Rigid and Interpolation RBE,

answer the following questions:
When loaded, do you anticipate the nodes

included in the RBE to move together (RIGID - RBE2)
or move independently (INTERPOLATION - RBE3)?
Do you stiffen or not stiffen a portion of the model

using RBE’s which would change the overall
deformation behavior?

RIGID (RBE2) OR
RIGID or INTERPOLATION RBE?
RIGID: all mounts deform together
INTERPOLATION: different displacements at each of the

mounts based on the respective local stiffness.

RIGID (RBE2) OR
Expect relative
motion between the
constrained nodes.

RIGID (RBE2) OR
CORRECT WRONG

MULTI-POINT
CONSTRAINTS
The provision of RBE elements is convenient for the user:

The FEA software automatically generates constraint
equations for each dependent degree of freedom, depending
on the definition of the element
The MPC is a generic rigid constraint and the most general-

purpose way to define motion-based relationships.
The user must:
Select the degrees of freedom
Compute and supply all the coefficients of

the MPC equation.

MULTI-POINT
CONSTRAINTS
Definition of a multi-point constraint (MPC)
The motion of a degree of freedom is dependent

on the motion of at least one other degree of freedom.
Where:

MULTI-POINT
CONSTRAINTS
MPC's can be used to:
Tie nodes together (but it is better to use an RBE

element, in this case)
Define the relative motion between nodes
Enforce a separation between nodes
Define average motion between nodes
Create a linear contact between nodes
Create a preload in a bolt

LEARN
MORE
THE BOOK
Practical Finite Element Analysis for
Mechanical Engineers
THE COURSES
Find all the details in the FEA Academy
course "Practical Basic FEA"
THE ACADEMY
WWW.FEA-ACADEMY.COM
FOLLOW FOR MORE @DominiqueMadier

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Book Bytes Practical Finite Element Analysis for Mechanical Engineers

RBE's and MPC's are used when:

We need to connect the motion of a

MPC’s & RBE’s define equations of constraint

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

Multi-Point Constraint Rigid Body Element

Specialized inputs of MPC

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

Any combination of these elements may be used in an FEA.

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

The three major FEA software, NASTRAN,

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

R-TYPE ELEMENTS (RBE’S)

An R-type element is mathematically equivalent

Each constraint equation expresses one dependent degree of freedom

RBE elements impose fixed constraints among components of motion

RBE elements are sometimes referred to as rigid elements, but the

N-node rigid element: rigid connection between an arbitrary number

Interpolation element between an arbitrary number of nodes (no

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

R-TYPE ELEMENTS (RBE’S)

Some important points

1. R-type elements are based on a linear displacement relationship,

2. R-type elements are not dictated by stiffness, mass, or force.

3. R-type elements follow the small displacement theory (should be

4. Some R-type elements have different definitions for dependent vs

5. The stiffness, mass, and loads at the dependent DoFs are

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

THE RIGID ELEMENT

Definition of the N-node rigid element

Defines a rigid body whose independent degrees of freedom are

Provides a very convenient tool for rigidly connecting the same

Artificially adds stiffness by constraining the system to follow a linear

Otherwise, use an R-type interpolation element as a means to transfer load

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

THE RIGID ELEMENT

Key points - N-node rigid element

Between an arbitrary number of nodes

One independent node with multiple dependent nodes

Independent DoFs specified by user

Artificially increases the stiffness of the structure

No relative motion among dependent nodes, i.e., no deformation

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

THE INTERPOLATION ELEMENT

Definition of the interpolation element

The applied loads and mass at a dependent node are distributed to an

The interpolation element is NOT a “rigid” element

Does not add artificial stiffness to the structure

The interpolation element allows warping and 3D effects

The dependent degrees of freedom cannot be constrained using SPCs

The dependent degrees of freedom are not allowed to be part of another

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

THE INTERPOLATION ELEMENT

The main purpose of the

The RBE interpolation element can produce unwanted

Care must be taken when defining an interpolation

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

FOUR RULES TO SETUP

@DominiqueMadier Share your thoughts

THE INTERPOLATION ELEMENT

Key points - Interpolation element

The interpolation element is linear.

Do not specify rotational DoFs for independent grids, except when