Define the Beam and Rigid Element Definitions

1. Double-click the Element Definition heading for Part 5 in the browser (tree view). The Element Definition - Beam dialog box appears.
   1. Click in the first row of the Sectional Properties table to select the row.
   2. Click the Cross-Section Libraries button.
      1. Select the Pipe option in the User-Defined drop-down box at the upper-right corner of the Cross-Section Libraries dialog box.
      2. Type 0.6 in the Outer diameter (OD) field.
      3. Type 0.05 in the Wall thickness (tw) field.
      4. Click OK to accept the cross-sectional properties.
   3. Click OK to accept the element definition.
2. Click the Element Definition heading under part 6 in the browser to select it.
3. Holding down the Ctrl key, click the Element Definition heading under part 7 in the browser to select it also.
4. Right-click on one of the two selected headings and choose Edit Element Definition from the context menu. The Element Definition - Rigid dialog box appears.

   The default stiffness is 1E10, and all translation and rotational degrees of freedom (DOF) are activated. The master node of each element is rigidly connected to the slave nodes for all DOF.

   • Click OK to accept the default element definition.

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