FAQ midas Civil Analysis

What is the difference between rigid link

and rigid type elastic link ?

When defining a elastic link, under certain conditions Rigid type

Elastic link may be defined. How is it different from defining the link as
Rigid Link

Rigid link constraints geometric, relative

movement of a structure, where degrees of
freedom of subordinated nodes called Slave
Nodes are constraint by a particular
reference node called Master Node. The
relative movements of the master node and
slave nodes are such as if they are
RIGID LINK interconnected by a three dimensional rigid
body. In this case, relative nodal
displacements are kept constant. While an
Elastic link connects two nodes to act as an
element, where the user defines its stiffness.

Rigid Type of Elastic Link and Rigid Link are

similar in that both are used to simulate rigid
behavior. However, the user must be
ELASTIC LINK
cautious in using them because their internal
processes are different in the program

1. Rigid type Elastic Link vs Rigid Link

-100.0

111111

Rigid Type of Elastic Link Rigid Link

In case of Rigid Type Elastic Link , the element stiffness is automatically calculated based
on the working model, assigning a large stiffness value of magnitude 105~108 times the
stiffness of neighboring elements. Such exceptionally large stiffness may cause a
numerical error because of the relatively large stiffness of the link element. Therefore,
when the model contains an element, which has large stiffness to replicate a rigid action, it
is recommended that Rigid Link be used rather than Rigid Type Elastic Link. Rigid Link
geometrically constrains the relative movements between the Master and Slave Nodes
without being affected by large stiffness of other members.

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2. Rigid Link + Support

Slave Node
1
OK Master Node

Slave Node
Improper
2 Master Node

Master Node
Improper
3 Slave Node

Rigid link should never be assigned with a boundary condition.

Looking at Model 2, the support boundary condition is applied to the Master Node of Rigid
Link, which implies the support condition is also applied to the Slave Node. This should be
avoided. While in Model 3, the support condition is applied to the Slave node. Slave node is
constrained by the Master node boundary condition and hence the Slave Node will be
ignored.
Model 1 (Rigid Link Elastic Link Support), is the right way to define a boundary
condition.

3. Elastic Link + Support

Support Support

Support Support

Elastic Link has not been assigned boundary conditions. In such a case, the links will be
considered as beam elements having the equivalent stiffness. In order to correct this, the
ends of the elastic links must be assigned proper boundary conditions or Point Spring
Support.

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4. Computational Time for Analysis

The figure below shows a process in which a total of 72 (6x12) d.o.f are compressed to 54
d.o.f with in the plane of the diaphragm, depicting the behavior of a cross girder in a
bridge deck.
UZRXRY

UZRXRY

UZRXRY
UZRXRY
UZRXRY
UZRXRY
UZRXRY
UZRXRY
UZRXRY
Slave nodes Master node
UZRXRY

UZRXRY

UZRXRY

Ui : Displacement d.o.f in i direction at the corresponding node

Ri : Rotational d.o.f in i direction at the corresponding node

110001 : Ux Uy Rz d.o.f

If a degree-of-freedom of a particular slave node is constrained to a master node for the

relevant degree-of-freedom, by using "Rigid Link" relationship, all the attributes (nodal load
or nodal mass) including the stiffness component of the slave node are converted into an
equivalent component of the master node.

Giving such geometric constraints reduces the number of degrees of freedom which can
significantly reduce the computational time for analysis.

For instance, consider the cable stayed bridge in the figure above where Rigid Link action
is used to depict cross girder diaphragm action. If this link is analyzed with the diaphragms
modeled as Rigid type Elastic link, the number of d.o.f will increase substantially. Each
node represents 3 additional degrees of freedom. Hence in a model with large number of
nodes in an analysis can result in excessive program execution time, or it may even
surpass the program capacity. It is therefore recommended that the number of degrees of
freedom be minimized as long as the accuracy of the results is not compromised.

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