Error formatting macro: live-template: java.lang.NullPointerException
You could model shell elements as simply supported by inserting short links between the slab and the supporting elements. These links would be fixed for translational [degrees of freedom] and free for all rotational degrees of freedom.
Alternative procedure would be to disconnect the joints and then use constraints to constrain only translational degrees of freedom as follows:
- At each support location, disconnect all joints that connect the slab to the wall using the "Edit > Edit Points > Disconnect" menu command. This will replace each single joint with two (or more) independent joints, one joint for each connected element.
- Consolidate these disconnected joints, such that adjacent wall element share a common joint and adjacent slab elements share a common joint.
- Define [Body], Equal constraint, or [Weld constraint] with UX, UY and UZ degrees of freedom for each pair of resulting joints, one joint on the deck and the other joint on the pier.
The first procedure will results in a model that can be easily visually checked as all the links will be readily visible, which is not the case for the alternative approach. Also, the mesh for the wall and the mesh for the slab should match for the alternative approach.
