Simulating bolted connection with washers

[Tobyk]

How do you simulate a washer when using fasteners from Mechcanica?


I've tried troubleshooting it with simple load case like the attached picture.





It works with the simple fasteners from mechanica, but when I add washers to my assembly and apply the fasteners to the edge of the washer holesI get an error message:





But when I try to apply free interface between the surface of the washer and the top beam I get an error message saying Sleceted surfaces are not available for contact....


1) So can somenone tell me howto apply these "free connections"?


2) Is there a better method for simulating a bolted connection with a washer?


Tobyk

 

[mhinkkanen]

Fastener will work only between two volumes. You have four (i.e. you cant include washers to your analysis).

If the stiffness of screw AND washers is really that important to you - model washers as protrusions on outer surfaces. Or use some cunningly clever way to model bolts and washers than Fastener.

 

[airion]

You can create a surface region on the part in the shape of the washer and apply the loads and constraints to it.