* Note: this video was made with Rhino 7 so some minor changes may be present, the workflow remains consistent though. *

🧰 The Rhino and Grasshopper files used in this example can be downloaded here: connecting_rod_assembly.zip
*Legacy* files for Rhino 7 can also be found here: connecting_rod_assembly_rhino7.zip

This example demonstrates how to simulate a lattice infilled part, which is a bonded assembly of a lattice infill (STL) and an outer geometry (B-rep) as shown in the picture below.

• The key steps involved in setting up the simulation are explained here.
• New users are advised to checkout the getting started page to understand the basics of using the plugin.

Bonded assemblies can be setup as a combination of components in Intact.Simulation for Grasshopper.

• Create a geometry object on the canvas. Set the geometry to the lattice infill part, and let’s name this geometry as “Lattice geometry” as shown in (a)
• Create an Intact component and connect the lattice geometry block’s output to the component as shown in (b)
• Create a geometry object and set it to the non-lattice geometry (the outer geometry). Let’s name this geometry as Non-lattice geometry as shown in (c)
• Create another Intact component and connect the non-lattice geometry block’s output to the component as shown in (d)
• Create an Intact standard material block. Right click on the block and choose Aluminum 6061 as the material (e). Assign this material block to the components as shown in (b) and (d)
• Use the merge block to join the two components as a bonded assembly as shown in (f)

• The load and restraint surfaces are shown in (a) below
• Create a geometry object and set it to the restraint surface. Let’s name this geometry as “restraint surface” as shown in (b)
• Create a restraint block as connect the restraint surface block’s output to the restraint component as shown in (c)
• Create a geometry object and set it to the load surface. Let’s name this geometry as “load surface” as shown in (d)
• Create a vector in the direction of [1,0,0] as shown in (e)
• Create a vector load block and connect the loading surface, the magnitude of the force, and the direction as shown in (f)

• Create a solver settings block as shown in (a)
  • Set the FEA resolution = 500k
  • Select the linear solver type (iterative)
  • Select the basis order ( basis order = 1 for linear elements)
• Set up the solver block as shown in (b)
  • Connect the solver settings (SS)
  • Connect the assemblies (C)
  • Connect the restraints (R)
  • Connect the loads (L)
• Hit solve to compute the solution

• Create a visualization block (b) and connect the solver output (a) to the visualization block
• Optionally, users can connect the visualization settings block (c) for customizing the views
• Right click on the visualize block and choose the simulation output for display (e.g. Von Mises stress or total displacement).

The Von Mises stress distribution of the bonded assembly is displayed below, which shows that the maximum stress is approximately 108 MPa. To load the simulation results later, create a simulation reader block, right click, select the simulation, and connect it to a visualize block.