This example demonstrates how to use Displacement Boundary Conditions in lieu of restraints. This is particularly useful when you want to see the stresses in an object after a certain deformation.

The geometry and grasshopper files for this example can be downloaded here. Open the model in Rhino, place intact components, reference geometry, and set a material.

Next, place the number of displacement boundary conditions you’d like to set and specify the displacements. It is important to note that an x, y, and z displacement all need to be defined for the geometry to be properly restrained. If a displacement is left blank, it will be undefined/slipping. This will result in the simulation not being able to solve. This is an example of incomplete displacement boundary conditions that will not solve.

This is the valid set of boundary conditions we would like to set. Define a resolution or cell size with solver settings, and the simulation is ready to be solved.

Solve the simulation, connect it to a visualize block, and the stress distribution is ready to be seen. It is helpful to hide the geometry in rhino and turn off the geometry previews in Grasshopper to see the results the clearest.