Attachments: Flex joints

Flex joints are attachments to a line that add additional bending stiffness to a particular node (determined by the attachment's z-position). This additional local stiffness acts in series with the underlying line type bend stiffness. If, for example, you set the stiffness for the flex joint to zero, then you effectively make that node pin-jointed.

Each flex joint has properties determined by a named flex joint type. The flex joint types are defined on the attachment types form and have the following data:

Name

Used to refer to the flex joint type.

Bend stiffness

The bend stiffness of the flex joint type. You can give differing values for bending about the $x$ and $y$-directions; alternatively, a $y$-bend stiffness value of ~ is interpreted as 'same as $x$-bend stiffness'.

Similarly to line end connection stiffness, the bend stiffness is specified in terms of moment per degree of deflection.

Drawing

Defines the pen used for drawing flex joints of this type.