Adding a new line to the sketch

Line adding to sketch

Definition

Simcenter Amesim lines Line run go from one component port to another. The ports must be compatible. Lines consist of one or more line segments Line segment .

Line segments are horizontal or vertical but never oblique.

Drawing a line

Make sure the sketch is unlocked. Next perform the following steps:

Procedure

1. Left-click near one of the unconnected component ports to start a line.

2. Left-click elsewhere to draw an angle and start a new line segment if necessary.

3. Left-click near a compatible port to end a line.

Note You can right-click to remove the last line segment but, if there is only one line segment, the line will be removed completely.

4. Press the Ctrl key and left-click to stop drawing a line or to pick up a line end.

Why can I not connect two components with a line?

Sometimes when you left-click to end a line, you get a warning dialog box.

Figure 397: Warning about an invalid line connection

This is a similar situation to that shown in the previous figure but with an added complexity. In Simcenter Amesim all components will have submodels if you get beyond Submodel mode. The same is true for lines.

Referring to the figure above, the two masses will have to have submodels, as will the line. If we replace one of the masses with a spring we can see this. To be successful, a compatible combination of submodels for the mass, spring and line that connects them must be possible.

In some Simcenter Amesim libraries (hydraulic, thermal hydraulic, pneumatic, ...) lines represent pipes and these pipes have friction; they have fluid in them which has inertia and is compressible. It is necessary to have quite complex submodels for these. In this figure the submodel for the hydraulic line is HL000.

In many other libraries in is not necessary to have submodels for lines. The Mechanical (green) library is an example. For these there is a general pseudo submodel DIRECT DIRECT submodel which is short for Direct connection

Direct connection. It is as if there were no line and the components were connected port to port.

Note

At this point it is worth repeating some general advice: Do not use unnecessary lines in your sketch.

Additionally, for the Mechanical category, a further warning will be given if you try to connect two Mechanical components with a U-turn line: