Roller
The Roller node adds a roller constraint as the boundary condition; that is, the displacement is zero in the direction perpendicular (normal) to the boundary, but the boundary is free to move in the tangential direction. A Roller condition is similar to a Symmetry condition, but the latter has some other options.
Roller Constraint
The default roller constraint acts along a normal to the selected boundaries which is computed numerically. The geometry or mesh representation of the actual boundary may however be imperfect. This can lead to unexpected locking of the deformation, since the computed normals do not have the intended directions. You can then, for some important cases, prescribe that the boundary slides on an analytical surface.
Select a Normal orientation Automatic, Plane, Cylinder, or Sphere.
For Automatic, the constraint is applied in the direction normal to the boundary, as represented by the mesh. This orientation is not updated during the analysis.
For Plane, select Orientation of normalX-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, or User defined to describe the constraint direction. When User defined is used, enter the vector en, pointing along the normal to the plane along which the boundary is sliding.
For Cylinder, select Axis typeX-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, or User defined to describe the orientation of the cylinder. Enter the location of a Point on axis, Xc, in order fix the location of the cylinder. When User defined is used, enter the vector es, pointing along the axis of the cylinder. The constraints will act radially from the cylinder axis. If the analysis is geometrically nonlinear, each mesh node is assumed to maintain its distance from the cylinder axis.
For Sphere, enter the location of the Center of sphere, Xc. The constraints will act radially from this point. If the analysis is geometrically nonlinear, each mesh node is assumed to maintain its distance from the center of the sphere.
Constraint Settings
To display this section, click the Show More Options button () and select Advanced Physics Options in the Show More Options dialog box.
Location in User Interface
Context menus
Ribbon
Physics Tab with Solid Mechanics selected: