SWBPIPE · The open manual
Part VI · VerificationVI–E18

Part VI

Verification

E. Algorithm and software checks  ·  One-way support and rotational lift-off

A single frame member is fixed at its root. Its tip is pushed by 10.0 N along x and turned by a moment of 2.0 N·mm about z. The axial movement is held by a one-way support and the rotation by a lift-off support. Both start active. Can the solver change a translational and a rotational support in the same pass?

Read with

The one-way support on a rotation is a numerical test of the iteration on a rotational degree of freedom. No such device exists in piping.

Mixing translation and rotation at one tip: an axial one-way support releases under 10.0 N while a lift-off support on rotation about z releases under 2.0 N·mm. x θz Fx Mz x → y ↑ z OUT OF THE PAGE (⊙) SUPPORTS x: ONE-WAY · θz: LIFT-OFF LOADS AT THE TIP
Fig. VI–E18.—One-way support and rotational lift-off

1.Inputs.

Illustrative values, taken from no standard and chosen so the arithmetic can be followed by hand. Most do not describe a real pipe; read them in any consistent set of units.

QuantitySymbolValue
Tip axial forceFx10.0 N
Tip moment about zMz2.0 N·mm
One-way support—Ux
Lift-off support—Rz
Initial one-way state—active
Initial lift-off state—active (in contact)

2.Method.

On the first iteration both supports release. On the second iteration neither changes, so the loop has converged.

The reference for this group records the expected support states, changed-support counts and final residuals. It does not work out displacements or reactions, so none are tabulated here.

3.Results.

Expected outcome (the reference gives states, counts and residuals, not displacements or reactions)
QuantityExpected
Changed supports, iteration 12
Final changed-support count0
Iteration count2
Free-DOF force residual0.0 N
Free-DOF moment residual0.0 N·mm
Final free-DOF work residual0.0 N·mm
Final one-way stateinactive (released)
Final lift-off stateinactive (released)
Convergedtrue
Diagnosticnone

The tests check that:

  • The solve converges in exactly 2 iterations: 2 supports change state on the first iteration and none on the last.
  • Final states match the reference: both supports released. No diagnostics are raised.
  • Over the last iteration both the rotation and the moment reaction change by more than zero, so the rotational terms are genuinely exercised.
  • At the final iteration the out-of-balance force, moment and work at the free degrees of freedom are all exactly 0.0.
  • The changes in displacement, rotation and reaction over the last iteration stay inside the recorded envelope for this group.

What it shows. Checks the supports’ final states, the iteration count and the balance of forces. Movements and reactions are not compared with a hand calculation.

Path exercised. The benchmark calls the solver’s components directly: elements, loads, frame solver and stress recovery. It does not go through the program’s own model-to-solve path.

Agreement. The loop counts as converged only when no support changes state from one iteration to the next: the changed-support count must reach exactly 0, with no relative or absolute allowance, within at most 4 iterations. At the final iteration the out-of-balance force, moment and work at the free degrees of freedom must be 0.0, and the changes in displacement, rotation and reaction over the last iteration must stay inside a recorded envelope. Long values are shown here to seven significant figures; the tests compare the full values in the record.

4.Run it yourself.

cd projects/chirality-piping
cargo test --manifest-path validation/benchmarks/nonlinear/Cargo.toml multisupport_acceptance_inventory_uses_narrow_dec_046_policy

Hand calculation: validation/hand_calcs/nonlinear/assembled_multi_support_rotational_acceptance.md. Test record, with the recorded run of 2026-07-10: nl-assembled-multi-dof-rotational-accepted-original.md.

Contents · Part VI · The program: swbpipe.com · MIT licence