The Break method with the Point option creates n+1 curves by breaking an existing curve or edge at one or more point locations. The point locations can be defined by either existing points, nodes, vertices, curve/curve intersections, or curve/surface intersections. Also, the break point location does not have to lie on the curve or edge.

Creates Curves 2 and 3 by breaking Curve 1 at Point 2. Notice that Delete Original Curves is pressed in and Curve 1 is deleted.

Creates Curves 1 and 2 by breaking a curve defined by Points 1 and 2 (by using the Curve select menu icon listed below) at the break location of Node 1. Notice that Node 1 does not have to be colinear with Points 1 and 2.

Creates Curves 1 and 2 by breaking an edge of Surface 1 (using the Curve select menu icon listed below) at the break location defined by Node 1.

The Break method with the Parametric option creates two curves from an existing curve or edge, at the curve’s parametric coordinate location, where has a range of .

Creates Curves 2 and 3 by breaking Curve 1 at . Notice that Delete Original Curves is pressed in and the Parametric Direction is turned ON.

Creates Curves 1 and 2 by breaking an edge of Surface 1 (by using the Curve select menu icon listed below) at .

The method breaks a curve with a plane. The curve will be broken at each intersection point with the plane.

The Blend method creates a set of parametric cubic curves from an existing set of two or more curves or edges by enforcing a first derivative continuity across its boundaries. The set of existing curves or edges must be connected.

Creates Curves 6 through 10 by equally blending Curves 1 through 5. Notice that Delete Original Curves is pressed in.

This example is the same as the previous example, except that four weighting factors are used for the four curve pairs: 1e-6, 1.0, 1.0, 1e6.

The Disassemble method operates on one or more chains (composite curves) and breaks them into the original curves that composed the chain. A chained curve can be created by using Geometry Application’s Create/Curve/Chain form. Chained curves are usually used in Patran for creating trimmed surfaces.

Creates Curves 8 through 13 from chained Curve 7. Notice that Delete Original Curves is pressed in and Curve 7 is deleted.

The Extend method with the 1 Curve option extends one or more curves which start at either the beginning or the end of an existing curve or edge, and moves in the tangent direction for a defined length. You can either extend curves in a straight line or maintain the same curvature as the existing curve or edge.

Extends curve 1 in a straight line by an actual length of 1.0.

This example is the same as the previous example, except Continuous Curvature is pressed in, instead of Straight Line, and Fraction of Original is pressed in based on a value of 1.5.

Creates Curve 1 by extending it from an edge of Surface 1 (by using the Curve select menu icon listed below). Both Straight Line and Actual are pressed in, with a length of 1.0 entered.

The Extend method with the 1 Curve option using the Through Points switch modifies one curve by extending the curve through N-points.

Extends Curve 1 by passing through the selected screen points.

The Extend method with the 1 Curve option using the Full Circle switch creates one curve by extending the curve to a full circle, given the start, end, or interior point of the curve. If the curve has zero radius of curvature, a circle will not be created.

Extends Curve 1 to a full circle by selecting Curve 1 and then Point 1.

The Extend method with the 2 Curve option extends a set of curves in a straight line by extending them from two existing curves or edges. Patran will extend the specified endpoints to where the two curves will intersect. If the distance from the intersection to the endpoint of one of the existing curves, is within a distance of the Global Model Tolerance, then Patran will extend only one curve instead of two. (The Global Model Tolerance is defined on the Global Preferences form under the Preferences/Global menu).

Extends Curves 1 and 2 to their point of intersection.

Creates Curve 3 and extends Curve 1 by extending them from Curve 1 and an edge of Surface 1 by using the Curve select menu icon listed below.

The Merge method creates one or more curves from an existing set of curves or edges. The shape of the new curves, relative to the existing curves or edges, will be preserved to the extent possible, but, in general, some detail will be lost. The existing curves or edges must be connected.

Creates Curve 6 by merging Curves 1 through 5. Notice that Delete Original Curves is pressed and Curves 1 through 5 are deleted.

This example is the same as the previous example, except that the merge tolerance is 0.00001.

Creates Curves 6 through 8 from merging Curves 1 through 5.

The Refit method using the Uniform option creates uniformly parameterized Piecewise Cubic curves from existing curves. The number of piecewise cubic segments per curve is input as the refit parameter.

The Reverse method redefines the connectivity of an existing set of curves or edges by reversing the positive direction of the curves or edges. You can plot the curve’s direction by selecting the Parametric Direction toggle on the Geometric Properties form found under the menus Display/Display Properties/Geometric.

This example reverses Curves 6, 7 and 8. Notice that the parametric direction is displayed for the curves.

This example is the same as the previous example, except Curves 7, 8 and 9 have associated bar elements. Although the node IDs are not reversed, Patran internally reverses the bar elements’ connectivities. For example, for Bar 1 the nodes are stored as Nodes 2 and 1, instead of 1 and 2.

The Trim method with the Point option modifies an existing set of curves by trimming them at a specified point location along each curve. The trim point can be defined by either existing points, nodes, curve/curve intersections, or curve/surface intersections. You cannot trim existing edges.

Trims Curve 9 at Point 9, with Point 9 cursor selected in the Curve/Point List as end of the curve to discard or trim off.

Trims Curve 9 at the intersection of Curves 9 and 10 by using the Point select menu icon listed below for the Trim Point List. Point 8 is cursor selected for the Curve/Point List as the end of the curve to trim.

The Trim method using the Parametric option modifies an existing set of curves by trimming them at a specified parametric coordinate location, where has a range of . You cannot trim existing edges.

Trims Curve 9 at , where Point 8 is cursor selected as the end of the curve to trim.

This example is the same as the previous example, except Point 1 instead of Point 8 is cursor selected as the end of the curve to trim in the Curve/Point List box.