I have found two ways of modeling a Gimbal Expansion Joint:

1. "Zero Lenght Expansion Joints method". According to the Caesar Help this is used for Gimbal and Hinged Exp Joints and they are specified by means of the stiffnesses boxes.
2. By means of the expansion joint modeler which includes the gimbal and Hinged expansion joint in their library.

Can I use both methods in all cases? or Is there some kind of considerations in order to use one of them?

Thanks in advance

I use option 1. I have full control what values are used. I can calculate them because I am bellows besigner. I have tried option 2 once. Line was in skew position. End result was a bit strange but correct I assume.

If you have no idea of the spring rates, gimbal ring and bracket masses etc maybe it would be better to use the builder.

Thanks Jouko. I probed the two methods. In fact if one models the expansion joint by the "modeler", It gives you the value of the bending stiffnes. According to this value, I made another model by the "Zero length" method and I introduced the bending stiffness given by the software by the previos method. The results were quite similar.

Thank you for your prompt reply. Regards