Jbeam files are divided into multiple sections which each represent one type of element in a vehicle’s structure.
Basic structural elements
These are the main elements of any jbeam, and handle the shape and collisions of a vehicle.
For more information you can read the intro to jbeam
- Nodes : The first element in a node/beam structure. They are point masses and handle most of a jbeam’s colisions along with the weight of the structure.
- Beams : Conectors between nodes. Beams allow for flexibility and deformation in a jbeam structure, and define how the different elements are connected to each other.
- Triangles : Surfaces defined between nodes. Triangles are used for aero calculations, and for colisions between vehicles.
Advanced structural elements
These elements allow for more advanced structural elements, and can be very useful in specific applications
- Hydros : Beams whose length can be changed on command.
- Rails and slidenodes : Allows the definition of nodes that slide along a rail. Used for things like steering racks, rigidifying some structures, etc
- Thrusters : Allows to propel structures directly. Used for testing purposes, jato and others.
- Torsion bars : Creates a torsion resistance between two lever arms. Used for sway bars and to rigidify some structures.
- Torsion hydros : Similar to hydros, but insteads changes the angle between 2 lever arms. Used for some steering systems, and other types of actuators.
Part slot system
These elements are mostly used within the part/slot system , either to define some additional information related to the part, or the slots within a part.
- Information : Defines a few basic parameters associated to the component, like it’s display name in the part selector.
- Slots : Defines the list of slots within a component, along with the default selection.
Graphical and sound elements
These elements handle the various
- Flexbodies : Defines the models that will be used to graphically represent your vehicle, and how they are tied to the nodes for deformation.
- Glowmaps : Allows the definition of materials that can switch on demand. Mostly used to switch the material of lights to an emmissive material when the lights are turned on.
- Soundscape : Defines sound effects to be played when certain conditions are met, along with the node used as an emitter.
- Cameras : Defines the position and angle of the various cameras in the vehicle, including exterior and interior cameras.
- Props : Animated 3d elements that do not deform with the jbeam structure. Used for things like gauges, pedals, steering wheels, etc.
Powertrain
The last section is the elements related to powertrain components, like powertrain definitions and wheels.
- Powertrain : Used to define the different powertrain elements within a vehicle’s powertrain.
- Pressure Wheels : Allows to define wheels with a pressured tire model.
- Rotators : Alternative to pressure wheels in specialised applications, where power needs to be sent to something other than a wheel like a propeller.
Others
- Variables : Allows the definition of adjustable parameters for a vehicle, usually adjustable suspension and drivetrain components.
- Triggers : Defines set triggers that the player can activate with the mouse to control different functions of a vehicle.
- Refnodes : Set of nodes which define the central coordinate system of a vehicle
- Controller : Used to add special functions to a vehicle, like police lightbars, electronics assists, etc.
Section use
Here is how often the various sections show up in the jbeam of all vanilla content.
Keep in mind that some of those sections, like “mainEngine”, do not really correspond to a jbeam section, but are instead part of an other section that got defined separately for clarity. Those mostly happen with controllers and more complex powertrain elements.
Version0.32.1.0 uses the following sections:
Name
Count
Name
information
Count
16745
Name
slotType
Count
16744
Name
flexbodies
Count
12938
Name
beams
Count
9277
Name
nodes
Count
8769
Name
slots
Count
5330
Name
triangles
Count
4550
Name
pressureWheels
Count
3557
Name
variables
Count
2433
Name
props
Count
2255
Name
mainEngine
Count
1326
Name
controller
Count
1211
Name
powertrain
Count
1015
Name
sounds
Count
840
Name
torsionbars
Count
801
Name
slidenodes
Count
789
Name
rails
Count
769
Name
vehicleController
Count
624
Name
glowMap
Count
567
Name
soundConfigExhaust
Count
527
Name
triggers
Count
455
Name
soundConfig
Count
435
Name
triggerEventLinks
Count
414
Name
events
Count
406
Name
gauge
Count
309
Name
soundscape
Count
305
Name
globalSkin
Count
302
Name
cameraExternal
Count
295
Name
refNodes
Count
293
Name
differential_R
Count
271
Name
n2o
Count
249
Name
skinName
Count
221
Name
gearbox
Count
193
Name
mirrors
Count
191
Name
hydros
Count
185
Name
energyStorage
Count
165
Name
turbocharger
Count
162
Name
torsionReactorF
Count
162
Name
clutch
Count
154
Name
cameraChase
Count
149
Name
camerasInternal
Count
144
Name
licenseplateFormat
Count
143
Name
input
Count
142
Name
cargoStorage
Count
141
Name
differential_F
Count
122
Name
torsionHydros
Count
112
Name
quads
Count
108
Name
torqueConverter
Count
104
Name
hoodCatchCoupler
Count
93
Name
hoodLatchCoupler
Count
89
Name
trunkCoupler
Count
86
Name
mainTank
Count
72
Name
analogOdometer
Count
71
Name
hPattern
Count
70
Name
supercharger
Count
69
Name
powertrainDamage
Count
69
Name
torsionReactorR
Count
67
Name
triggers2
Count
60
Name
triggerEventLinks2
Count
60
Name
actionsEnabled
Count
59
Name
slots2
Count
55
Name
driveModes
Count
52
Name
singleAxisLever
Count
48
Name
mainBottle
Count
47
Name
tailgateCoupler
Count
46
Name
shiftLights
Count
42
Name
ties
Count
42
Name
scaledragCoef
Count
38
Name
scalenodeWeight
Count
30
Name
doorFRCoupler
Count
27
Name
doorFLCoupler
Count
27
Name
doorRRCoupler
Count
27
Name
doorRLCoupler
Count
27
Name
doorLCoupler
Count
25
Name
doorRCoupler
Count
25
Name
brakeControl
Count
22
Name
electrics
Count
21
Name
motorTorqueControl
Count
20
Name
sequentialLever
Count
19
Name
rotators
Count
17
Name
adaptiveFrontDamper
Count
14
Name
transfercaseControl
Count
14
Name
tractionControl
Count
14
Name
mainAirTank
Count
13
Name
powertrainHydros
Count
12
Name
adaptiveRearDamper
Count
11
Name
sliderLatch
Count
11
Name
autoAdjust
Count
10
Name
licenseplate_path
Count
10
Name
frontBypass
Count
8
Name
differential_RR
Count
8
Name
torsionReactorRR
Count
8
Name
auxTank
Count
7
Name
trunkCouplerL
Count
7
Name
trunkCouplerR
Count
7
Name
hoodLatchCouplerL
Count
6
Name
dynDecalMaterials
Count
6
Name
rearBypass
Count
6
Name
fueltank_R
Count
6
Name
hoodLatchR
Count
6
Name
differential_R_0
Count
6
Name
hoodLatchCouplerR
Count
6
Name
differential_R_2
Count
6
Name
differential_R_1
Count
6
Name
transfercase
Count
6
Name
kingpin
Count
6
Name
fifthwheel
Count
6
Name
fueltank_L
Count
6
Name
tailgateCatch
Count
6
Name
vehicleData
Count
6
Name
driveshaft_2
Count
5
Name
frontMotor
Count
5
Name
mainBattery
Count
5
Name
rightDoorCoupler
Count
5
Name
soundConfigFront
Count
5
Name
thrusters
Count
5
Name
leftDoorCoupler
Count
5
Name
hoodLatchL
Count
4
Name
rearRightDoorCoupler
Count
4
Name
rearMotor
Count
4
Name
hoodCatch
Count
4
Name
pump1
Count
4
Name
soundConfigRear
Count
4
Name
hoodLatchF
Count
4
Name
canopyCoupler
Count
4
Name
door_FL_coupler
Count
4
Name
differential_M
Count
4
Name
rearLeftDoorCoupler
Count
4
Name
door_FR_coupler
Count
4
Name
hydraulicsData
Count
4
Name
toolboxCoupler
Count
4
Name
adaptiveFrontSwayBar
Count
4
Name
airbagBeamData
Count
4
Name
cabLatch
Count
3
Name
reverseWarn
Count
3
Name
adaptiveRearSwayBar
Count
3
Name
rearDoorCoupler
Count
3
Name
bedCoverCoupler
Count
3
Name
camperShellLatch
Count
3
Name
airbrakes_F
Count
3
Name
shiftLights_digidash
Count
3
Name
mainTankR
Count
3
Name
sleeperDoorLCoupler
Count
3
Name
esc
Count
3
Name
mainTankL
Count
3
Name
cabinetDoorLCoupler
Count
3
Name
hPatternColumn
Count
3
Name
destsign
Count
3
Name
airbagBeamSoundData
Count
3
Name
cabinetDoorRCoupler
Count
3
Name
roofboxCoupler
Count
2
Name
scalebeamSpring
Count
2
Name
lidBCoupler
Count
2
Name
hydraulicsMotor
Count
2
Name
lidT1Coupler
Count
2
Name
ram1
Count
2
Name
gauges
Count
2
Name
torsionReactor_R_0
Count
2
Name
ram2
Count
2
Name
AVAS
Count
2
Name
lidT2Coupler
Count
2
Name
frontLockControl
Count
2
Name
torsionReactor_R_2
Count
2
Name
scalebeamDamp
Count
2
Name
hydraulicsControl
Count
2
Name
doorCoupler
Count
2
Name
airbags
Count
2
Name
bullbarLatch
Count
2
Name
sleeperDoorRCoupler
Count
2
Name
spareholderCoupler
Count
2
Name
value
Count
2
Name
doorBeamData
Count
2
Name
tirePressureControl
Count
2
Name
hoodCoupler
Count
2
Name
torsionReactor_R_1
Count
2
Name
motor
Count
2
Name
wheelhubR
Count
2
Name
dumplocks
Count
2
Name
rightRearDoorCoupler
Count
2
Name
engine
Count
2
Name
rightFrontDoorCoupler
Count
2
Name
rangeboxControl
Count
2
Name
tailgateLatch
Count
2
Name
airCompressor1
Count
2
Name
absControl
Count
2
Name
airbrakes_R
Count
2
Name
hoodCatchL
Count
2
Name
cargoDoorRRCoupler
Count
2
Name
ram4
Count
1
Name
supportPinRL2
Count
1
Name
backGlassLatch
Count
1
Name
supportPinML2
Count
1
Name
doorDisconnectR
Count
1
Name
remoteAccumulator
Count
1
Name
doorDisconnectL
Count
1
Name
retractPinML
Count
1
Name
scalebeamDeform
Count
1
Name
jato
Count
1
Name
motorBottom
Count
1
Name
leftDoorRCouplerR
Count
1
Name
retractPinFL
Count
1
Name
supportPinRR
Count
1
Name
rearTank
Count
1
Name
airSuspensionData
Count
1
Name
retractPinFR
Count
1
Name
lockCoupler
Count
1
Name
storageboxDoors
Count
1
Name
rampRCoupler
Count
1
Name
general
Count
1
Name
mixer_chute_lock
Count
1
Name
cargoDoorRLCoupler
Count
1
Name
supportPinMR2
Count
1
Name
retractPinRL
Count
1
Name
mixerMotor
Count
1
Name
doorBeamSoundData
Count
1
Name
liftCoupler
Count
1
Name
transfercase1
Count
1
Name
tailgateDoorCoupler
Count
1
Name
retractPinMR
Count
1
Name
soundConfigTop
Count
1
Name
supportPinMR
Count
1
Name
nextstop
Count
1
Name
tailgateBoxCoupler
Count
1
Name
supportPinRL
Count
1
Name
mainMotor
Count
1
Name
splitterControl
Count
1
Name
soundConfigBottom
Count
1
Name
ram5
Count
1
Name
ambulanceSideDoorCoupler
Count
1
Name
supportPinRR2
Count
1
Name
frontTank
Count
1
Name
BoxDoorLCoupler
Count
1
Name
motorTop
Count
1
Name
torsionReactor_M
Count
1
Name
decklidCoupler
Count
1
Name
doors
Count
1
Name
mixer_ladder
Count
1
Name
supportPinML
Count
1
Name
step_coupler
Count
1
Name
BoxDoorRCoupler
Count
1
Name
rightDoorRCouplerR
Count
1
Name
airSuspension
Count
1
Name
engineDoorCoupler
Count
1
Name
ram3
Count
1
Name
airbrakes
Count
1
Name
absLegacy
Count
1
Name
lidT1Coupler_R
Count
1
Name
mainTankFL
Count
1
Name
rearLockControl
Count
1
Name
mainTankFR
Count
1
Name
lidT2Coupler_R
Count
1
Name
bus
Count
1
Name
tiltLocks
Count
1
Name
rampLCoupler
Count
1
Name
lidBCoupler_R
Count
1
Name
actuator1
Count
1
Name
retractPinRR
Count
1
