Idealizations UnderstandingBeamIdealizationsLecture UnderstandingBeamIdealizations.

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Understanding Beam Idealizations

Beam Idealizations enable the application of cross-sectional properties along a one dimensional entity.
Beam Idealization Elements

Beam Sections Position Orientation Material Beam Release Location with respect to load

Beam Idealization
LectureNotes

Beam Idealizations A beam is a one-dimensional idealization where 2D cross-sectional properties are applied to a curve in space; the curve to which it is applied can transition through three dimensional space. You create a beam by specifying the cross-section shape and position, orientation, material, the degrees of freedom at the beam ends, and the

location of the beam with respect to the axis where Mechanica applies the beam load. A beam is considered to have a constant cross section along its entire length with no twisting.

Beam Sections: Beam Section can be created as needed or stored and retrieved from a library. There are three basic types of sections that you can use: o Standard: You can use standard Mechanica cross section shapes and simply specify the dimensions. Mechanica automatically calculates all of the necessary cross-sectional properties based on the geometry. Standard shapes include: Solid and Hollow: Square, rectangular, circular, and elliptical Solid only: Channel, I-Beam, L-section, and diamond o General: To create a general beam section you must provide properties of the cross-section instead of the shape. These properties include Area, 2D Moment's of Interia (Iyy, Iyz, Izz), torsional stiffness (J), shear parameters, and stress grids. o Sketched: You can sketch the shape of a beam cross-section if desired. Mechanica calculates all of the necessary parameters based on the geometry you create. If you wish to have a shear center that is not located at the centroid of the cross-section, you must specify its offset from the centroid by specifying DY and DZ with a Beam Orientation when you later apply the section to a beam idealization. These sketched cross sections can be one of two types: Solid: With this type of cross section, you use sketch mode to sketch and dimension the cross-sectional shape of the beam. Thin: With this type of cross section, in addition to sketching the cross-sectional shape of the beam, you must also specify the thickness of the beam section associated with each entity you sketched. The thickness you specify is applied symmetrically to each entity. Position: Where a sketched section is located, relative to the sketcher coordinate system, can have an impact on the behavior of the analysis model. Orientation: The X vector for a beam is parallel to the reference or references that you specify when creating the beam idealization. The direction of the X vector is dependent on the direction of the arrow on the beam reference when you select it. The Y direction can then be specified relative to the World Coordinate System (WCS), a point, or an axis. The definition of the X and Y vectors in turn sets the direction of the Z vector. Material: Any material currently associated with the model can be applied to a beam idealization. Beam Release: A beam release enables you to specify the degrees of freedom (DOF) at the ends of a beam idealization. These DOF are specified relative to the Beam Action Coordinate System (BACS). Refer to the Mechanica help system for more information about this coordinate system. Location with respect to load: There are three coordinate systems (BSCS, BACS, and BCPCS) that govern the way Mechanica defines and analyzes beams. Refer

to the Mechanica help system for more information on how to manipulate these coordinate system and when you might need to do so. Best Practices

In order to use beam idealizations, the beam should be much longer than it is wide. Consider using the ratio of 10:1 (length along the beam as compared to the other two dimensions) as a guideline. Use particular care when considering beam releases so your analysis model will be as realistic as possible. Mechanica assumes that the shear center of the beam element lies on the neutral bending axis, which is true in general only for symmetric cross sections. If the beam cross section you are modeling is not symmetric about one or both principal bending axes, the displacement or stress results reported by Mechanica may not be correct. Refer to the Mechanica help system for more information.