4.2.

1 Overview of Beam post-processing

Estimated time to complete this course: 1320 minutes

This course introduces you to special considerations and techniques when post-processing models containing beam elements. When you
complete this course, you should be able to calculate complete beam stresses and display results on beam cross sections.

Setup information

Part folder: parts_simulation

NX role: Advanced with full menus

System preparation

[Date] 1
4.2.2 Requesting force output
By default, Advanced Simulation does not include element force output requests in a standard structural solution. When defining the
solution for models containing beams, be sure to request element force output in your solution. The post-processor uses element forces
to:

Derive beam force and moment resultants.

Calculate complete beam stresses.
Display results on beam cross sections.
How you include a force output request varies according to your
solver.

Using NX Nastran as your solver, create or edit a Structural

Output Requests modeling object. Click the Force tab, and
select Enable FORCE Request.

[Date] 2
4.2.3 Beam post-processing
Beam stresses vary both over the length of the beam element and across the cross section. You can display beam stresses in two ways:

By creating a deformed line display of stresses along a prescribed cross-sectional location known as a stress recovery point (or at
the minimum or maximum of all recovery points) as it varies along the length of a beam.
By creating a contour display of stresses across beam sections at the fore or aft end of the beam.

[Date] 3
4.2.4 Calculating beam stresses
Structural FE solvers do not output a complete set of stress components for beam elements. This means:

Stress datasets based on solver output are incomplete.

Derived results such as von Mises stress may be inaccurate.
Many stress component datasets listed in the Post Processing Navigator are empty.
For a complete set of stress components, the software can calculate the stresses from element forces and beam geometry.

To calculate the stress components, on the Set Result dialog box, select Calculate Beam Results from Forces and Beam Geometry.
Available only for Stress Element-Nodal and Strain Element-Nodal results.
Available only when the model contains 1D beam or bar elements.
Stress calculation process
When you request calculated beam stresses, the software:

1.Queries the results file for material properties (Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio) and section definition.
If that information is not available in the results file, the software queries the model.
2.Retrieves element force results from the current load case or iteration.
3.Generates an adaptive mesh on each section, and then computes the stress components at each node in the mesh. Derived
stresses such as von Mises stress are also calculated for each node.
4.Retains stresses at nodes closest to the original stress recovery points.
A progress bar is displayed in the Status line while the calculation takes place. For large models containing many section definitions, the
calculation may take a few moments.

[Date] 4
4.2.5 Displaying results on cross sections
4.2.2
You can display stress and strain contours on specified beam cross sections.

To display stress contours on beam sections, you must have beam resultants in your results file. To calculate beam resultants, be sure to
include an element force request in your solution output requests.

To create a cross-section display:

1.Create a standard post view of your model.

2.Click the Cross-Section View command.

3.Select an element and specify the fore or aft end.

Tip Select Preview to help you refine your selection before generating a
cross-section view.

4.Select options to further refine your display.

The software generates an adaptive mesh on the beam section geometry and calculates
stresses from element forces, material properties, and beam geometry.

[Date] 5
4.2.6 Adding fillets to cross sections
On the Set Result dialog box for your cross-section view, you can select Add Fillets to add fillets to interior corners of your beam
section geometry. The software:

Multiplies the Fillet Radius Scale Factor by the minimum beam wall thickness to determine the fillet radius.
Modifies the section geometry.
Remeshes the section
Recalculates stress components.
Adding fillets can reduce artificial stress concentrations at interior corners.

Top: Section view without fillets. Note stress concentrations at arrows. Bottom: Section view with added fillets. Artificial stresses are reduced.

[Date] 6
4.2.7 Activity: Display results for a beam model
Estimated time to complete: 1015 minutes

You will learn how to:

Request element forces and solve the model.

Calculate complete beam stress components.
Create a beam cross-section display.

Launch the Display results for a beam model activity.

4.2.7.1 Open the part file

Open the Simulation file you created in the activity Beam pre-processing.

Open

[Date] 7
 Simulation Files (*.sim)
Files of type

File name ladder_sim2.sim

OK
Note If you have not completed the Beam preprocessing activity, a completed model has been provided for you.

Open

Simulation files (*.sim)

Files of type

ladder_sim1.sim
File name

OK

[Date] 8
4.2.7.2 Reset the dialog box memory
The options you select in NX dialog boxes are preserved for the next time you open the same dialog box within an NX session. Restore
the default settings to ensure that the dialog boxes are in the expected initial state for each step of the activity.

Preferences User Interface

Reset Dialog Memory

OK

[Date] 9
4.2.7.3 Request element forces
Edit the solution to include a force output request. Element forces are used to calculate complete beam stresses.

Simulation Navigator

Solution 1

Edit

Case Control

Edit (Output Requests)

Force

Enable FORCE Request

OK all dialog boxes

[Date] 10
4.2.7.4 Solve the model

Simulation Navigator

Solution 1

Solve

OK

the Information window

Cancel Analysis Job Monitor dialog box

Close Solution Monitor dialog box

[Date] 11
4.2.7.5 Create a new post view

Simulation Navigator

Results

Post-Processing Navigator

Stress Element-Nodal

[Date] 12
4.2.7.6 Examine stress components
Beam stresses are always shown in the local (element) coordinate system.

Set Result (Post Processing toolbar)

XX

Apply

The XX stress component is the normal stress in the local (element) X-direction at Recovery Point C. This stress is the superposition
of the axial and bending stresses that act on the cross section.

[Date] 13
 XY

Apply

The XY stress component is the transverse shear stress acting in the local (element) Y-direction at Recovery Point C. Although this
stress is clearly nonzero for this structure, the stress is plotted as zero because the solver does not return all the stress components.
You can continue to examine NX Nastran stress components if you like to determine which components are missing or incomplete.

Leave the Smooth Plot dialog box open for the next step.

[Date] 14
4.2.7.7 Calculate stress from forces and geometry
The Smooth Plot dialog box is still open from the previous step.

To view complete stress results, you can calculate beam stresses from element forces and beam geometry.

Calculate Beam Results from Forces and

Beam Geometry

Apply

Top (View toolbar, Orient View Drop-down list)

[Date] 15
You now have a complete set of stress components.
Beam stresses are returned at predefined locations called recovery points. You can examine the results at other
recovery points as follows.

Recovery Point D
Beam

Apply

Notice that the peak stress is much higher at recovery point D than at recovery point C.
On your own, view stresses at recovery points E and F.

Maximum
Beam

Apply

Maximum returns the highest calculated positive stress value for the beam element at all locations on the cross section, not just at
recovery points.

OK Smooth Plot dialog box

[Date] 16
4.2.7.8 Divide the display into four viewports
To make it easier to select elements for a beam cross section display, divide your display into viewports.

Layout Settings (Layout Manager toolbar)

User Selected Viewport

OK

Four Views (Layout Manager toolbar, Layout Drop-down list)

[Date] 17
4.2.7.9 Create a cross-section view

Cross-Section View (Post Processing toolbar)

Selection

From Model
Selection Mode

Select the rung near the node that connects to the rail.

Preview the cross section to ensure that you've selected the element in the rung and not the rail.

Preview

[Date] 18
If you inadvertently selected the wrong element, you can refine your selection using the preview before you generate a persistent
cross-section view.

Apply

the top right viewport

Display

Banded
Color Display

OK

[Date] 19
4.2.7.10 Create a second cross-section view
Create a second cross-section view to examine stresses on the rail where it meets the rung.

Cross-Section View (Post Processing toolbar)

Selection

By Element ID
Selection Mode

Element 6

Apply ID String

Aft:8
At End

Apply

the bottom left viewport

[Date] 20
 Display

Banded
Color Display

Apply

Result

31

Apply

This is the calculated shear stress on the X face in the Z direction. Note the artificial stress concentration at the inside corners.

For more accurate results, add fillets to the inside corners of the element cross section.

Add Fillets

Apply

[Date] 21
 The software automatically modifies the section geometry, remeshes the cross section, and recalculates the stresses. Note the
change in the maximum stress result when you add fillets.

OK all dialog boxes

Single View (Layout Manager toolbar, Layout Drop-down list)

Return to Model (Layout Manager toolbar)

File Close All Parts

You completed the activity.

[Date] 22
4.2.8Review
To view how stress varies over the cross section of a beam at the
Question
nodal locations, you should use which type of display
1

Deformed line display of stress

Contour display of stress

Show feedback

A deformed line display of stress shows how a single stress component varies along the length of a beam for a single stress recovery point.
A contour display of stress shows how a single stress varies over the entire cross section at a single nodal location.

Click Exit the course below.

[Date] 23