ANSYS - Structural Analysis/FEA

2D Continuous Beam with Distributed Load

Problem: For a steel continuous beam with distributed loads as shown below, calculate
the load factor if the moment capacity of the cross section is limited to Mmax = φ zFy,
where, φ = 0.9. The beam is made of steel with Young’s modulus of 200 GPa, Poisson
ratio 0.30 and the allowable stress (Fy) 350 MPa. The beam has a box cross-section
(HSS 356x250x16) (Figure 2) with plastic section modulus (z) 1910×103 mm3. (not the
same as elastic section modulus).

50 kN
200 kN/m
150 kN/m
50 kN/m

A E B C D
7.0 m 7.0 m 2.1 m
3.0 m

Figure 1: Continuous Beam

14.29 mm

356 mm

254 mm

Figure 2: Beam cross-section

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Step 1: Start up & Initial Set up
Set preferences and unit.

Step 2: Specify Element types and Material Properties

Use BEAM3 element.

Step 3: Specify Sections

Main Menu > Preprocessor > section > beam > common sections.
We can define the cross section from this window.
Choose sub-type of the beam to be a box cross-section and select Offset to: Centroid. This
defines the reference axis of the beam.
Click Preview to see the data summary.

Now look at the values of Iyy and Izz. In this figure, y-axis is in the horizontal direction and
z-axis is in the vertical direction.

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 z y
y z
The orientation of the beam ( or ) is defined by the value of Area moment of
z y
y z
inertia you enter for Real Constants (Enter the value of Iyy for and Izz for ). Note

that the axis for the cross-section is not necessarily the same as the Global Axis.

In general, we want the beam to have larger dimension in the global Y-axis. Thus, we define
Real Constants by entering Iyy in the Area moment of inertia box and the Total beam height is
0.356.

Step 4: Specify Geometry

Create keypoints (at point A, B, C and D) and connect them to create lines.
Note that Keypoint 2 and 3 are needed to define the boundary conditions.
Another point E at 3 m from Keypoint 1 is also needed to define a concentrated load.

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To create point E,
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Operate > Booleans > Divide > Lines w/ Options.
Pick the line to be divided by clicking on L1. Click Ok.
Enter NDIV = 2 and RATIO = 3/7. Click OK.

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Step 5: Meshing
Main Menu> Preprocessor> Meshing> Mesh Attributes> Default Attribs
Click OK.

Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool

There will be a Mesh Tool window pop up.
In the third section Size Controls >Lines, click Set. Select Pick All.
Another window pops up.
Here, you can either define the element edge length or number of element divisions.
Enter the element edge length to be 0.1. Click OK.

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In general, the size of element will influence the accuracy of the solution. Smaller size of
elements (or more numbers of elements) gives more accurate results but requires more time
to obtain the solutions.
However, for this beam problem, only 3 elements are needed (AB, BC and CD) to obtain the
exact solution. In the example, we use more numbers of element in order to obtain a smooth
bending moment diagram.

In the Mesh Tool pop up (fourth section), Mesh: Lines. Click Mesh. Select Pick All

To see node and element numbering, use: Plot Ctrls >Numbering>Node Numbers and Plot
Ctrls >Numbering >Element/Attr Numbering
Choose Plot > Elements to see the elements and the nodes

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Step 6: Specify Boundary Conditions & Loading
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement >
On Keypoint

Now select Keypoint 1, select UX, UY.

Set UX, UY as 0. Click Apply.

Next, constrain UY of Keypoint 2 and 3.

Apply Loading:
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural >Force/Moment >
On Keypoint
Now select Keypoint 5.
Select FY and enter -50000 as the Force value.

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Apply distributed load
Main Menu> Preprocessor> Loads> Define Loads> Apply> Structural> Pressure> On Beams
Now select all elements between point A and B by click on Box and drag a box to cover all
the elements.
Click OK.
For uniform distributed load, enter VALI = 200e3 kN/m
Note that, the positive value indicates the direction of pressure acting inward the beam
surface.

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Similarly, distributed loads on beam BC and CD can be added.

Step 7: Solve
Main Menu > Solution > Solve > Current LS
Click OK in the Solve Current Load Step pop up window.

Step 8: Post Processing

Plot Deformed Shape
Main Menu > General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot> Nodal Solution
Select DOF solution> UY
In Items to be plotted, select Deformed+Undeformed
Click OK

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Create Element Table

Main Menu > General Post Proc > Element Table > Define Table
Click Add.
In the next window select By Sequence number, in the right window select SMISC and enter
SMISC, 6 at the bottom text box. (MMOMZ = Member moment at node i1)
Click Apply.
Then add SMISC, 12 (MMOMZ = Member moment at node j1)
Then add LS, 2,5 (SBYT = Bending stress on the element +Y side of the beam1)
Then add LS, 3,6 (SBYB = Bending stress on the element -Y side of the beam1)
Click OK
Click Close

1
See BEAM3 - Table 3.2 (Element Output Definitions) for description of each option.

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Plotting Bending Moment Diagram

Main Menu > General Post Proc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Line Element Res

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Similarly, you can plot the stresses at the top (or bottom) fibers of the beam by selecting LS2
(or LS3) from the list

List Stress Values

Main Menu > General Post Proc > Element Table > List Element Table >
Select LS2 and LS3
Click OK
You will be able to see the bending stress values of each element in +Y and –Y direction and
the maximum stresses.

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Calculate Load Factor

Mmax = 0.9 × (350 × 10 6 Pa ) × (1910 × 10 3 × 10 −9 m 3 ) = 601650 N ⋅ m

In this problem, the maximum moment is 979907 N ⋅ m
Load factor = 601650/979907 = 0.614

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