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Finite Element Analysis

ANSYS Truss Analysis Y

Z X

Dr. Suhas Deshmukh

Professor,
SAE, Kondhawa (Bk.), Pune

12/24/2011 Dr. Suhas Deshmukh 1

Outline

12/24/2011 Dr. Suhas Deshmukh 2

 Plane Stress Bracket
• Problem Definition
– This tutorial is the second of three basic tutorials created to illustrate commom
features in ANSYS. The plane stress bracket tutorial builds upon techniques
covered in the first tutorial (3D Bicycle Space Frame), it is therefore essential
that you have completed that tutorial prior to beginning this one.
– The 2D Plane Stress Bracket will introduce boolean operations, plane stress, and
uniform pressure loading.
– The problem to be modeled in this example is a simple bracket shown in the
following figure. This bracket is to be built from a 20 mm thick steel plate. A
figure of the plate is shown below.

Verification Example
The simplified version that will be used for
this problem is that of a flat rectangular
plate with a hole shown in the following
figure:
 Preprocessing
• Give the Simplified Version a Title Utility Menu > File > Change Title
• Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Rectangle > By 2 Corners
Fill in the window as shown
above. This will create a Fill in the window as
rectangle where the bottom shown above. This will
left corner has the create a circle where
coordinates 0,0,0 and the the center has the
top right corner has the coordinates 100,50,0
coordinates 200,100,0. (the center of the
Preprocessor > Modeling rectangle) and the
> Create > Areas > Circle radius of the circle is
> Solid Circle 20 mm.

To perform the Boolean Select the base area (the rectangle) by

operation, from the clicking on it. Note: The selected area
Preprocessor menu will turn pink once it is selected.
select: Ensure that the entire rectangular area is
Modeling > Operate > selected (otherwise click 'Next') and then
Booleans > Subtract > click 'OK'.
Areas Click 'OK' on the 'Subtract Areas'
Pick or enter base areas window.
from which to subtract Now you will be prompted to select the
areas to be subtracted, select the circle
by clicking on it and then click 'OK'.
 Preprocessing
Define the Type of Element
Preprocessor Menu >
Element Type >
Add/Edit/Delete
Add the following type of
element: Solid (under the
Structural heading) and the
Quad 82 element

we need a plane stress Define Geometric Properties

element with thickness Click Preprocessor menu >
on the 'Options...' button. Click Real Constants >
and hold the K3 button, and
select 'Plane strs w/thk',
Add/Edit/Delete

Element Material
Mesh Size
Properties
Preprocessor >
Preprocessor >
Meshing > Size
Material Props >
Cntrls > Manual
Material models >
Size > Areas >
Structural > Linear
All Areas
> Elastic >
Isotropic Select an element edge
length of 25. Meshing >
Enter the following
Mesh > Areas > Free
Utility Menu > File
EX 200000PRXY 0.3 > Save as...
 Preprocessing
Apply Loads
Apply Constraints Solution >
Define Analysis Type Solution > Define Define Loads >
Solution > Analysis Loads > Apply > Apply >
Type > New Analysis Structural > Structural >
Displacement > On Pressure > On
Lines Select the left Lines select
end of the plate and the line along
click on 'Apply' in the the right hand
'Apply U,ROT on edge of the
Lines' plate and click
'OK'
Calculate the pressure on the plate
end by dividing the distributed load
by the thickness of the plate (1
MPa) Fill in the "Apply PRES on
lines" The pressure is uniform along
the surface of the plate, therefore
the last field is left blank. The
pressure is acting away from the
surface of the plate, and is therefore
defined as a negative pressure

Solution > Solve >

Current LS
 Postprocessing
Convergence using ANSYS
At this point we need to find whether List the stresses (General
or not the final result has converged. Postproc > List Results
We will do this by looking at the > Nodal Solution >
deflection and stress at particular Stress, Principals
nodes while changing the size of the SPRIN) and check the
meshing element. SEQV (Equivalent Stress /
First we need to find the node von Mises Stress) for the
corresponding to the top of the hole in node in question. (as
the plate. First plot and number the shown below in red)
nodes
Utility Menu > Plot > Nodes Repeat steps 'a' through 'd' until
Resize the model has converged. (note -
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls >
ElementsPreprocess the number of the node at the top
Numbering...
or > Meshing > Size of the hole has most likely
The equivalent Cntrls > Manual Size changed. It is essential that you
stress was > Areas > All Areas plot the nodes again to select the
found to be Now remesh the appropriate node). Plot the
2.9141 MPa at model (Preprocessor stress/deflection at varying mesh
this point. We > Meshing > Mesh > sizes as shown below to confirm
will use smaller Areas > Free). that convergence has occured.
elements to try
to get a more
accurate
solution.
Postprocessing

Deformation
General Postproc > Plot Results
> Deformed Shape > Def +
undeformd to view both the
deformed and the undeformed
object.
Deflection
General Postproc > Plot
Results > Nodal Solution...
Then select DOF solution, USUM
in the window.

Stresses
General Postproc > Plot Results > Nodal
Solution... Then select Stress, von Mises in
the window.
 Bracket Example
Form Geometry Again, Create the
Boolean operations will circular end on Now create
be used to create the the right hand a second
Give the Bracket basic geometry of the Therefore, the side and third
example a Title Bracket Create the main command line for The center of circle for
Utility Menu > File > rectangular shape The this rectangle is the circle is the left
Change Title main rectangular shape BLC4,0,0,80,100 located at hand side
has a width of 80 mm, a (80,50) and using the
height of 100mm and the has a radius of following
bottom left corner is 50 mm dimensions:
located at coordinates
(0,0)

Parameters Circle 1 Circle 2 Create a rectangle on the left

X center 0 0 hand end to fill the gap
between the two small circles.
Y Center 20 80 X center = -20 Y Center = 20
Radius 20 20 Width = 20 Height = 60
Preprocessor > Modeling
> Operate > Booleans >
Boolean Operations Subtract > Areas Select the
- Addition Modeling Create the Bolt Parameters C1 C2 C3 base areas from which to
> Operate > Holes We now subract (the large plate that
Booleans > Add > X center 80 0 0 was created Next select the
want to remove
Areas the bolt holes Y Center 50 20 80 three circles that we just
In the 'Add Areas' from this plate. created. Click on the three
window, click on Radius 30 10 10 circles that you just created
'Pick All' and click 'OK'.
 Bracket Example
Define the Type of Element
Preprocessor > Element Type
> Add/Edit/Delete Use the
'Options...' button to get a plane
stress element with thickness
Under the Extra Element Output
K5 select nodal stress.
Mesh Size
Preprocessor >
Meshing > Size Cntrls
> Manual Size > Areas
> All Areas Select an
element edge length of
5. Again, we will need
to make sure the model
has converged.
Element Material Properties
Preprocessor > Material
Define Geometric Constants
Props > Material Library >
Preprocessor > Real
Structural > Linear > Elastic
Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
> Isotropic We are going to
Enter a thickness of 20mm.
give the properties of Steel.
Enter the following when
prompted: EX 200000 PRXY
0.3
Mesh Preprocessor >
Meshing > Mesh >
Saving Your Job
Areas > Free and select
Utility Menu > File
the area when prompted
> Save as...

Apply Constraints
Define Analysis Type Solution > Define Loads Click on 'Apply' in the
'Solution' > 'New > Apply > Structural > 'Apply U,ROT on Lines'
Analysis' and select Displacement > On window and constrain all
'Static'. Nodes DOF's in the 'Apply
U,ROT on Nodes'
You may want to zoom in to window.
select the points Utilty Repeat for the second
Menu / PlotCtrls / Pan, bolt hole.
Zoom, Rotate
 Bracket Example

Apply Loads As shown in the

diagram, there is a single
vertical load of 1000N, at the
Solving the System
bottom of the large bolt hole.
Solution > Solve > Current LS
Apply this force to the
respective keypoint ( Solution
> Define Loads > Apply >
Structural > Force/Moment >
On Keypoints Select a force
in the y direction of -1000)

Post-Processing: Viewing the Results

Convergence using ANSYS As shown previously, it is necessary to prove that the solution has converged.
Reduce the mesh size until there is no longer a sizeable change in your convergence criteria.

General Postproc > Plot Results

> Contour Plot > Nodal Solution General Postproc > Plot Results
General Postproc > Plot then select DOF Solution - USUM > Nodal Solution Then select von
Results > Def + undeformed in the window. Mises Stress in the window.
Thank You

12/24/2011 Dr. Suhas Deshmukh 12