Nonlinear Beam Analysis Tutorial in ANSYS
Nonlinear Beam Analysis Tutorial in ANSYS
A
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This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to outline
the steps required to do a simple nonlinear analysis of the beam shown below.
There are several causes for nonlinear behaviour such as Changing Status (ex.
contact elements), Material Nonlinearities and Geometric Nonlinearities (change
in response due to large deformations). This tutorial will deal specifically with
Geometric Nonlinearities .
To solve this problem, the load will added incrementally. After each increment, the
stiffness matrix will be adjusted before increasing the load.
The solution will be compared to the equivalent solution using a linear response.
2. Create Keypoints
3. Define Lines
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Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element.
This element has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y
axis's, and rotation about the Z axis). With only 3 degrees of freedom,
the BEAM3 element can only be used in 2D analysis.
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic
If you are wondering why a 'Linear' model was chosen when this is a
non-linear example, it is because this example is for non-linear
geometry, not non-linear material properties. If we were considering a
block of wood, for example, we would have to consider non-linear
material properties.
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All
Lines...
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For this example we will specify an element edge length of 0.1 " (50
element divisions along the line).
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
LMESH,ALL
20 lb*in
40 lb*in
60 lb*in
80 lb*in
100 lb*in
Now, with the Automatic Time Stepping is on, the first step
size will still be 20 lb*in. However, the remaining substeps will
be determined based on the response of the material due to the
previous load increment.
NOTE
There are several options which have not been changed from their
default values. For more information about these commands, type help
followed by the command into the command line.
3. Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
4. Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On
Keypoints
Place a -100 lb*in moment in the MZ direction at the right end of the
beam (Keypoint 2)
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape... > Def +
undeformed
PLDISP,1
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General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu... > DOF
solution, UY
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1
TP N 02
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 to solve a simple buckling problem.
It is recommended that you complete the NonLinear Tutorial prior to beginning this
tutorial
Buckling loads are critical loads where certain types of structures become unstable.
Each load has an associated buckled mode shape; this is the shape that the structure
assumes in a buckled condition. There are two primary means to perform a buckling
analysis:
1. Eigenvalue
2. Nonlinear
load until a load level is found whereby the structure becomes unstable (ie.
suddenly a very small increase in the load will cause very large deflections).
The true non-linear nature of this analysis thus permits the modeling of
geometric imperfections, load perterbations, material nonlinearities and gaps.
For this type of analysis, note that small off-axis loads are necessary to initiate
the desired buckling mode.
This tutorial will use a steel beam with a 10 mm X 10 mm cross section, rigidly
constrained at the bottom. The required load to cause buckling, applied at the top-
center of the beam, will be calculated.
/PREP7
3. Define Keypoints
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS ...
K,#,X,Y
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4. Create Lines
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > In Active Coord
L,1,2
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element.
This element has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y
axes, and rotation about the Z axis).
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All
Lines...
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
LMESH,ALL
o You must first ensure that you are looking at the unabridged solution
menu so that you can select Analysis Options in the Analysis Type
submenu. The last option in the solution menu will either be
'Unabridged menu' (which means you are currently looking at the
abridged version) or 'Abriged Menu' (which means you are looking at
the unabridged menu). If you are looking at the abridged menu, select
the unabridged version.
o Select Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options
o In the following window, change the [SSTIF][PSTRES] item to
'Prestress ON', which ensures the stress stiffness matrix is calculated.
This is required in eigenvalue buckling analysis.
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3. Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
4. Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On
Keypoints
The applied loads and constraints should now appear as shown in the figure
below.
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Close the solution menu and click FINISH at the bottom of the Main
Menu.
FINISH
Normally at this point you enter the postprocessing phase. However, with a
buckling analysis you must re-enter the solution phase and specify the
buckling analysis. Be sure to close the solution menu and re-enter it or the
buckling analysis may not function properly.
Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Eigen Buckling
ANTYPE,1
Close the solution menu and click FINISH at the bottom of the Main
Menu.
FINISH
Again it is necessary to exit and re-enter the solution phase. This time,
however, is for an expansion pass. An expansion pass is necessary if you want
to review the buckled mode shape(s).
Ensure that you have completed the NonLinear Tutorial prior to beginning this
portion of the tutorial
/PREP7
3. Create Keypoints
4. Define Lines
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Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element.
This element has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y
axis's, and rotation about the Z axis). With only 3 degrees of freedom,
the BEAM3 element can only be used in 2D analysis.
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Lines > All Lines...
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
LMESH,ALL
Ensure the following selections are made under the 'Basic' tab (as
shown above)
Ensure the following selection is made under the 'Nonlinear' tab (as
shown below)
NOTE
There are several options which have not been changed from their
default values. For more information about these commands, type help
followed by the command into the command line.
3. Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
4. Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On
Keypoints
The model should now look like the window shown below.
o General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape... > Def +
undeformed
PLDISP,1
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General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu...
> DOF solution, UY
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1
As shown, you can obtain the results (such as deflection, stress and bending moment
diagrams) the same way you did in previous examples using the General
Postprocessor. However, you may wish to view time history results such as the
deflection of the object over time.
1. Define Variables
o Select: Main Menu > TimeHist Postpro. The following window
should open automatically.
o Click the add button in the upper left corner of the window to add
a variable.
o Double-click Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Y-Component of
displacement (as shown below) and click OK. Pick the uppermost
node on the beam and click OK in the 'Node for Data' window.
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o To add another variable, click the add button again. This time select
Reaction Forces > Structural Forces > Y-Component of Force.
Pick the lowermost node on the beam and click OK.
o On the Time History Variable window, click the circle in the 'X-Axis'
column for FY_3. This will make the reaction force the x-variable. The
Time History Variables window should now look like this:
The plot shows how the beam became unstable and buckled with a
load of approximately 40,000 N, the point where a large deflection
occured due to a small increase in force. This is slightly less than the
eigen-value solution of 41,123 N, which was expected due to non-
linear geometry issues discussed above.
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This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to show
the required steps to account for the weight of an object in ANSYS.
Loads will not be applied to the beam shown below in order to observe the deflection
caused by the weight of the beam itself. The beam is to be made of steel with a
modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa.
3. Define Keypoints
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS...
K,#,x,y,z
4. Create Lines
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Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > In Active Coord
L,1,2
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element.
This element has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y
axes, and rotation about the Z axis).
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Density
In the window that appears, enter the following density for steel:
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All
Lines...
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Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
2. Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
3. Define Gravity
o Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Inertia >
Gravity...
o The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to define an
acceleration of 9.81m/s2 in the y direction.
The applied loads and constraints should now appear as shown in the figure
below.
1. Hand Calculations
Hand calculations were performed to verify the solution found using ANSYS:
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape ... > Def + undef
edge
PLDISP,2
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As observed in the upper left hand corner, the maximum displacement was
found to be 5.777mm. This is in agreement with the theortical value.