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Ansys Shell Elements

This document contains course notes on using shell elements in ANSYS. It discusses symmetry conditions that can be applied to reduce model size and solution time. It also provides examples of different shell element formulations and guidelines for modeling shells. Specific steps are outlined for creating a shell model of a cylindrical pressure vessel with a hole, applying boundary conditions, and reviewing the solution stresses.

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Kivanc Sengoz
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536 views

Ansys Shell Elements

This document contains course notes on using shell elements in ANSYS. It discusses symmetry conditions that can be applied to reduce model size and solution time. It also provides examples of different shell element formulations and guidelines for modeling shells. Specific steps are outlined for creating a shell model of a cylindrical pressure vessel with a hole, applying boundary conditions, and reviewing the solution stresses.

Uploaded by

Kivanc Sengoz
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ME-380 Course Notes

ANSYS LESSON 4
Symmetry and Shell Elements
David Herrin, Ph.D. University of Kentucky

ME-380 Course Notes

Solution Time
Plane Stress/Plane Strain/Symmetry

Roughly proportional to the number of degrees of freedom in a model squared


g

Doubling the nodes implies a four fold increase

DOF = ( N d ) - c

ME-380 Course Notes

Symmetry
Plane Stress/Plane Strain/Symmetry
g

Many large structures possess some form of symmetry Symmetry in geometry Symmetry in loading
g

Easy way to reduce a model to a more manageable size Solution time can be reduced an order of magnitude

ME-380 Course Notes

Types of Symmetry
Plane Stress/Plane Strain/Symmetry
g

Axisymmetry typical cross-section of coffee cup

ME-380 Course Notes

Types of Symmetry
Plane Stress/Plane Strain/Symmetry
g

Reflective Symmetry
Y Simply supported plate X

Model only this section

ME-380 Course Notes

Reflective Symmetry
Plane Stress/Plane Strain/Symmetry
g

Symmetric boundary conditions

F 4
ux = y = z = 0

uz = x = y = 0

ux = uy = uz = x = y = 0

ux = uy = uz = y = z = 0

ME-380 Course Notes

Symmetric Boundary Conditons


Creating Areas and Using 2-D Elements

Degrees of Freedom
Plane X=0 Y=0 Z=0 X 0 F F Y F 0 F Z F F 0 RX F 0 0 RY 0 F 0 RZ 0 0 F

F = Free 0 = Zero Displacement

ME-380 Course Notes

Anti-Symmetric Boundary Conditons


Creating Areas and Using 2-D Elements

Degrees of Freedom
Plane X=0 Y=0 Z=0 X F 0 0 Y 0 F 0 Z 0 0 F RX 0 F F RY F 0 F RZ F F 0

F = Free 0 = Zero Displacement

ME-380 Course Notes

Example - Reflective Symmetry


Plane Stress/Plane Strain/Symmetry

Fixed Ring

ME-406 Course Notes

ME-380 Course Notes

In-Class Exercise
Checking Results

1 in. 3 in. 1 in.

6 in.

ME-406 Course Notes

ME-380 Course Notes

Determining Strain Energy in ANSYS


Checking Results
g

Add a Plane82 element type Option - with thickness

Set the thickness to be 0.25 inches Set the material properties to steel E = 30E6 Nu = 0.3

ME-406 Course Notes

ME-380 Course Notes

Boundary Conditions
Checking Results Symm B.C.

200 lb/in Symm B.C.

200 lb/in

ME-406 Course Notes

ME-380 Course Notes

Create a Mapped Mesh


Checking Results
g

Establish the density controls along lines Solve the load set

Setup an element table for strain energy and calculate the total strain energy

ME-380 Course Notes

Shell Elements
Shell Elements
g

Several shell element formulations Classical shell theory Isoparametric Hybrid

Each formulation gives slightly different results

Generally, triangular elements yield very good results

ME-380 Course Notes

SHELL63 - Four Node Quadrilateral


Shell Elements

Element supports both in-plane and normal loads 6 DOF per node 3 translations 3 rotations

ME-380 Course Notes

SHELL63 - Four Node Quadrilateral


Shell Elements

Thickness can vary across the element

Pressures applied to the element surfaces have units of Force/Area Pressures applied to edges have units of Force/Unit Length

ME-380 Course Notes

SHELL93 - Eight Node Quadrilateral


Shell Elements

Better suited for modeling curved shells 6 DOF per node 3 translations 3 rotations

ME-380 Course Notes

Modeling Guidlines
Shell Elements

Flat shells

Thickness to span ratios

t t and 0.1 a b

ME-380 Course Notes

Modeling Guidlines
Shell Elements

g g

Curved shells Thickness to radius ratio

h 0.1 r
g

Stress in the Z, or thickness, direction is zero

ME-380 Course Notes

Modeling Guidlines
Shell Elements
g

Stress averaging at nodes (as used in contour plotting) can be invalid if the unit normal vectors differ by more than 5 degrees Parabolic shells are more cost effective

ME-380 Course Notes

Shell Element Example


Y Shell Elements Fixed on Rim

Uniform 100 psi Pressure Load

t = 0.25 in E = 10E6 psi


X Symmetric about XZ and YZ Planes

= .3

ME-380 Course Notes

Add Shell Element Type and Constants


Shell Elements
g

Add the shell element type 8 node elastic SHELL93

Set the real constants for the element type TK(I) = 0.25

Set material constants for aluminum

ME-380 Course Notes

Create Keypoints for Geometry


Shell Elements
g

Enter the following Keypoint locations NPT = 1: x=0, y=0, z=0 NPT = 2: x=6, y=0, z=0 NPT = 3: x=0, y=6, z=0 NPT = 4: x=2, y=1, z=0 NPT = 5: x=4, y=1, z=0 NPT = 6: x=1, y=2, z=0 NPT = 7: x=1, y=4, z=0

ME-380 Course Notes

Create Lines and Arcs


Shell Elements
g

Create Lines between KP 1 and 2 KP 1 and 3 KP 4 and 5

KP 6 and 7 g Create arcs between KP 2 and 3 KP 4 and 6 KP 5 and 7

ME-380 Course Notes

Create and Mesh the Areas


Shell Elements
g

Create areas Area #1 is the outer area Area #2 is the inner hole area Perform Boolean subtraction subtracting Area #2 from Area #1 to form Area #3

Set the mesh controls to an edge length of 0.2 Map area #3 using a free mesh

ME-380 Course Notes

Apply Boundary Conditions


Shell Elements
g

Apply Boundary Conditions Symmetry displacement constraints on lines #1 and #2 All degrees of freedom fixed on outer arc Pressure of 100 psi applied to area #3

Solve the load set

ME-380 Course Notes

Postprocessing
Shell Elements

View the deformed shape View contour plots of the nodal displacements in all 6 DOF directions View contour plot of the stresses Normal stress in x and y directions Shear stresses - XY, YZ, and XZ Von Mises

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