Chapter1: Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

1.1 What is FEA? Finite Element Analysis is a way to simulate loading conditions on a design and determine the designs response to those conditions. The design is modeled using discrete building blocks called elements.

Each element has exact equations that describe how it responds to a certain load. The sum o! the response o! all elements in the model gi"es the total response o! the design. The elements ha"e a !inite number o! unknowns# hence the name finite elements.

The finite element model# which has a finite number o! unknowns# can only approximate the response o! the physical system# which has infinite unknowns. $o the question arises% How good is the approximation? &n!ortunately# there is no easy answer to this question. 't depends entirely on what you are simulating and the tools you use !or the simulation. (e will# howe"er# attempt to gi"e you guidelines throughout this training course.

Physical System Model

F.E.

)ost o!ten the mathematical models result in algebraic# di!!erential or integral equations or combinations thereo!. $eldom these equations can be sol"ed in closed !orm *Exact !orm+# and hence numerical methods are used to obtain solutions. ,inite di!!erence method is a classical method that pro"ides approximate solutions to di!!erential equations with reasonable engineering accuracy. There are other methods o! sol"ing mathematical equations that are taught in traditional numerical methods courses. ,inite Element )ethod is one o! the numerical methods o! sol"ing di!!erential equations. The ,E) originated in the area o! structural mechanics# and has been extended to other areas o! solid mechanics and later to other !ields such as heat trans!er# !luid dynamics and electromagnetic de"ices. 'n !act ,E) has been recogni-ed as a power!ul tool !or sol"ing partial di!!erential equations and integral.di!!erential equations. /nd in the near !uture it may become the numerical method o! choice in many engineering and applied science areas. 0ne o! the reasons !or ,em.1s popularity is that the method results in computer programs "ersatile in nature that can be used to sol"e many practical problems with least amount o! training. 0b"iously there is a danger in using computer programs without proper understanding o! the theory behind them# and that is one o! the reactions to ha"e a thorough understanding o! tile theory behind the ,inite Element )ethod. Page

1.2 Brief History of the FEM /cademic and industrial researchers created the !inite element method o! structural analysis during the 1345s and 1365s. The underlying theory is o"er 155 years old# and was the basis !or pen.and.paper calculations in the e"aluation o! suspension bridges and steam boilers 1. 2. 3. 4. ). 1943 Courant (Variational Methods) 1960 Clough ("Finite Element" !lane !ro"lems) 19#0s $!!li%ations on main&rame %om!uters 19'0s Mi%ro%om!uters !re( and !ost!ro%essors 1990s $nal*sis o& large stru%tural s*stems

1.4 Why is FEA needed? To reduce the amount o! prototype testing 78omputer simulation allows multiple what.i! scenarios to be tested quickly and e!!ecti"ely. To simulate designs those are not suitable !or prototype testing 7Example% $urgical implants# such as an arti!icial knee The bottom line% 78ost sa"ings 7Time sa"ings9 reduce time to market: 78reate more reliable# better.quality designs

FEM TO DESIGNERS: Easil* a!!lied to %om!le+ irregular sha!ed o",e%ts %om!osed o& se-eral di&&erent materials and ha-ing %om!le+ "oundar* %onditions. $!!lied to stead* state time de!endent Eigen Value !ro"lems. $!!li%a"le to linear and non(linear !ro"lems. .um"ers o& general(!ur!ose Fem !a%/ages are a-aila"le. FEM %an "e %ou!led to C$0 !rograms to &a%ilitate 1olid modeling and mesh generations. Man* Fem so&t2are !a%/ages &eature 345 inter&a%es automeshers and so!histi%ated !ost !ro%essors and gra!hi%s to s!eed the anal*sis and ma/es 6re and !ost !ro%essing more user &riendl*.

FEM TO DESIGN ORGANISATION: 7edu%ed 8esting and 7edesign %osts there"* shortening o& !rodu%t de-elo!ment %*%le. 5denti&* issues in designs "e&ore tooling is %ommitted. 7e&ine %om!onents "e&ore de!enden%ies to other %om!onents !rohi"it %hange. 9!timi:e !er&orman%e "e&ore !rotot*!ing. 0is%o-ers design !ro"lems "e&ore litigations. $llo2s more time &or designers to use engineering ,udgment and less time &or &urther thin/ing. Page

1.4 The Finite Element (FE) Approach

'n this approach# the entire solution domain is di"ided into small !inite segments *hence the name <!inites elements+. 0"er each element# the beha"ior is described by the di!!erential go"erning equations. /ll these small elements are assembled together and the requirements o! continuity and equilibrium are satis!ied between neighboring elements. Pro"ided that the boundary conditions o! the actual problem are satis!ied# a unique solution can be obtained to the o"erall system o! linear algebraic equations *with a sparsely populated solution matrix+. The ,E method is "ery suitable !or practical engineering problem o! complex geometries. To obtain good accuracy in regions o! rapidly changing "ariables# a large number o! !inite elements must be used.

Steps In FEM- Linear Static Analysis

Step1 Discretisation of the Structure The !irst step in the !inite Element method is to di"ide the structure or solution region into subdi"isions or elements. =ence the structure is to be modeled with suitable !inite elements. The number# type# si-e and arrangement o! the elements are to be decided. These elements can be 1.># 2.># ;.> or axis symmetric.

Step 2 Selection of a proper interpolation or displacement model $ince the displacement solution o! a complex structure under any speci!ied load conditions cannot be predicted exactly# we assume some suitable solution within an element to approximate the unknown solution. The assumed solution must be simple !rom computational points o! "iew# but it should satis!y certain con"ergence requirements. 'n general# the solution or the interpolation model is taken in the !orm o! a polynomial. *>e!ine the beha"iors o! the "ariables in each elements by a suitable shape !unction. 8hoose the displacement at each nodal point as the unknown "ariable and use the shape !unctions to describe how the geometry and "ariables changes o"er each elements *e.g. linear or quadratically+. The higher the orders o! the shape !unction# the more nodal point are assigned to each element. /ccuracy o! the solutions can be impro"ed either by using large number o! simple elements *=.con"ergence+ or increasing the order o! the shape !unctions *P con"ergence+.+ Step 3 Element strains and stresses ,rom the displacements# deri"e the strains and stresses within each element by using the strain. displacement relationship and =ooks law *constituti"e equations+. 8ompatibility equations are automatically satis!ied within each element because the displacements are chosen as the unknown "ariables.

Step 4 Derivation of element stiffness matrices and load ,rom the assumed displacement model# the sti!!ness matrix ? K (e ) @ and the load "ector F (e ) # o! element e are to be deri"ed by using equilibrium conditions or a suitable "ariational principle Page

Step 5 Assemblages of element equations to obtain the overall equilibrium equations $ince the structure is composed o! se"eral !inite elements# the indi"idual element sti!!ness matrices and load "ectors are to assembled in a suitable manner and the o"erall equilibrium equation can be !ormulated as

[K ]Q = F

(here K is called the assembled sti!!ness matrix# Q is the "ector o! nodal displacement and F is
~

[]

the "ector o! nodal !orces !or the complete structure. $ince the summation o! sti!!ness is carried out only on elements sharing a particular node# the o"erall sti!!ness matrix will be sparsely populated The assembled sti!!ness matrix is singular. The process o! !inding the appropriate location !or the indi"idual element matrix in the Blobal matrix is called >irect $ti!!ness )ethod. Step 6 Imposition of the Boundar conditions. These can take the !orm o! prescribed displacement# sliding against a rigid sur!ace# attached spring# prescribed !orcesC stresses or pressures. )ore complex boundary conditions occur in contact problems. The constraints can be single point constraint or multipoint constraint. These constraints can be handled by Elimination or Penalty approach.

Step ! Solution for the un"no#n nodal displacements /!ter the incorporation o! the boundary conditions# the equilibrium equations can be expressed as

[K ]Q = F .

The modi!ied sti!!ness matrix is non.singular. ,or linear problems# the "ector Q can be sol"ed "ery easily using techniques such as Bauss Elimination method. Dut !or nonlinear problems# the solution has to be obtained in a sequence o! steps# each step in"ol"ing the modi!ication o! the sti!!ness

matrix ?E@ and Cor the load "ector F . Step $ %omputation of element strains and stress

,rom the known nodal displacements Q # i! required# the element strains and stresses can be computed by using the necessary equations o! solid or structural mechanics. /lso the reactions can be computed. The terminology used in the abo"e steps has to be modi!ied i! we want to extend the concept to other !ields. ,or example# we ha"e to use the term continuum or domain in the place o! structure# !ield "ariable in place o! displacement# characteristic matrix in place o! sti!!ness matrix# and element resultants in place o! element strains. Page

'n general# a !inite element solution may be broken into the !ollowing three stages. This is a general guideline that can be used !or setting up any !inite element analysis. 1. Preprocessing: defining the problem; the maFor steps in preprocessing are gi"en below% o >e!ine key pointsClinesCareasC"olumes *0r Duilding a solid model+ o >e!ine element type and materialCgeometric properties o )esh linesCareasC"olumes as required The amount o! detail required will depend on the dimensionality o! the analysis *i.e. 1># 2># axi.symmetric# ;>+. 2. Solution: assigning loads, constraints and solving; here we speci!y the loads *point or pressure+# constraints *translational and rotational+ and !inally sol"e the resulting set o! equations.

;.

ost processin!" f#rther processin! and $ie%in! of the res#lts& in this stage one may wish to see% o Gists o! nodal displacements o Element !orces and moments o >e!lection plots o $tress contour diagrams
o

1 !A A"#A$%A&ES 'F FE(:

8an readily handle complex geometry 8an handle complex analysis types Hibration Transients Ionlinear =eat Trans!er ,luids 8an handle complex loading Iode.Dased loading *Point Goads+ Element.based loading *Pressure# thermal# inertial !orces+ Time or !requency dependent loading 8an handle complex restraints 'ndeterminate structures can be analy-ed 8an handle bodies comprised o! non homogeneous materials E"ery element in the model could be assigned a di!!erent set o! material properties 8an handle bodies comprised o! nonisotropic materials 0rthotropic /nisotropic $pecial material e!!ects are handled Temperature dependent properties Plasticity 8reep $welling $pecial geometric e!!ects can be modeled Garge displacements Garge Jotations

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1 !) "ISA"#A$%A&ES 'F FE(:

/ speci!ic numerical result is obtained !or a speci!ic problem. / general closed !orm solution# which would permit one to examine system response to changes in "arious parameters. The ,E) is applied to an approximation o! the mathematical model o! a system *The source o! so called inherited errors.+ Experience and Fudgment are needed in order to construct a good !inite element model. Iumerical Problems 8omputers only carry a !inite number o! signi!icant digits. Jound o!! and error accumulation 8an help the situation by not attaching sti!! *small+ elements to !lexible *large+ elements $usceptible to user introduced modeling errors Poor choice o! element types >istorted elements Beometry not adequately modeled 8ertain e!!ects not automatically included Duckling Garge de!lections and rotations )aterial nonlinearties 1 * +I(I%A%I'$S 'F FE(: =igh $peed computers and larger memory requirements. 0btaining material properties other than isotropic is "ery di!!icult. 'ncapable o! handling incompressible !luids. Proper interpretation o! results is more important as large output data is a"ailable. Garger unwanted data. $election o! proper mesh si-e is di!!icult. Gimited de"elopment in the !ields o! contact# !racture mechanics etc. &'( '))*)S+ FE( errors ta,es place at- stages of solution: Error during %on-ersion o& mathemati%al model to solid model 0is%riti:ation error 1olution error

1 . S'(E 'F %/E FE( 0(EC/A$ICA+1 PAC2A&ES: A'A()S*tm+# A*AMS+FEA*tm+# A*I,A*tm+# AFEMS*tm+ AL-./*tm+# A,S0S*J+# A)T.*0,*tm+# 1-M.L**J+ so!tware 1AM/A* II*J+# 1ESA/-L1 1 1.SM.SC(orks# 1.SM.SC>esign# ,ISA2 I*EAS Sim#lation mod#le2 ro-ME13A,I1A2 ,AST/A,

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Chapter 3: I$%4'"5C%I'$ %' A$S6S

/I$L$ is a general.purpose !inite element.modeling package !or numerically sol"ing a wide "ariety o! mechanical problems. These problems include% staticCdynamic structural analysis *both linear and non.linear+# heat trans!er and !luid problems# as well as acoustic and electro.magnetic problems. 4.1 Why Ansys?

/I$L$ is a complete ,E/ so!tware package used by engineers worldwide in "irtually all !ields o! engineering%

$tructural Thermal ,luid *8,># /coustics# and other !luid analyses+ Gow. and =igh.,requency Electromagnetics /erospace... Electronics M /ppliances /utomoti"e... =ea"y Equipment M )achinery Diomedical... )E)$ . )icro Electromechanical $ystems Dridges M Duildings... $porting Boods

/ partial list o! industries in which /I$L$ is used%

/I$L$ )ultiphysics is the !lagship /I$L$ product which includes all capabilities in all engineering disciplines.

ANSYS Classic Environment for e5pos#re to all A,S0S f#nctionality ANSYS Workbench Environment for tight integration with CAD

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There are three main component products deri"ed !rom /I$L$ )ultiphysics%

/I$L$ )echanical 7 structural M thermal capabilities /I$L$ Emag 7 electromagnetics /I$L$ ,G0TJ/I 7 8,> capabilities

/I$L$ >esign $pace 7 linear structural and steady state thermal analyses# a subset o! /I$L$ )echanical capabilities in the (orkbench En"ironment. Str#ct#ral
analysis" Jeaction !orces. is used to determine de!ormations# strains# stresses# and

Static analysis" 7&sed !or static loading conditions. 7Ionlinear beha"ior such as large
elasticity# and creep can be simulated.

de!lections# large strain# contact# plasticity# hyper

*ynamic analysis" 7'ncludes mass and damping e!!ects. 7Modal analysis calculates natural !requencies and mode shapes. 7Harmonic analysis determines a structures response to sinusoidal
amplitude and !requency. can include nonlinear beha"ior.

loads o! known

7Transient Dynamic analysis determines a structures response to time."arying loads and .ther str#ct#ral capa6ilities 7$pectrum analysis 7Jandom "ibrations 7Eigen "alue buckling 7$ubstructuring# submodeling E5plicit *ynamics %ith A,S0S+LS-*0,A" 7'ntended !or "ery large de!ormation simulations where inertia !orces are dominant. 7&sed to simulate impact# crushing# rapid !orming# etc. Thermal analysis% is used to determine the temperature distribution in an obFect.
0ther quantities o! interest include amount o! heat lost or gained# thermal gradients# and thermal !lux. /ll three primary heat transfer modes can be simulated% 8onduction# con"ection# radiation.

Electroma!netic
de"ices.

analysis% is used to calculate magnetic !ields in electromagnetic

Static and lo%-fre7#ency electroma!netics" 7To simulate de"ices operating with

!requency transient signals.

>8 power sources# low.!requency /8# or low.

7Example% solenoid actuators# motors# trans!ormers 7Ouantities o! interest include magnetic !lux density# !ield intensity# magnetic !orces and
To determine the !low distributions and Temperatures in a !luid. Page

1omp#tational Fl#id *ynamics (1F*)"

torques# impedance# inductance# eddy currents# power loss# and !lux leakage

C/AP%E4 -: 7or,ing in A$S6S

- 1 'PE$I$& A$S6S SESSI'$: Ansys can be opened in (indows 0perating $ystem through Start8pro!rams8Ansys11.98Interacti$e Start8pro!rams8Ansys11.98/#n Interacti$e Start8pro!rams8Ansys11.98'atch The Interacti$e .ption is used in the "ery beginning o! /nsys $ession to set (orking >irectory >e!ault ,ile Iame Braphics dri"er >ata $pace (orkspace )enus to be "isible 8ommand Gine /rguments /#n-Interacti$e directly opens the /nsys Braphics user 'nter!ace (-)I) 'atch )tility is used to run the Programs Dackground. :.4 ANSYS Menu:

Dy >e!ault /I$L$ opens 6 )enus. They are

1. 4. :. 4. <. )tility Men# Main Men# Inp#t ;indo% Tool 'ar -raphics ;indo% 6. .#tp#t ;indo%

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1. )tility Men#" This )enus 8ontains all important options as !ollows

2. Utility Menu: This Menus Contains all important options as follows a) File" The !ile contains 1lear = Start" To clear the database M $tart a new Fob /es#me from" To resume the pre"iously stored Fob Sa$e as" $a"e the database as !ile name.db /ead Inp#t from% i! input is taken !rom 0utside programmed !ile S%itch .#tp#t" To external !ile or by de!ault !iles in P.iges !ormat is supported without any additional so!tware. DL 8/T'/# &B#PJ0.E u can import the geometry E5port" To export to use in other so!twares. E5it" To close the /nsys $ession.

6) Select" This is "ery important option !or "iewing the results or applying the boundary conditions. The parts o! the model can be selected and can manipulate !or data. This option contains Entities" Entities to be selected like keypoints#lines# nodes# elements# areas# "olumes# etc 1omponents" Iaming and grouping the selected components. E$erythin!" $electing only that part E$erythin! 6elo%" $electing the entities below that. c) List" This option can be used to listing the elements# nodes# "olumes# !orces# displacements etc. d) lot" This option is used to plot the areas# "olumes# nodes# elements etc. e) lot 1ontrols" This option is "ery important and contains an >oom /otate" 't opens another menu through which -ooming and rotation o! the model is possible. ?ie% Settin!" Dy de!ault Q plane is perpendicular to the "iewer. Dy this "iew option# "iew settings can be changed. ,#m6erin!" this is use!ul !or setting onCo!! the entity numbering Sym6ols" to "iew the applied translations# !orces# pressures# etc. this option should be used to set them on. Style" $ectioning# "ector arrow si-ing and real structural appearances is possible through this. ;indo% 1ontrols" (indow positioning 3 Gayout+ is possible with this. Animate" /nimation can be done !or the output data using this. *e$ice .ptions" (ire!rame models can be obser"ed through this. 3ard 1opy" data can be sent either to printer or any external !ile. 1apt#re Ima!e" To capture the graphics window output to a P.bmp image. M#ltiplot ;indo% Layo#t" To "iew the results in more than one window.

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f) ;or@ plane" Dy de!ault Q Plane is perpendicular !or data input. ,or any changes in the global R# L M Q planes# the work plane should be rotated to create the model or "iew the results. !) arameters" These are the scalar parameters represented with "alues. Eg% bS15

h) Macros" These are grouping o! /nsys commands to !ul!ill particular work. These can be taken equi"alent to 8# 8TT M Ua"a ,unctions. i) Men# 1ontrols" This can be used to set onCo!! the menus. A) 3elp" ,or all the help !iles related to commands and topics

:. Main Men#" This menu contains re-processor" This sub option can be used to build and mesh the model through proper element selection and boundary conditions. Sol#tion" this option can be used sol"e the matrix equation through proper sol"er. ost rocessor" This option is used to interpret the results. *esi!n .ptimiBation" This option is used to optimi-e the structure. Time 3istory rocessor" ,or dynamic problems# results can be "iewed through this option. /#n Stats" This option can be used to !ind the status o! the model# time it take s !or execution# computer processor capabilities# wa"e !ront si-e etc. 4. Inp#t ;indo%" This can be used to input commands or named selection. <. Tool 'ar" This contains options like sa"ing the !ile# Jesuming the !ile database# Ouitting the /nsys session and Braphics Type. C. -raphics ;indo%% This is where the model creation and plotting o! results carried out.

D. .#tp#t ;indo%" This shows the status o! the work being carried out.

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;./E LA,E" /lthough the cursor appears as a point on the screen# it actually represents a line through space# normal to the screen. 'n order to de!ine an imaginary plane that# when intersected by the normal line o! the cursor# will yield a unique point in space. This imaginary plane is called a working plane. (orking plane is an in!inite plane with an origin# a 2d 8oordinate system# a snap increment and a display grid. Lou can de!ine only one working plane at a time. *8reating a new working plane eliminates the existing working plane+. The working plane is separate !rom the co.ordinate systemsV !or exampleV the working plane can ha"e a di!!erent plane o! origin and rotation than the acti"e coordinate system. (ork plane can be positioned where"er required and model can be created.

1../*I,ATE S0STEM % The /I$L$ program has se"eral types o! coordinate systems# each used !or a di!!erent reason% Blobal and local coordinate systems are used to locate geometry items *nodes# key points# etc.+ in space. The display coordinate system determines the system in which geometry items are listed or displayed. The nodal coordinate system de!ines the degree o! !reedom directions at each node and the orientation o! nodal results data. The element coordinate system determines the orientation o! material properties and element results data. The results coordinate system is used to trans!orm nodal or element results data to a particular coordinate system !or listings# displays# or general post processing operations *P0$T1+. S1ALA/ A/AMETE/S% These are use!ul to change the model dimensions at any time. These are use!ul when macros or batch programs are coded. ,or example in b S 15# b is considered as scalar parameter. ,or optimi-ation the model should be represented in scalar parameters. There is another way t set parameters is Pb S 15 and can be changed any time. MA1/.S % These are grouping o! commands !or particular purpose. These are equi"alent to !unctions in 8 and sub.routines in ,ortran. They are "ery power!ul and are based on /P>G */nsys Parametric >esign Ganguage+. To get expertise with /nsys# one should be through with usage o! )acros. M.*ELI,- % this is the important step o! creating the physical obFect in the system. They are two types o! modeling in /nsys. >irect )odeling $olid )odeling a) *I/E1T M.*ELI,-% 'n this approach the physical structure is represented by nodes and elements directly. The problem is sol"ed once a!ter the boundary conditions are applied. This approach is simple and straight!orward. Takes "ery little time computation. Dut this can be applied only !or simple problems. (hen problem becomes complex# this method becomes tedious to apply. 6) S.LI* M.*ELI,- % )odels are directly created either using /nsys Preprocessor or imported !rom popular 8/> so!twares like )echanical >esktop# ProE# 8/T'/# $0G'> (0JE$# etc. 0nce the structural model is created# by using meshtool# the model can be meshed and problem can be sol"ed by applying the boundary conditions. 'n /nsys $olid )odeling is carried out using two methods % They are 'ottom )p Approach % To create model# Entities are required. Eeypoints# Gines# /reas# Holumes are the entities in /nsys. '! model is constructed through Eeypoints to Gines# !rom Gines to /reas# and ,rom /reas to Holumes the approach o! modeling is called Dottom &p /pproach. This approach is use!ul when models are complex. Top *o%n Approach % / ;> )odel can be created directly using the Holumes. 0nce Holumes are created# all the entities below the "olumes *areas# lines# keypoints+ are automatically created. This approach is easy but can be applied to simple problems. ELEME,TS% Elements are ,E representation o! physical structures or discriti-ed parts o! the continuum. These elements are like !unctions designed !or speci!ic purpose. ,or example bar element can take only axial compressi"e or tensile loads. /nd a truss element can take only hori-ontal and "ertical loads in the global directions. $o# a truss element cannot take any trans"erse loading across the element or a moment. $o# proper element should be selected based on the problem and loading. &sually the no. o! elements o! its library measures capacity o! a so!tware.

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/nsys contains more than 1N5 elements designed !or speci!ic purposes. ,ew o! the /nsys elements are shown below.

ELEME,T TA'LE" The primary data results are directly a"ailable !or all elements in post processor. The secondary data or deri"ed data *stresses# strains# Hon mises stress# principal stress# etc.+ is a"ailable only !or solid elements. The problems where solid model is created and meshed directly through nodal solution results in the post processor# but not a"ailable to line elements like *beam# link# etc.+. To get the secondary data !or line elements# we need to de!ine the element table !or the particular element to get the required data. ,or example to get axial stress !or the link element# you must go to /nsys help# type link1 and see the link1 de!initions and sequence no. !or the link1. Through the post processor you ha"e to create element table W de!ine W by sequence no. 7 G$1 and plot W element tables W G$1 gi"es the axial stress !or the problem. Pan-Zoom-Rotate Image Capture Open ANSYS File Report Generator

Save Analysis

New Analysis

ANSYS Help

ic@in! = lottin!
'n this course you will be using geometrical entities such as $ol#mes2 areas2 lines and @eypoints as well as ,E/ entities such as nodes and elements. This chapter introduces the !ollowing techniques used to display and manipulate those entities within the -)I% lottin! ic@in! Select Lo!ic 1omponents and Assem6lies lottin!" 't is o!ten ad"antageous to plot only certain entities in the model. (ithin the Utility Menu > lot# you will see that geometric# !inite element and other entities can be plotted. (ith )ulti.Plots# a combination o! entities can be plotted.

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The lotCtrls menu is used to control how the plot is displayed%

Fplot orientation FBoom Fcolors Fsym6ols Fannotation Fanimation Fetc. /mong these# changing the plot orientation (!"#EW$and -ooming are the most commonly used !unctions.

The de!ault "iew !or a model is the !ront "iew% looking down the TQ axis o! the model. There are se"eral methods to change the model "iew. )se dynamic mode G a way to orient the plot dynamically using the 8ontrol key and mouse buttons. 78trl T Ge!t mouse button pans the model. F1trl H Middle mo#se 6#tton" Booms the model spins the model *about screen Q+ 78trl T Jight mouse button rotates the model% about screen R about screen L Iote# the $hi!t.Jight button on a two.button mouse is equi"alent to the )iddle mouse button on a three.button mouse.

I)se the Model 1ontrol Tool6ar Icons to chan!e the $ie%. The )odel 8ontrol Toolbar also includes a dynamic rotate option.

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%&%

ic@in!

Picking allows you to identi!y model entities or locations by clicking in the Braphics (indow. / picking operation typically in"ol"es the use o! the mouse and a picker menu. 't is indicated by a T sign on the menu. ,or example# you can create keypoints by picking locations in the Braphics (indow and then pressing 0E in the picker. T%o types of pic@in!" /etrie$al pic@in! 7Picking existing entities !or a subsequent operation. . /llows you to enter entity numbers in the Picker (indow -&se the Pick All button to indicate all entities. Locational pic@in! 7Gocating coordinates o! a point# such as a keypoint or node. 7/llows you to enter coordinates in the Picker (indow. .Iote# you must hit the XEnterW key# a!ter entering in!ormation in the Picker (indow# then hit ?0E@ or ?/pply@.
Example of Retrieval Picker
Example o! Gocational Picker

Mo#se 6#tton assi!nments for pic@in!" Left mouse button picks *or unpicks+ the entity or location closest to the mouse pointer. Pressing and dragging allows you to pre"iew the item being picked *or unpicked+. Middle mouse button does an /pply. $a"es the time required to mo"e the mouse o"er to the Picker and press the /pply button. &se $hi!t.Jight button on a two.button mouse. /i!ht mouse button toggles between pick and unpick mode. Iote# the $hi!t.Jight button on a two.button mouse is equi"alent to the )iddle mouse button on a three.button mouse.

8annot use the 8ommand 'nput area to enter the

Type input followed by Enter, then [OK]

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3otspot locations for pic@in!" Areas and ?ol#mes ha"e one hotspot near the centroid o! the solid model entity. Lines ha"e three hotspots . one in the middle and one near each end.

;hy this is important" (hen you are required to pick an entity# you must pick on the hotspot. Note'

7Show locational picking by creating a few keypoints. Also show the se of middle and right mo se b ttons. 7Show retrie!al picking by creating a few lines 7Show "#oop$ by creating an A# area 7Show "Pick All$ by deleting area only 7Do %P#&T' #P#&T' etc. with and witho t n mbering. Type in a few of these commands. 7Show the se of pan()oom(rotate S#ppose yo# %anted to do the follo%in!" 7Plot all areas located in the second quadrant 7>elete all arcs o! radius 5.2 to 5.; units 7/pply a con"ection load on all exterior lines 7(rite out all nodes at QS;.4 to a !ile 7Hiew results only in elements made o! steel The common JthemeK in these tasks is that they all operate on a s#6set o! the model. Select (o)ic allows you to select a subset o! entities and operate only on those entities. Three steps" 7$elect a subset 7Per!orm operations on the subset 7Jeacti"ate the !ull set

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1ele%t su"set

9!erate on su"set

7ea%ti-ate &ull set

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Entity to select Selectin! S#6sets Most selectin! tools are a$aila6le in the Select Entities dialo! 6o5" &tility )enu W $elect W Entities... .r yo# can #se the 5SEL family of commands" E$EG# G$EG# /$EG# H$EG# I$EG# E$EG Criterion by which to select

Type of selection 1riterion 6y %hich to select" 7'y ,#m+ ic@" to select based on entity numbers or by picking 7Attached to" to select based on attached entities. ,or example# select all lines attached to the current $ubset o! areas. 7'y Location" to select based on R#L#Q location. ,or example# select all nodes at RS2.4. R#L#Q are interpreted in the acti"e coordinate system. 7'y Attri6#tes" to select based on material number# real constant set number# etc. >i!!erent attributes are a"ailable !or di!!erent entities. 7E5terior" to select entities lying on the exterior. 7'y /es#lts" to select entities by results data# e.g# nodal displacements.

Type of selection 7From F#ll" selects a subset !rom the !ull set o! entities. 7/eselect" selects *again+ a subset !rom the current subset. 7Also Select" adds another subset to the current subset. 7)nselect" deacti"ates a portion o! the current subset. 7In$ert" toggles the acti"e and inacti"e subsets. 7Select ,one" deacti"ates the !ull set o! entities. 7Select All" reacti"ates the !ull set o! entities.

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From Full

Reselect

Also Select

Unselect

Invert

Select None

Select All

.perations on the S#6set Typical operations are applying loads# listing results for the s#6set2 or simply plottin! the selected entities. 7The ad"antage o! ha"ing a subset selected is that you can use the L ic@ AllM button when the picker prompts you pick desired entities.0r you can use the /GG label when using commands. 7Iote that most operations in /I$L$# including the $0GHE command# act on the currently selected subset. /nother operation is to assign a name to the selected subset by creating a component *discussed in the next section+. /eacti$atin! the F#ll Set /!ter all desired operations are done on the selected subset# you should reacti$ate the f#ll set of entities. Fselect e$erythin! to reacti$ate f#ll set -&tility )enu W $elect W E"erything 70r issue the command /GG$EG Lou can also use the ?$ele /ll@ button in the $elect Entities dialog box to reacti"ate each entity set separately. *0r issue E$EG#/GGV G$EG#/GGV etc.+

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Chapter 8: &eneral Procedure in FE(

The obFecti"e o! this chapter is outlining a general analysis procedure to be used to sol"e a simulation. Jegardless o! the physics o! the problem# the same general procedure can be !ollowed. A.1 E$ery analysis in$ol$es fo#r main steps" reliminary *ecisions 7(hich analysis typeY 7(hat to modelY 7(hich element typeY reprocessin! 7>e!ine )aterial 78reate or import the model geometry 7)esh the geometry Sol#tion 7/pply loads 7$ol"e I ost processin! FJe"iew results 78heck the "alidity o! the solution

Preliminary Decisions

Preprocessing

Solution

Post processing
4.1A Which analysis type? The analysis type usually belongs to one o! the !ollowing disciplines% Structural %)otion o! solid bodies# pressure on solid bodies# or contact o! solid bodies *hermal % /pplied heat# high temperatures# or changes in temperature Electroma)netic %>e"ices subFected to electric currents */8 or >8+# electromagnetic wa"es# and "oltage or charge excitation Flui+ %)otion o! gasesC!luids# or contained gasesC!luids Couple+,Fiel+ %8ombinations o! any o! the abo"e 4.1'2What to mo+el? (hat should be used to model the geometry o! the spherical tankY 7Axisymmetry since the loading# material# and the boundary conditions are symmetric. This type o! model would pro"ide the most simpli!ied model. 7*otational symmetry since the loading# material# and the boundary conditions are symmetric. /d"antage o"er axisymmetry% o!!ers some results away !rom applied boundary conditions. 7+ ll ,D model is an option# but would not be an e!!icient choice compared to the axisymmetric and quarter symmetry models. '! model results are signi!icantly in!luenced by symmetric boundary conditions# this may be the only option. 4.11 Which Element *ype? (hat element type should be used !or the model o! the spherical tankY 7/xisymmetric model% /xisymmetric since 2.> section can be re"ol"ed to created ;> geometry. Ginear due to small displacement assumption. Page

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7 (ANE-. /ith 0EY1 *2%$ 3 1 7Jotational symmetry model% $hell since radiusCthickness ratio W 15 Ginear due to small displacement assumption. membrane sti!!ness only option since membrane stresses are required. 7S4E((5% /ith 0EY1 *21$ 3 1 $ince the meshing o! this geometry will create $=EGG6; elements with shape warnings# a mid.side noded equation o! the $=EGG6; was used% 7S4E((6% 4.1* Create the Soli+ Mo+el / typical solid model is de!ined by "olumes# areas# lines# and keypoints. 7-ol mes are bounded by areas. They represent solid obFects. 7Areas are bounded by lines. They represent !aces o! solid obFects# or planar or shell obFects. 7#ines are bounded by keypoints. They represent edges o! obFects. 7%eypoints are locations in ;.> space. They represent "ertices o! obFects.

Volumes

Areas

Lines &
4.1E 1reate the FEA Mo+el

eypoints

Meshing is the process used to !ill the solid model with nodes and elements# i.e# to create the ,E/ model. 7Jemember# you need nodes and elements !or the !inite element solution# not Fust the solid model. The solid model does I0T participate in the !inite element solution.

meshing

Solid

FEA

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8 1F Define (aterial
)aterial Properties E"ery analysis requires some material property input% Loungs modulus ER !or structural elements# thermal conducti"ity ERR !or thermal elements# etc. There are two ways to de!ine material properties% 7)aterial library 7'ndi"idual properties

8 1& Define ,oads

There are !i"e categories o! loads% $peci!ied >0, "alues# such as displacements in a stress analysis or temperatures in a thermal analysis. Concentrate+ (oa+s Point loads# such as !orces or heat !low rates. Surface (oa+s Goads distributed o"er a sur!ace# such as pressures or con"ections. 8o+y (oa+s Holumetric or !ield loads# such as temperatures *causing thermal expansion+ or internal heat generation. #nertia (oa+s Goads due to structural mass or inertia# such as gra"ity and rotational "elocity. 71F Constraints

8 1/ -ostprocessing..)evie# )esults
Postprocessing is the !inal step in the !inite element analysis process. 't is imperati"e that you interpret your results relati"e to the assumptions made during model creation and solution. Lou may be required to make design decisions based on the results# so it is a good idea not only to re"iew the results care!ully# but also to check the "alidity o! the solution. /I$L$ has two postprocessors% 7P0$T1# the Beneral Postprocessor# to re"iew a single set o! results o"er the entire model. 7P0$T26# the Time.=istory Postprocessor# to re"iew results at selected points in the model o"er time. )ainly used !or transient and nonlinear analyses. *Iot discussed in this course.+

4/0I #erification
't is always a good idea to do a sanity check and make sure that the solution is acceptable. (hat you need to check depends on the type o! problem you are sol"ing# but here are some typical questions to ask% >o the reaction !orces balance the applied loadsY (here is the maximum stress locatedY 7'! it is at a singularity# such as a point load or a re.entrant corner# the "alue is generally meaningless. 7/re the stress "alues beyond the elastic limitY 7'! so# the load magnitudes may be wrong# or you may need to do a nonlinear analysis.

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8 3 Elements 5sed in Structural Analysis

)ost /I$L$ element types are structural elements# ranging !rom simple spars and beams to more complex layered shells and large strain solids. )ost types o! structural analyses can use any o! these elements. ,ote" Explicit dynamics analysis can use only the explicit dynamic elements *G'IE165# DE/)161# PG/IE162# $=EGG16;# $0G'>16A# 80)D'164# )/$$166# and G'IE16K+.

Str#ct#ral Element Types %*I0TE% important elements normally and most commonly #sed are all hi!hli!hted('old))

1ate!ory $pars Deams Pipes 2.> $olids

Element ,ame(s) LI,E1# G'IEN# G'IE15# G'IE1N5 'EAM:2 'EAM4# DE/)2;# DE/)2A# DE/)AA# DE/)4A# 'EAM1NN# DE/)1N3 P'PE16# P'PE1K# P'PE1N# P'PE25# P'PE43# P'PE65 PG/IE2# PG/IE24# LA,E44# =LPEJ46# =LPEJKA# PG/IEN2# PG/IEN;# =LPEJNA# H'$80NN# H'$80156# H'$8015N# PG/IE1A4# PG/IE1A6# PG/IE1N2# PG/IE1N; S.LI*4<# $0G'>A6# =LPEJ4N# $0G'>6A# $0G'>64# =LPEJN6# H'$80N3# $0G'>32# $0G'>34# H'$8015K# $0G'>1AK# $0G'>1AN# =LPEJ14N# S.LI*1N<# $0G'>1N6# $0G'>1NK# $0G'>131 $=EGG2N# $=EGGA1# $=EGGA;# $=EGG41# $=EGG61# S3ELLC:# $=EGG31# $=EGG3;# $=EGG33# $=EGG145# S3ELL1N1 'ITEJ132# 'ITEJ13;# 'ITEJ13A# 'ITEJ134 80IT/812# 80IT/826# 80IT/8AN# 80IT/8A3# 80IT/842# T/JBE163# T/JBE1K5# 80IT/1K1# 80IT/1K2# 80IT/1K;# 80IT/1KA# 80IT/1K4

;.> $olids

$hells

'nter!ace 8ontact

8oupled.,ield

$0G'>4# PG/IE1;# ,G&'>23# ,G&'>;5# ,G&'>;N# $0G'>62# ,G&'>K3# ,G&'>N5# ,G&'>N1# $0G'>3N# ,G&'>123# 'I,'I115# 'I,'I111# ,G&'>116# ,G&'>1;5

$pecialty Explicit >ynamics

80)D'IK# G'IE11# 80)D'I1A# )/$$21# )/TJ'R2K# 80)D'I;K# 80)D'I;3# 80)D'IA5# )/TJ'R45# $&J,14;# $&J,14A G'IE165# DE/)161# PG/IE162# $=EGG16;# $0G'>16A# 80)D'164# )/$$166# G'IE16K

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4/3 %ypes of Elements

,ew important ,E) elements are as !ollows T/)SS" $lender element *GengthWWarea+ which supports only tension or compression along its length# essentially a '> spring 'EAM" $lender element whose length is much greater that its trans"erse dimension which supports lateral loads# which cause !lexural bending. 4* S.LI*" Element whose geometry de!inition lies in a plane and applies loads also lie in the same plane. Plane stress occurs !or structures with small thickness compared with its in plane dimension. stress components associated with the out o! plane coordinate -ero. Plane strain occurs !or structures where the thickness becomes large compared to its in plane dimension.strain component associated with the out o! plane coordinate are -ero. LATES" Element whose geometry lies in the plane with loads acting out o! the plane which cause !lexural bending and with both in plane dimensions large in comparison to its thickness. two dimensional state o! stress exists similar to plane stress except that there is a "ariation o! tension through the thickness. S3ELLS" Element similar in character to a plate but typically used on cur"ed sur!ace and supports both in plane and out o! planeloads.. numerous !ormulations exist.

:* S.LI*" Element classi!ication that co"ers all elements 7 element obeys the strain displacement and stress strain relationships.

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