KISSsys 03/2015 Instruction

Inclusion of casing stiffness in KISSsys calculations

09/04/2015

KISSsoft AG
Rosengartenstrasse 4
8608 Bubikon
Switzerland
Tel: +41 55 254 20 50
Fax: +41 55 254 20 51
info@KISSsoft.AG
www.KISSsoft.AG

Contents
1.
2.

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Step by step instructions .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
Data preparation and input. ............................................................................................................ 3
2.2
Solution process. ............................................................................................................................ 8
2.3
Results.......................................................................................................................................... 11
3. General Comments. ............................................................................................................................... 12

2 / 12

1. Introduction
The scope of this document is to present the steps that must be followed inside KISSsys in order to take
into account the deformations of the housing of a gearbox in its subsequent analysis. The user of these
instructions must be able to interact with the model as an administrator, since the calculation results in
alterations in the model.
The applied methodology in the calculation is based on a reduced stiffness matrix of the housing, as
derived by a Finite Element (FE) package. The stiffness matrix is reduced in the sense that the FE nodes
included in it correspond to the positions of shaft supports on the housing. The deformation of the housing
is then included through modifying the offsets of the supports.

2. Step by step instructions

2.1 Data preparation and input.
The first step is to include a housing (kSysCasing) element
in the KISSsys model. Right clicking on
this element, we can define all the input necessary for the analysis. As a first step, we select the
ImportStiffnessMatrix function, which opens a file open window, where we can select the file that contains
the FEM nodes coordinates and the stiffness matrix data. The file must also describe the system of units
used in the FEM calculation.

Figure 2.1 Selection to import the FEM stiffness matrix data.

3 / 12

The stiffness matrix is a text file with a specific format. More specifically, the first lines of this text file must
include information on the system of units used in the stiffness matrix derivation and master node positions.
The following format must be followed:
UNIT SYSTEM
(1 = SI, 2 = CGS, 3 = BFT, 4 = BIN, 5 = MKS, 6 = MPA, 7 = uMKS)
Active Unit System = 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MASTER NODE POSITION
Number
x-coord
y-coord
z-coord
1
*******
*******
*******
2
*******
*******
*******
STIFFNESS MATRIX
******************************

Figure 2.2 Stiffness matrix file format.

After the STIFFNESS MATRIX header, the stiffness matrix data must be present in the format given by the
FE program (i.e. tab separated data for ANSYS, or mtx data for ABAQUS). After reading the stiffness
matrix file, KISSsys opens two new tables with the read in data for review.
It has to be noted here that the procedure to derive the stiffness matrix is different between FEM packages.
In general though, we can say, that the user has to create a substructure (super-element) in the FEM
program, having as external nodes the defined bearings nodes. Then the user can ask the program to
derive the stiffness matrix of this substructure. More information can be found in the documentation of the
FEM package used.
In the next step, we have to position the housing correctly with respect to the KISSsys coordinate system
(CS). This is achieved by selecting the ResetPosition function:

Figure 2.3 ResetPosition function.

4 / 12

In the window that opens, we can either input directly the origin and the axes orientation of the housing with
respect to the coordinate system of KISSsys, or use the ThreePointsPositioning function, that opens the
following window:

Figure 2.4 Three points positioning window.

There we have to select three KISSsys elements and their respective nodes in the FEM model (to this end
a mapping between KISSsys bearing names and FEM node IDs must be known to the user). The three
points selected must not be collinear. The coordinates of the selected FEM nodes are shown in the window
for validation. Note that the coordinates of the FEM nodes are shown in this window exactly as imported
with the ImportStiffnessMatrix function and we assume that their units are the same as the ones of the
stiffness matrix. The function returns the correct positioning values for the housing in the normal
ResetPosition window, which will result in the exact matching of the origins of the two coordinate systems
and their correct orientation. The function returns an error in case the distance between the given points is
different (within a tolerance) when measured in the two different coordinate systems (meaning that either
the points are wrong, or there is a scaling between the two models).

5 / 12

This positioning can be visually validated if a step file of the housing geometry has been inserted. This can
be done using the Dialog option under right clicking on the housing:

and select Read file in the following window:

Figure 2.5 Selection to import step file of housing geometry.

It is advised to use a simplified version of the housing geometry (e.g. only wireframe), especially for big
housing files, so as not to overload the KISSsys model.

6 / 12

If it is not possible or not desired to load a step file in the KISSsys model, another way to check the correct
positioning of the housing is using the ShowNodes function when right mouse clicking on the housing
element:

Figure 2.6 ShowNodes function.

This function shows all the imported FEM nodes as red dots in the 3D view inside KISSsys.
Two other useful function available when right mouse clicking on the housing element are the
ShowMasterNodesPositionTable and ShowStiffnessMatrix. They can be used to show the imported FEM
node coordinates and stiffness matrix data respectively:

Figure 2.7 ShowMasterNodesPositionTable and ShowStiffnessMatrix functions.

7 / 12

2.2 Solution process.

After the above steps are finished, the user can initiate the calculation using the button
. The first
window that opens then asks if we would like to take into account in our calculations any already defined
bearing offset values. This can be useful for example if there are any preloads already defined in the
bearings in the KISSsys model. On the other hand, selecting No, all initial offsets in the bearings are
ignored and set to zero internally for the solution.
Then we get a message with the nodes that could not be mapped to KISSsys bearings and the respective
distances to the closest bearing for each of them (if all nodes are mapped to bearings, this message will not
be shown):

Figure 2.8 Message with nodes that could not be mapped.

8 / 12

Decide if the resulting mapping is accepted and continue the calculation, or we prefer to cancel the
calculation and check the model again. If we see that a node is very close to a bearing that should be
mapped on it, then we can change the tolerance used in the mapping from the properties window of the
housing element:

Figure 2.9 Tolerance value in millimetres used in nodes mapping.

In case we want to check the difference between different housing designs, then we can import all of them
in the KISSsys model as separate housing elements and then, before starting the calculation, select the one
to use (this window shows up at the beginning of a calculation, in case more than one housing element is
present):

Figure 2.10 Housing selection window.

9 / 12

Since the calculation changes the initial bearing offsets, the initial offsets are saved in the KISSsys model
before the first calculation. If for any reason you want to get back these initial values in the model, use the
RestoreBearingsOffsets function:

Figure 2.11 RestoreBearingsOffsets function.

If you want to change the initial offset values that are saved (and keep the new ones as initial for all
subsequent calculations), use the SaveBearingsOffsets function:

Figure 2.12 SaveBearingsOffsets function.

This function uses the currently defined bearing offsets values as initial ones, overwriting any previously
defined initial offsets (it takes a snapshot of the current offsets of the model).

10 / 12

2.3 Results.
After the calculation is finished, a message appears notifying if the calculation was completed successfully,
or any error was encountered. If the calculation was successful, a new table is generated containing the
resulting offsets and tilting of mapped bearings, due to the housing deformation. The units of the results are
the default ones used in KISSsys, i.e. mm for offsets and rad for tilting:

Figure 2.13 Example output table.

In this table, the mapping between FEM nodes and KISSsys bearings is shown for validation.
At the end of a successful calculation, all the shaft calculations of the KISSsys model include the resulting
offset and tilting values due to the housing deformation and hence they can be used directly to more
accurately analyse the gearbox.
Regarding the accuracy of the final result, the percentage error is shown in the messages part of the
KISSsys screen. Since the offset of the bearings affects in general the applied forces, the whole solution
runs in an iterative way as described in the following diagram:

Figure 2.14 Iteration diagram of the calculation.

11 / 12

The percentage error shown in the messages area refers to the difference in the reactions and offsets
between the two last iterations. In case no convergence is achieved in the maximum number of iterations
set by the software, then the program returns a message and keeps the results of the last iteration.

3. General Comments.

As it was mentioned in the beginning of this instructions document, the user must have
administrator privileges, in order to follow these steps. After the calculation is finished successfully
by an administrator, then any user can run the calculation again, though without being able to load
another stiffness matrix or change the KISSsys model in any other way.
In case of soft housings with large deformations, the number of iterations can be exceeded.
Nevertheless, the solution of the last iteration can still be used, after it is checked by the user
(taking also into account the percentage error).

12 / 12