BeamTutorial

ANSYS Handout:
Beam Tutorial
X.J. Xin
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Kansas State University
1.

Tutorial:CantileverBeamUsingSolidElements...................................................................1
ProblemDescription....................................................................................................................1
ModelingApproach.....................................................................................................................2
Preprocessing...............................................................................................................................2
Solution........................................................................................................................................7
Postprocessing.............................................................................................................................7
HandCalculations......................................................................................................................13
CommentsaboutFEMAccuracy...............................................................................................14
2. Tutorial:CantileverBeamUsingBeamElements.................................................................14
ProblemDescription..................................................................................................................15
ModelingApproach...................................................................................................................15
Preprocessing.............................................................................................................................15
Solution......................................................................................................................................18
Postprocessing...........................................................................................................................19
CommentsaboutFEMAccuracy...............................................................................................24
3. Appendix:OnlineMenuforBEAM3Element......................................................................24
ElementDescription..................................................................................................................24
InputData..................................................................................................................................25
OutputData................................................................................................................................25
AssumptionsandRestrictions....................................................................................................28

1.

Tutorial: Cantilever Beam Using Solid Elements

Problem Description
Acantileverbeamwithuniformthicknessof5mmandvaryingheightisfixedattheleftend,
andloadedbyaconcentratedforceP=100N.Thedimensionsareshowninthefigure.The
Youngsmodulusis210GPa,andthePoissonsratiois0.3.UsingANSYStosolvetheproblem.
1. ReporttheverticaldeflectionatfreeendB,highestbendingstressaroundtheshoulderA,
andbendingandshearsstressdistributionalongverticallineCC(0.01mfromthefixed
end).

BeamTutorial

2. HandcalculatetheverticaldeflectionatfreeendBandbendingstressdistributionalong
verticallineCCusingknowledgelearninginME533,andcomparethehandcalculations
withFEMresults.
3. CalculatethestressconcentrationfactorKtbasedonFEMresultsandcompareitwithdata
frompublishedKtchartshownonnextpage(Figure4.38oftheMachineDesignItextbook).

0.01m
C
0.014m

r=0.002m
A
0.01m

C
0.1m

P=100N

0.2m
thickness=0.005m

Modeling Approach
Thethicknessisuniformandsmallcomparedwithotherdimensions,andtheloadisinthexy
plane.Thestructureisthereforeinastateofplanestress.The2Dplanestresselementwith
thicknessoptionisappropriate.Theproblemcanalsobeapproximatedusingthe1Dbeam
element.The1Dbeamelementisthemostefficient,butdetailsofstressconcentrationaround
theshoulderwillbelost,asillustratedinthenexttutorial.

BeamTutorial

Preprocessing
Build the Geometry
Becauseofsymmetry,youcanmodeljusthalfofthespecimen.Usetheupperhalf.
1. MainMenu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Create>Areas>Rectangle>ByDimensions
2. Enterthefollowing:(Note:PresstheTabkeybetweenentries)
X1, X2 X-coordinates = 0
0.102
Y1, Y2 Y-coordinates = -0.007
0.007
Apply
X1, X2 X-coordinates = 0.102
0.302
Y1, Y2 Y-coordinates = -0.005
0.005
OK to close the dialog box.
3. MainMenu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Create>Areas>Circle>SolidCircle
Enterthefollowing:
WP X = 0.102
WP Y = -0.007
Radius = 0.002
Apply
WP X = 0.102
WP Y = 0.007
Radius = 0.002
OK to close the dialog box.
4. MainMenu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Operate>Boolean>Subtract>Areas
Clicksomewherenearthecenteroftherectangleontheleft
Apply. This defines the base area to subtract.
Click somewhere near the center of the bottom solid circle, and click somewhere near the
center of the top solid circle. This defines the areas to be subtracted.
OK.
Eventhoughthegeometrylookscorrectnow,thetwoareasareseparateentities.Theyneedtobe
"bound"togethersothatloadscanbetransmittedbetweenthem.Thiscanbeachievedusing
either"Add"or"Glue"BooleanoperationinANSYS.Thedifferencebetween"add"and"glue"
isthat"glue"preservestheboundarybetweenthetwogluedareas,while"add"eliminatesthe
boundary.
5. MainMenu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Operate>Boolean>Add>Areas
Clicksomewherenearthecenteroftherectangleontheleftandsomewherenearthecenter
oftherectangleontheright.OK.

BeamTutorial

Beforegoingtothenextstep,savetheworkyouhavedonesofar.ANSYSstoresanyinputdata
inmemorytothe ANSYSdatabase.Tosavethatdatabasetoafile,usetheSAVEoperation,
availableasatoolontheToolbar.ANSYSnamesthedatabasefileusingtheformatjobname.db.
IfyoustartedANSYSusingtheproductlauncher,youcanspecifyajobnameatthatpoint(the
defaultjobnameis file).Youcancheckthecurrentjobnameatanytimebychoosing Utility
Menu>List>Status>GlobalStatus.Youcanalsosavethedatabaseatspecificmilestone
pointsintheanalysis(suchasafterthemodeliscomplete,orafterthemodelismeshed)by
choosing Utility Menu > File > Save As and specifying different jobnames (model.db, or
mesh.db,etc.).
Itisimportanttosavefrequentlysothatifyoumakeamistake,youcanrestorethemodelfrom
thelastsavedstate.YourestorethemodelusingtheRESUMEoperation,alsoavailableonthe
Toolbar.(YoucanalsofindSAVEandRESUMEontheUtilityMenu,underFile.)
Toolbar:SAVE_DB.

Define material properties.

1. MainMenu>Preprocessor>MaterialProps>MaterialModels
2. DoubleclickonStructural,Linear,Elastic,Isotropic.
3. Enter210e9forEX.
4. Enter.3forPRXY.
5. OKtodefinematerialpropertysetandclosethedialogbox.
Material>Exit

Define element types and options.

Forthisanalysis,theelement PLANE2,whichisa2D6nodequadraticstructuraltriangular
element,isappropriate.Youwillneedtospecifyplanestresswiththicknessasanoptionfor
PLANE2.(Youwilldefinethethicknessasarealconstantinthenextstep.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

MainMenu>Preprocessor>ElementType>Add/Edit/Delete
Addanelementtype.
Structuralsolidfamilyofelements.
Choosethetriangle6node2(PLANE2).
OKtoapplytheelementtypeandclosethedialogbox.
OptionsforPLANE2aretobedefined.

BeamTutorial

7. Useplanestresswiththickness(Planestrsw/thk).
8. OKtospecifyoptionsandclosetheoptionsdialogbox.
Closetheelementtypedialogbox.

Define real constants.

Forthisanalysis,sincetheassumptionisplanestresswiththickness,youwillenterthethickness
asarealconstantforPLANE2.
9. MainMenu>Preprocessor>RealConstants>Add/Edit/Delete
SelectPlane2,Add...
OK
THK=0.005
OK.Close

Generate Mesh

1. MainMenu>Preprocessor>Meshing>MeshTool
2. SetGlobalSizecontrol.
3. Typein0.00125.Thisguaranteesthatthereareeightlayersofelementslongtheheightofthe
beamforthesmallercrosssection.
4. OK.
5. ChooseAreaMeshing.
6. ClickonMesh.
7. PickAllfortheareatobemeshed(inpickingmenu).Closeanywarningmessagesthatmay
appear.
8. ClosetheMeshTool.

Themeshseemsfineenoughformostregions,butastheshoulderhasstressconcentration,and
isaregionofinterestinthestudy,weshouldrefinethemeshtherefurther.

BeamTutorial

Withoutrefinementattheshoulders
PlotCtrl>PanZoomRotate,Click[BoxZoom]onthePanZoomRotatecontrol,anddraga
zoomboxtoenclosethetwoshoulderssothatyoucangetacloserviewoftheregion.
MainMenu>Preprocessor>Meshing>RefineMesh>RefineAt>Elements
A dialog box will appear. Check the "circle" option. Then click the mouse near the curvature
center of the top shoulder and drag the cursor so that the drawn circle encloses about two layers
of elements from the surface of the shoulder. Release the mouse button. The selected elements
will be marked by small squares. Do the same for the bottom shoulder. Click OK. Another dialog
box appears. The default refinement level is "1 (Minimal)". Use the default. Click OK. You can
see the mesh is refined.
Refinethemeshoneortwomoretimes,sothatthemeshisfinerintheregionsaroundthe
shoulder.Seethefollowingfigures.

Withrefinementattheshoulders
Note
Themeshyouseeonyourscreenisprobablydifferentfromthemeshshownhere.Asaresultof
this,youmayseeslightlydifferentresultsduringpostprocessing.Foradiscussionofresults
accuracy,seePlanningYourApproachintheANSYSModelingandMeshingGuide.
Savethedatabase.
PlotCtrl>PanZoomRotate,Click[Fit]onthePanZoomRotatecontroltogetthewholeview.

Apply displacement constraints.

Youcanapplydisplacementconstraintsdirectlytolines.
1. MainMenu>Solution>DefineLoads>Apply>Structural>Displacement>OnLines
2. Picktheleftedgeofthebeam.
3. OK(inpickingmenu).

BeamTutorial

4. ClickonAllDOF(builtinconditions).
5. Enter0forzerodisplacement.
6. OKtoapplyconstraintsandclosedialogbox.
Toolbar:SAVE_DB.
Apply load.
Nowapplytheforceattherightendofthebeam.
1. MainMenu>Solution>DefineLoads>Apply>Structural>Force/Moment>On
Keypoints
2. Pickthekeypointattheupperrightcornerofthebeam.
3. Apply.
4. SelectFYfortheforcedirection
5. Enter100forVALUE.
6. OK.
Toolbar:SAVE_DB.

Solution
1. MainMenu>Solution>SolveCurrentLS
2. Reviewtheinformationinthestatuswindow,thenchooseFile>Close(Windows)toclose
thewindow.
3. OKtobeginthesolution.ChooseYestoanyVerifymessagesthatappear.
Closetheinformationwindowwhensolutionisdone.
Toolbar:SAVE_DB.
ANSYSstorestheresultsofthisoneloadstepprobleminthedatabaseandintheresultsfile,
Jobname.RST(or Jobname.RTHforthermal, Jobname.RMGformagnetic,and Jobname.RFL
forfluidanalyses).Thedatabasecanactuallycontainonlyonesetofresultsatanygiventime,so
inamultipleloadstepormultiplesubstepanalysis,ANSYSstoresonlythefinalsolutioninthe
database.ANSYSstoresallsolutionsintheresultsfile.

Postprocessing
Note
Theresultsyouseemayvaryslightlyfromwhatisshownhereduetovariationsinthemesh.
Enter the general postprocessor and read in the results.
1. MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ReadResults>FirstSet

BeamTutorial

Beforeyoudoanythingelseinpostprocessing,youshouldalwayscheckthedeformedshapefirst
tomakesurethemodelmakesintuitivesenses.

1.
2.
3.

Plot the deformed shape.

MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PlotResults>DeformedShape
ChooseDef+undeformed.
OK.

Youcanalsoproduceananimatedversionofthedeformedshape:
4. UtilityMenu>PlotCtrls>Animate>DeformedShape
5. ChooseDef+undeformed.
6. OK.
Make choices in the Animation Controller (not shown), if necessary, then choose Close.
Frequently,theAnimationControllermaybehiddenbehindotherwindows.UseAlt+Tabto
cyclethroughwindowsandfindit.

BeamTutorial

Plot the von Mises equivalent stress.

1.
2.
3.
4.

MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PlotResults>ContourPlot>NodalSolu
ChooseStressitemtobecontoured.
ScrolldownandchoosevonMises(SEQV).
OK.

Youcanalsozoomintoviewthestresscontouraroundtheshoulders.
PlotCtrls>PanZoomRotate
ClickBoxZoom
Drawaboxenclosingtheshoulders.Youwillseethezoominregionwiththestresscontour.
Youcanrepeatthezoomactionuntilyougetafineviewofthetipregion.

Plot the principal stresses in vector form.

Zoomintothemiduniformsectionofthebeam.
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PlotResults>VectorPlot>Predefined
SelectStress,PrincipalS,VectorMode,ElemCentroid,OK
The vectors show the directions of the principal stresses S1 (roughly equal to SX) and S2
(roughlyequaltoSY),andthelengthrepresentsthemagnitude.TheplotrevealsthatS2isalmost
zero,andS1isalongtheaxialdirectionofthebeam,andlinearproportionaltotheydistance
fromtheneutralaxis.Thisisinagreementwiththebeamtheory.

Stressstateisprimarilynormalstressesalongxdirection.
Nowzoomintotheregionsoftheshoulders.

BeamTutorial

10

MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PlotResults>VectorPlot>Predefined
SelectStress,PrincipalS,VectorMode,ElemCentroid,OK
Thevectorsshowthatbecauseofthestressconcentration,bothS1andS2arenonzero.S1isno
longeralongxdirectionbutvarieswithlocation.Itsmagnitudereachesamaximumattherootof
theshouldernearthebottom.Thefigurerevealsthatthestressstatearoundtheshoulderisrather
complicated.

List reaction solution.

1. MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ListResults>ReactionSolu
2. OKtolistallitemsandclosethedialogbox.ThereactionforcesFXandFYofallnodeson
theleftedgearelisted.
3. Scrolldownandfindthetotalverticalforce,FY.Thetotalvalueof100istheoppositeofthe
totalloadforce.

Togetthedisplacementoftherightend

PlotCtrls>PanZoomRotate
ClickFit
Plot>Elements soyoucanseeallelements. Zoominaroundtherightendofthebeamif
necessary.
Select>Entities
OKinthepopupbox.Anotherboxpopsup.
Clickthelowerrightcornerofthebeam(pointB),thenOK
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ListResults>NodalSolution
DOFSolution,AllDOFs,OK
UxandUyoftheloadingpointwillbedisplaced,asfollows

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11

THE FOLLOWING DEGREE OF FREEDOM RESULTS ARE IN GLOBAL COORDINATES

NODE
UX
UY
192 -0.16946E-03-0.58433E-02
MAXIMUM ABSOLUTE VALUES
NODE
192
192
VALUE -0.16946E-03-0.58433E-02

Therefore the y-deflection of B is 5.84 mm downward.

Toplotbending(normal)andshearstressesalonglineCC

MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PathOperation>DefinePaths>Bylocation
Pathname:CC
Numberofpoints:2
Numberofdataset:changeto100
Numberofdivisions:changeto100
Popupbox
1
0.01
0.007
OK
2
0.01
0.007
OK,Cancel
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PathOperation>PlotPathstoseethepath
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PathOperation>MapontoPath
Select"Stress","XdirectionstressSX",Apply
Select"Stress","XYshearSXY",OK
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PathOperation>PlotPathItem>OnGraph
Select"SX",OK.
Thedistributionofsigma_xxalongtherightligamentwillshowasfollows.Thedistribution,as
wehavelearnedinME533,islinearalongydirection.
Themaximumbendingstresses,whichoccuratthetopandbottomsurfacesofthebeam,are

BeamTutorial

12

178.5MPa.
Togetdataforthecurve,
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PathOperation>PlotPathItem>Listpathitems
Select"SX",OK.
Apopupwindowwillshowsigma_xxversuslocationalongtheligament.Youcancopythedata
andimportintoExceltodomoreplotting.
Togetshearstress,
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PathOperation>PlotPathItem>OnGraph
Select"SXY",OK.
Thedistributionofsigma_xyalongtherightligamentwillshowasfollows.Thedistribution,as
wehavelearnedinME533,isparabolicalongydirection.

Fromthefigure,themaximumshearis2.32MPa.

Find maximum xx-stress for stress concentration Kt

Fromtheutilitymenu,
Select>>Everything
FromANSYSmainmenu
GeneralPostproc>>Listresults>>Sortedlisting>>Sortnodes
TheSortnodewindowpopsup.Select"Descendingorder",Listsortednodesfor
"Results",Item,Compsortnodesbasedon"Stress","XdirectionSX",OK.
Itwillliststresscomponentsoftheallnodes,withthefirstlistednodehavingthelargest
sigma_xx(SX).
Partofthelistingis

BeamTutorial

13

THE FOLLOWING X,Y,Z VALUES ARE IN GLOBAL COORDINATES

NODE
850
852
528
10581
10583
.....

SX
SY
0.36418E+09 0.90467E+07
0.33817E+09 0.30000E+08
0.32588E+09-0.49594E+06
0.30202E+09 0.33669E+08
0.30047E+09 0.23136E+08

SZ
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

SXY
-0.52855E+08
-0.99324E+08
-0.65845E+07
-0.61758E+08
-0.37831E+08

SYZ
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

SXZ
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

Themaximumstressis364.2MPa.
Tocalculatethestressconcentrationfactor,thenominalstressisneeded:

nom

M (h 2 / 2) M(h 2 / 2)
6M 6 *100 * (0.302 0.102)

2
240.0 MPa
3
EI 2
E(h 2 b / 12) Eh 2 b 210e9 * 0.01^ 2 * 0.005

Theconcentrationfactoristherefore

Kt

x max
nom

364.2
1.51
240.0

Fromtheconcentrationfactorchart,H/h=1.4,r/h=0.2,thevalueisabout1.5,whichcompares
wellwiththeFEMpredictionof1.51.

Exit the ANSYS program.

When exiting the ANSYS program, you can save the geometry and loads portions of the
database (default), save geometry, loads, and solution data (one set of results only), save
geometry,loads,solutiondata,andpostprocessingdata(i.e.,saveeverything),orsavenothing.
Youcansavenothinghere,butyoushouldbesuretouseoneoftheothersaveoptionsifyou
wanttokeeptheANSYSdatafiles.
1. Toolbar:Quit.
2. ChooseQuitNoSave!
OK.

Hand Calculations

DeflectionofB

ThedeflectionofBcanbeobtainedusingtheCastigliano'smethod:
Themomentintermsoflocationxis:

BeamTutorial

14

M P(L x )

UsetheCastigliano'smethod,notingthatthemomentofinertiavarieswithlocation:
0.1

M (M / P)
B
dx
EI1
0
0.1

0.302

0.1

M (M / P)
dx
EI 2

P(L x )(( L x ))
dx
0
E (h 13 b / 12)

0.302

0.1

P(L x )(( L x ))
dx
E (h 32 b / 12)

0.1
0.302
P
P
L2 x Lx 2 x 3 / 3 0
L2 x Lx 2 x 3 / 3 0.1
3
E (h b / 12)
E( h 2 b / 12)
3
1

0.00582

Theresultcompareswellwiththenumericalsolutionof5.84mm.

BendingstressalongCC

Thedistributionislinearalongy.Soweonlyneedtofindthemaximumstress.Theformulais

max

M (h 1 / 2) M (h 1 / 2) P 0.302 0.01 h 1 / 2

178.8 MPa
EI1
E(h 13 b / 12)
E(h 13 b / 12)

Again,itcompareswellwiththeFEMresultsof178.6MPa.

ShearstressalongCC

Thedistributionisparabolicalongy.Themaximumstressis
max

3V
3 *100 N
3 *1000

Pa 2.14 MPa
2A 2 * ( h 1 * b) 2 * 0.014 * 0.005

Again,itcomparesreasonablywellwiththeFEMresultsof2.32MPa.

Comments about FEM Accuracy

Highaccuracyinstressconcentrationfactorandnormalstressdistributionisobtainedbecause
finemeshisused.Thelessaccurateshearstressresultsmaybeattributedtotwofactors:(1)the
mesharoundCCisnotrefined;(2)theshearstressdistributionobtainedinsimplebeamtheoryis
onlyapproximate.
Ifacoarsermeshisused,computationtimewillbefaster,buttheresultswillbelessaccurate.

BeamTutorial

2.

15

Tutorial: Cantilever Beam Using Beam Elements

Problem Description
Theproblemisthesameasintheprevioustutorial(CantileverBeamusingSolidElements).

Modeling Approach
Insteadofusingsolidelements,the1Dbeamelementisusedhere.Thebeamelementisthe
muchmoreefficient,butdetailsofstressconcentrationaroundtheshoulderwillbelost.Asa
result,wecanobtaindeflectionsandstressdistributionsinregionsofuniformcrosssectionwith
goodaccuracy,butthestressdistributionaroundtheshoulderwillbeinaccurate.
Thebeamelementrepresentstherealbeamwithamathematicallinecoincidingwiththeneutral
axisofthebeam,andthereforethebeamelementisessentially1Deventhoughyoucancombine
beamelementstoforma2Dor3Dstructure.Thecrosssectionalpropertiessuchastheheight,
areaandmomentofinertiaareenteredasrealconstantsinANSYS.

Preprocessing

Build the Geometry

MainMenu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Create>Keypoints>InActiveCS
Enterthefollowing:(Note:PresstheTabkeybetweenentries)
Keypoint number = 1
X,Y,Z Location in active CS = 0
0
0
Apply
Keypoint number = 1
X,Y,Z Location in active CS = 0.1
0
0
Apply
Keypoint number = 1
X,Y,Z Location in active CS = 0.302
0
0
OK
MainMenu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Create>Lines>Lines>StraightLine
Clickkeypoints1and2,
Click keypoints 2 and 3,
OK

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16

Toolbar:SAVE_DB.

Define material properties.

MainMenu>Preprocessor>MaterialProps>MaterialModels
DoubleclickonStructural,Linear,Elastic,Isotropic.
Enter210e9forEX.
Enter.3forPRXY.
OKtodefinematerialpropertysetandclosethedialogbox.
Material>Exit

Define element types and options.

MainMenu>Preprocessor>ElementType>Add/Edit/Delete
Addanelementtype.
StructuralMass,Beamfamilyofelements.
2Delastic3(BEAM3).
OKtoapplytheelementtypeandclosethedialogbox.

Define real constants.

Forthisanalysis,sincetherearetwodifferentcrosssections,weneedtodefinetwosetsofreal
constantsforthebeamelements.Youcancalculatethecrosssectionalpropertiesusingformulas
learnedinMechanicsofMaterials.YoucanalsousetheSectionfunctioninANSYS,illustrated
inthefollowing:
MainMenu>Preprocessor>Sections>Beam>CommonSectns
ABeamToolwindowwillappear.Forthebigsection:
SubType=(rectangle)
SetB=0.005
H=0.014
ClickPreview
Thegraphicswindowwillshowthesectionwithcalculatedproperties.
Area=0.7e4
Iyy=0.114e8(thisisthemomentofinertiayouneed,notIzz)
Forthesmallsection:
SubType=(rectangle)
SetB=0.005
H=0.01
ClickPreview
Thegraphicswindowwillshowthesectionwithcalculatedproperties.
Area=0.5e4
Iyy=0.417e9

BeamTutorial

17

OKtoclosethewindow.
MainMenu>Preprocessor>RealConstants>Add/Edit/Delete
SelectBEAM3,Add...
RealConstantSetNo.=1
AREA=7e5
IZZ=1.143e9(notethatitiscalledIzznow!)
HEIGHT=0.014
Apply
SelectBEAM3,Add...
RealConstantSetNo.=2
AREA=5e5
IZZ=4.17e10
HEIGHT=0.01
OK.Close
Generate Mesh
Sincetherearetwosetsofrealconstants,weneedtoassociatecorrectrealconstantstothe
correspondingpartsofthebeam.UseAttributetodothis.
MainMenu>Preprocessor>Meshing>MeshAttributes>PickedLines
Clicktheleftlinethatrepresentstheleftpartofthebeamwithbiggercrosssection.
TheAttributesdialoguewindowappears.
MAT=1
REAL=1
TYPE=1BEAM3
OK
MainMenu>Preprocessor>Meshing>MeshAttributes>PickedLines
Clicktheleftlinethatrepresentstherightpartofthebeamwithsmallercrosssection.
TheAttributesdialoguewindowappears.
MAT=1
REAL=2
TYPE=1BEAM3
OK
(Attributes allow you to assign different material properties and different element type to
differentpartsofthesolidmodel,iftheproblemconsistsofmultiplematerials,andmultiple
elementtypesareusedinFEMmodeling).
Forbeamelement,weonlyneedtospecifythelengthoftheelement.
MainMenu>Preprocessor>Meshing>MeshTool
SetGlobalSizecontrol.

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18

Typein0.005.Thisguaranteesthattherearetwentyelementsfortheleftsectionofthebeam
withbiggercrosssection.
OK.
ChooseMesh:Lines.
ClickonMesh.
PickAllfortheareatobemeshed(inpickingmenu).Closeanywarningmessagesthatmay
appear.
ClosetheMeshTool.
Utilitymenu,Plot>Elements,youwillseeonlyaline
Utilitymenu,Plot>Nodes,youwillseenodeswhichmaygivesomeideaaboutthesizeofthe
elements.

Savethedatabase.

Apply displacement constraints.

Youcanapplydisplacementconstraintsdirectlytolines.
Main Menu > Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
Picktheleftendofthebeam.
OK(inpickingmenu).
ClickonAllDOF(builtinconditions).
Enter0forzerodisplacement.
OKtoapplyconstraintsandclosedialogbox.
Toolbar:SAVE_DB.
Apply load.
Nowapplytheforceattherightendofthebeam.
Main Menu > Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On
Keypoints
Pickthekeypointattherightendofthebeam.
Apply.
SelectFYfortheforcedirection
Enter100forVALUE.
OK.

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19

Toolbar:SAVE_DB.

Solution
MainMenu>Solution>SolveCurrentLS
Reviewtheinformationinthestatuswindow,thenchooseFile>Close(Windows)toclosethe
window.
OKtobeginthesolution.ChooseYestoanyVerifymessagesthatappear.
Closetheinformationwindowwhensolutionisdone.
Toolbar:SAVE_DB.

Postprocessing
Note
Theresultsyouseemayvaryslightlyfromwhatisshownhereduetovariationsinthemesh.
Enter the general postprocessor and read in the results.
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ReadResults>FirstSet
Beforeyoudoanythingelseinpostprocessing,youshouldalwayscheckthedeformedshapefirst
tomakesurethemodelmakesintuitivesenses.
Plot the deformed shape.
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>PlotResults>DeformedShape
ChooseDef+undeformed.
OK.

Youcanalsoproduceananimatedversionofthedeformedshape:
UtilityMenu>PlotCtrls>Animate>DeformedShape
ChooseDef+undeformed.
OK.
Make choices in the Animation Controller (not shown), if necessary, then choose Close.
Frequently,theAnimationControllermaybehiddenbehindotherwindows.UseAlt+Tabto
cyclethroughwindowsandfindit.

BeamTutorial

20

Togetthedisplacementoftherightend

PlotCtrls>PanZoomRotate
ClickFit
Plot>Elements soyoucanseeallelements. Zoominaroundtherightendofthebeamif
necessary.Thenodenumberis114(yourmeshmaybedifferent).
Rightend

MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ListResults>NodalSolution
DOFSolution,AllDOFs,OK
Ux,UyandROTZ(rotation)ofallnodeswillbedisplaced,asfollows
THE FOLLOWING DEGREE OF FREEDOM RESULTS ARE IN GLOBAL COORDINATES
NODE
......
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
......
210
211
212
213
214

UX

UY

ROTZ

0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

-0.49950E-03-0.10013E-01
-0.51970E-03-0.10185E-01
-0.54024E-03-0.10357E-01
-0.58249E-02-0.33824E-01
-0.58264E-03-0.10985E-01
-0.60506E-03-0.11440E-01
-0.62839E-03-0.11890E-01
-0.65262E-03-0.12335E-01

0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

-0.54868E-02-0.33767E-01
-0.55544E-02-0.33788E-01
-0.56220E-02-0.33804E-01
-0.56896E-02-0.33815E-01
-0.57572E-02-0.33822E-01

MAXIMUM ABSOLUTE VALUES

NODE
0
114
114
VALUE
0.0000
-0.58249E-02-0.33824E-01

The y deflection 5.82 mm compares well with the estimate of 5.84 mm from the Castiliango's
method.
For the beam elements, the option of plotting the von Mises stresses is not available. Instead,
another method of outputting the stresses is needed. The output information is predefined, and is
listed in Table 3.xx in the ANSYS online help (this part of the ANSYS online help is reproduced
in the Appendix at the end of this handout for your convenience). The results are organized as
element table. The relevant data are: the maximum tensile stress on the top of the beam SMAX,

BeamTutorial

21

the maximum compressive stress on the bottom of the beam SMIN, force resultant in x-direction
FORX, force resultant in y-direction FORY, and moment resultant MOMZ.
SMAX and SMIN are items 1 and 2 of NMISC in the Sequence Num, and FORX, FORY, and
MOMZ and items 1, 2, and 6 of SMISC in the Sequence Num.
AsweareinterestedinthestressesalongCCandaroundtheshoulders,weshouldfindoutthe
elementsthatareattheselocations.Onewayistousegridlinesintheworkingspace.
Utilitymenu:Workplane>WPSettings...
CheckGridandTriadon
Spacing=0.01
Minimum=0
Maximum=0.4
Utilitymenu:Workplane>Displayworkingplane
Gridlineswithintervalof0.01appear.LineCCcoincideswithonegridline.
Utilitymenu:PlotCtrls>Numbering>checktheElem#andNode#on
Plot>Elements
UsePlotCtrols>PanZoomRotates...tozoomintoelementsaroundCC(X=0.01).Theelement
#ontheleftsideofCCis5,andtheoneontherightis6.(Yoursmaybedifferent).
CC

UsePlotCtrols>PanZoomRotates...tozoomintoelementsaroundthelocationofshoulders
(X=0.1).Theelement#ontheleftsideoftheshoulderis50,andtheoneontherightis51.
(Yoursmaybedifferent).
Shoulders

BeamTutorial

22

Nowdefinethewanteddataandoutputthem.
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ElementTable>DefineTable
Add...
(scrolldown)Bysequencenum,NMISC,NMISC1,Apply
Bysequencenum,NMISC,NMISC2,Apply
Bysequencenum,NMISC,NMISC3,Apply
Bysequencenum,NMISC,NMISC4,Apply
Bysequencenum,SMISC,SMISC1,Apply
Bysequencenum,SMISC,SMISC2,Apply
Bysequencenum,SMISC,SMISC6,Apply,
Bysequencenum,SMISC,SMISC7,Apply
Bysequencenum,SMISC,SMISC8,Apply
Bysequencenum,SMISC,SMISC12,Apply,
OK
Close
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ElementTable>ListElemTable
Select NMIS1, NMIS2 (stresses on left side of element - node I), NMIS3, and NMIS4 (stresses
on right side of element - node J). OK
A window will appear and list all data.
STAT
ELEM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
......
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
......
149
150
151

CURRENT
CURRENT
NMIS1
NMIS2
0.18544E+09-0.18544E+09
0.18421E+09-0.18421E+09
0.18298E+09-0.18298E+09
0.18175E+09-0.18175E+09
0.18053E+09-0.18053E+09
0.17930E+09-0.17930E+09
0.17807E+09-0.17807E+09
0.17684E+09-0.17684E+09

CURRENT
CURRENT
NMIS3
NMIS4
0.18421E+09-0.18421E+09
0.18298E+09-0.18298E+09
0.18175E+09-0.18175E+09
0.18053E+09-0.18053E+09
0.17930E+09-0.17930E+09
0.17807E+09-0.17807E+09
0.17684E+09-0.17684E+09
0.17561E+09-0.17561E+09

0.12895E+09-0.12895E+09
0.12772E+09-0.12772E+09
0.12649E+09-0.12649E+09
0.12526E+09-0.12526E+09
0.24221E+09-0.24221E+09
0.23981E+09-0.23981E+09
0.23741E+09-0.23741E+09

0.12772E+09-0.12772E+09
0.12649E+09-0.12649E+09
0.12526E+09-0.12526E+09
0.12404E+09-0.12404E+09
0.23981E+09-0.23981E+09
0.23741E+09-0.23741E+09
0.23501E+09-0.23501E+09

0.71942E+07-0.71942E+07 0.47962E+07-0.47962E+07
0.47962E+07-0.47962E+07 0.23981E+07-0.23981E+07
0.23981E+07-0.23981E+07 0.78518E-03-0.78518E-03

MINIMUM VALUES
ELEM
151
51
151
51
VALUE
0.23981E+07-0.24221E+09 0.78518E-03-0.23981E+09

BeamTutorial

23

MAXIMUM VALUES
ELEM
51
151
51
151
VALUE
0.24221E+09-0.23981E+07 0.23981E+09-0.78518E-03

For maximum bending stress at CC, we should take the stresses at node J (right node) of element
5 (179.3 MPa), or stresses at node I (left node) of element 6 (also 179.3 MPa). This agrees well
with the 178.8 MPa from hand calculation.
For maximum bending stress at the shoulder, we found that the stress at node J (right side) of
element 50 are 124.0 MPa, while the stresses at node I (left side) of element 51 are 242.2 MPa.
The discontinuity is caused by the sudden change in cross-sectional area. Even if we take the
larger value, 242.2 MPa, it is just equal to the nominal stress without considering the effects of
concentration. The real maximum stress because of concentration, as revealed in the previous
tutorial (CantileverBeamusingSolidElements),is364.2MPa.
Thecomparisonbetweenthebeamelementsandthesolidelementsshowsthatwhilethe
elementsareefficientinsimulatingbeamproblems,andgivecorrectresultsfordeflectionand
stressdistributioninregionsofuniformcrosssection,theyfailtocapturestressconcentration
effectsarisingfromvaryingcrosssections.
MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ElementTable>ListElemTable
SelectSMIS1,SMIS2,SMIS6(leftsideofelement),SMIS7,SMIS8,SMIS12(rightsideof
element).OK
STAT CURRENT
ELEM SMIS1
1
0.0000
2
0.0000
3
0.0000
4
0.0000
5
0.0000
6
0.0000
7
0.0000
8
0.0000
......
47
0.0000
48
0.0000
49
0.0000
50
0.0000
51
0.0000
52
0.0000
53
0.0000
......
147
0.0000
148
0.0000
149
0.0000
150
0.0000
151
0.0000
0.65484E-10
MINIMUM VALUES

CURRENT
SMIS2
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00

CURRENT
SMIS6
-30.200
-30.000
-29.800
-29.600
-29.400
-29.200
-29.000
-28.800

CURRENT
SMIS7
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

CURRENT
SMIS8
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00

CURRENT
SMIS12
-30.000
-29.800
-29.600
-29.400
-29.200
-29.000
-28.800
-28.600

-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00

-21.000
-20.800
-20.600
-20.400
-20.200
-20.000
-19.800

0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00

-20.800
-20.600
-20.400
-20.200
-20.000
-19.800
-19.600

-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00

-1.0000
-0.80000
-0.60000
-0.40000
-0.20000

0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00
-100.00

-0.80000
-0.60000
-0.40000
-0.20000

BeamTutorial
ELEM
VALUE

24

1
0.0000

45
-100.00

1
-30.200

1
0.0000

45
-100.00

1
-30.000

MAXIMUM VALUES
ELEM
1
VALUE
0.0000
10

151
-100.00

151
-0.20000

1
0.0000

151
-100.00

151
0.65484E-

Fromtheabovelist,wecanalsoseethatforcantileverbeamsubjectedtotransverseforce,the
axialforce(SMIS1andSMIS7)iszero,thetransverseshearforce(SMIS2andSMIS8)isequal
totheappliedforce,whilethemoment(SMIS6andSMIS12)changeswithlocations.

List reaction solution.

MainMenu>GeneralPostproc>ListResults>ReactionSolu
OKtolistallitemsandclosethedialogbox.ThereactionforcesFXandFYofallnodesonthe
leftedgearelisted.
Scrolldownandfindthetotalverticalforce,FY.Thetotalvalueof100istheoppositeofthe
totalloadforce.

Exit the ANSYS program.

When exiting the ANSYS program, you can save the geometry and loads portions of the
database (default), save geometry, loads, and solution data (one set of results only), save
geometry,loads,solutiondata,andpostprocessingdata(i.e.,saveeverything),orsavenothing.
Youcansavenothinghere,butyoushouldbesuretouseoneoftheothersaveoptionsifyou
wanttokeeptheANSYSdatafiles.
Toolbar:Quit.
ChooseQuitNoSave!
OK.

Comments about FEM Accuracy

Beamelementsareefficientforsimulatingbeamandframeproblems.Ifweonlyneedtofindout
thedeflectionattherightend,acoarsermeshcanbeused.Ifthebendingmomentischanging
withpositionsandthestressdistributionatalocationisneeded,theelementsaroundthelocation
shouldbefineenough.
Ifdetailsofstressconcentrationatlocationsofchangingcrosssectionareimportant,2Dor3D
solidelementsareneeded.

BeamTutorial

3.

25

Appendix: Online Menu for BEAM3 Element

UtilityMenu:Help>HelpTopics
ANSYS6.1Documentation>ANSYSElementReference>ElementLibrary>Beam3

Element Description
BEAM3 is a uniaxial element with tension, compression, and bending capabilities. The element
has three degrees of freedom at each node: translations in the nodal x and y directions and
rotation about the nodal z-axis....
Figure 3.1. BEAM3 2-D Elastic Beam

Input Data
BEAM3 shows the geometry, node locations, and the coordinate system for this element. The
element is defined by two nodes, the cross-sectional area, the area moment of inertia, the height,
and the material properties...
Node and Element Loads describes element loads. You can specify pressures as surface loads on
the element faces, shown by the circled numbers in BEAM3 figure. Positive normal pressures act
into the element. You specify lateral pressures as a force per unit length. End "pressures" are
input as a force...
Input Summary summarizes the element input. Element Input contains a general description of
element input.
BEAM3InputSummary
ElementName
BEAM3
Nodes
I,J
DegreesofFreedom

BeamTutorial

26

UX,UY,ROTZ
RealConstants
AREA,IZZ,HEIGHT,SHEARZ,ISTRN,ADDMAS
MaterialProperties
EX,ALPX,DENS,GXY,DAMP
SurfaceLoads
Pressure
face1(IJ)(Ynormaldirection),
face2(IJ)(+Xtangentialdirection),
face3(I)(+Xaxialdirection),
face4(J)(Xaxialdirection)
(useanegativevalueforloadingintheoppositedirection)
......

Output Data
The solution output associated with the element is in two forms:

nodal displacements included in the overall nodal solution

additional element output as shown in BEAM3 Element Output Definitions.

Figure 3.2. BEAM3 Stress Output

The Element Output Definitions table uses the following notation:

The O column indicates the availability of the items in the file Jobname.OUT. The R column
indicates the availability of the items in the results file. In either the O or R columns, Y indicates
that the item is always available, a number refers to a table footnote that describes when the item
is conditionally available, and a - indicates that the item is not available.
Table 3.1. BEAM3 Element Output Definitions
Name
Definition

EL
NODES

Y
Y

Y
Y

ElementNumber
ElementnodesI,J

BeamTutorial

27

Name

Definition

MAT

Element material number

VOLU:
XC,YC
TEMP

Elementvolume
Locationwhereresultsarereported
TemperaturesT1,T2,T3,T4
PressureP1atnodesI,J;OFFST1atI,J;P2atI,J;OFFST2atI,J;P3at
I;P4atJ
Axialdirectstress
Bendingstressontheelement+Ysideofthebeam
BendingstressontheelementYsideofthebeam
Maximumstress(directstress+bendingstress)
Minimumstress(directstressbendingstress)
Axialelasticstrainattheend
Bendingelasticstrainontheelement+Ysideofthebeam
BendingelasticstrainontheelementYsideofthebeam
Axialthermalstrainattheend
Bendingthermalstrainontheelement+Ysideofthebeam
BendingthermalstrainontheelementYsideofthebeam
Initialaxialstrainintheelement
MemberforcesintheelementcoordinatesystemXandYdirection
MembermomentintheelementcoordinatesystemZdirection

N
Y
Y

Y
3
Y

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Y
Y

PRES
SDIR
SBYT
SBYB
SMAX
SMIN
EPELDIR
EPELBYT
EPELBYB
EPTHDIR
EPTHBYT
EPTHBYB
EPINAXL
MFOR(X,Y)
MMOMZ

1. The item repeats for end I, intermediate locations (see KEYOPT(9)), and end J.
2. If KEYOPT(6) = 1.
3. Available only at centroid as a *GET item.
The following tables list output available through the ETABLE command using the Sequence
Number method...
Table 3.2. BEAM3 (KEYOPT(9) = 0) Item and Sequence Numbers for the ETABLE and
ESOL Commands
KEYOPT(9)=0
Name
SDIR
SBYT
SBYB
EPELDIR
EPELBYT

Item
LS
LS
LS
LEPEL
LEPEL

I
1
2
3
1
2

J
4
5
6
4
5

BeamTutorial

28

KEYOPT(9)=0
EPELBYB
EPTHDIR
EPTHBYT
EPTHBYB
EPINAXL
SMAX
SMIN
MFORX
MFORY
MMOMZ
P1
OFFST1
P2
OFFST2
P3
P4

LEPEL
LEPTH
LEPTH
LEPTH
LEPTH 7
NMISC
NMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC
SMISC

3
1
2
3

6
4
5
6

1
2
1
2
6
13
15
17
19
21

3
4
7
8
12
14
16
18
20

22

......

Assumptions and Restrictions

The beam element can have any cross-sectional shape for which the moment of inertia can be
computed. However, the stresses are determined as if the distance from the neutral axis to the
extreme fiber is one-half of the height. The element height is used only in the bending and
thermal stress calculations. The applied thermal gradient is assumed linear across the height and
along the length. The beam element must lie in an X-Y plane and must not have a zero length or
area. The moment of inertia may be zero if large deflections are not used.