08 Mar 2013

Project 3: Hardcopies DUE 27 Mar 2013

Project 4: Hardcopies DUE 17 Apr 2013

Applied Strengths
22.311
SPRING 2013
FINITE ELEMENT PROJECTS NO. 3 and 4 (Version 1)

The objective of this project is to use numerical (finite element) and analytical methods
to investigate the mechanical behavior of a long slender cantilever beam subject to:
Uniaxial tension
Bending
Torsion
Combined loading (Uniaxial Tension + Bending)
Combined loading (Uniaxial Tension + Bending + Torsion)
Buckling
The results of the analyses will be documented in a set of pages assembled in the order
as given in the respective grading sheets for Project 3 and Project 4. Each team will
have one submission for Project No. 3 (Due 27-Mar-2013) and one submission for
Project No. 4 (Due 10-Apr-2013).
Each team is assigned a beam configuration based on the last six digits of their eight-
digit Student ID number of one of the team members. The respective dimensions are
found using the information given in Table 1. A Student ID digit of 0 is interpreted as
10. Table 2 shows the cross-section geometries and associated dimensions. Each
team should pick the Student ID that best conforms to the definition of a long slender
beam with the most reasonable aspect ratios of length to height and length to width.
Ideally the dimension formulas should provide acceptable ratios for any combination of
Student ID digits. However, exceptions may occur as these formulas have been a work
in progress.

Table 1. Assigned dimension variables as function of Student ID number (Part 1)

Student ID Digit # 3 4 5 6 7

Corresponding
a b c t1 (mm) t2 (mm)
Variable
 Table 2. Assigned dimension variables as function of Student ID number (Part 2)

Student ID Digit # 4 8

Corresponding
d Lmult
Variable

0-3 1 10

4-6 2 11

7-9 3 12

Assignment
1. Using the appropriate analytical method and E=200 GPa and =0.3, calculate the
maximum stress for Load Conditions a through e and the critical buckling load for
Load Condition f:
Project No. 3 a. Uniaxial tension (0.01% x a Strain)
b. Bending (tip displacement of 0.025 x b)
c. Torsion (twist of 0.5 x c degrees at tip of beam)
Project No. 4 d. Combined (uniaxial tension and bending loads)
e. Combined (uniaxial tension, bending and torsion loads)
f. Pcr for Buckling

- The supporting documentation of the basic equations used for completing the
hand calculations should be submitted on green engineering paper. Brief
commentary should be given to explain the application of each equation, e.g.
The equation used for calculating the stress associated with a Uniaxial Pull
is:. These equations may be hand written or typed, e.g. typed using
MSWord or MathCAD.
- Draw FBDs for each load condition on green engineering paper.
- All hand calculations should be done neatly and be well organized on green
engineering paper.
- Computer generated hand-calculation results using MATLAB and/or
MathCAD should be submitted on green engineering paper.

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 Table 3. Cross section shape as function of Student ID number (Digit 3)

Digit 3 Cross-section geometry Beam Dimensions

[ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ]
0-3
[ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ]
4-6
[ ]

[ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ]
7-9
[ ]

Note: A dimension digit of 0 is interpreted as 10.

2. Following the plate-beam finite element FEMAP or Abaqus/CAE tutorial* as an

example, use FEMAP or Abaqus/CAE to build a finite element model of the
assigned geometry and use the finite element model to calculate the maximum
stress for Load Conditions a through e and the critical buckling load for Load
Condition f:
Project No. 3 a. Uniaxial tension (0.01% x a Strain)
b. Bending (tip displacement of 0.025 x b)
c. Torsion (twist of 0.5 x c degrees at tip of beam)
Project No. 4 d. Combined (uniaxial tension and bending loads)
e. Combined (uniaxial tension, bending and torsion loads)
f. Pcr for Buckling
*It will be most beneficial if you first do the tutorial step-by-step. Thus, if you ask
for help from the professor or the TA, you should be prepared to show your
proof-of-completion of the tutorial and be ready to answer questions about the
tutorial when you do approach the professor or TA for help concerning your
assigned geometry and loads.

3
Use the finite element model to investigate Axial, Bending, Torsion and Combined
Loadings:
- For the combined loading conditions, you will need to replace the
prescribed axial displacement on the nodes at the free end of the beam
to be forces.
o Look at the forces on the nodes subject to the prescribed displacement
for the axial loading (as is done for the buckling loading).
o Rather than apply an effective unit load to the end of the beam as is
done for buckling, replace each of the prescribed displacements with
the corresponding reaction force due to the prescribed axial
displacement.
o As for the tip load for bending, you can leave the prescribed downward
displacements or replace the prescribed downward displacements with
the associated reaction forces at the end of the beam due to the
prescribed downward displacement.
- Process the model using Abaqus and then postprocess the output in
FEMAP or Abaqus/CAE to make a stress contour plot for each of the load
conditions.
- Be sure to use a stress contour component that is the same component of
stress as determined from the hand calculations. It is suggested that you
use the same axis orientation in your hand calculations that you use when
generating your FE model to be consistent and avoid confusion when
analyzing results.
- You should also consider using the von Mises stress contour. Recall from
Chapter 4 that the von Mises stress is a means of combining stress
components into an effective normal stress.
- Use a screen capture program to save a contour for submission with the
project. All contour plots submitted with your report should be printed in
color.
- Be aware that there will be singularities in your output stresses, so
interpret the data carefully. Be careful not to get misled by locally high
stresses near the point(s) of load application or prescribed displacements,
e.g. the wall and the tip of the beam. Recall St. Venants principle. This
principle is very helpful. Comparisons between the finite element results
and the hand calculations may be best at the midspan of the beam, i.e.
away from any singularities.

4
Use the finite element model to calculate the critical buckling load.
- Apply a unit compressive force to the free end of the beam model. The
procedure for applying this unit load is shown in the tutorial.
- Process the model using Abaqus, and then postprocess the output in
FEMAP or Abaqus/CAE to make a deformed plot for the buckled geometry
using the postprocessor.
- Use a screen capture program to save your buckling mode shape for with
the project.

3. For each project (3 and 4), discuss, as requested in the grading sheet, the
respective calculated stresses and critical buckling load and mode shape using a
set of PowerPoint slides.
You may use a table to address each of the conditions to compare hand
and FE solutions.
State any important observations in bullet points.
Discuss, using bullet points, how well the two methods (hand vs. finite
element) for calculating the same result compare.
Explain, using bullet points, any discrepancies, as the two methods should
compare well.
Include a sketch of the structure being analyzed.
One finite element contour plot or mode shape should be shown for each
loading condition within the PowerPoint slides. All contour plots should be
printed in color.
o Conclusion Slide restate two or three important points. No new information
should appear in the Conclusions.
o Projects 3 and 4 are team projects.

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o DO NOT give hard copies of FE files in the report. Files are to be submitted
to Blackboard by 11:59 PM (on March 26 for Project #3 and April 16 for
Project #4) using the following filename formats:

If in FEMAP:
Lastname1+Lastname2_FEMAP_i.inp Input file as written by FEMAP
Lastname1+Lastname2_FEMAP_i.dat Output file as written by
Abaqus when run in DOS window
If in Abaqus/CAE:
Lastname1+Lastname2_CAE_i.cae Abaqus/CAE file
Lastname1+Lastname2_CAE_i.odb Output file as written by
Abaqus/CAE
Lastname1+Lastname2_CAE_i.dat Output file as written by
Abaqus/CAE

where
i=a, b, c, d, e or f to denote for which part of the project the files apply as
given in

Project No. 3 a. Uniaxial tension

b. Bending
c. Torsion
Project No. 4 d. Combined (uniaxial tension and bending loads)
e. Combined (uniaxial tension, bending and torsion loads)
f. Pcr for Buckling