The objective of this Tutorial is to learn to solve a classic problem of linear buckling of a bi-supported beam, also known as "Classic

Euder
Buckling".

1. Description of the Problem

A compression load of value FX = -1000 N is applied in the support of rollers of the bi-supported flat beam of rectangular section of section
dimensions A = 0.10 mx 0.02m and length L = 10m to generate internal loads in the structure. It is requested to calculate the first five buckling
modes of the beam using the Lanczos method of extracting pop values. In this problem the beam can be mallar with elements CBAR or CBEAM, in
this occasion we will use the element CBAR. The buckling will occur in the XZ plane since the Moment of Inertia I and y is much smaller than the Izz
moment of inertia.

1
 2. Definition of the Finite Element Model
q 2.1. Definition of Geometry
First of all from " Geometry> Curve - Line> Coordinates " we define the centerline of the beam between the coordinates (0,0,0) and (10,0,0). We will
work in the international unit system (SI), with loads in Newton (N), length in meters (m) and tension in Pascal (Pa, N / m2).

q 2.2. Defining Mesh Density

From "Mesh> Mesh Control> Size Along Curve .." we select the line created above and assign a mesh density (number of elements) of 10. To see
the mesh density assigned to the curve, press in "F6> Labels, Entities and Colors> Curve - Mesh Size> Draw Entity ON> 3 ... Symbols and Count>
OK".

q 2.3. Assigning Attributes to the Curve

From "Mesh> Mesh Control> Attributes Along Curve .." we select the previously created line and assign the material and the properties of the
element type. Thus, instead of using the "manual" method of first defining materials, then popiedades of elements and finally assigning properties to
the geometry, in this case we will do everything to the "flight". Well, we started:

In " Curve Mesh Attributes " click on the button to create a new property and assign it to the curve-longitudinal axis of the beam:

2
In the next window " Define Property - PLATE Element Type " click on the " Element / Property Type ... " button and select the type of element
" BAR " that in NX Nastran corresponds to the element CBAR:

3
A window appears with all the fields blank to enter the properties of the BAR element. First of all I recommend entering a title, for example
" Rectangular Beam (0.1mx0.02m) ", and instead of entering the numerical values "by hand" we will let FEMAP calculate them using a section of
the profile library, for which click on the " Shape " button :

Unfold the " Shape " button and select the type of section " Rectangular Bar " and enter the dimensions of the section " Height = 0.1 " and " Width =
0.02 ". Another thing I like to do is to define the Y-axis vertically as the main axis of inertia of the section by clicking on " Up " in the " Orientation
Direction (Y)" field . Press OK:
4
5
And in the following image we see that FEMAP fills all the fields with the inertial properties of the previously introduced section. We see that they
correspond perfectly with the values of the problem statement. If we click OK button we see that FEMAP forces us to assign a material next to the

properties of the element, it is a good method so that we do not forget to assign a material to the element, so we click on the button to define a
new material:

We put the properties of the material, which by their values I see that it is Aluminum. I like to put in the title of the material the name and the system
of units in which the properties of the material are defined, so if someone opens the model, it will be clear what material it is and its units simply by
title:

6
Next we press OK in the window " Define Material - ISOTROPIC ", again OK in the window " Define Property - BAR Element Type ", and we return
to the original window of " Curve Mesh Attributes " in which in the field " Property" we select the previously defined property. In this window we have
numerous options that will allow us to define the orientation of the beam by means of a vector or the position of a point, the " OFFSET End-A / End-
B " of the same or the " END RELEASE CODES End-A / End -B "which is a method to release degrees of freedom from the end nodes of a
beam.Orient Using - Vector "and press OK :
7
A window appears requesting the definition of a vector, for example we use " Base (0,0,0) " and " Tip (0,1,0) ", in this way we are orienting the main
axis of inertia of the section ( local Y-axis) of the beam that is parallel to the Y-axis of the Cartesian global coordinate system " 0. Basic
Rectangular "

q 2.4. Curve Meshing with CBAR Elements

From "Mesh> Geometry> Curve" we select the curve and mesh it by clicking on OK in the following window:

8
To see the beam represented in 3D with its cross section go to " F6> Labels, Entities and Colors> Element - Orientation / Shape> 3 ... Show Cross
Section> OK " and you will see something similar to the following image:

q 2.5. Definition of the Contour Conditions

From "Model> Constraint> Nodal" we create a new restriction set, for example "Constraint # 1", select node # 1 located at the left end of the beam
and define the constraints TX = TY = TZ = RX = 0 that corresponds to an articulated support and also we limit the rotation around the axis of the
beam since otherwise the solver would give us error of singular matrix to be free the degree of freedom of torsion:

9
Repeat again from " Model> Constraint> Nodal ", select the node # 11 located at the right end of the beam and define the roller support by making
TY = TZ = 0 leaving free the displacement in the direction of the X-axis:

q 2.6. Definition of Loads

From "Model> Loads> Nodal" we create a new load case set, for example "Case Load # 1", we select node # 11 located at the right ends of the
beam (in the roller support) and we apply the load FX = -1000N:

10
 3. Definition of the Linear Buckling Analysis
From " Model> Analysis> Analysis Set Manager> New " we created the Linear Buckling analysis " 7..Buckling " with the NX Nastran solver and
requested the calculation of the first five buckling modes of the beam using the Lanczos Own Value Extraction Method:

11
12
 4. Post-processing of Results
The following list shows the results of the file * .F06 of the result output gnerated by the NX Nastran solver with the first five bending modes of the
beam. The value of the first buckling mode (" eigenvalue ") is λ 1 = 0.4672 for a value of the applied load FX = -1000 N. Therefore, the value of the
first buckling mode of the beam will be equal to:

P 1 = (λ 1 ) (P a ) = (0.4672) (-1000) = -467.2 N

EIGENVALUEANALYSISSUM MARY (READ MODULE)

BLOCK SIZE USED ...................... 7

NUMBER OF DECOMPOSITIONS ............. 3
NUMBER OF ROOTS FOUND ................ 5
NUMBER OF SOLVES REQUIRED ............ 26

REALEIGENVALUES
MODE EXTRACTION EIGENVALUE RADIANS CYCLES GENERALIZED
GENERALIZED
DO NOT. ORDER MASS STIFFNESS
1 1 4.671651E-01 6.834948E-01 1.087816E-01 4.934667E + 02 2.305304E + 02
2 2 1.868976E + 00 1.367105E + 00 2.175815E-01 2.181378E + 03 4.076942E + 03
3 3 4.208506E + 00 2.051464E + 00 3.265007E-01 4.431846E + 03 1.865145E + 04
4 4 7.497434E + 00 2.738144E + 00 4.357892E-01 4.973294E + 03 3.728694E + 04
5 5 1.168143E + 01 3.417079E + 00 5.438451E-01 4.934653E + 02 5.761913E + 03

Note that the first four buckling modes of the beam develop in the XZ plane, and the first buckling mode in the XY plane is the fifth buckling
mode. Therefore, the lowest buckling load in the XY plane will be equal to:

P 5 = (λ 1 ) (P a ) = (1,181) (-1000) = -11681 N

13
14
 Postprocessing of Results in FEMAP

4. Comparison with the Theoretical Solution

Euler Buckling is calculated as follows (SP Tymoshenko and JM Gere, Theory of Elastic Stability , Engineering Societies Monograph Series,
Second Ed., 1961):

Buckling Mode NX Nastran (N) Theory (N) % Difference

1 (XZ plane) 467.2 467.2 0
5 (XY plane) 11681.5 11681.4 0.001

As we approach the higher modes, the shape of the mode becomes less and less smooth. This effect occurs because at equal mesh density, the
higher modes have fewer elements per sine wave buckling than the lower modes. If you are interested in calculating the higher modes, you should
increase the mesh density of the model to follow the general rule of having a minimum of six elements per half sine wave. In any case, the higher
buckling modes are of no interest in real applications.

I hope the tutorial has been useful and interesting!

Greetings,
Blas.

15