FE Part Beam Bend

A14-011
Product(s):

Adams/View and Adams/Solver

Feature(s):

FE Part Beam

File(s):

fe_part_exampl e_st art .cmd

Problem Statement
Parts with large deformation have been traditionally modeled with discrete flexible links (a
set of rigid parts connected with force elements). A new approach is now available for
modeling parts undergoing geometric nonlinearity: The FE Part.
The FE Part is a wholly Adams-native modeling object which has mass and is accurate for
very large deformation cases (that is, geometric nonlinearity) of beam-like structures.
The FE Part differs from the linear flexible body option within Adams/Flex in two
significant ways: 1) it has the ability to accurately represent large deformations which the
linear modes approach cannot and 2) its modeling does not require an FEA-produced file
like the modal neutral file (MNF). The FE Part is differs from the beam force element in
that it possess inertia properties. The inertia properties are specified using symmetric,
consistent mass matrix which remains constant. The FE Part has two formulation options:
3D Beam: A three-dimensional fully geometrically nonlinear representation useful for
beam-like structures. Accounts for stretching, shearing, bending, and torsion.
3D Beam (XY, YZ, or ZX): A two-dimensional geometrically nonlinear representation
useful for beam-like structures whereby the centerline of the beam can be assumed
constrained to a plane parallel to the model's global XY, YZ or ZX plane. The 2D Beam
can stretch or bend in plane. The 2D Beam will solve faster than the 3D Beam.

Model Description

You will model a simple cantilever

with a load applied at the far end.

Steps for Running Example

1. Start Adams/View 2014

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2. Opt fo r an exi sti n g model an d sel ect th e . cmd fil e in clu ded wi th thi s
exampl e fe_part_ e xampl e_start :

This model will only have a single green curve associate with gorund.
3. To l au n ch th e FE Part cr eati on wiz ard, click the FE Part icon from the Flexible
Bodies container on the Bodies of the ribbon

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4. Select the 2D BEAM XY formulation and click Next

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5. On the Centerline page select the curve GCURVE_1 already in the model:

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6. Click Next to proceed. On the Nodes page, select a row, then insert two rows into the
table and click the Evenly Distribute button to equally space the 4 nodes along the
length of the centerline. Click OK on the notification that all nodes S values will be
overwritten.

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7. Right-click in the first rows cell under the Section column, select Create and complete
the dialog as shown below then click OK

8. Back on the Nodes page of the FE Part wizard, click the Uniform Section button to assign
the same cross-section to all nodes and click OK on the notification indicating that all
nodes section definitions will be overwritten with this one.

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9. Click Finish and you will get a message describing that no solid geometry will be created,
just a wire centerline. Click OK to acknowledge that message.
10. At the global origin create a fixed joint between the FE Part and ground

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11. At the free end of the FE Part create a load in the global Y direction using a single
component force. For the load function use -600*SIN(PI*TIME)

12. Run a 5 second simulation for 250 steps with Update graphics display off

13. Open Adams/PostProcessor

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14. Explore the results including the animation of the centerline geometry undergoing large
deformation

Remarks
Support for some types of solid geometry creation within Adams/View is available;
see the product documentation for details
External geometry can be applied to an FE Part also. See the product
documentation for details.
Known Issues

o FE Part marker icons rotate improperly during animation but are behaving correctly for
the purposes of the calculation.

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