Finite Element Modeling with ANSYS

Strukturlabor
Spring Semester 2012

Alberto Sanchez

Sebastian Kollert

Timo Hilsdorf

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Contents

What is the Finite Element Method?

Modeling with ANSYS

- Element type

- Modelling of composite materials

- Boundary conditions and load introduction

- Analysis

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What is the Finite Element Method?

For many engineering problems analytical solutions are not suitable because of the
complexity of the material properties, the boundary conditions and the structure
itself.

The basis of the finite element method is the representation of a body or a structure
by an assemblage of subdivisions called finite elements.

The Finite Element Method translates partial differential equation problems into a
set of linear algebraic equations.

K q F
Nodal vector force
Stiffness matrix
Nodal displacement vector

Reference: Introduction to the finite element method, C. S. Desai and J. F. Abel, Van Nostrand Reinhold
Company, New York, 1972.

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Contents

What is the Finite Element Method?

Modeling with ANSYS

Element type

Modelling of composite materials

Boundary conditions and load introduction

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Modeling with ANSYS

The modeling procedure is the following:

GEOMETRY

ELEMENT TYPE Shell or solid?

MATERIAL PROPERTIES Isotropic or anisotropic material?

MESH DEFINITION Including the load introduction

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

ANALYSIS Static Buckling analysis

POST PROCESSING

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Modeling with ANSYS Geometry and Element type

The geometry and the element type have to be considered together.

Shell element are typically used for structure where the thickness is negligible
compared to its length and width

Nevertheless, a plate modeled with solid element would provide similar results. The
disadvantage lies in the computation time.

Ansys provides a large choices of elements.

Shell181 Shell281 Solid186

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Modeling with ANSYS Geometry and Element type

The Ansys command to define the element type is:

Or use menu: (Preprocessor- Element Type- Add/Edit/Delete- Add)

The geometry is defined with key points that are connect together to obtain either an
area or a volume. 4:(0,0.5,0)

3:(1,0.5,0)

1:(0,0,0)

Or use menu: (Preprocessor- Modeling- Create) 2:(1,0,0)

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Modeling with ANSYS Material properties (1)

Isotropic material like aluminum

Orthotropic material:
1. Determination of the engineering constants (Using C.A.P.)

2. Or implementation of single layers in Ansys

Or use menu: (Preprocessor- Material Props- Material Models- Structural)

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Modeling with ANSYS Material properties (2)

Sections:

Build laminates in Ansys

(Preprocessor- Sections- Shell- Layup- Add/Edit)

Or:
sect,1,shell,,up
secdata, 0.2,2,45,3
secdata, 0.2,2,-45,3
secdata, 0.2,2,45,3
secoffset,MID
seccontrol,,,, , , ,

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Modeling with ANSYS Mesh definition (1)

Before meshing, it is necessary

1. To select the geometry to mesh

2. To give a material type

3. To give an element type

4. To select the mesh type

Free or mapped meshing

5. To define the mesh refinement

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Modeling with ANSYS Mesh definition (2)

Meshing different sections by picking

1. Select an element type

2. Select a coordinate system

3. Select a section

(Preprocessor- Meshing- Mesh Attributes- Picked Areas)

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Modeling with ANSYS Mesh definition (3)

Coordinate system:
Plot element cs: PlotCtrls- Symbols- ESYS Element coordinate sys (on)
Create local cs:local,12,0,0,0,0,45,45,45

give number offset, rotation

Cartesian

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Modeling with ANSYS Boundary Conditions (1)

Displacements constraints

nsel,s,loc,x,50-1,50+1
nsel,r,loc,y,-1,1
cm,support1,node Select support nodes
nsel,s,loc,x,550-1,550+1 and create components
nsel,r,loc,y,-1,1
cm,support2,node

cmsel,s,support1,node
cmsel,s,support1,node Select components and
cmsel,a,support2,node
cmsel,a,support2,node fix vertical displacement
D,all, , , , , ,uy, , , , ,
D,all, , , , , ,uy, , , , ,

cmsel,s,support1,node
Select other nodes and
nsel,r,loc,z,-1,1
D,all, , , , , ,ux,uy,uz, , , fix displacements to get
cmsel,s,support1,node a statically
nsel,r,loc,z,b-1,b+1 determinate structure
D,all, , , , , ,ux,uy, , ,

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Modeling with ANSYS Boundary Conditions (2)

Loads introduction:

The load is introduced into the structure by a rigid cylinder, that contributes to
distribute the stresses. How can we model this effect?

Simple line load Modeling the cylinder

and the contact

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Modeling with ANSYS Boundary Conditions (3)

Simple line load Modeling the cylinder and the contact

! Mesh deformable contact elements

! Target element type: rigid cylinder
asel,s,area,,4
ET,11,Targe170
nsla
! Contact element type: deformable elements
lsel,s,line,,3,7,4
ET,12,Conta174
nsll,a
! Setting contact options
nsel,r,loc,x,l/2-15,l/2+15
KEYOPT,12,4,2
Real,20
KEYOPT,12,5,1
Type,12
KEYOPT,12,9,1
nsel,s,loc,x,l/2-1,l/2+1 Select nodes and create KEYOPT,12,10,2
Esurf
nsel,r,loc,y,h-1,h+1 KEYOPT,12,11,1
component mid KEYOPT,12,12,0
! Create rigid target element
cm,mid,node KEYOPT,12,2,0
N,100000,l/2,h+radius+.1,-b/2
N,100001,l/2,h+radius+.1,1.5*b
KEYOPT,11,1,0
Create rigid element between KEYOPT,11,2,1
N,100002,l/2,h+radius+.1,b/2
cp,next,all,mid KEYOPT,11,3,0
Real,20
the nodes (Couple DOF) Type,11
KEYOPT,11,5,0
TSHAP,CYLI
*get,nodes_num,node,0,count ! Real Constant
E,100000,100001
F,all,Fy,-10000/nodes_num Apply a force on each node radius = 15
TSHAP,PILO
R,20,radius,radius,1.0,0.1,0, !Real Constants
E,100002
Real,20
RMORE,,,1.0E20,0.0,1.0,
! Reverse normal vector
RMORE,0.0,0,1.0,,1.0,0.5
ESEL,S,TYPE,,12
RMORE,0,1.0,1.0,0.0,,1.0
ESEL,R,REAL,,20
ESURF,,REVERSE
! Contact material, friction coefficient
MP,MU,13,0.01
!Loads
Mat,13
nsel,s,node,,100002
f,all,fy,-10000

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Modeling with ANSYS Boundary Conditions (3)

Simple line load Modeling the cylinder and the contact

CPU Time CPU Time

8.3 s 45.4 s

Rigid element Displ Cylinder Displ

-1.01 mm -1.07 mm

Max Von Mises stress Max Von Mises stress

150.1 MPa 141.3 MPa

DO NOT USE VON MISES STRESS WITH ORTHOTROPIC MATERIALS!

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Modeling with ANSYS Analysis

Static Analysis Buckling analysis

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Modeling with ANSYS

Ansys Help: help, command

View command lines: List- Files- LogFile

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Thank you for
your attention.

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