Frame Analysis

Topics in this section

 About this tutorial

 Open the Assembly
 Frame Analysis Environment
 Frame Analysis Settings
 Assign Materials
 Change Beam Properties
 Change Direction of Gravity
 Add Constraints
 Add Constraints to the Next Beam
 Add Loads
 Run the Simulation
 View and Interpret Results
 Summary

About this tutorial

Perform basic structural analysis of your frame structures with respect to deformations and
stresses.

Category
Simulation

Time Required
 30 minutes

Tutorial File Used

analyze_frame.iam
Note: Click and read the required Tutorial Files Installation Instructions
athttp://www.autodesk.com/inventor-tutorial-data-sets-2014 . Then download the
tutorial data sets and the required Tutorial Files Installation Instructions, and install
the datasets as instructed.
The Frame Analysis environment is a special environment within assembly and
weldment files. The environment has commands unique to its purpose. You can
access the tools from the Design or Environments tabs.
When you open a Frame Analysis and set up your simulation, the assembly frame
model is automatically converted to a simplified model of nodes and beams. The
graphics window displays beams, nodes, and the gravity glyph.
Then, you define the boundary conditions (consisting of loads and constraints). You
can also change beam materials, and specify connections (releases and rigid links).
Once these inputs are entered, you can run the simulation and view the behavior
relative to the conditions you defined.
Objectives

 Create a simulation.
 Evaluate and assign materials.
 Evaluate and assign beam properties.
 Add loads.
 Add constraints.
 Run a simulation.
 View the results.
Prerequisites

 Know how to use the Quick Access toolbar, tabs, and panels on the ribbon, model
browser, and context menus.
 Know how to navigate the model space with the various view tools.
 Know how to specify and edit project files.
 Complete the Frame Generator tutorial.
 See the Help topics for further information.
Navigation Tips

 Use Next or Previous at the bottom-left to advance to the next page or return to the
previous one.
 Open the Assembly

To begin, open the assembly to analyze.

1. Click the Open command on the Quick Access toolbar.

2. Set the Project File to tutorial_files.ipj
3. Select Frame Analysis 1 analyze_frame.iam.
4. Click Open.
5. Click Save as to save the file with a different name, such
as: analyze_frame_tutorial.iam.

Frame Analysis Environment

We are ready to enter the Frame Analysis environment.

1. On the ribbon, click Environments tab Begin panel Frame Analysis .

Initially, there are only three commands enabled: Create Simulation, Frame Analysis
Settings, and Finish Frame Analysis. For now, create a simulation and review the settings
in the next step.

2. On the Manage panel, click the Create Simulation command. The Create New
Simulation dialog box opens.
You can use the dialog box settings to specify a unique name, simulation type, and other
simulation parameters.
There are two types of Frame Analysis.

 Static Analysis evaluates structural loading conditions.

 Modal Analysis evaluates natural frequency modes.

Note: On the Model State tab, you specify the Design View, Positional, and Level of
Detail to use for the simulation. Also, you can specify the iAssembly member to be
associated with the simulation. The settings can be different for each simulation.

3. Click OK to accept the default settings for this simulation.

The Inventor model is automatically converted into idealized nodes and beams, and a
simulation is created. A gravity symbol also displays.
 The browser populates with a hierarchical structure of the assembly and analysis-related
folders.
Most of the commands in the ribbon panels are now enabled for use. Disabled commands
enable after you run the simulation.

Frame Analysis Settings

Frame Analysis settings apply to all new simulations. Whenever a new frame simulation is
started, these preferences are used.
In the Frame Analysis Settings dialog box, you can specify:

 If Heads up Display is the preferred method used during input and edit.
 Colors for displayed boundary conditions, nodes, rigid links, gravity.
 Scale for displayed nodes, loads, and constraints.
 Default visibility settings for all components (beams and other parts) after the conversion.
 Solver method used for beam releases.
 Display of diagrams.
In this tutorial, we use the dialog boxes for input of boundary conditions values.

On the ribbon, click Frame Analysis Settings in the Settings panel.

In the General tab, clear the Use HUD in Application check box. Click OK.

Assign Materials

The next step is to look at the model materials and adjust the material.
For this simulation, we only make a minor material change using materials that are fully
defined.
Before you perform simulations, ensure that your material definitions are complete for those
materials being analyzed. When a material is not completely or inadequately defined, a
warning message displays in the Status folder in the browser. You cannot run a simulation
until you change the material.
Note: You cannot edit a material if the project setting Use Styles Library is set to Read-
Only. To change the setting requires exiting the tutorial. In this tutorial, we use a material
that is already fully defined. You can modify the other materials at a later time.
1. In the browser, expand the Beams folder, and select Beam:1. Right-click and
select Beam Materials. In the Beam Material dialog box, select the beam (DIN U 200
00000001.ipt) in the Beams area.

Note: Beam Material dialog box is also accessible when you click Material on the
Beams panel in the ribbon.

2. Check the Customize box.

Note: The Customize check box is only available when the parent beam is selected.

3. In the drop-down menu in the Material area, select Stainless Steel, Austenitic.
4. Click OK to exit the Beam Material dialog box.
The browser Materials folder receives a Stainless Steel, Austenitic - DIN U 200
00000001.ipt folder added with all the components referencing that material listed within
that folder. If you delete individual components from the folder, their material reverts to the
assembly assigned material.
 Change Beam Properties

You can also change beam properties.

1. In the Beams panel, click the Properties command. The dialog box displays the list
of beams, and basic and mechanical properties of a selected frame member.
2. To change the data, select the parent beam in the Beams area.
3. Check the Customize box to make the edits. In this tutorial, we do not customize any
data.
4. Click Cancel to exit the Beam Properties dialog box.

Change Direction of Gravity

When a frame analysis is created, gravity is automatically applied. In this tutorial, we

change its direction.

1. In the browser, expand the Loads folder. Select Gravity . Right-click, and select Edit.
2. In the Gravity dialog box, select Z Direction from the drop-down list.
3. Click OK to close the Gravity dialog box.
 Add Constraints

Next, we define the boundary conditions by adding structural constraints and loads. We
start with constraints first.
Note: Constraints are required for frame simulations. If you start a simulation without
constraints, a dialog box displays the error message: No constraints defined.

1. In the Constraints panel, click Pinned . The dialog box displays with the Origin
selector active.
2. Select the beam as shown in the image. The preview of the pinned constraint displays.

3. Make sure the Absolute option is selected in the Pinned Constraint dialog box. We insert
the offset value using the absolute values measured from the beginning of the beam.

Note: You can use the Local Systems command in the Display panel to show the
beam coordinate systems to define the beginning of the beams.

4. In the Pinned Constraint dialog box, set Offset to 170 mm, and click OK. The Pinned
constraint is applied.

5. Insert the second pinned constraint to the same beam. Again, click Pinned in
the Constraints panel.
6. Select the same beam, and set Offset to 2330 mm. Click OK.
 Add Constraints to the Next Beam

We must insert pinned constraints to the opposite side of the cart.

1. In the browser, select Constraints folder. Right-click and select Pinned Constraint .
2. Select the beam as shown in the following image. The preview of the pinned constraint
displays.
3. In the Pinned Constraint dialog box, set Offset to 170 mm, and click OK. Pinned
constraint is applied.
4. Insert the second pinned constraint to the same beam. In the browser,
select Constraints folder. Right-click and select Pinned Constraint .
5. Select the same beam, and set Offset to 2330 mm. Click OK.
 We applied all necessary constraints so we can add loads now.

Add Loads

Now assign loads on the components.

1. In the Loads panel, click Force . The dialog box displays with the Origin selector
active.
2. Select the middle beam where the force is

acting.
3. In the dialog box, enter 500 N for the Magnitude value, and 0 degrees for Angle of
Plane.

Note: The Angle of plane specifies the rotation of the XY plane where the force is acting.
Angle in plane defines the angle of the applied force from the Z-axis.

4. Click the More button to expand the dialog box to display additional controls for
specifying the force vector. In the Offset area, check the Relative box. You can now
position the force to the middle of the selected beam. Enter 0.5 in the Offset edit field in
 the upper part of the dialog box. Click OK to exit the Force dialog

box.

Run the Simulation

We are now ready to run the simulation.

In the Solve panel, click Simulate . The progress bar displays showing the status of
the simulation.

View and Interpret Results

After the simulation completes, the graphics window displays the Displacement results plot,
by default. Expand the Results folder to explore the complete set of results.
There are various commands for viewing result data. Most are located in
the Result and Display panels.
Save the assembly. You use this assembly in the Frame Analysis Results and Modal
Type of Frame Analysis tutorials.

Summary

The previous image is what you see if you look at the F x Forces results for this simulation.
 Now you have a basic understanding of the typical workflow in the frame analysis
environment. This workflow includes:

 Creating a simulation.
 Assigning materials as overrides of the existing material.
 Adding constraints and loads, sometimes called boundary conditions.
 Running a simulation.
 Viewing the results.
What Next? As a next step, explore the tools available for viewing and interpreting results.
The Frame Analysis Results tutorial takes you through these topics.
Previous
Click here to return to the tutorials home page
 Frame Analysis Results

Topics in this section

 About this tutorial

 Get Started
 Frame Analysis Environment
 View and Interpret the Results
 Display Maximum and Minimum Values
 View Beam Detail
 Display and Edit Diagrams
 Adjust Displacement Display
 Animate the Results
 Generate Report
 Summary

About this tutorial

Category
Simulation

Time Required
15 minutes

Tutorial File Used

analyze_frame_tutorial.iam
 Note: Click and read the required Tutorial Files Installation Instructions
athttp://www.autodesk.com/inventor-tutorial-data-sets-2014 . Then download the
tutorial data sets and the required Tutorial Files Installation Instructions, and install
the datasets as instructed.
Objectives

 Open a simulation.
 View and interpret the results.
 Display and edit diagrams.
 View beam detail.
 Adjust displacement display.
 Display maximal and minimal values in the graphics window.
 Animate results.
 Generate report.
Prerequisites

 Complete the Frame Analysis tutorial.

 Know how to use the Quick Access toolbar, tabs and panels on the ribbon, model
browser, and context menus.
 Know how to specify and edit project files.
 See the Help topics for further information.
Navigation Tips

 Use Next or Previous at the bottom-left to advance to the next page or return to the
previous one.

Get Started

To begin, open the assembly to analyze.

1. Click the Open command on the Quick Access toolbar.

2. Set the Project File to tutorial_files.ipj
3. Select Frame Analysis 1 analyze_frame_tutorial.iam.

Note: This assembly was created during Frame Analysis tutorial.

4. Click Open.

Frame Analysis Environment

We are ready to enter the Frame Analysis environment.

On the ribbon, click Environments tab Begin panel Frame Analysis .
We created a simulation during the Frame Analysis tutorial so the model with simulation
results displays. The displacement results plot displays in the graphics window by default.

The browser populates with a hierarchical structure of the assembly and analysis-related
folders.
All the commands in the ribbon panels are now enabled for use. We can use the commands
for viewing and interpreting results.

View and Interpret the Results

In the browser, expand the Results folder.

The Results folder includes results for Displacement, Forces, Moments, Normal Stresses,
Shear Stresses, Torsional Stresses, and the Diagrams folder.
Expand a folder and double-click to display the particular result.
When there are any errors or warnings during a simulation, they display in the Status folder.
Our simulation ran without any problems, so the Status folder is empty.
We now explore various tools located in the Result and Display panels for viewing result
data.

Display Maximum and Minimum Values

Minimum and maximum values quickly show the locations of load extremes.

In the Display panel, click Max Value . In the graphics window, a label with a leader
points to the location of the maximum value.

In the Display panel, click Min Value . In the graphics window, a label with a leader
points to the location of the minimum value.
Note: You can drag the labels to different locations.
The following image shows maximum and minimum values for the Displacement results
plot.

Cancel the selection of the Max Value and Mix Value options in the Display panel to hide
the values.
View Beam Detail

You can display detailed results for the selected beams. In the Result panel, click Beam

Detail .

First, select a beam whose results you want to display. Select a beam as shown in the
following image.

In the Diagram Selection area, select the result data you want to display as a diagram.
Select a particular force, moment, or stress to display its diagram, Fz for example. The
displayed diagram is for viewing only and cannot be edited.
A complete list of beam results displays on the right side of the dialog box.
Click OK to close the dialog box.

Display and Edit Diagrams

To display results for a given beam, you can add user-defined diagrams to the graphics

window. In the Result panel, click Diagram .

In the Beams area, select how you want to specify which beams are included in the
diagrams. In this tutorial, check the Selected Beams box, and select the beam as shown in
the following image.
Now, select which results you want to display. Check the Fx and Fy boxes in
the Loads area.

Click OK to close the Diagram dialog box.

You can adjust the display of beam diagrams in the Diagram Scales dialog box. In the
browser, select Diagrams, right-click, and select Diagram Scales . Use the Expand,
Contract, and Normalize buttons to adjust the scale of diagrams. Click OK to see the
change in the scale in displayed diagrams.

Adjust Displacement Display

You can scale the model deformation using the options in the Adjust Displacement
Display drop-down list in the Display panel.
 Expand the Results folder, and double-click the Displacement browser node.
Select a multiple to improve the view of the deformation of the model.
In the following image, the Adjusted x0.5 option is selected.

In the following image, the Adjusted x5 option is selected.

Animate the Results

Now, create an animation of the results.

1. Click Animate in the Result panel.

2. In the Animate Results dialog box, specify number of steps. Set the Steps edit field to 8.
3. Specify the playback speed. Select Normal in the Speed drop-down menu.

4. Click the Play command to see the animation. You can pause playback.
5. When you finish the displacement animation, click OK to exit the animation playback.
The Animate Results dialog box also has options for displaying the original wireframe with
the plot. You can also record the animation to present or retain for records.

Generate Report

We can generate a report of the simulation results which includes all the simulation data
and outputs.

1. Click Report in the Publish panel.

2. On the General tab, check the Custom box.
3. Switch to the Simulations tab, and make sure the Material and Cross Section in the tree
are selected.
4. Switch to the Format tab and make sure the Web page – multiple files (.html) option is
selected in the Report Format drop-down menu.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box and create the HTML report.
Report contains text and PNG images that represent a static snapshot of the analysis
results.

Summary

Now you have an understanding of the tools you can use to view and interpret results of
frame analysis. You know how to:

 Display and edit diagrams.

 View beam detail.
 Adjust displacement display.
 Display maximal and minimal values in the graphics window.
 Animate results.
 Generate report.
What Next? As a next step, look into creating advanced connections (releases and rigid
links), and adding custom nodes to the beam model. The Frame Analysis
Connections tutorial takes you through these topics.