Element Analysis Consultancy Home About Us Services Terms & Conditions ‘Submissions Examples Clients ANSYS Tutorials Sitemap Search this site ANSYS Tutorials > ANSYS 2D Plane Stress Analysis (Plate with a Hole) Disclaimer. This tutorial is an educational too! designed to assist those who wish to leam how to use the ANSYS finite element software package. It is not intended as a guide for determining suitable modelling methods or strategies for any application. The authors of this tutorial have used their best efforts in preparing the tutorial. These efforts include the development, research and testing of the theories and computational ‘models shown in the tutorial. The authors make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to any text or models contained in this tutorial. The authors shall not be liable in any event for incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the fumishing, performance, or use of the text and models provided in this tutorial. There is no gaurantee that there are no mistakes or errors in the information provided and the authors assume no responsibility for the use of any of the information contained in this tutorial. Overview In this tutorial you will examine the 2-D distribution of stress in a flat plate with a hole loaded in simple tension using ANSYS. The "plate with a hole" problem is one of the fundamental leaming steps in any study of finite element analysis as it illustrates a number of key points fundamental to correct application of the finite element method to stress analysis. If you pick up pretty much any book on FEA you will find that it covers the "plate with a hole" problem once 2D plane elements have been introduced0.001m 4 Area~ 0.001 x0.1 0.0001 m2 F=1000N ° 1m . Figure 01: Overview of the "Plate with a Hole Problem” Figure 01 shows an overview of the problem we are going to model in this tutorial, We have a square plate 0.1m wide and 0.1m high. It has a thickness of 0.001m and is subjected to a tensile load of 1000 N. It has a circular hole located in the centre of the plate with a diameter of 0.01m. We are going to make two different models of this problem, as shown in figure 02. First we will model the entire problem unsing plane stress elements then we will exploit symmetry and create another ‘model that only requires 1/4 of the plate to be modelled but wil still give the same solution! F=1000N) P= 1000N, om Figure 02: The two modelling approaches we are going to use to mode! the "plate with a hole” problem. The Full Model (left) and the 1/4 Model (Right). In both cases we are seeking to find the maximum horizontal stress in the plate which we will validate against analytical theory with the help of a stress concentration factor. Analytical Theory Simple stress theory tells us that stress is load divided by area, so for the above plate (ignoring the hole) the nominal stress would be: pom = Force/Area= 1000/0,0001 = 1 x 10? Pa Now, we can find a "stress concentration factor" for a plate with a hole in tension. There are tables available which list these for various ratios of r/D where r is the radius of the hole and D is the height of the plate. In our case r/D = 0.005/0.1 = 0.05. Now, checking the graph of stress concentration factor vs r/D ratio:o2 0, Ao 6 0 8 09 we can easily see that, in our case, the stress concentration factor, K is going to be more or less equal to 3. So, K = 3 ‘The means that the maximum stress in the plate, due to the presence of the hole is going to be three times the nominal stress in the plate, or in other words: Graz = KX Grom = 3X (LX 107)=3 x 107 Pa So, the maxmimum stress in the horizontal direction that we expect see in our finite element results is around 30 MPa, Let's go ahead and start the finite element analysis. The steps are listed below, or, if you prefer: a video showing you how to do this analysis. is_— available. on —-Youtube https:/www. youtube, comiwatch?v=ESnG3-0_GJ8 Step 4: Launch ANSYS We have already covered how to launch ANSYS property in tutorials 1 and 2. Please go back and re-read these tutorials if you cannot remember how to do it Step 2: Define Element Type 1. Inthe Main Menu select Preprocessor > Element Type > AddlEdit/Delete 2. Click on Add in the dialog box that appearsLibrary of Element Types [Structure Element type reference number 1 ok Apply 3. Select Solid in the left hand menu and Quad 8 node 183 in the ‘ight hand menu and then click OK 4. This defines element type 1 as a 2D quadratic 8-node quadrilateral element (Le. a rectangle with curved edges) 5. Now we must define how this element behaves. Click on Options in the Element Types dialog box: Defined Element Types: 7 WAS 6. In the element type options dialog box that appears, make sure that the Element behavior is set to "Plane Stress with thickness" as shown in the figure below:‘Options for PLANE183, Element Type Ref. No.1 Element shape KL Element behavior B Element formulation _K6 (NOTE: Mixed formulation is not valid with plane stress) ok Caneel 7. Click Close to close the Element Type dialog box Step 3: Define The Plate Thickness (Real Constant) 1. Inthe Main Menu select Preprocessor > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Deleto 2. Click on Add in the dialog box that appears. 3. Click on OK to define a real constant for element type 1 PLANE. 183, Element Type Reference No.1 Real Constant Set No. Real Constant for Plane Stress with Thickness (KEVOPT(3)=3) Thickness THK 0.001 OK Apply Cane 5. Enter the value for the plate thickness: 0.001 m and then click OK 6. Click on Close to close the real constants dialog box. Step 4: Define the Material Bohaviour 1. Inthe Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models, the Define Material Model Behaviour dialog box will now appear. 2. Expand the options in the right hand pane of the dialogbox: Structural > Linear > Isotropic In the dialog box that pops up, enter suitable material parameters for steel ( E = 210 x 10° Pa, Poissons ratio = 0,3): Click on Ok to close the dialog box in which you entered the ‘material parameters. Close the Define Material Mode! Behaviour dialog box by clicking ‘on the X in the upper right comer. Step 5: Create the Plate Geometry 1 In the Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Modelling > Create > Areas > Rectangle > By 2 Corners ‘The WP X and WP Y boxes are used to define the coordinates for the lower left coordinates of the rectangle and the width and height are entered in the other boxes. Set the lower left comer at the coordinates (0,0) and make the width and height equal to 0.1 m, as show below: You should see a blue square appear on your screen, We will now create the hole: Preprocessor > Modelling > Create > Areas > Circle > Solid Circle We must place the centre of the circle at the centre of the ‘square so enter 0.05 for WP X and WP Y, The radius of the circle is 0,005 m10. 1" 12. 13, 14. You should notice the outline of a circle appearing in the centre of the plate, Now, we are going to subtract the circle area from the rectangular area to give the correct plate with a hole geometry: Preprocessor > Modelling > Operate > Booleans > Subtract > Areas ‘The Subtract Areas pick box will appear. If you look at the bottom of the main menu you will see a prompt asking you to "Pick or enter base areas from which to subtract”. This means we need to pick the square first. Click on the square with your mouse ‘You will probably find a dialog box like this appearing There are 2 Areas at this location, Ficked Area is 1 Continue picking or select OK, PREV or NEXT Prev | Ne This means that ANSYS is not entirely sure which area you ‘meant to pick (either the circle or the rectangle), Take a look at the screen and if the entire rectangle has changed colour (to indicate that itis picked) then you can just click on OK in this dialog box. If things don't look ok then click on Next or Prev to toggle between selecting the two areas. Now click on OK in the Subtract Areas pick box. Anew Subtract Areas pick box will immediatly appear and the message at the bottom of the main window will change to "Pickor enter areas to be subtracted”. This means we need to pick the Circle. Click on the circle with your mouse. Use the "multiple entities” dialog box if required to ensure it is only the circle that is selected and then click on OK to close the Subtract Areas dialog box. should now look like this: 16. Your geometi Step 6: Mesh the Geometry 1. Inthe Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool 2. This will open the Mesh Too! window. 3. We are now going to use the Mesh Too! to set the size of the elements to all be a constant size before we begin the meshing process. In the Mesh Tool click on Areas > Set as shown in the figure below:4, Use your mouse to click on the plate geometry, Once you have clicked on it, the Element Size at Picked Areas dialog box will appear. Enter 0.001 m for the Element Edge Length to define the size of each element, as shown below: 6. Click on OK to close the dialog box. 7. Now we must divide the plate up into elements. in the Mesh Tool window click on Mesh. '8. You should see the plate divided up into quadrilateral finite elements:Step 7: Apply the Boundary Conditions In the Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Lines2. Pick the vertical line on the left hand side of the plate and the click OK in the picker dialog box. 3. In the dialog box that appears make sure that only UX is selected as we only want to constrain this line in the X (.e. horizontal) direction. IDL] Apply Displacements (U.ROT) on Lines Lab2_ DOFs to be constrained [All DOF "I Apply as [Constant VALUE Displacement value 0 4. You should notice some blue triangles appearing on the line indicating that it has been constrained. 5. If we only applied this displacement then there would be nothing to stop the entire model from moving in the vertical direction even though we will not be applying any loads in the vertical direction, This could occur due to imbablances in the mesh as internal forces work their way through the mesh etc. in order to Prevent this from happening we need to constrain at least one more node in the vertical direction also. We are going to constrain a node at the centre of the left hand vertical ine in the Y direction: 6. Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Nodes. 7. Click on the node at the centreline of the plate on the left hand edge and then click on OK 8. In the dialog box that appears make sure the DOF to be constrained is set to UY only and then click on OK.[D] Apply Displacements (U,ROT) on Nodes Lab2_DOFS tobe consisined (arbor x jv New wy Apply as [Constant | constant vale then: J VALUE displacement value a 9. You will probably get a waming saying that "Both solid mode! and finite element boundary conditions have been applied to this ‘model. As solid loads are transferred to the nodes or elements, they can overwrite directly applied loads”. This is OK just click ‘on Close to dismiss this dialog. Step 8: Force ‘ouple the Nodes on the Right Hand Edge and Apply the 1. Inthe Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Coupling! Ceqn > Couple DOF 2. Make sure that the box option is selected in the Define Coupled DOF pick box, as shown below:Draw a box around the nodes on the right hand edge of the plate finite element model by clicking your left mouse button and holding it down to draw the box. Release the left mouse button When the box is the size you require. Now, click on OK to close the picker dialog box. ‘The next dialog box asks you for a Set Reference Number - enter any number you wish (have used 99 in the image below). ‘The dialog box also asks you which degree of freedom you wish to couple: make sure that this is set to UX, as shown below. [CP] Define Set of Coupled DOFs INSET Set reference number 9 Lab Degree-of-freedom label Ux ok | _ Ape | cancet_| You should notice green arrows appearing on all the nodes on the right hand edge of the plate, indicating that their UX degree of freedom has been coupled. We can now apply the required force to any one of the coupled9. 10. " 12. 13, nodes: Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Nodes Click on any of the nodes on the right hand edge of the plate and then click on OK to close the picker dialog. Change the force direction to FX and enter a Force/Moment value of 1000 in order to apply 1000 N. You should notice a read arrow appearing on your screen pointing to the right. Your screen should now look like this:Step 10: Solve the Problem 1. In the Main Menu select Solution > Analysis Type > NewAnalysis Make sure that Static is selected in the dialog box that pops up and then click on OK to dismiss the dialog. Select Solution > Solve > Current LS to solve the problem ‘A new window and a dialog box will pop up. Take a quick look at the infromation in the window (/STATUS Command) before closing it Click on OK in the dialog box to solve the problem ‘Once the problem has been solved you will get a message to say that the solution is done, close this window when you are ready Step 11: Examine the Results 1 In the Main Menu select General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape Select Def + undef edge in order to show both the deformed and undeformed shapes. Your screen should look something like this:4, Notice that the plate has reduced height and elongated in the horizontal direction, The hole has changed shape from a perfect circle to an ovoid shape. This is all as we would expect. 5. In the Main Menu select General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > Stross > X-Component of Stross 6. You should see a plot similar to this:7. Notice that the maximum stress is approximately 30 MPa and is at the top and bottom of the hole. This is the result that was predicted by our analytical theory. Step 12: Change the Model to take advantage of Symmetry 1. We are now going to remove 3/4 of the model and use a 1/4 symmetry model of the plate to obtain the same result as above. 2. We must first clear the mesh: Main Menu select Preprocessor > Meshing > Clear > Areas and click on Pick All in the picker dialog box. 3. You will get a message telling you that the coupled set has been deleted - this is ok, just click on close to get rid of this message. 4, Inorder to display the geometry again: Utility Menu > Plot > Areas 5. We are going to use the workplane to cut the exis 19 Model intofour quarters, Turn on the workplane by selecting: Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Display Working Plane 6. By default, the workplane is located and aligned with the global origin. We must now move it to the centre of the plate: Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Offset WP to > XYZ Locations 7. Enter the coordinates 0.05,0.05 in the pick dialog box that appears: 8, You should notice the workplane move to the centre of the hole in the centre of the plate. 9. By default ANSYS uses the XY plane of workplane to cut through an object. We must now rotate the workplane so that it's XY plane cuts through the plate. Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Offset WP by increments... 10. In the dialog box that appears change the number of degrees to ‘90 and then rotate the workplane in the positive X - direction, as shown below:1. 12, 13, 14, 15. XY. YZ,ZX Angles o I Dynamic Made OK Apply Cancel Click on OK to close the Offset WP dialog box, Now let's start cutting up the plate: Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modelling > Operate > Booleans > Divide > Area by Workplane Click on the plate and then click on OK. ‘The plate is now divided vertically into two halves. Let's now delete the lower half: Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modelling > Delete > Area and Below Click on the lower half of the plate and click on OK. Your screen should now look like this:16. v7. 18, 20. 2 22. 23. 24, 28. We will now repeat a lot of the above process to remove the left hand 1/4 of the plate: Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Offset WP by increments. Click on the +Y rotation button to rotate the workplane so the XY plane is in the vertical direction on the screen then click on OK to close the dialog box. Now let's cut the plate again: Main Menu > Proprocessor > Modelling > Operate > Booleans > Divide > Aroa by Workplane 1. Click on the plate and then click on OK. The plate is now divided horizontally into two halves. Let's now delete the left hand half: Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modelling > Delete > Area and Below Click on the left hand side of the plate and click on OK. It is good practice to put the workplane back in its original position when you are finished using it: Your screen shou WorkPlane > Ali now look like this: Utility Menu > n WP with > Global Cartesian You can also tum off the workplane again: Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Display Working Plane Now, let's do a replot to tidy up our display: Utility Menu > Plot > Areas26. 27. 28. 29, 30. 31. 32, 33, 36. Your screen should now look like this: We want to ensure that we get a nice regular mesh when we mesh this 1/4 of the plate. A very regular mapped mesh would be desireable here but a mapped mesh is only possible with a four sided area and our area has five sides. in order to overcome this we are going to concatanate the lines on the top and the Tight (Je. merge them into one line). This way we can “trick” the mesher into thinking it is a four sided object and obtain a nice mapped mesh. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modelling > Operate > Booleans > Add > Lines Pick the lines at the top and right of the 1/4 plate and then click on OK ‘A dialog box will appear asking you if you want to keep or delete the existing lines: make sure "Deleted" is selected and then click on OK You will get a waming message telling you that the lines do not share a common slope at the upper right hand comer and this will cause problems if you try to sweep the new line to form another object. This doesn't apply here, as we won't be doing this, so we can just ignore this waming and close the waming. We can now begin to mesh our 1/4 plate: Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Meshtool In the MeshTool, under "Size Controls" click on Lines > Set Click on the line at the bottom of the plate and click on OK. In the dialog box that appears enter 20 for the number of divisions and 5 for the spacing ratio. This will ensure that this line is divided into 20 elements and that the elements at one end of the line will be 5 times bigger than the elements at the other end Make sure that the small elements are near the hole: UtilityMenu > Plot > Lines If they are not in the right place then use the Flip button on the meshtoo! to flip the spacing over. 36. Repeat steps 33-35 with the line at the left hand edge of the 1/4 late. 37. Now, we will set the number of divisions on the curved line that defines the hole: this time enter 20 for the number of divisions and set the spacing ratio to 1 as we don't want the elements to change size over the length of this line, 38, We can now mesh the 1/4 plate: In the Meshtool make sure that the Shape is set to "Quad" and that "Mapped" meshing is. selected, then click on Mesh. 39. Pick the 1/4 area and then click on OK. Your sereen should look. like this: 40. Now, apply a symmetry boundary condition to the lines on the left and the bottom of the 1/4 plate: Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > Symmetry BC > On Lines 41. Pick the lines on the left and the bottom of the 1/4 plate and then click on OK. You should see small "s" symbols appear along these lines to show that a symmetry constraint has been applied. 42. Now, we must couple the nodes on the right hand line together and apply the load as we did above. Repeat the steps detailed above to do this, but this time, take care to only apply a load of500 N, as due to the symmetry boundary conditions, any load we applied will be effectively doubled 43. Now, solve the problem as usual and then check the deformed shape and the stress in the X-direction. 44. The deformed shape: This is as expected 46. The stress in the x-direction:47. Again, as expected and with a magnitude of 29.7 MPa. This is slightly below what we expected 30 MPa but is still 99% accurate, We could possibly improve the accuracy by changing the mesh, ‘Summary This tutorial has given you the following skills: 1. The ability to model plane stress problems in ANSYS. 2. The ability to generate finite element models by meshing a solid model (in this case an area) The ability to apply loads to 2D models using coupled DOF. ‘The ability to produce contour plots of stress in 2D plane models. 5. The ability to divide and manipulate a model using the ANSYS workpl ‘The ability exploit symmetry in a model using appropriate boundary conditions. ‘The ability to produce a mapped mesh by conecatinating lines. Experience in comparing the results obtained from your finite element model with other results and validating your results against the other results ae ex Log Files / Input Files COMING SOON! The log file for this tutorial may also be used as an input file to automatically run the analysis in ANSYS. In order to use this file as. an input file save it to your working directory and then select Utility Menu> File > Read input from... and select the file. You should notice ANSYS automatically building the finite element model and issuing all the commands detailed above. Quitting ANSYS To quit ANSYS select Utility Menu > File > Exit... In the dialog box that appears click on Save Everything (assuming that you want to) and then click on Ok Click here to return to the list of ANSYS tutorials ‘Signin | Report Abuse | Print Page | Powered 8y Google Sites