Convergence UnderstandingConvergenceLecture UnderstandingConvergence.

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Understanding Convergence
Using Convergence to determine whether there is a viable analysis result from Mechanica.
Convergence defined

Solution does not change appreciably as a function of mesh characteristics. In the case of Mechanica, the mesh characteristics are the p-level of each analysis elemen edge.

Evaluating results:

Review analysis summary o Max Edge Order o Resultant force = Applied Loads o Error Estimates Convergence graphs o Slope approaches zero Review stress error fringe plots Review general fringe plots o Locate singularities & discontinuities.

Mesh Elements for Analysis

Stress vs. P Loop Pass LectureNotes Defining Convergence

Converge can be described as a situation in which the solution found does not change appreciably as a function of mesh characteristics (be it a polynomial order or number of elements). Convergence is an important characteristic of the solution because it enables you to determine whether you have a viable solution. Here, you will examine the procedures available in Mechanica to estimate solution quality. Evaluating MPA and SPA Results Knowing if a solution has converged is a critical step in evaluating the quality of a solution. To determine whether a solution is converged, you should perform the following reviews:

Review the analysis summary content (available for both MPA and SPA): In the case of MPA analyses, Mechanica specifies the Maximum Edge Order for each Pass it goes through. A value of 9 indicates that at least one edge went to plevel 9. This may indicate that youre dealing with a potentially unconverged solution. If thats the case, Mechanica will provide a message indicating whether the analysis failed to converge within the specified error percentage. Also, ensure that the resultant force in the model equals the load applied in the model (all the loads applied in the model need to be accounted for). In the case of SPA analyses, you do not control the convergence tolerance, but you do need to examine the stress error estimates reported in the run summary. If these errors are acceptable, then continue to use the SPA convergence criteria for efficiency. Generate convergence graphs (available only for MPA analyses): You can create a graph plotting the quantity of interest (max displacement, max stress, and so on) against the p-pass. The convergence can be quantified as a graph that has a zero slope towards the higher p-levels and a clear trend approaching a value. This is probably the best way to identify the quality of the solution. A good example of this is shown on the graph shown above: you can see the slope of the max_stress_vm approaches zero as the p-level increases (the P Loop Pass axis). View local stress error estimates: For SPA and MPA analyses, you can opt to have Mechanica calculate error estimates for each element in the model by selecting the Local Stress Errors check box in the Calculate section on the Output tab for static analyses. Selecting this option enables you to create a fringe plot for the analysis which shows the estimated local stress error for each element. This error can be expressed as a percentage normalized by the maximum model stress, a percentage normalized by the maximum element stress, or in terms of its raw value. View and investigate the fringe plots: You can create fringe plots (with Average and Continuous Tone turned off, however, remember to turn on Display Element Edges) of the quantities of interest. This is useful for locating and investigating discontinuities between elements. Within recent years, Mechanica has refined the Single-Pass Adaptive (SPA) method to the extent that it has become a more rigorous method to estimate

Best Practices

and improve solution accuracy. In general, you should use SPA convergence when able. For instance, larger models analyzed using the SPA method require less disk space and computational memory. On the other hand, when using the SPA method you have less information regarding the quality of the solution, and you must rely on experience to detect improperly converged results. A run usually fails to converge for one of two reasons: a singularity is present and the engine is trying to capture a high stress or flux gradient, or a highly distorted element is trying to capture a smooth stress or flux field. Therefore, always monitor and understand stress singularities in the model. Singularities cause edges in a model to require a high p-level for convergence thus resulting in a longer solution time. Additionally, the result of singularities can cause anything from abnormally high results to models that will not converge. Use your best judgment when specifying the convergence percentage in the case of MPA analyses. The default value is 10%, but it can be lowered or increased to different values based on the geometry/loads/constraints available in the model. If you are primarily interested in a quantity other than the convergence quantity, check whether that quantity converged. You only need to rerun the study if the quantity of interest did not converge or come close to converging.

UnderstandingConvergenceDemonstration UnderstandingConvergence_demo.mp4 UnderstandingConvergenceProcedure

Procedure: Understanding Convergence

Scenario
Review a stress error estimate fringe plot and a convergence graph of a Mechanica analysis model. Error error_plate.prt

Task 1. Open the model, run an analysis, and review the element stress error estimate results.
1. Click Applications > Mechanica. 2. Click Mechanica Analyses/Studies from the Main toolbar. 3. Right-click the ERROR analysis in the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box and select Edit.

Note that the ERROR analysis has already been defined as a Static Analysis with appropriate Load and Constraint sets and MPA convergence.

4. Select the Output tab and select the Local Stress Errors check box as shown.

5. Click OK to close the Static Analysis Definition dialog box. 6. Click Start Run > Yes in the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box.

The analysis should complete in just about 30 seconds.

7. When the analysis completes, click Close in the Diagnostics dialog box. 8. Verify that ERROR is still selected in the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box and click Results to start Results mode. 9. Select Element Stress Error Estimate from the first drop-down field in the Quantity tab. Verify that the second field is set to Normalized by Maximum Model Stress. The dialog box should appear as shown.

10. Click OK and Show from the Result Window Definition dialog box to show the result.

11. Click Copy

from the main toolbar.

12. Select Graph from the Display Type drop-down menu. 13. Select Measure from the drop-down menu in the Graph Ordinate section of the dialog box. 14. Click Define Measure , select max_stress_vm from the Measures dialog box and click OK. The dialog box should appear as shown.

15. Click OK and Show from the Result Window Definition dialog box to show the result.

The curve of the convergence graph smoothly approaching a maximum value suggests a well converged solution. Additionally, the local stress error estimate graphs show no large errors, nor do they show any significant errors in areas of interest such as high stress areas. Given these pieces of information, we can conclude that this problem is well converged and probably fairly accurate. Note that although not shown here, the local stress error estimate fringe plots are also available for analyses using the SPA convergence option.

16. After reviewing the result window, click File > Exit Results > No to close the results window. 17. If necessary, return to the Standard Pro/ENGINEER mode by clicking Applications > Standard. 18. Click Save from the main toolbar and click OK to save the model. 19. Click File > Erase > Current > Yes to erase the model from memory. This completes the procedure.