Chapter 3 2D Simulations 1

Chapter 3
2D Simulations
3.1 Step-by-Step: Triangular Plate
3.2 Step-by-Step: Threaded Bolt-and-Nut
3.3 More Details
3.4 More Exercise: Spur Gears
3.5 More Exercise: Filleted Bar
3.6 Review
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.1 Triangular Plate 2

Section 3.1
Triangular Plate

Problem Description

The plate is made of steel and designed

to withstand a tensile force of 20,000 N
on each of its three side faces.
We are concerned about the
deformations and the stresses.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.1 Triangular Plate 3

Project Schematic
Techniques/Concepts
Concepts>Surface From
Sketches
Analysis Type (2D)
Plane Stress Problems
Generate 2D Mesh
2D Solid Elements
<Relevance Center> and
<Relevance>
Loads>Pressure
Weak Springs
Solution>Total Deformation
Solution>Equivalent Stress
Tools>Symmetry
Coordinate System
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut 4

Section 3.2
Threaded Bolt-and-Nut

Problem Description
[1] Bolt.
[2] Nut.

[3]
Plates. [4] Section
view.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut 5

[1] The 2D
simulation
17 mm model.

The axis of symmetry

The plane of symmetry

[6]
Frictionless
support.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut 6

Techniques/Concept
s
Hide/Show Sketches
Display Model/Plane
Add Material/Frozen
Axisymmetric Problems
Contact/Target
Frictional Contacts
Edge Sizing
Loads>Force
Supports>Frictionless
Support
Solution>Normal Stress
Radial/Axial/Hoop Stresses
Nonlinear Simulations
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 7

Section 3.3 Plane stress condition:

More Details The Hook's law becomes

Plane-Stress
Problems



A problem may assume the

plane-stress condition if its

thickness direction is not
Z
Y Stress state at a restrained and thus free to
point of a zero
X
thickness plate, expand or contract.
subject to in-plane
forces.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 8

Plane-Strain
Plane strain condition:
Problems
The Hook's law becomes

X

Z

Y

A problem may assume the plane-

strain condition if its Z-direction is
restrained from expansion or
[2] Strain state contraction, all cross-sections
at a point of a
plane-strain perpendicular to the Z-direction have
structure.
the same geometry, and all
environment conditions are in the XY
plane.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 9

Axisymmetric Problems
If the geometry, supports,

[1] Strain and loading of a structure are

state at a
point of a axisymmetric about the Z-

axisymmet axis, then all response
ric
structure. quantities are independent of
coordinate.

In such a case,



[2] Stress
state at a both andare generally not
point of a
axisymmet
zero. They are termed hoop
ric
structure. stress and hoop strain

respectively.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 10

Mechanical GUI

Pull-down Menus
and Toolbars
Outline of Project
Tree
Details View
Geometry
Graph
Tabular Data
Status Bar
Separators
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 11

Project Tree

A project tree may contain one or more

simulation models.
A simulation model may contain one or
more <Environment> branches, along
with other objects. Default name for
the <Environment> branch is the name
of the analysis system.
An <Environment> branch contains
<Analysis Settings>, environment
conditions, and a <Solution> branch.
A <Solution> branch contains <Solution
Information> and several results
objects.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 12

Unit Systems [1] Built-in

[2] Unit
system for
[3] Default
project
unit current unit
systems. project. system.
Consistent versus Inconsistent
Unit Systems.
Built-in versus User-Defined
Unit Systems.
Project Unit System.
Length Unit in
<DesignModeler>.
Unit System in <Mechanical>.
Internal Consistent Unit
System.
[4] Checked
[5] These, along with unit systems
the SI, are won't be
consistent unit available in the
systems. pull-down
menu.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 13

Environment
Conditions
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 14

Results
Objects

View Results
[3] Label. [5] You can [6] Some
control how results can
the contour display with
displays. vectors.

[1] Click to turn [2] Click to

[4] You may on/off the label turn on/off the
select the of probe.
scale of maximum/mini
deformation mum.
.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.4 Spur Gears 15

Section 3.4
Spur Gears

Problem Description [1] What we are

concerned most
is the contact
stress here.

[2] And the

bending stress
here.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.4 Spur Gears 16

Techniques/Concept
s

Copy bodies (Translate)

Contacts
Frictionless
Symmetric
(Contact/Target)
Adjust to Touch
Loads>Moment
True Scale
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 17

Section 3.5
Filleted Bar

Problem Description
[1] The bar 100 100
[2] The bar
is made of
has a
steel.
thickness of
10 mm.
R15

50 kN 50 kN
100

50
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 18

Part A. Stress Discontinuity

Displacement
field is
continuous over
the entire body.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 19

[4] By default, stresses

are averaged on the
[2] Original nodes, and the stress
calculated field is recalculated.
stresses That way, the stress field
(unaveraged) are is continuous over the
not continuous body.
across element
boundaries, i.e.,
stress at
boundary has
multiple values.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 20

Part B. Structural Error

For an element, strain energies calculated using averaged stresses and

unaveraged stresses respectively are different. The difference between
these two energy values is called <Structural Error> of the element.
The finer the mesh, the smaller the structural error. Thus, the structural
error can be used as an indicator of mesh adequacy.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 21

Part C. Finite Element

Convergence [1] Quadrilateral
element.

[2] Triangular
element.

[3]
Increasing
nodes.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 22

Part D. Stress Concentration

[1] To accurately [2] Stress

evaluate the concentration.
concentrated
stress, finer mesh
is needed,
particularly around
the corner.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 23

Part E. Stress
Sigularity
Stress singularity is not
The stress in
this zero-
limited to sharp corners.
radius fillet is Any locations that have
theoretically
infinite. stress of infinity are called
singular points.
Besides a concave fillet of
zero radius, a point of
concentrated forces is also
a singular point.