H.W.

3
STATIC RIKS ANALYSIS

Submitted to
Assistant Professor Dr. Jasim Ali Abdullah

By
Borkan Moatasem Mutashar
PhD student

Department Of Civil Engineering

Collage Of Engineering
University Of Mosul
What is the difference between General static step and Static
Riks?
General static step is used for typical static stress analysis. Thus, it’s the most
popular type of step. Static Riks, on the other hand, is used for something a lot
more specific - post-buckling (nonlinear buckling) simulations performed
after regular Buckle step.
Moreover, the general static step in Abaqus finds static equilibrium. However,
problems such as snap-through have no static equilibrium in load-
control because during the snap-though there is more than one displacement
solution for the given load. Other problems such as snap-back (e.g., unstable
behavior of cohesive elements) have no static equilibrium in displacement-
control because during the snap-back there is more than one load solution for
the given displacement. The Rik’s step addresses this problem by using the
applied load as a solution variable. The load is incremented using a load
proportionality factor (LPF) and the configuration of the structure is tracked
using an arc length method. This allows the procedure to know the direction
of the load so that history dependence is preserved.
The implication of describing the load as a solution variable is that a Rik’s step
cannot end after a certain prescribed load. Therefore, the procedure is
completed after a certain amount of displacement at a given node, or until a
maximum LPF has been achieved.

Nonlinear Analysis
Any static analysis must be statically stable to calculate a solution. In a
nonlinear analysis, a model that starts out being statically stable can become
unstable due to large deflections or material nonlinearities. Snap-through
behavior and buckling are two examples of models that may become statically
unstable. Riks Analysis is a special method to capture the behavior after the
instability. In Figure 1, Riks analysis will continue to calculate the results
(follow the force-deflection curve) after point 1. Other static analysis types
may fail to find the curve after point 1.
Stability and Instability
Stability of material systems including structures systems is one of the major
requirements. In simple terms, stability of a system implies that the system can
maintain an existing state without major deviations from that state. The lack of
stability of a system (i.e., the instability) may result changes in the properties and
behavior of the system, which are not necessarily desired. The structural systems
may undergo certain deformations and stiffness changes that would reduce their
strength and serviceability. where the load-displacement response shows a negative
stiffness, and the structure must release strain energy to remain in equilibrium.
Hence the instability is regarded as a failure mode, which should be seriously
evaded. There are many cases in which structures have failed due to instability of
their state of equilibrium. The Riks method is also useful for solving ill-
conditioned problems such as limit load problems or almost unstable
problems that exhibit softening. In buildings, vertical slender members may fail
under relatively heavy loads; this type of instability is referred to as buckling.
Buckling failure may occur in a variety of cases, in compression members of trusses
and frames, in piles, in pipes, in plate and shell structures, and in various machine
elements. Pipes may also buckle laterally or longitudinally.
Modes of elastic instability
Elastic structures could loose their stability in a number of ways. Modes of
instability depend on the properties of the system itself and its environment
including applied forces in the boundary conditions. Systems in static equilibrium
may become statically and dynamically unstable. For structural systems, three types
of instability may be identified; these are:
(1) Bifurcation of equilibrium - classical buckling
(2)Limit equilibrium instability - snap-through buckling
(3)Dynamic and flutter instabilities
1- Bifurcation of equilibrium
One of the salient features of static elastic instability is called the bifurcation of
equilibrium state. At a certain stage of loading, the state of equilibrium of a structure
may reach a point of bifurcation in which there are two possible paths (states) of
equilibrium. The intersection of these two paths corresponds to the so-called
bifurcation of equilibrium, because at such point two states of equilibrium can exist
for the same load. Beyond the bifurcation point, the system can have one of the two
choices of behavior. It can stay in its initial equilibrium regime or it could diverge
from the primary path and follow a new path, the secondary path, of deformation.
Fig. 4.1 schematically shows the bifurcation-type instability of an elastic system.
From the physical point of view, the structure chooses the path corresponding to a
minimum energy of the system.
The bifurcation point of an equilibrium state marks the critical state of behavior of
an elastic system. The primary path (i.e., the initial state of equilibrium) beyond the
bifurcation point is an unstable path while the secondary equilibrium path is stable.
The loading condition corresponding to a bifurcation point is normally called the
critical load.
2- Limit equilibrium instability
The loss of stability through the so-called limitation of equilibrium is characteristic
of structures which carry the transverse loading mainly by compressive axial forces.
Shallow arches and shallow shells are examples of such structures. In structures
undergoing this type of instability there is no bifurcation point. The load-
deformation curve of such systems is continuous and consists of a single curve with
no branches; this curve has some stationary maximum and minimum points; the
critical load corresponds to one of these maximal points. A well-known type of
limitation of equilibrium instability is referred to as the snap through buckling.
Snap-through buckling is a mode of instability in which an elastic system, under
certain loading, may pass from an equilibrium state to a non-adjacent equilibrium
configuration. Fig. 4.2 schematically shows the snap-through type of instability of an
elastic system. The branch OB of the load-deformation curve describes the
predominantly linear behavior of the arch. At the stationary point B, corresponding
to a maximum applied force, the system "jumps" from a deformed state, marked by
point B, to another deformation state much further away from its neighboring
deformed configurations. Compressed shallow arches and shells can "snap-through"
their bases and deform into reversed shapes undergoing tensile (instead of
compressive) deformations (Fig. 4.3).
Fig. 4.2. Buckling and post-buckling behavior of a composite carbon-reinforced
epoxy (CFRP) cylindrical shell under axial compression. The left figure shows the
post-buckling mode of the CFRP cylinder in axial compression. The right picture
shows the schematics of axial pressure as function of axial shortening of the
cylinder.

Fig. 4.3. Snap-through buckling of pipe under external hydrostatic pressure. The top
left figure shows the snap-through phenomenon in a pipe; the top right figure shows
the result of external hydrostatic pressure test on a polyvinyl chloride pipe
demonstrating the snap-through phenomenon. The middle figure shows the lateral
pressure versus shortening of a shallow shell and the schematics of the snap-
through phenomenon.
4.2.3 Dynamic and flutter instabilities
Instability due to dynamic effects and the so-called flutter instability are both
dynamic instabilities, in the sense that the motion and equilibrium of the system
may become dynamically unstable; dynamical instability means that the unstable
system would have oscillations with increasing amplitude. Dynamic instability of
elastic systems can occur when the applied forces are non-conservative. The state of
equilibrium of an elastic system may also become unstable in a dynamic fashion. For
example, an equilibrated structure under non-conservative forces may undergo
oscillations with increasing amplitude. This is called flutter instability. Flutter
instability can also occur in the structures having a steady motion; flutter of
airplanes in motion is an important case of such phenomenon. In pressure pipe
systems and also in underwater pipelines, flutter is a mode of increasing lateral
vibrations. Under some conditions, flutter may cause additional stresses especially
at the pipe joints.

The Riks method

In simple cases linear eigenvalue analysis may be sufficient for design

evaluation; but if there is concern about material nonlinearity, geometric
nonlinearity prior to buckling, or unstable postbuckling response, a load-
deflection (Riks) analysis must be performed to investigate the problem
further.
The Riks method uses the load magnitude as an additional unknown; it solves
simultaneously for loads and displacements. Therefore, another quantity must
be used to measure the progress of the solution; Abaqus/Standard uses the
“arc length,” l, along the static equilibrium path in load-displacement space.
This approach provides solutions regardless of whether the response is stable
or unstable.