1.

INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL

Cantilever beams are fundamental structural elements commonly encountered in engineering

applications. They are characterized by one end being fixed or anchored, while the other end
is free to deflect and rotate. Cantilever beams find widespread use in various structures like
buildings, bridges, and machinery, providing support for loads applied at their free end. In the
problem at hand, a cantilever beam subjected to a uniform load along its length is to be
analyzed. To solve this problem manually, principles of structural mechanics such as
equilibrium equations and the beam bending equation are applied. Boundary conditions at the
fixed end and the integration of load distributions along the beam's length are considered to
determine the beam's response to the applied load. Alternatively, Ansys, a finite element
analysis (FEA) software, can be utilized for numerical simulation. By discretizing the beam
into finite elements and solving the governing equations numerically, Ansys can provide
detailed insights into the beam's behavior including displacements, rotations, and nodal forces
under the specified loading conditions. Both manual analysis and FEA simulation offer
engineers valuable tools for understanding and optimizing the performance of cantilever
beams in practical engineering scenarios.

1.2AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The main aim of this study is to analyze the structural behavior of a cantilever beam
subjected to a uniform load. Various objectives of this study are:
 To determine the vertical displacement and rotation at the free end of the cantilever beam
under the specified uniform load using Ansys and manual analysis.
 To calculate the nodal forces induced by the applied load at critical points along the beam
length through manual analysis and using Ansys.
 To verify the accuracy of the displacement determined through manual calculations,
compare it to the results derived from the Ansys simulation using the final mesh.
Examine the convergence graph to interpret how the displacement values change as the
mesh is refined.
1.3ANSYS SOFTWARE
Ansys is a leading software solution for conducting finite element analysis, developed by
Ansys Inc. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for modeling, simulating, and analyzing
engineering problems across diverse fields. One of its primary strengths lies in its robust

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modeling capabilities, enabling users to construct finite element models of intricate
geometries using solid, shell and beam elements. Engineers can specify material properties;
boundary conditions and loads to accurately replicate real-world scenarios. Ansys supports a
wide range of analyses, including static, dynamic, linear and nonlinear, thermal, coupled
thermal-structural and fluid-structure interaction analyses. It utilizes sophisticated numerical
algorithms and parallel processing techniques to efficiently solve large-scale finite element
models. Ansys employs both implicit and explicit solvers to handle different types of
problems, ensuring accuracy and speed in simulations, even for highly complex systems.
In addition to its advanced simulation capabilities, Ansys offers comprehensive post-
processing tools for visualizing simulation results and extracting engineering data. Users can
create plots, contours, animations, and reports to analyze the behavior of their models and
make informed design decisions. Moreover, Ansys provides customization options through
user subroutines and scripting languages like Python, allowing users to extend its
functionality and automate repetitive tasks. An additional advantage of Ansys is its seamless
integration with other engineering software packages, facilitating multidisciplinary analysis
workflows. This interoperability enables engineers to harness the strengths of different tools
and streamline their design and analysis processes across various domains. Overall, Ansys is
widely esteemed for its versatility, accuracy, and user-friendly interface, making it a preferred
choice for engineers and researchers engaged in a diverse range of engineering applications.

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 2. METHODOLOGY

DEFINING THE PROBLEM

ANALYSIS OF CANTILEVER BEAM SUBJECTED TO

UDL USING ANALYTICAL METHOD

ANALYSIS OF CANTILEVER BEAM SUBJECTED

TO UDL USING ANSYS SOFTWARE

CONVERGENCE ANALYSIS

COMPARISON OF RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

2.1 DEFINING THE PROBLEM

For the cantilever beam subjected to the uniform load w, solve for the right-end vertical
displacement and rotation and then for the nodal forces. Assume the beam to have constant EI
throughout its length. Where w= 10kN/m and L=5m. Analyse the beam manually and by
using Ansys (1 D). Take E =2× 108 KN/m2, I = 1.33× 10−4 m4.

Fig 2.1 Cantilever beam subjected to UDL

Fig 2.1. Cantilever beam subjected to udl

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2.2 ANALYTICAL ANALYSIS
Let’s convert udl to equivalent point loads and moments. Let’s consider as one element.

−𝑊𝐿 −𝑊𝐿
2 1 2

−𝑊𝐿2 1 L=5 m 2
12 −𝑊𝐿2
12
The stiffness matrix,

12 6𝐿 −12 6𝐿 12 30 −12 30
EI6𝐿 4𝐿2 −6𝐿 2𝐿2 EI 30 100 −30 50
[K] = 3 [ ]= 3 [ ]
L −12 −6𝐿 12 −6𝐿 5 −12 −30 12 −30
6𝐿 2𝐿2 −6𝐿 4𝐿2 30 50 −30 100

For beam with udl,

[K] {d} = {f}+{fo}

12 30 −12 30 𝑣1 𝑓𝑦1 −25

EI 30 100 −30 50 ∅1 𝑚1 −20.83
5
3 [−12 −30 12 −30 ] = 𝑓𝑦2 + −25
𝑣2
30 50 −30 100 ∅2 𝑚2 20.83

Since the load fy2 = 0 and m2 =0

12 30 −12 30 𝑣1 𝑓𝑦1 − 25
EI 30 100 −30 50 ∅1 𝑚1 − 20.83
5
3 [−12 −30 12 −30 ] =
𝑣2 −25
30 50 −30 100 ∅2 20.83

Now applying the boundary conditions v1 =0 and ∅1 =0

12 30 −12 30 0 𝑓𝑦1 − 25
EI 30 100 −30 50 0 𝑚1 − 20.83
5
3 [−12 −30 12 −30 ] =
𝑣2 −25
30 50 −30 100 ∅2 20.83

Eliminating the rows and columns corresponding to v1 and ∅1

12 30 −12 30 0 𝑓𝑦1 − 25
EI 30 100 −30 50 0 𝑚1 − 20.83
5 [−12 12 −30 ]
3
−30 𝑣2 =
−25
30 50 −30 100 ∅2 20.83

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Thus,
EI 12 −30 𝑣2
] −25
5 [−30
3
100 = 20.83
∅2

𝑣2 −0.029
∅2 = −7.81 × 10−3

The negative sign indicates that v2 is downward and ∅2 is clockwise.

The global nodal forces can be obtained by substituting the values of v1, ∅1, v2, ∅2 for beam
with udl, [K] {d} = {f}+{fo}

12 30 −12 30
0 𝑓𝑦1 −25
EI 30 100 −30 50
5
3 [−12 −30 12 −30 ] 0 𝑚1 −20.83
= 𝑓𝑦2 + −25
30 50 −30 100 −0.029
−7.81 × 10−3 𝑚2 20.83

fy1 = 50 KN, m1 =125 KNm, fy2= 0, m2 =0

2.3 ANSYS SOFTWARE ANALYSIS

ANSYS is a powerful finite element analysis (FEA) software widely used for simulating and
analyzing the behavior of structures under various conditions. ANSYS enables engineers to
model complex geometries and simulate material properties.

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Fig 2.2 User interface of ANSYS software

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2.3.1 DEFINING GEOMETRY AND MATERIAL PROPERTIES:

Create the geometry of a cantilever beam using ANSYS design modeler and define the
material properties such as modulus of elasticity, young’s modulus etc.

Fig 2.3. Geometry of the model (1D)

2.3.2 MESHING:
Generate a mesh on the geometry. Meshing is a crucial step in FEA as it discretizes the
geometry into small elements. Use appropriate element types and sizes.

Fig 2.4. Meshing on the geometry

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2.3.3 BOUNDARY CONDITIONS:
Apply the boundary conditions. Since it's a cantilever beam, fix one end (left end) to restrict
all displacements and rotations in all directions.

Fig 2.5 Cantilever beam with fixed support at one end

Apply the uniform load of 10 KN/m to the entire length of the beam.

Fig 2.6 Applied load

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 Fig 2.7 Displacement at free end
2.3.4 SOLUTIONS:
2.3.4.1 Total Deformation
ANSYS will calculate the displacements, rotations and nodal forces for the beam under the
given loads and boundary conditions.

Fig 2.8 Total Deformation

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2.3.4.2 Force Reaction

Fig 2.9 Force reaction

The force that occurs at fixed end is 50 KN.
2.3.4.3 Moment Reaction

Fig 2.10 Moment Reaction

The moment occurs at fixed end is 125 KNm.

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2.4 CONVERGENCE ANALYSIS
Analyze the problem using various number of elements i.e., the mesh densities. Create a
graph illustrating the relationship between the number of elements on x-axis and the
respective displacement at the right end of the cantilever beam on the y-axis.
Table 2.1. Displacements corresponding to different meshes
No. of Elements Displacement (m)
10 0.0224
25 0.0231
30 0.0243
40 0.0252
65 0.0271
80 0.02783
100 0.0289

DISPLACEMENT V/S NO.OF ELEMENT

0.035

0.03
DISPLACEMENT (M)

0.025

0.02

0.015

0.01

0.005

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
NO.OF ELEMENT
Series1
Displacement Exact solution
from ANSYS
Fig 2.11. Displacement v/s No. of element graph
The fig 2.10 shows that when the no. of element increases then the displacement converges
into their exact solution.

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 3. COMPARISON OF THE RESULTS
The outcome derived from ANSYS represents displacement of cantilever beam subjected to
udl and a comparison is made with a numerical approach as shown in the Table 3.1.
Table 3.1 Result Obtained
Sl. no Parameter Finite element method Analytical method
1. Displacement (m) 0.0289 m 0.029 m

3.1 CALCULATION OF PERCENTAGE ERROR

For comparing the results obtained from the two methods, calculate the percentage error for
displacement.
Difference between analytical value and ANSYS software
Percentage error = Analytical value

0.029−0.0289
= 0.029 × 100 = 0.3 %

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 4. CONCLUSIONS
In this micro project, the displacement assessment of a cantilever beam under a uniformly
distributed load (UDL) was undertaken using both numerical computation and ANSYS finite
element modeling. The primary aim was to compare the accuracy and convergence of these
methods, shedding light on their reliability in predicting beam displacement at the right end.
The numerical approach, employing approximate analytical techniques, was utilized to
manually calculate the displacement at the beam's right end. Conversely, ANSYS, a robust
finite element analysis software, was employed to simulate the beam's behavior. A finite
element model, featuring precise geometry, material characteristics, and boundary conditions,
was constructed. The analysis involved progressively refining the mesh density to observe the
convergence pattern of displacement values. Comparison of results revealed a close match
between the manually derived displacement and ANSYS simulation outcomes. Additionally,
the convergence study in ANSYS indicated that as the number of elements increased,
displacement values stabilized, showcasing ANSYS's reliability and precision in delivering
accurate simulation results consistent with the numerical method. These findings contribute
to advancing structural analysis techniques and emphasize the significance of dependable
finite element simulations in engineering design and analysis. Overall, the microproject
demonstrates the efficacy of combining theoretical analysis with numerical simulations to
explore intricate structural phenomena, offering valuable insights for civil and structural
engineering practices.

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 REFERENCES
[1] Textbook “Finite Element Analysis in Engineering Design” by Rajasekharan S.

[2] Textbook “Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering” by Chandrupatla T R and

Belegundu A D.

[3] Textbook ‘Introduction to the Finite Element Method’ by Reddy, J. N.

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