Changing/Creating Constraint Equations During an ANSYS Solution

2008 CAE Associates

Changing CEs in ANSYS

Constraint equations (CEs) in ANSYS are used to associate the motion of one node to another using a linear relationship between nodal degrees of freedom (DOFs):

Constant = (Coefficient(i) * DOF(i))

i =1

CEs can have any number of nodes and any combination of DOFs. An example of a CE containing three terms:

0.0 = 3.0 * (UX 1 ) + 3.0 * (UX 4 ) 2.0 * (ROTY4 )

Where: UX1 = X-displacement at node 1

Changing CEs in ANSYS

Only the constant term can be changed during an ANSYS solution using the CECMOD command:

CECMOD, reference number of CE, new value of constant term

However, in some cases the user wishes to create a CE during an ANSYS solution.

For example, example two nodes may be free to move with respect to one another during the first load step, but in subsequent steps their relative motion is to be defined.

This behavior can be readily achieved utilizing:

A dummy node procedure. The % %_FIX% FIX% ANSYS-reserved table table.

Changing CEs in ANSYS

The dummy node procedure equates the relative motion of two primary nodes to the displacement of a dummy node.

If the dummy node is free to move, the two primary nodes can move independently with respect to one another. If the dummy node displacement is defined, this displacement value represents the relative motion between the primary nodes.
UY2

Primary node 2 UY1

Relative R l ti motion between primary nodes

Displacement of dummy node

UY3

Dummy node 3

P i Primary node d 1

Changing CEs in ANSYS

The CE for the example case to associate the motion of the primary nodes to the displacement at the dummy node:

UY2 UY 1 = UY 3 or 0.0 = 1.0 * (UY2 ) 1.0 * (UY 1 ) 1.0 * (UY 3)

The ANSYS CE command format is:

CE, NEQN, CONST, NODE1, Lab1, C1, NODE2, Lab2, C2, NODE3, Lab3, C3

For the example case:

CE, 1, 0.0, 2, UY, 1.0, 1, UY, -1.0, 3, UY, -1.0

Changing CEs in ANSYS

The boundary condition applied to the dummy node will control how the CE is used during a solution:

If UY3 has no boundary condition:

No relationship between UY1 and UY2.

If UY3 is set to 0:
UY1 and UY2 are coupled in the Y-direction.

If UY3 is set to a non-zero non zero value: value :

The relative displacement between UY1 and UY2 will be equal to value.

Thus, , the relative displacement p between UY1 and UY2 can be controlled by the user throughout an ANSYS solution by the specification of the boundary condition at UY3. And, the CE can be activated or deactivated during the analysis based on the dummy node boundary condition specification.

Changing CEs in ANSYS

Consider the following example:

Primary nodes 1 and 2 are initially free to move relative to one another in load step 1. User wants to then fix their relative motion in load step 2 based on the change in displacement from load step 1.

To achieve this behavior, the user would:

Let the dummy node freely move in load step 1 (no boundary condition specified for UY3). Apply pp y the displacement p UY3 from the first load step p( (representing p g the current change in displacement between UY1 and UY2) as the dummy node boundary condition in load step 2.
The %_FIX% ANSYS-reserved table can be use to prescribe the DOF to the current displacement value value.

Changing CEs in ANSYS

Thus the ANSYS procedure for the example problem would be: Thus,

Create CE in ANSYS Preprocessor:

CE, 1, 0.0, 2, UY, 1.0, 1, UY, -1.0, 3, UY, -1.0

Enter the Solution Processor and solve first load step with no dummy node boundary condition, allowing the primary nodes to displace freely with respect to one another. Staying y g in the Solution Processor, apply y the current value of displacement UY3 to the dummy node.
D, 3, UY, %_FIX%

Upon solution of the second load step, the relative displacement between UY1 and d UY2 will ill b be fi fixed dt to th their i current t relative l ti di displacement. l t

Note: When creating a dummy node in ANSYS, the node must be associated i t d with ith an element. l t

Typically, a MASS21 element can be created at the dummy node to activate it in the analysis.