Engineering 6003 - Ship Structures II

Lab# nl-1
Introduction to ANSYS Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis
By C. Daley

Overview
ANSYS is a general purpose program, capable of numerical simulation of a variety of physical
problems. The types of problems include solid mechanics, thermal, electromagnetic and fluid
dynamics. The focus in this lab will be on non-linear quasi-static analysis of solid mechanics and
structural behavior. We will be demonstrating with the release 13.0.
ANSYS has existed as a program for many years (decades). However, it has been updated
significantly over the years, and is now very much more advanced in capability. The user
interface is a modern GUI that looks similar to many CAD packages. ANSYS includes a master
program called Workbench, that lets the user set up a project and keep all aspects of the
simulation together and connected. From Workbench the user opens various pre- and postprocessors that allow the user to describe the problem, specify the type and aspects of the
simulation and review the results. ANSYS is like a physical laboratory, where experiments can
be constructed, tested and measured.

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ANSYS Model long plate with uniform lateral pressure.

Step 1: describe and sketch the problem:
In this example we will model a strip representing the behavior of a long plate subject to a
uniform pressure. The problem is sketched below.

The problem description is as follows:

Plate:

1200 x 300 x 10 mm

Strip:

10 x 10 x 300 mm

Load:

pressure of up to 1.2 MPa applied on the top face of the strip

Supports:

the base is fixed in all degrees of freedom, all other boundaries are free.

Material:

Steel, with E = 200 GPa

Yield Strength = 200 MPa
Tangent Modulus = 50 MPa (practically zero)

Units:

N, mm, MPa

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Step 2: estimate expected results (analytically):

The analytical equations for elasto-plastic bending are;

Load

Deflection

t
PY = 2.25 y
b

t
PEH = 3.375 y
b
t
PC = 4.5 y
b

Y =

1 PY b 2
384 D

EH =

C =

1 PEH b 2
384 D

2 PC b 2
384 D

The specific values for the plate in this case are;

Bending:
condition

Pressure (Mpa)
0
0.5
0.75
1

yield
edge-hinge
collpase

delflection (mm)
0
0.576
0.864
2.303

The load-deflection plot is;

1.2

pessure [MPa]

Bending:

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

4
Deflection [mm]

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Step 3: open ANSYS Workbench 13.0 and create a project

1) First, save the (empty) project as Plate_nl_1.wbpj
2) The left hand window shows a set of analysis type options. Select Static Structural and
drag the icon to the right, placing it in the Project Schematic window.

The Workbench user interface, with a Static Structural analysis set selected.

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Step4: open Engineering Data and add a non-linear material model.

1) By default there is a model for Structural Steel. You need to add a plastic behavior
model. A simple one is the bilinear kinematic hardening model.
2) Add the bilinear model by right-clicking or dragging and then add the values.
3) When finished select Return to Project (at top of window).

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Step5: open Geometry and create the CAD model

1) As before, sketch and extrude a shape. In the Project window, clic on the Geometry
component and open the program called Design Modeler.
2) Select Millimeter length unit for the model.
The main window (slightly shaded and titled Graphics) is where the CAD model will be
displayed. The left side (Tree Outline on white background) lists the components in the
model (initially just 3 drawing planes and no bodies or parts). This window has another tab at
the bottom called sketching. Click it now.
3) The Sketching window lets you do 2D sketching on a selected plane: draw a rectangle,
dimension it, adjust both the dimensions to 10mm, then extrude the section 300mm. You
will see something like:

If you need help with this see the ANSYS lab #1 (from EN 5003).

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Step 6: open Model and create the Finite Element model

1) Return to the ANSYS window, and click on the Model feature in the Project window.

This will start the ANSYS Mechanical program, to setup the actual finite element
model.
2) The Mechanical window looks like this;
On the left is a list of the model features that have to be set. Select the Mesh and change
two of the defaults. Make the Element size .005 m ( 5mm) and select the dropped
option for the Element Midside Nodes. This means that all the elements will be simple
8-node brick elements. After the mesh options are set, you can right-clic on the Mesh
component and select Generate Mesh

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3) After the mesh is made, set the support conditions as shown below. One end is fixed,
while the other has axial loads released. The top has an applied pressure. The sides have a
symmetry condition (made using a roller support).

For each boundary condition, you insert the condition, select the face to which it applies,
and adjust the appropriate parameters.
For example, you need to click the Apply button on the lower left to confirm that you
want fixity applied to the selected face.

The parameters for the remote displacement are shown below.

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The pressure applied is 1.2 MPa (1.2e6 Pa).

4) The next thing to do is to specify the Analysis Settings. Make sure that Large deflection is
set to ON. It is also useful to set the Stabilization control to Constant. This is because we
are using a very low tangent modulus and may have stability problems. In order to easily
get a good range of results, set the number of substeps to 30,30,40 (initial, min, max) .
This will mean that the pressure is applied in at least 30 steps.

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5) There should be no question marks left in the Outline Tree, with some lightning bolts (see
below). You can solve the model now.
6) Hit the

button in the menu at the top of the screen.

7) To specify output, right click on Solution in the tree, and select Insert, then Equivalent
Plastic Strain. Do the same for the other outputs listed below. The force and moment
reactions are listed under the term Probe. For these, a boundary condition must be
selected. This lets the user see the total force or moment acting on a support.
A clear plastic hinge is shown in the figure below.
See if you can plot the pressure vs the deflection (hint: copy the tabular values into
excel!)

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pessure [MPa]

2.5
ANSYS

Bending:

1.5

Plastic Membrane:
Elastic Membrane:

1
0.5
0
0

10

Deflection [mm]
Behaviour plots with ANSYS results

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