SLITT Workshop on Practical Finite Element Analysis-December-2014

Plane Problem Lab P1 - Use of SAP2000 to Analyze a Plane Stress Problem

It is required to analyze the rectangular plate shown in figure 1, with a central hole
under a boundary stress of 6 N/mm2. The plate is in a state of plane stress, and
because of symmetry about axes, only a quadrant of the plate needs to be analyzed.
Plate thickness = 4 mm, Yongs Modulus = 210 GPa, & Poissons ratio = 0.25.
Y

6 N/mm2 40 mm
2
6 N/mm
40 mm mm
X
40 mm

80 mm 80 mm
mmmm
Fig. 1. Rectangular Plate with Central Hole

11 12 15 18 21 240

(10) (20) (24)

(12)

(9) (11)
(13) (19) (23)
10 9
(7)
(8) (6) 480
5 8
(5) (14) 14 17 20
4 (4) (18) (22)
3 (3)
(15)
Y
2 (2) 7 (21)
(17)
(16)
X (1)
240
1 6 13 16 19

Fig. 2. Finite Element Model. (element numbers are given within parentheses)

1
Nodal Coordinates

Coord
Sys Cartesian Cylindrical
X - Coord / Y - Coord /
Node mm mm R / mm / deg
1 20 0
2 20 22.5
3 20 45
4 20 67.5
5 20 90
6 25 0
7 25 22.5
8 25 45
9 25 67.5
10 25 90
11 0 40
12 20 40
13 40 0
14 40 20
15 40 40
16 60 0
17 60 20
18 60 40
19 80 0
20 80 20
21 80 40

Boundary Conditions Loads

1] Along X Axis v=0 Node Nodal Load (N)

19 240
2] Along Y- Axis u=0
20 480
21 240

Results

Study the results such as the following:

a. Deflected shape and maximum/minimum displacements
b. Stress contours and maximum/minimum stresses

Find the stress concentration factor (SCF) = 6max / 6nominal.

Procedure for LAB P1

Step 1 Define Units

1.1] Go to File Menu then click New Model. Set the Units to N, mm, C and select the Blank
template.

Step 2 Define the Coordinates of the Geometry of the Model using Interactive Database Editing
Option
2.1] Go to the Edit Menu then click Interactive Database Editing. Under Options (On the right
hand side of the menu) mark Expose All Input Tables.

2.2] Under MODEL DEFINITION click on the + sign of Connectivity Data and mark Joint
Coordinates. Click OK. Input the Joint Coordinates of your model. (This can be easily done using the
spreadsheet application MS Excel).

2.2.1] Click To Excel button. This will open MS Excel. Input Node numbers under Joint Text.
Input Global under CoordSys for all nodes.
2.2.2] For nodes 1 to 10 input Cylindrical under CoordType. Input the appropriate R and T
values for nodes 1 to 10.
2.2.3] For nodes 11 to 21 input Cartesian under CoordType. Input the appropriate X and Y
values for nodes 11 to 21.
2.2.4] Input 0 for Z for all nodes.
2.2.5] Minimize MS Excel and click on From Excel , Apply to Model & Done

2.3] Go to Veiw Menu click Set Display Options. Uncheck Invisible and click OK.

Step 3 Draw Elements

3.1] Go to Draw Menu then click Draw Poly Area. Draw the triangular area element 1 as given in
figure 2 by clicking the mouse at joints 1, 6, 2, 1 respectively (Counter Clockwise). Follow the same
procedure for all the elements and complete the model.

Step 4 Define Materials, Sections and Load Cases

4.1] Go to the Define menu and click Materials. Click Add New Material and input material data
(Use Material Name as MAT1). Click OK twice.

4.2] Go to the Define menu and click Area Sections. Select Section Type to Add as Plane. Click
Add New Section. Give Section Name as Plate1. Select Type as Plane-Stress. Select Material
MAT1. Input Thickness as 4. Click OK twice.

4.3] Go to the Define menu and click Load Cases. Input Load Name as LIVE and Load Type as
LIVE. Click Add New Load button. Click OK.

Step 5 Assign Sections Properties, Restraints and Loads

5.1] Select all the elements by clicking on them. Go to Assign menu. Select Area and click Sections.
Select Plate1 and click OK.

5.2] Assign nodal restraints for nodes 1, 6, 13, 16, 19, 5, 10 ,11 according to the boundary conditions
specified in the problem sheet.

5.3] Assign nodal loads to nodes 19, 20 ,21 as given in Figure 2.

Step 6 Analysis

6.1] Save your file. Go to the Analyze Menu. Click Do Not Run for both DEAD and MODAL load
cases. Click Run Now.

Step 7 View Results

7.1] Use Display Menu to view the results.
Plane Problem Lab P2

(a) Analyze the plate of Lab P1 with the same set of nodes but with 4 node
quadrilateral elements (Q4 elements). Compare your results with those of Lab P1.
(b) Analyze the plate with a finer mesh of Q4 elements and compare the results
with the above. (Hint: You may sub-divide the elements in (a) to get a finer mesh)

Plane Problem Lab P3

Analyze the Fig. 1 geometry as a plane strain problem with the same Q4 element
mesh used in Lab 2 (a). Compare your results with those of Lab P2(a).

6 N/mm2 6 N/mm2

Plane Problem Lab P4

Analyze the Fig. 1 geometry as an axisymmetric problem (i.e cylinder of diameter

160 mm with a central spherical cavity) with the same Q4 mesh used in Lab P3.

6 N/mm2 6 N/mm2

Plane Problem Lab P5

Analyze the Fig. 1 geometry as a bending problem of a plate with a central hole,
clamped over the outer edges and under a pressure loading of 6 N/mm 2. Use the
same mesh used in Lab P3.

6 N/mm2