Advanced Loads

W bi
Webinar

Patrick Cunningham
J
January 2013

CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. Proprietary

2013 CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. All rights reserved.
E-Learning Webinar Series

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presentation.

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Topics

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1. Using Tabular and Functional loads in ANSYS/Mechanical
2. Mapping imported data onto the ANSYS Mechanical model
using
g the External Data Utility.
y

3
 Tabular and
Functional Loads in
ANSYS/Mechanical

CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. Proprietary

2013 CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. All rights reserved.
Load Definition in ANSYS/Mechanical

Most loads in the ANSYS/Mechanical environment can be defined in one

of the following ways:
Constant: The magnitude of the load does not vary by position and can vary
only linearly with time throughout the duration of the load step.
Tabular: Can be defined by a table of the load magnitude and one primary
variable (x, y, z, time).
Functional: A math expression
p is used to define the load magnitude
g as a
function of one primary variable (x, y, z, time).

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

A cantilever beam is loaded with the following:

A pressure distribution in the top surface that varies along the length.
A periodic load at the free end.
A transient analysis is needed to combine the effects of the constant and
time varying loads.

Constant pressure is distributed

over the beam length.

Sinusoidal force applied at the free end.

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Tabular Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

Tabular loads defined in Mechanical can be a function of one primary

variable only (x, y, z or time).
Tabular loads can be defined in local Cartesian and cylindrical coordinate
systems.
systems

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Functional Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

Functional loads are also limited to one primary variable only (x

(x, yy, z or
time).
Specify the Number of Segments to control the resolution of functional
load data
data.

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Functional Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

Functional loads can be also defined with respect to local Cartesian or

cylindrical coordinate systems.

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Functional Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

Functional loads defined with respect to time can be activated and

deactivated on a per load step basis.

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Functional Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

If you are using a periodic function take care to set the angle units
accordingly.
Example: Define a force load with the magnitude F = Fmax*sin(t).
1
1. Set the angle unit to Radians prior to defining the load
load.
2. Add a force load with a magnitude defined as a function.
3. Define in radians/s in the function.
Note: Changing the units after the load is defined will not change the setting in the function
function.

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Tabular and Functional Loading Types

Not all load types can be defined with tables and functions as detailed in
the table below:
Tabular Functional
Load (time) (xoryorz) (time) (xoryorz)
Force + X + X
RemoteForce + X + X
NodalForce + + + +
Moment + X + X
Pressure + + + +
NodalPressure + + + +
Displacement + + + +
RemoteDisplacement + + + +
NodalDisplacement + + + +
BearingLoad X X X X
ThermalLoad + + + +
JointLoad + X + X
Acceleration + X + X
AngularVelocity + X + X

Note: Only Pressure and Nodal Pressure tabular and functional loads are available in a Harmonic Response Analysis

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

The example consists of a steel cantilever beam 00.5

5 in height and 25
25 in
length.
A pressure load varying along the length of the beam is applied to the top
surface as shown:

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

The static displacement due to the distributed pressure is -.75986

- 75986 in the
global Y direction.

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

A modal analysis shows the natural frequency of the first bending mode at
25.685 Hz.

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

The same distributed pressure load is then applied in a transient analysis

analysis.
A beta damping coefficient is input as follows:
= 2cr / 2f
where cr = 1 and f=25.685 Hz
The resulting displacement is consistent with the static analysis result.

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

Add a periodic load on the end of the beam at the natural frequency of the
3rd bending mode:

Add enough
function segments
to describe the
periodic load in the
time domain.

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Variable Loading in ANSYS/Mechanical

Solve and compare to the previous transient solution

solution.

Static pressure

Static pressure + periodic load

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The External Data Utility

We have seen how Tabular and Functional loads can be useful in ANSYS
Mechanical but what if the load distribution varies in more than one
direction?
For a three dimensional spatially defined load the External Data Utility can
be used.
The External Data Utility is found in the Component Systems menu.

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 Using the External
Data Utility with
ANSYS/Mechanical

CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. Proprietary

2013 CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. All rights reserved.
The External Data Utility

When should I use the External Data Utility?

1. When I have CFD results that I need to distribute on my Mechanical model.
2. When I have temperature results from a different finite element mesh.
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3. When I have test data that I want to load onto my model
model.
4. When I have a non uniform thickness shell and I have a table of coordinates
versus thickness that I want to assign to my elements.
Basically, if you have coordinates and data
Basically data, the External Data Utility can
map it onto your model for the following quantities:

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The External Data Utility

The External
Th E t l Data
D t Utility
Utilit is
i found
f d in
i the
th Component
C t Systems
S t section
ti off th
the
Project Page.

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The External Data Utility

The External Data Utility has an easy to use interface

interface.
Setting it up requires the four basic steps shown here.

3. Label the data columns

3
accordingly.

1. Identify the source data file.

2. Set the format type.

4. Check the data preview.

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The External Data Utility

Once the External Data Utility is set up a simple drag and drop connects
the data to the analysis system.

Drag and drop.

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The External Data Utility

After the drag and drop a refresh of the Setup row of the analysis system
is required.

RMB - Refresh
e es

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The External Data Utility

After refreshing the Setup row you will find an Imported

Imported Load
Load folder in the
Mechanical environment.
RMB click on the folder to insert the desired load.

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The External Data Utility

1
1. Scope the imported load by either Named Selection or geometry picking picking.
2. If you have multiple data files in the External Data Utility identify the file and
quantity (column) to be imported.
3. You can display the source points to confirm that the data and the model are
geometrically consistent.

1.

3.
2.

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The External Data Utility

RMB click on the quantity to import the load

load.

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The External Data Utility

Once the load is imported and mapped onto the mesh turn off the source point
display.
RMB click on the imported load and insert a Validation to check the quality of
the data mapping.
As an example, set the type to Source Value and Display on Parent to On.
RMB click on the validation and choose Analyze.

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