ANSYS 1D Structural Beam Tutorial - Online Finite Element Analysis Consultancy Service

8/26/2017 ANSYS 1D Structural Beam Tutorial - Online Finite Element Analysis Consultancy Service
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This tutorial is an educational tool designed to assist those who wish to learn
how to use the ANSYS finite element software package. It is not intended as a
guide for determining suitable modelling methods or strategies for any
application. The authors of this tutorial have used their best efforts in preparing
the tutorial. These efforts include the development, research and testing of the
theories and computational models shown in the tutorial. The authors make
no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to any text or models
contained in this tutorial. The authors shall not be liable in any event for
incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the
furnishing, performance, or use of the text and models provided in this
tutorial. There is no gaurantee that there are no mistakes or errors in the
information provided and the authors assume no responsibility for the use of
any of the information contained in this tutorial.
Overview
In this tutorial you will examine the deformation of a simple beam using
ANSYS. We will examine three different load cases: a vertical shear load, a
distributed load and a bending moment. This example is loosely adapted from
an example in the book Practical Stress Analysis with Finite Elements (2nd
Edition) by Bryan J. Mac Donald [4] and can be found on pages 112 to 114 of
that book. You will determine the deflection and slope of the beam due to the
applied loading and boundary conditions. A one-dimensional structural beam
element (often also known as a "simple beam" or "pure bending" element) will
be used for this analysis.
Case 1: Point Load on Centre of a Cantilever Beam
Figure 01 shows an overview of the beam problem for load case 1 (point load)
and figure 02 shows a representative finite element model for this load case.
https://sites.google.com/site/onlinefiniteelement/ansys-tutorials/ansys-1d-structural-beam-tutorial 1/18
Figure 01: Overview of Simple Beam Problem with Vertical Point Load (Case
1)
Figure 02: Representative Finite Element Model of the Simple Beam Problem
(Case 1)
The beam is 2 metres long with the left hand edge built into a thick wall and
the centre of the beam is simply supported. The free end of the beam
supports a shear load of 40 kN and a bending moment of 20 kNm. The beam
is made from steel with E = 200 GPa and I = 4 x 10-6 m4 .
The relevant node and element data are given in the tables below. We will use
SI system units for this tutorial: length = m, mass = kg, time = sec, force = N,
stress/pressure = Pa.
We can use the information in the tables above to define our nodes, elements
and boundary conditions.
Step 1: Launch ANSYS
We have already covered how to launch ANSYS properly in tutorials 1 and 2.

Please go back and re-read these tutorials if you cannot remember how to do
it.
Step 2: Define Element Type
1. In the Main Menu select Preprocessor > Element Type >

Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click on Add in the dialog box that appears.
3.
4. Select Beam in the left hand menu and 2 node 188 in the right hand
menu and then click on OK.
5. This will define element type 1 as a BEAM 188 element. BEAM 188 is
actually a 3D beam element but we are going to use it as a 1D truss by
later suppressing some of it's degrees of freedom
6. Click Close to close the Element Type dialog box.
Step 3: Define the Beam Cross Section
Unfortunately the problem definition doesn't actually specify which type of

cross section the beam has. That isn't a problem and we can work around it.
We know that the beam cross section has a second moment of area of I = 4 x
10-6 m4 so let's choose the simplest type of cross section to fit this second
moment of area value. We will assume that the beam has a rectangular cross
section:
Figure 03: Calculating the beam height from the given second moment of area
1. In the Main Menu select Preprocessor > Sections > Beam >
Common Sections
2. The beam tool should appear as shown below. Enter a value of
0.0832358 for B and for H.
3.
4. Click on OK to close the Beam Tool.
Step 4: Define the Material Behaviour
1. In the Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Material Props > Material
Models, the Define Material Model Behaviour dialog box will now
appear.
2. Expand the options in the right hand pane of the dialog box: Structural
> Linear > Isotropic
3. In the dialog box that pops up, enter suitable material parameters for
steel ( E = 200 x 109 Pa, Poissons ratio = 0.3)
4. Click on Ok to close the dialog box in which you entered the material
parameters.
5. Close the Define Material Model Behaviour dialog box by clicking on

the X in the upper right corner.
Step 5: Define Nodes and Elements
1. In the Main Menu click on Preprocessor > Modeling > Create >
Nodes > In Active CS
2. In the dialog box that appears: enter the x and y coordinates for node 1
(i.e. 0,0) and click on Apply (note that Apply issues the command to
create the node but keeps the dialog box open, clicking OK would also
issue the command to create the node but would close the dialog box).
3. Now enter the x and y coordinates for node 2 (i.e. 1,0) and click Apply
4. Finally, enter the x and y coordinate for node 3 (i.e. 2,0) and click OK.
5. We must now create the elements that join the nodes together: click
on Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Elements > Auto
Numbered > Thru Nodes
6. In the main window click on node 1 and then node 2. Then

click Apply in the dialog box. You should see a line element appear
joining nodes 1 and 2. (Note: node 1 is probably hidden behind the x-y
symbol ar the origin - this is know as "the triad" - if you can't see node 1
then just click on the triad and it should automatically be selected.)
7. Now click on node 2 and then node 3 and click OK. A line element
should appear joining nodes 2 and 3.
8. Your screen should now look something like this:
Step 6: Define Boundary Conditions
1. In this case we are using a 3D beam to model a 1D beam problem so

we must prevent the nodes from moving in the X and Z direction (i.e.
only allow movement in the Y direction for bending). Since beam
elements also have rotational degrees of freedom at each node we
must also constrain rotations about the X and Y axis (i.e. only allow
rotations about the Z axis - for bending moments in the X-Y plane). In
order to do this we constrain all nodes in the finite element model in the
UX, UZ, ROTX and ROTY directions.
2. Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural >
Displacement > On Nodes
3. Select Pick All in the dialog box that appears.
4. Select UX, UZ, ROTX and ROTY in the next dialog box that appears
and enter a value of 0 for displacement value - your screen should look
like this:
5. Click Ok to close the dialog box. You should notice constraints

appearing at each of the nodes. The blue triangles represent a node
constrained from displacing in a particular direction and the orange
double arrows show that the node is prevented from rotating about that
axis.
6. Now we can apply the problem boundary conditions.
7. Using the table above: we must constrain node 1 in all degrees of

freedom:
8. Again, select: Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply >
Structural > Displacement > On Nodes
9. Click on Node 1 then click Ok.
10. Select All DOF and enter a value of 0 for displacement value
11. Click Ok to close the dialog box. Your should have noticed extra
constraints appearing at node 1.
Step 7: Define Point Loads
1. Select Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural
> Force/ Moment > On Nodes
2. Pick node 2 and click on Ok
3. In the dialog box that appears make sure that the direction of force is
set to FY and that the Force/ Moment value is -40000. The minus
ensures that the load acts downwards.
4. You should notice a red arrow appearing at node 2 pointing

downwards.
Step 8: Solve the Problem
1. In the Main Menu select Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis
2. Make sure that Static is selected in the dialog box that pops up and
then click on OK to dismiss the dialog.
3. Select Solution > Solve > Current LS to solve the problem
4. A new window and a dialog box will pop up. Take a quick look at the
infromation in the window ( /STATUS Command) before closing it.
5. Click on OK in the dialog box to solve the problem.
6. Once the problem has been solved you will get a message to say that
the solution is done, close this window when you are ready.
Step 10: Examine the Results
1. In the Main Menu select General Postproc > Plot Results >
Deformed Shape
2. You screen should look something like this:
3. Now we must examine the displacement of each node: General

Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution > DOF Solution >
Displacement Vector Sum
4. You should get a printout of the displacement of the beam at each

node:
5. Notice that Node 2 has moved downwards by 0.0133 m and Node 3

has moved 0.03839 m.
6. Now, we must check the slope of the beam: General Postproc > List
Results > Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Rotation Vector Sum
7. You should get a printout of the slope of the beam (i.e. rotation) at each
node:
8. Notice that the slope at nodes 2 and 3 is 0.025 radians.
Case 2: Bending Moment on Centre of a Cantilever Beam
We are now going to change the loading on the model we used for case 1 and
replace the vertical point load with a bending moment applied to node 2. In
this case an overview of the beam probelm is shown in figure 3 and a
representative finite element model is shown in figure 4.
Figure 03: Overview of Simple Beam Problem with Applied Bending Moment
(Case 2)
with Applied Bending Moment (Case 2)
Steps 1 to 6 : Create the Model and Define the Boundary Conditions
These steps are identical to case 1 (above). If you still have the previous
model open then you can just delete the point load as follows:
Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Delete > Structural >
Force/Moment > On Nodes
Click on Pick All in the dialog box that appears and then click on OK in the
next dialog box to delete all forces on all nodes.
Step 7: Apply a Moment to Node 2
1. Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structrual >
2. Click on Node 2 (the centre one) and the click on OK in the dialog box.
3. Change the Direction of Force/Mom to MZ and enter 20000 for the
force/moment value:
4. Click on OK to close the dialog box.

5. You should see a blue cross appear at node 2 to indicate that a
moment has been applied.
Deformed Shape
3. Notice that the beam has deflected upwards! This is due to the fact that
positive moments are assumed to act in the anti-clockwise direction
(look at figures 03 and 04 again).
4. Now we must examine the displacement and rotation (i.e. slope) at
each node, as before. Follow the instructions given above for case 1 to
get printouts of the displacement and rotation of each node in the finite
element model. You should obtain results similar to these:
5.
6. Notice that the deflection of Node 2 is 0.0125 m and the deflection of
Node 3 is 0.0375 m. The slope at both nodes is 0.025 radians.
Case 3: Distributed Load on a Cantilever Beam
We are now going to replace the loading used on the previous model with a
distributed load acting on element 1. In this case an overview of the beam
probelm is shown in figure 5 and a representative finite element model is
shown in figure 6.
Figure 03: Overview of Simple Beam Problem with Applied Bending Moment
(Case 2)
with Applied Bending Moment (Case 2)
Steps 1 to 6 : Create the Model and Define the Boundary Conditions
These steps are identical to case 1 (above). If you still have the previous
model open then you can just delete the point load as follows:
Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Delete > Structural >
Click on Pick All in the dialog box that appears and then click on OK in the
next dialog box to delete all forces on all nodes.
Step 7: Apply a Distributed Load to Element 1
1. Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structrual >
Pressure > On Beams
2. Click on element 1 and then click on OK to close the picker dialog box
3. Make sure the Load Key is changed to 2 and enter 12000 for the
Pressure Value at Node I
4. The default Load Key is 1 and this makes the distributed load act in the
Y-Z plane, which is the default for beam elements. Putting a value of 2
here makes the load act in the X-Y plane, which is what we want. If we
wanted a non-constant distributed load in the beam then we could
enter another value for node J, but because we want a constant load,
we simply leave this blank.
5. Now, click on OK to close the dialog box.
6. Your screen should now look something like this:
7. Notice the red line indicating the distributed load.
Deformed Shape
3. Now we must examine the displacement and rotation (i.e. slope) at

each node, as before. Follow the instructions given above for case 1 to
get printouts of the displacement and rotation of each node in the finite
element model. You should obtain results similar to these:
4. Notice that the dispalcement of node 1 is 0.002 m and the

displacement of node 2 is 0.0057 m. The slope at both nodes is
0.00375 radians.
Results Validation
We have used the online beam calculator available at:

http://www.engineeringcalculator.net/beam_calculator.html to validate the
results from the beam finite element models:
Note that the beam calculator gives slope results in degrees and you will need
to convert them to radians in order to compare with the finite element results.
The table below show a comparison between the FEA results and the results
predicted by the beam calculator (which relies on classical beam theory
equations).
Summary
This tutorial has given you the following skills:
1. The ability to model beam problems in ANSYS.

2. The ability to generate finite element models using the direct method
(i.e. defining nodes and then defining elements linking those nodes, as
opposed to taking a solid model and dividing it up into elements which
we will do in subsequent tutorials).
3. The ability to define element types, real constants and material
parameters for a finite element model.
4. The ability to apply boundary conditions and loads to specific nodes in
a finite element model.
5. The ability to apply distributed loads to beam elements and to specify
which face of the beam they act upon.
6. The ability to run a simple linear static analysis.
7. The ability to list displacement and rotation results for each node in the
finite element model.
8. Experience in comparing the results obtained from your finite element

model with other results and validating your results against the other
results.
Log Files / Input Files
Click here for the log file for Case 1
The log file for this tutorial may also be used as an input file to automatically
run the analysis in ANSYS. In order to use this file as an input file save it to
your working directory and then select Utility Menu > File > Read input
from... and select the file. You should notice ANSYS automatically building
the finite element model and issuing all the commands detailed above.
Quitting ANSYS
To quit ANSYS select Utility Menu > File > Exit.... In the dialog box that
appears click on Save Everything (assuming that you want to) and then click
on Ok
Click here to return to the list of ANSYS tutorials
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8/26/2017 ANSYS 1D Structural Beam Tutorial - Online Finite Element Analysis Consultancy Service

Home ANSYS Tutorials >

ANSYS 1D Structural Beam

Case 1: Point Load on Centre of a Cantilever Beam

Step 1: Launch ANSYS

We have already covered how to launch ANSYS properly in tutorials 1 and 2.

Step 2: Define Element Type

1. In the Main Menu select Preprocessor > Element Type >

2. Click on Add in the dialog box that appears.

Step 3: Define the Beam Cross Section

Unfortunately the problem definition doesn't actually specify which type of

4. Click on OK to close the Beam Tool.

Step 4: Define the Material Behaviour

5. Close the Define Material Model Behaviour dialog box by clicking on

Step 5: Define Nodes and Elements

6. In the main window click on node 1 and then node 2. Then

Step 6: Define Boundary Conditions

1. In this case we are using a 3D beam to model a 1D beam problem so

3. Select Pick All in the dialog box that appears.

5. Click Ok to close the dialog box. You should notice constraints

6. Now we can apply the problem boundary conditions.

7. Using the table above: we must constrain node 1 in all degrees of

9. Click on Node 1 then click Ok.

Step 7: Define Point Loads

2. Pick node 2 and click on Ok

4. You should notice a red arrow appearing at node 2 pointing

Step 8: Solve the Problem

3. Select Solution > Solve > Current LS to solve the problem

5. Click on OK in the dialog box to solve the problem.

Step 10: Examine the Results

2. You screen should look something like this:

3. Now we must examine the displacement of each node: General

4. You should get a printout of the displacement of the beam at each

5. Notice that Node 2 has moved downwards by 0.0133 m and Node 3

8. Notice that the slope at nodes 2 and 3 is 0.025 radians.

Case 2: Bending Moment on Centre of a Cantilever Beam

Steps 1 to 6 : Create the Model and Define the Boundary Conditions

Step 7: Apply a Moment to Node 2

4. Click on OK to close the dialog box.

Step 8: Solve the Problem

3. Select Solution > Solve > Current LS to solve the problem

5. Click on OK in the dialog box to solve the problem.

Step 10: Examine the Results

2. You screen should look something like this:

Case 3: Distributed Load on a Cantilever Beam

Steps 1 to 6 : Create the Model and Define the Boundary Conditions

Step 7: Apply a Distributed Load to Element 1

7. Notice the red line indicating the distributed load.

Step 8: Solve the Problem

3. Select Solution > Solve > Current LS to solve the problem

5. Click on OK in the dialog box to solve the problem.

Step 10: Examine the Results

2. You screen should look something like this:

3. Now we must examine the displacement and rotation (i.e. slope) at

4. Notice that the dispalcement of node 1 is 0.002 m and the

We have used the online beam calculator available at:

This tutorial has given you the following skills:

1. The ability to model beam problems in ANSYS.

8. Experience in comparing the results obtained from your finite element

Log Files / Input Files

Click here for the log file for Case 1

Click here for the log file for Case 2

Click here for the log file for Case 3