Chapter 3

2D Simulations
3.1 Triangular Plate
3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut
3.3 More Details
3.4 Spur Gears
3.5 Structural Error, FE Convergence, and Stress Singularity
3.6 Review
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.1 Triangular Plate 2

Section 3.1
Triangular Plate

Problem Description

• The plate is made of steel, designed to withstand

a tensile force of 20,000 N on each side face.
• We are concerned about the deformations and
the stresses.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.1 Triangular Plate 3

Techniques/Concepts
• Project Schematic
• Concepts>Surface From Sketches
• Analysis Type (2D)
• Plane Stress Problems
• Generate 2D Mesh
• 2D Solid Elements
• Relevance Center and Relevance
• Loads>Pressure
• Weak Springs
• Solution>Total Deformation
• Solution>Equivalent Stress
• Tools>Symmetry
• Coordinate System
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut 4

Section 3.2
Threaded Bolt-and-Nut

Problem Description
[1] Bolt.

[2] Nut.

[4] Section
[3] Plates. view.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut 5

[1] The 2D
simulation
17 mm model.

The axis of symmetry

The plane of symmetry

[2] Frictionless
support.

[3] Frictionless
support.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.2 Threaded Bolt-and-Nut 6

Techniques/Concepts

• Hide/Show Sketches
• Display Model/Plane
• Add Material/Frozen
• Axisymmetric Problems
• Contact/Target
• Frictional Contacts
• Edge Sizing
• Loads>Force
• Supports>Frictionless Support
• Solution>Normal Stress
• Radial/Axial/Hoop Stresses
• Nonlinear Simulations
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 7

Section 3.3 • Plane stress condition:

σ Z = 0, τ ZY = 0, τ ZX = 0

More Details • The Hook's law becomes

σX σ
εX = −ν Y
E E
σ σ
εY = Y − ν X
Plane-Stress Problems E E
σ σ
ε Z = −ν X − ν Y
E E
σY
τ
τ XY γ XY = XY , γ YZ = 0, γ ZX = 0
τ XY G

σX σX
• A problem may assume the
plane-stress condition if its
τ XY thickness direction is not
τ XY
Z
restrained and thus free to
Y σY Stress state at a point of expand or contract.
a zero thickness plate,
X
subject to in-plane
forces.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 8

Plane-Strain Problems • Plane strain condition:

ε Z = 0, γ ZX = 0, γ ZY = 0

εX
• The Hook's law becomes
εY E
σX = (1− ν )ε X + νεY
(1+ ν )(1− 2ν )
E
X γ XY σY = (1− ν )εY + νε X
(1+ ν )(1− 2ν )
γ XY E
Z σZ = νε X + νεY
(1+ ν )(1− 2ν )
Y τ XY = Gγ XY , τ YZ = 0, τ ZX = 0
εY
• A problem may assume the plane-strain
εX condition if its Z-direction is restrained
from expansion or contraction, all cross-
sections perpendicular to the Z-direction
have the same geometry, and all
[2] Strain state at environment conditions are in the XY
a point of a plane-
strain structure. plane.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 9

Axisymmetric Problems
• If the geometry, supports, and

[1] Strain
loading of a structure are
state at a axisymmetric about the Y-axis,
point of a
axisymmetric then all response quantities are
structure.
independent of θ coordinate.
• In such a case,
γ θ R = 0, γ θY = 0

τ θ R = 0, τ θY = 0

• both σ θ and εθ are generally not

[2] Stress
state at a zero. They are termed hoop
point of a
axisymmetric stress and hoop strain respectively.
structure.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 10

Mechanical GUI

• Pull-down Menus
and Toolbars
• Outline of Project
Tree
• Details View
• Geometry
• Graph
• Tabular Data
• Status Bar
• Separators
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 11

Project Tree

• A project tree may contain one or more

simulation models.
• A simulation model may contain one or more
Environment branches, along with other
objects. Default Environment branch name
is the analysis system name.
• An Environment branch contains Analysis
Settings, environment conditions, and a
Solution branch.
• A Solution branch contains Solution
Information and results objects.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 12

Unit Systems [1] Built-in unit

[2] Unit system [3] Default
for current project unit
systems. project. system.

• Consistent versus Inconsistent

Unit Systems.
• Built-in versus User-Defined Unit
Systems.
• Project Unit System.
• Internal Consistent Unit System.

[4] Checked unit

[5] These, along with the systems won't be
SI, are consistent unit available in the pull-
systems. down menu.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 13

Environment Conditions
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.3 More Details 14

Results Objects

View Results
[3] Label. [5] You can control [6] Some results
how the contour can display with
displays. vectors.

[4] You may [1] Click to turn on/

[2] Click to turn
select the scale off the label of
on/off the probe.
of deformation. maximum/minimum.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.4 Spur Gears 15

Section 3.4
Spur Gears

Problem Description [1] We are concerned

about the contact
stress here.

[2] And the bending

stress here.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.4 Spur Gears 16

Techniques/Concepts

• Copy bodies (Translate)

• Contacts
• Frictionless
• Symmetric (Contact/Target)
• Adjust to Touch
• Loads>Moment
• True Scale
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 17

Section 3.5
Structural Error, FE Convergence,
and Stress Singularity
Problem Description
100 100
[1] The bar is
made of steel. [2] The bar has
a thickness of
10 mm.
R15

50 kN 50 kN
100

50
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 18

Part A. Stress Discontinuity

Displacement field is continuous

over the entire body.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 19

[1] Original calculated

stresses (unaveraged) [2] By default, stresses are
are not continuous averaged on the nodes, and the
across element stress field is recalculated. That
boundaries, i.e., stress way, the stress field is
at boundary has continuous over the body.
multiple values.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 20

Part B. Structural Error

• For an element, strain energies calculated using averaged stresses and unaveraged
stresses respectively are different. The difference between these two energy values is
called Structural Error of the element.
• The finer the mesh, the smaller the structural error. Thus, the structural error can be
used as an indicator of mesh adequacy.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 21

Part C. Finite Element Convergence

Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 22

Part D. Stress Concentration

[2] Stress
concentration.
[1] To accurately
evaluate the
concentrated stress,
finer mesh is needed,
particularly around the
corner.
Chapter 3 2D Simulations Section 3.5 Filleted Bar 23

Part E. Stress Singularity

• Stress singularity is not limited

to sharp corners.
The stress in this
zero-radius fillet
• Any locations that have stress
is theoretically
infinite.
of infinity are called singular
points.
• Besides a concave fillet of zero
radius, a point of concentrated
forces is also a singular point.