14.

Beam Modeling
5. Beam Modeling

• Beam elements are line elements used to create a one-

dimensional idealization of a 3-D structure.
• They are computationally more efficient than solids and
shells and are heavily used in several industries:
– Building construction
– Bridges and roadways
– People movers (trams,
railcars, buses)
– Etc.
...Beam Modeling

• In this chapter, we will present a brief introduction to beam

modeling via the following topics:
A. Beam Properties
B. Beam Meshing
C. Loading, Solution, Results
D. Workshop
Beam Modeling
A. Beam Properties
• The first step in beam modeling, as with any analysis, is to
create the geometry — usually just a framework of keypoints
and lines.
• Then define the following beam properties:
– Element type
– Cross section
– Material
Beam Modeling
...Beam Properties
Element Type
• Choose one of the following types:
– BEAM188 — 3-D, linear (2-node)
– BEAM189 — 3-D, quadratic (3-node)

• ANSYS has many other beam elements, but BEAM188 & 189
are generally recommended.
– Applicable to most beam structures
– Support linear as well as nonlinear analyses, including plasticity,
large deformation, and nonlinear collapse
– Easy to use, both in preprocessing and postprocessing phases
Beam Modeling
...Beam Properties
Cross Section
• To completely define a BEAM188 or 189
element, you also need to specify its cross
section properties.
• The BeamTool provides a convenient way
to do this.
– Preprocessor > Sections > Common Sectns...
– Select the desired shape, then enter its
dimensions.
– Press the Preview button to view the shape,
then OK to accept it.
– If there are multiple cross sections, specify
a different section ID number (and an
optional name) for each.
Beam Modeling
...Beam Properties
• A sample preview (SECPLOT) of an I-beam cross section is shown
below.
• In addition to the predefined cross-section shapes, ANSYS allows
you tocreate your own, “user-defined” shape by building a 2-D solid
model.
• You can save user-defined
sections as well as standard
sections with the desired
dimensions in a section
library for later use.
• See Chapter 15 of the ANSYS
Structural Analysis Guide for
more information.
Beam Modeling
...Beam Properties
Material Properties
• Both linear and nonlinear material properties are allowed.
• After all beam properties are defined, the next step is to mesh
the geometry with beam elements.
Beam Modeling
B. Beam Meshing
• Meshing the geometry (lines) with beam elements
involves three main steps:
– Assign line attributes
– Specify line divisions
– Generate the mesh

• The MeshTool provides a convenient way to

perform all three steps.
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
Step 1: Line Attributes
• Line attributes for beam meshing consist of:
– Material number
– Section ID
– Orientation keypoint
• Determines how the cross section is oriented with respect to
the beam axis.
• Must be specified for all cross-section types.
• A single keypoint can be assigned to multiple lines (i.e, no
need to specify a separate keypoint for each line).
• Each end of a line can have its own orientation keypoint,
allowing the cross section to be “twisted” about the beam
axis.
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
• Examples of using orientation keypoints:
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
• To assign line attributes, use the “Element Attributes”
section of the MeshTool (or select desired lines and use the
LATT command).

Pick lines

Additional
attributes for
BEAM188 & 189
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
Step 2: Line Divisions
• For BEAM188 and 189 elements, a single element spanning
the entire beam length is not recommended.
• Use the “Size Controls” section of the MeshTool (or the
LESIZE command) to specify the desired number of line
divisions.
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
Step 3: Generate the Mesh
• First save the database (Toolbar > SAVE_DB or SAVE
command).
• Then press the Mesh button in the MeshTool (or issue
LMESH,ALL) to generate the mesh.

Pick lines
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
• To see the cross-section shape in the element display,
activate the element shape key:
– Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape…
– Or /ESHAPE,1
Beam Modeling
...Beam Meshing
• After beam meshing is completed, the next step is to apply
loads and solve.
Beam Modeling
C. Loading, Solution, Results
• Typical loading for beam models consists of:
– Displacement constraints
• applied at keypoints or nodes
– Forces
• applied at keypoints or nodes
– Pressures
• load per unit length
• applied on element faces
– Solution > Apply > Pressures > On Beams
– Or SFBEAM command
– Gravity or rotational velocity
• acts on entire structure
Beam Modeling
...Loading, Solution, Results
• To obtain the solution:
– First save the database.
– Then solve. (Or write the loads to a load step file and solve all
load steps later.)

• Results review is the same as for other stress analyses:

– View the deformed shape
– Check reaction forces
– Plot stresses and strains
• The main advantage of BEAM188 and 189 is that with the
element shape key activated (/ESHAPE,1), stresses can be
directly viewed on the elements (similar to solids and shells).
Beam Modeling
...Loading, Solution, Results
• Demo:
– Resume frame.db (contains lines, kp’s, loading, element type, material, and two
cross sections)
– Plot the two cross section already defined (SECPLOT,1 & 2)
– Define a third cross section using the BeamTool:
• ID=3: Name = peak, Sub-type = box (hollow rectangle), W1=6, W2=6;
T1=T2=T3=T4=0.25
– Bring up MeshTool, GPLOT, then assign the following line attributes:
• Sloping lines: mat=1, secnum=3, orientation KP = topmost KP (#100)
• Left vertical lines: mat=1, secnum=2, orientation KP = #102
• Right vertical lines: mat=1, secnum=2, orientation KP = #101
• Left & front horizontal lines: mat=1, secnum=1, orientation KP = #1
• Right & back horizontal lines: mat=1, secnum=1, orientation KP = #3
– Specify size=20 on all lines
– Save, then LMESH,ALL; then EPLOT with /ESHAPE,1
– Solve, then review results: deformed shape (animate), reaction forces, SX stresses
(= axial + bending). Select elements with section ID=3 and replot stresses. Repeat
for ID=2.
Beam Modeling
D. Workshop
• This workshop consists of the following problem:
W4. Building Frame

Please refer to your Workshop Supplement for instructions.