ANSYS Tutorial 2

Static Structural Analysis of 3D Truss System

Aim: To determine maximum deflection and maximum bending stresses induced over the
surface of a bridge carrying a uniformly distributed load of 10,000 KN. The bridge is assumed
to build with 3D truss elements having I cross-section for which shear-moment diagrams are
obtained. The material chosen for analysis is structural steel.

Software Package used: ANSYS Workbench 16.0

Design Modeler tools: Profile, Line, Lines from Sketches, Lines from Points, Surface from
Sketches, Pattern, Cross-section.

Procedure for 3D Analysis

1. Open ANSYS Workbench 16.0 and create a standalone Static Structural Analysis
system.
2. Go to Engineering Data > Engineering Data Sources > General Materials > Add Static
Structural > Exit.
3. Go to Geometry Properties > Set the analysis type to 3D in advanced geometry options.
4. Go to Geometry > In the Design Modeler window, go to Modeling tab in tree outline >
select XY Plane and click on Look at.
5. Go to Sketching tab > Set the graphics window to desired area > Set the unit system to
Meters.
6. Using the tools Profile, Lines from sketches, Lines from points and Pattern, complete
the truss system as shown in figure.

Prepared by: K.Harish Kumar & Y.Phaneendra, Mechanical Dept, Vignan IIT.
 7. Go to ZX plane, draw the base profile outline (Sketch 2) using rectangle tool.
8. Go to Concept > Surface from Sketches > Select Base Object as Sketch 2 > Click Apply
> Specify thickness as 0.3m > Generate.
9. Go to Concept > Cross-section > I Section (I1)> Generate.
10. Assign I Section (I1) to Truss elements (Line body) > Close Design Modeler.
11. Go to Model > Geometry > Line body > Material Assignment > Choose Structural
Steel.
12. Go to Model > Geometry > Surface body > Material Assignment > Choose Structural
Steel.
13. Go to Connections > Insert > Manual contact region > Contact scope as bottom vertices
joining the base > Target scope as longitudinal edges of base > Generate.
14. Go to Mesh > Switch off advanced sizing function > Specify element size as 0.2 m >
Generate mesh.
15. Go to Static Structural > Fixed Support > Pick edge tool from Selection toolbar > Select
the end edges that needs to be fixed > Apply.
16. Go to Static Structural > Loads > Force > Select the base surface on which the force is
applied > Change the direction > Specify the magnitude as 10,000 KN > Apply.
17. Go to Solution > Deformation > Total Deformation.
18. Go to Solution > Stress > Equivalent Stress (Bending Stresses).
19. Click on Solve.

Shear-Moment Diagram

1. Go to Model > Insert > Construction geometry.

2. Construction geometry > Insert > Path > Choose path type as edge > Select the truss
element for which shear-moment diagram is needed > Click on Apply.
3. Go to Solution > Insert > Beam results > Choose the defined path > Click on Solve.

Result: For a bridge made of 3D trusses, the results obtained are as follows.

1. The maximum deformation obtained is 15.6 mm.

2. The maximum bending stress induced in the bridge is 166.96 Mpa.

Maximum bending stress, deformation and shear-moment diagrams are shown in the figures.

Prepared by: K.Harish Kumar & Y.Phaneendra, Mechanical Dept, Vignan IIT.
Figure 1: 3D bridge constructed with trusses of I-section

Figure 2: 3D truss system obtained after meshing

Figure 3: Maximum deformation obtained for applied load

Figure 4: Maximum bending stresses obtained for applied load

Figure 5: Shear-moment diagram obtained for applied load