ADVANCED STRUCTURES-SOLID ELEMENTS : CANTILEVER BEAM

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Introduction to FEM

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical technique for finding approximate
solution of partial differentially equation (PDE) as well as integral equation.

The finite element method is a good choice for solving partial differential equations
more complicated the domains, when the domains changes, when the desired
precision varies over the entire domains, or when the solution lacks smoothness.

The final element method originated from the need for solving complex elasticity and
structural analysis in civil and aeronautical engineering. Its development can be
traced back to the work by Alexander Hrennikoff and Richard Courant. While the
approaches used by the pioneers are dramatically different, they share one essential
characteristic: mesh discretization of continuous domains into a set of the sub-
domains, usually called elements.

Plate

Add Plate:

This option allows you to Triangular or Quadrilateral plate elements by connecting

existing nodes. To add quadrilateral plate, select Quad from the sub-menu. For
triangular plates, select Triangle from the sub-menu . The cursor changes to Quad
plate or Triangular Plate shapes. To create new elements, simply click on the
existing nodes in the right sequence. A rubber banded area shows the boundary of
the plate being generated.

Set New Plate Attribute:

Similar to the “ Set New Member Attribute” command in which the user is in can
define the property, material and releases to each new plate element as it is created,
has been introduced.

In order to define the attributes for plate element before they are created, go
to Geometry→ Add Plate → Set New Plate Attributes from the main menu.
A dialogue box will prompt for various attributes of the plate to be pre-defined. A
summary of a specific attributes are defined in the table below.

Button
Create New Property
Create New Material
Create New Release
Function
Prompts the plate thickness
dialogue box that the
thickness of the plate at each
of the common node can be
defined.
Defined the various material
properties of the plate
including poison ratio,
modulus of elasticity, shear
modulus, etc.
Define the degree of freedom
to be released at each node
of the plate to the plane
stress no in plane rotation or
no stiffness.
Multiple properties, releases and materials can be created and saved for future use.
To choose from various pre-defined types, simply select the appropriate definition
using the “Select Property”, “Select Material” or the “Plate Release” drop-down
boxes.

For the program to recognize the pre-defined attributes, the “Assign these attributes
while creating a new plates” check box must be checked. Any new plate element
created from here on will now possess these attributes.

How to Sketch Plates:

1. Click the plate icon .

2. Now automatically beam cursor will change into plate cursor and nodes in the

structure are visible.

3. Plate can drawn only clicking the four node points.

4. After placing the plate, click Commands menu→ Member Property→ Plate

Thickness. Now the Properties Whole Structure dialog box appears.

5. Click Thickness button, now the Plate Element/ Surface Property dialog box
appears, where you add different types of member properties of plate and surface
element.

6. Type respective value of thickness for the plate element. Click Add button.

7. Now click Select menu→ Plate cursor.

8. Now select the plates and select the radio button Assign to selected plates and

click Assign button.

9. Now open the 3D rendering page. You can see the Plate with defined thickness.

Surface

Add Surface:

Adding surface is similar to the adding plates where the plates can be placed by
clicking only 4 node points while the surface can be placed by clicking more than 4
node points. Finally you have to click the node point where you start placing the
surface.

How to Add surface in the structure:

1. Click Add Surface icon or Click Geometry menu→ Add Surface.

2. Now the beam cursor changes into surface cursor.

3. Place the surface by clicking the node points and finally click the node point where
begin.

4. As usual define the property for surface. Type the respective thickness value for
surface member.

5. Now Assign the member property to the surface by selecting the surfaces using
the surface cursor.
6. Now Open 3d Rendering View.

Meshing

Meshing is the process of creating a finite element mesh over the respective
member. The nodes that form the corners of the polygon representing the super –
element must already exit on the drawing before the facility can be availed. They
can be selected in a sequence and the process launched.

Meshing can be done over the plate and surface they can be classified into two are

1. Plate mesh.
2. Surface mesh.

Plate Meshing:

This is an utility meant for taking an existing plate element and subdividing into a
set of smaller elements. Consequently, a plate element must already exist on the
drawing in order for this facility to be enabled. Using the Plate Cursor, Click the right
mouse button on the element and select Generate Mesh. Alternatively select the
Geometry menu→ Generate Plate Mesh.

If the element being meshed is triangular, the polygonal mesh feature described in
the previous section will automatically become activated. If the element is
quadrilateral, the user have to choose between polygonal and quadrilateral meshing.

1. Select the plate element, right click in the selected element.

2. Click Generate Plate Meshing. Now the Meshing type dialog box appears.

3. Choose the type of meshing, Click Polygonal Meshing and click OK

4. Now the Define Mesh Region dialog box appears, user have to define the
boundary of the meshing surface. Click OK button.
5. Now the meshing surface is visible, then apply the plate load and proceed
analysis.

• Polygonal Meshing.

• Quadrilateral Meshing.

Surface Meshing:

Surface meshing is similar to the process of plate meshing. Same procedure is

followed for the surface meshing. Click Geometry menu→ Generate Plate Mesh.
Now select the surface element and provide respective boundary condition. Click OK
button. Now you get the surface mesh.
 SOLID ELEMENTS : CANTILEVER BEAM

Data:

Beam type: Cantilever Beam

Span : 2.0m
Section size: 300 x 400mm
Solid modeling

Fig.1 Solid Model of Cantilever Beam

1.Geometry Creation :

New Project → Select  Space →Units: Length =meters; Force=KN;

File Name=Conical dome → Next. Select  Add beam →Finish.
Geometry →Run structure Wizard→Select Model Type: Solid Model
Click Solid Block and double click on it.
Length along X=2.0m Division along X=20
Length along Y =0.40 Division along Y=4
Length along Z=0.30 Division along Z=3 → Apply →Transfer Model→Yes→Ok.
Go to Left side view (Top)
 Fig.2 Left side view
2.Property:
Isometric view →Commands→Member Constants→Density  Concrete →
Enter value=0 KN/m3 →  Assign to View →Ok.
Commands→Member Constants→Elasticity  Concrete →
Enter value=0 KN/m3 →  assign to View →Ok.
Commands→Member Constants→Poisson’s ratio  Concrete →
Enter value=0 KN/m3 →  Assign to View →Ok.
3. Supports :
Click Support → Create → Fixed →Add. Highlight support 2 →Go to Front view.
Select Front nodes of the beam → Assign to selected nodes → Assign→ Yes →
Close → De select the nodes and change to beam cursor.

4. Loading :
Load & Definitions→Click Load case Details →Add.
Primary →Number 1 Loading type: none Title: Load case 1 → Add .
Click Load case 1 details →Add.
 Fig. 3 Selection for appliying Load

Fig.4 Isometric view load applying

Click Solid loads → Solid pressure Loads select face Number=Top

Node 1=-100KN/m2 ; Node 2=-100KN/m2 ;
Node 3=-100KN/m2 ; Node 4=-100KN/m2 Direction  GY→Add.
Highlight face No. Pressure GY -100 -100 -100 -100 → Select the top portion of
element → view it in isomeric view → Assign to view → Assign→ Yes.
5. Analysis Type:
Click Analysis/print → No print → Add→ Close.
Note: Save the File before Run the Program.
6.Analysis:
From Main Menu → ` Analysis → Run Analysis → Done.
8.Results :
 Go to post processing mode. Maximize the screen. Close the table.
Front view → see the Deflected shape.→Click Animation→  Deflection
→Apply→Ok.
Results →Solid stress contour → Solid stress contour Load case: Load case 1
Stress Type: Sxx →Apply →Ok.

Fig. 5 Stress contour Sxx

 Fig. 6 Isometric view of stress contour Sxx

Results →Solid stress contour → Solid stress contour Load case: Load case 1
Stress Type: Syy →Apply →Ok.

Fig. 7 Isometric view of Stress Sxy

Results →Solid stress contour → Solid stress contour Load case: Load case 1
Stress Type: Szz →Apply →Ok.
 Fig. 8 Isometric view of stress contour Szz
Results →Solid stress contour → Solid stress contour Load case: Load case 1
Stress Type: Sxy →Apply →Ok.

Fig. 9 Isometric view of stress contour Sxy

 Fig.10 Isometric view of Principal stress S1

Results →Solid stress contour → Solid stress contour Load case: Load case 1
Stress Type: Sign Von Mises →Apply →Ok →Close.

Fig.11 Sign Von Mises

 Fig.12 Sign convention of various stresses in plates
Note:
1.Normal Stresses: Sxx, Syy and Szz
2.Shear Stresses: Sxy, Syz and Szx
3.Principle Stresses: S1, S2 and S3
4. Von Mises Stresses:
Side 0.707 √(S1-S2)2 (S2-S3)2 (S3-S1)2