COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Introduction:

The finite element method has been a powerful tool for the numerical solution of a
wide range of engineering problems. Application range from deformation and stress
analysis of automotive, aircraft, building, defense, missile, and bridge structures to the field
analysis of dynamics, stability, fracture mechanics, heat flux, fluid flow, magnetic flux,
seepage and other flow problems

With advances in computer technology and CAD systems complex problems can be
modeled with relative ease. Several alternate configurations can be tried out on a computer
before the first prototype is built.

Finite Element Method

The analysis by FEM involves the following steps.

1. Pre-processing: It is the act of preparation of data such as nodal locations,

element connectivity co-ordinates imposing boundary conditions applications of load and
providing material information to element etc. one can decide in this stage regarding the
number of nodes, elements, types with their order and the pattern of FE mesh.

2. Processing: This stage involves stiffness generation, stain energy calculation and
solutions of equations resulting in the evolution of nodal variables, induced elemental
forces, strains and stresses.

3. Post-Processing: The geometric deformation and distribution of forces, stresses

and strains in the structure, here the aspect of plotting a displaced plotting nodal date in
the form of contour plots, such as isotherms and isobars, and conversion of element
oriented data into best fitting nodal values is discussed. Preprocessing and post processing
are integral parts of finite element analysis.

Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a type of computerized analysis method. It is used
to study simulated physical phenomena which is based on the Finite Element Method
(FEM). FEM is a numerical method that uses mathematical models to solve complex
structural engineering problems represented by differential equations. Engineers use
Finite Element Analysis in the design process. Instead of making prototypes for real-life
experiments, they turn to Finite Element Analysis software. Applying it during the design
phase helps to optimize machinery parts to make better products and deliver them faster.

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

General Steps

Step 1: Ansys Utility Menu

File – clear and start new – do not read file – ok
File – change job name – enter new job name – xxxx – ok
File – change title – enter new title – yyy – ok.

Step 2: Ansys Main Menu – Preferences

Select – STRUCTURAL – ok.

Step 3: Preprocessor
Element type – select type of element from the table and the required options.
Real constants – give the details such as thickness, areas, moment of inertia, etc.
Required depending on the nature of the problem.
Material Properties – give the details such as Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio etc.
Depending on the nature of the problem.

Step 4: Modeling – create the required geometry such as nodes elements, area, and volume by
using the appropriate options.

Step 5: Generate – Elements/ nodes using Mesh Tool if necessary. (in 2D and 3D
problems)

Step 6: Apply boundary conditions/loads such as DOF constraints, Force/Momentum,

Pressure etc.

Step 7: Solution – Solve the problem.

Step 8: General Post Processor – plot / list the required results.

Step 9: Plot ctrls – animate – deformed shape – def+undeformed-ok.

Step 10: to save the solution, ansys tool bar- save, model.

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

(PART – A)
i) Bars of constant cross section area, tapered cross section and stepped bar.

Problem 1:
For the Simple bar shown in Fig, Determine the displacement, stress and reaction forces.
Take the cross sectional area of the bar as 500mm 2 and E as 2X105N/mm2.

Preferences-Structural-OK
Preprocessor
Element- Add/Edit/ Delete-Add -Select link 2D Spar 1– Click – OK.
Real Constant- Add/Edit/ Delete –Add- under real constants – Set no-1
Area = 500mm2 – Click Ok – Close.
Material properties – Material models – Structural – linear – Elastic – Isotropic
EX=2E5 -Close or Exit
Modeling
Create –Nodes - In active CS –
Node No. X Y
1 0 0 Apply
2 1000 0 Ok
Element – Auto numbered – Thru nodes – Select node1 and node 2 – OK
Loads – Define loads–Apply–Structural–Displacement–On Nodes–Select node 1– ALLDOF
– OK.
Force /moment – On Nodes – Select node 2 enter FX=+1000N- OK

Solution – Solve - Current LS – Solution is done-OK-Close.

General post processor

Element table – Define table – Add – (user label-SAXL) - By sequence No. – select LS, enter
1- OK - Close
Plot results – Contour plot – Element table – SAXL-Yes- avg. (Note down the stress value)
Nodal Solution – DOF Solution – X-Component displacement– OK.
(Note down the displacement)
List Results- Reaction Solution – Select all – OK. (Note down the Reaction forces)

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

RESULT:

Nodal Solution

Avg. Element Solution

4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

Reaction Results

PRINT REACTION SOLUTIONS PER NODE

***** POST1 TOTAL REACTION SOLUTION LISTING *****

LOAD STEP= 1 SUBSTEP= 1

TIME= 1.0000 LOAD CASE= 0

THE FOLLOWING X,Y,Z SOLUTIONS ARE IN THE GLOBAL COORDINATE SYSTEM

NODE FX FY
1 -1000.0 0.0000

TOTAL VALUES
VALUE -1000.0 0.0000

5 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

Problem 2:
For the Tapered bar shown in Fig, Determine the displacement, stress and reaction forces.
Take the cross sectional area of the bar A1= 1000mm2 & A2=500mm2 E =2X105N/ mm2.

Solution: The given tapered bar is modified into 2 elements with the modified area,
i.e.,(A1+ A2)/2 = (1000+500)/2 = 750 mm2

Modified area, A1 = (1000+750)/2 = 875 mm2

A2 = (750+500)/2 = 625 mm2

The Tapered bar is modified into a Stepped Bar as shown in the Fig

A1 A2

P=1000N

187,5 187,5

Preferences-Structural-OK

Preprocessor
Element- Add/Edit/ Delete-Add -Select link 2D Spar 1– Click – OK.

Real Constant- Add/Edit/ Delete –Add- under real constants –

Set no-1 -Area = 875mm2 – Apply
Set no-2 -Area = 625mm2 - Click Ok – Close.

6 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

Material properties – Material models – Structural – Linear – Elastic – Isotropic

EX=2E5.-Close or Exit

Modeling
Create –Nodes - In active CS –
Node No. X Y
1 0 0 Apply
2 187.5 0 Apply
3 375 0 OK

Element- Element Attributes-Auto numbered – Thru nodes – Select node1 & 2 –OK
Element Attributes-Set Real constant number to 2-Auto numbered – Thru nodes – Select
node2 & 3 – OK

Loads – Define loads–Apply–Structural–Displacement–On Nodes–Select node 1– ALLDOF

– OK.

Force /moment – On Nodes – Select node 3 enter FX=+1000N- OK

Solution – Solve - Current LS – Solution is done-OK-Close

General Postprocessor
Element table – Define table – Add – (user label-SAXL) - By sequence No. – select LS, enter
1- OK - Close

Plot results – Contour plot – Element table – SAXL-Yes- avg. (Note down the stress value)

Nodal Solution – DOF Solution – X-Component displacement– OK.

(Note down the displacement value)

List Results- Reaction Solution – Select all – OK. (Note down the Reaction forces)

7 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

RESULT:

Nodal Solution

Avg. Element Solution

8 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.

 COMPUTER AIDED MODELING & ANALYSIS LAB 18MEL66

Reaction Results

PRINT REACTION SOLUTIONS PER NODE

***** POST1 TOTAL REACTION SOLUTION LISTING *****

LOAD STEP= 1 SUBSTEP= 1

TIME= 1.0000 LOAD CASE= 0

THE FOLLOWING X,Y,Z SOLUTIONS ARE IN THE GLOBAL COORDINATE SYSTEM

NODE FX FY
1 -1000.0 0.0000

TOTAL VALUES
VALUE -1000.0 0.0000

9 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology, Bengaluru - 560090.