Problem Statement

Parameter Value
d 0.7m
t 0.15m
L 4.2m
1.27*106
F
N
G 78GPa

• Determine displacement, strain and

stress fields using FEM
• Verify the FEM results
 What’s Inside the Blackbox?
Post-processing
Displacements
Mathematical Numerical Color pictures
User inputs at
Model Solution & other results
selected points

Physical principles Blackbox

Assumptions
Hand calculations
Torsion of a
shaft Experimental data
 Mathematical Model: Boundary Value Problem
Governing equations + Boundary conditions Differential Equations of
Equilibrium

Physical principle: Eqbm. of infinitesimal element

or

• 3 eqs.: Force balance in x, y, z directions

• 6 unknown functions: ,
• Need additional equations
Additional Equations: 3D Hooke’s Law
Additional Equations: Strain-Displacement Relations
 Mathematical Model: Governing Equations Summary
• Equations
– 3: Equilibrium equations in x, y, z
directions
– 6: Stress-strain relations
– 6: Strain-displacement relations
• Unknown functions
– 6 stress components
– 6 strain components
– 3 displacement components
• Primary unknowns:
– Can express the equilibrium equations in
terms of
 Mathematical Model: Governing Equations Summary
• Equations
– 3: Equilibrium equations in x, y directions
– 6: Stress-strain relations
– 6: Strain-displacement relations
• Unknown functions
– 6 stress components
– 6 strain components
– 3 displacement components
• Primary unknowns:
– Can express the equilibrium equations in
terms of
Domain and Boundary Conditions
• At every point on the
boundary, the displacement or
traction has to be defined
 What’s Inside the ANSYS Blackbox?
Post-processing
Displacements
Mathematical Numerical Color pictures
User inputs at
Model Solution & other results
selected points

Physical principles Blackbox

Assumptions
Hand calculations
Plate with a
hole Experimental data
 Numerical Solution Strategy: Finite-Element Method
• Divide domain into elements and
nodes
• Reduce the problem to
determining displacement values
only at nodes
• Use polynomial interpolation to
relate at any point within
an element to the nodal
displacements
Element

Nodes
How to Find Nodal Displacements?
Mathematical Set of algebraic
Model (Boundary equations in Invert Nodal
Value Problem) nodal displacements
displacements
Post
Element-by- processing
element
polynomial
interpolation for Strains & Stresses

Each algebraic
equation will relate a
nodal displacement to
its neighbors
 What’s Inside the ANSYS Blackbox?
Post-processing
Displacements
Mathematical Numerical Color pictures
User inputs at
Model Solution & other results
selected points

Physical principles Blackbox

Assumptions
Hand calculations
Plate with a
hole Experimental data
Hand Calculations for Expected Results
Boundary Value FEM Displacements Interpolation
Problem (BVP) Solution at nodes

Torsion of
cylindrical shaft

Solution to
Assumptions
BVP
Hand Calculations for Expected Results
Boundary Value FEM Displacements Interpolation
Problem (BVP) Solution at nodes

Torsion of
cylindrical shaft

Solution to
Assumptions
BVP
How to Reduce the Error in the Finite Element Solution?
Mathematical Set of algebraic Original Mesh Refined Mesh
Model (Boundary equations in
Value Problem) nodal
displacements
Element-by-element
polynomial interpolation
for

• FE solution tends to the exact

solution as polynomial
interpolation gets better
– Increase no. of elements
– Increase order of polynomial
within each element
 What’s Inside the ANSYS Blackbox?
Post-processing
Displacements
Mathematical Numerical Color pictures
User inputs at
Model Solution & other results
selected points

Physical principles Blackbox

Assumptions
Hand calculations
Plate with a
hole Experimental data
 Verification and Validation

Pre-Analysis Steps Verification Steps

1. Mathematical model 1. Results consistent with
2. Numerical solution mathematical model?
procedure 2. Numerical errors
3. Hand-calculations of acceptable?
expected 3. Results compare well
results/trends with hand calcs?
Verification Checklist
1. Are the FEA results
consistent with the math
model?
– Check BCs
– Check material properties
– Check equilibrium in
aggregate
2. Are numerical errors
acceptable?
– Check discretization error by
refining mesh
3. Do the FEA results compare
reasonably well with hand
calculations?