Lecture 7

Static Structural Analysis

16.0 Release

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

1 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. February 27, 2015

 Chapter Overview
In this chapter, performing linear static structural analyses in Mechanical will be covered:
A. Basics of Linear Static Analysis
B. Geometry
C. Material Properties
D. Contact
E. Analysis Settings
F. Loads
G. Supports
H. Load and Support Display
I. Contact vs Supports
J. Solving Models
K. Workshop 7.1, Pump Assembly With Contact
L. Results and Postprocessing
M. Linear vs Non Linear
N. Workshop 7.2, Using Beam Connections
O. Appendix
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 A. Basics of Linear Static Analysis
The schematic setup for a linear static structural analysis is shown here.

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 . . . Basics of Linear Static Analysis
For a linear static structural analysis, the global displacement vector {x} is solved for in the matrix equation
below:

K x  F 
Assumptions made for linear static structural analysis are:

• [K] , which is the global stiffness matrix, is constant

– Linear elastic material behavior is assumed
– Small deflection theory is used
• {F} , which is the global load vector, is statically applied
– No time-varying forces are considered
– No damping effects
It is important to remember these assumptions related to linear static analysis. Nonlinear static and dynamic
analyses are covered in other training courses.
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 B. Geometry
In structural analyses, all types of bodies supported by Mechanical may be used.

For surface bodies, thickness must be

supplied in the “Details” view of the
“Geometry” branch.

The cross-section and orientation of line bodies are defined within DesignModeler and are
imported into Mechanical automatically.

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 . . . Geometry
• Mechanical allows a part’s stiffness behavior to be defined as rigid/flexible.
– A rigid body is not meshed with traditional finite elements. Rather it is represented using a single
mass element and is thus very efficient in terms of solution times.
– Parts in an assembly that are included only to transfer loads can be designated as rigid to reduce
solution times and model sizes.

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 . . . Point Mass
A Point Mass can be added to a model’s Geometry branch to simulate parts of the structure not
explicitly modeled:

• Point mass is affected by “Acceleration,” “Standard Earth Gravity,” and “Rotational Velocity”. No
other loads affect a point mass.

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 C. Material Properties
Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio are always required for linear static structural analyses:
• Density is required if any inertial loads are present.
• Thermal expansion coefficient is required if a temperature load is applied.
• Stress Limits are needed if a Stress Tool result is present.
• Fatigue Properties are needed if Fatigue Tool result is present.
– Requires Fatigue Module add-on license.

• As shown earlier material properties are assigned in the part details in Mechanical. The user
can chose from the dropdown list materials available to this project

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 D. Contact
Surface contact elements in Mechanical can be visualized as a “skin” covering the surfaces of the
parts in an assembly.
It is these elements that define the behavior when parts are in contact (e.g. friction, bonding, heat
transfer, etc.).
In Mechanical contact pairs are color coded as shown here.
Note, contact is covered in more detail in connection lecture (L05_connections).

Contact Side

Target Side

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 … Contact - Spot Weld
Spot welds provide a means of connecting shell assemblies at discrete points:
• Spotweld definition is done in the CAD software. Currently, only DesignModeler and Unigraphics
define supported spot weld definitions.

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 E. Analysis Settings
The “Analysis Settings” details provide general control over the
solution process:
Step Controls:
• Specify the number of steps in an analysis and an end “time”
for each step.
Solver Controls:
• Two solvers available (default program chosen):
– Direct solver (Sparse solver in MAPDL).
– Iterative solver (PCG solver in MAPDL).
• Weak springs:
– Mechanical tries to anticipate under-constrained models.

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 . . . Analysis Settings
The “Output Controls” section of the analysis settings configures
what items are to be written to the results file (defaults shown).
Output controls are intended to allow users to write efficient results
files containing only the desired information thereby limiting file
sizes.
The most general results quantities are written by default.
Be sure to review the documentation before starting an analysis to
make sure the desired results will be written.

Note: the default configuration for output controls can be changed in

“Tools > Options > Analysis Settings and Solution”.

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 F. Loads
Loads and supports respond in terms of the degrees of freedom (DOF)
available for the elements used. UY
With solid geometry the DOF are X, Y and Z translations (for shells and beams
we add rotational DOF rotX, rotY and rotZ). UX
Boundary conditions, regardless of actual names, are always defined in terms
UZ
of these DOF.
Boundary conditions can be scoped to geometry items or to nodes (depending
on load type).
Example: a “Frictionless Support” applied to the face of the block shown would
indicate that the Z degree of freedom is no longer free (all other DOF are free).

Frictionless surface
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 . . . Loads
Most of loads and supports can be defined by components of by vector.
Loads and supports having a direction component can be defined in global or local coordinate
systems:
• In the Details view, change “Define By” to “Components”. Then, select the appropriate CS from
the pull-down menu.

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 . . . Loads
Acceleration Standard Earth Gravity Rotational Velocity
(all bodies) (all bodies) (selected bodies)

Units length/time2 length/time2 Radian/second or RPM

A Direction
Components Components
Defined by Local or global coordinate
Vector Vector
system

Resulting forces: Resulting forces:

Notes

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 . . . Loads
Pressure Line Pressure Force Moment

Scoping

Units Force/area Force/length Mass*length/time² Force*length

Definition Components Vector Components Components

Vector Component direction Vector Vector
Normal to Tangential (along line)
Positive value If multiple entities are selected, the loads are
into surface, evenly distributed
negative value
acts out of
surface.

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 . . . Loads
Hydrostatic Pressure:

• Applies a linearly varying load to a surface (solid or shell) to simulate

fluid force acting on the structure.

• Fluid may be Internal (contained fluid) or external (submerged body).

Internal External

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 . . . Loads
Bearing Load (force):
• Forces are distributed in compression over the projected area:
– No axial components.
– Use only one bearing load per cylindrical surface.
• If the cylindrical surface is split, select both halves of cylinder
when applying the load.
• Bearing loads can be defined via vector or component method.

Bearing Load Force Load

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 . . . Loads
Remote Force Loading :

• The user supplies the origin of the force (geometry or coordinates). Mechanical automatically
creates a remote point at the force location.
• Can be defined using vector or component method.
• Applies an equivalent force and moment on the surface.

• Example: 10 inch beam with a 1 lbf remote force scoped to the end of the beam. Remote force
is located 20 inches from the fixed support.
F=1 lbf

20” Moment Reaction

Details about remote points are covered in L06_Remote BC
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 . . . Loads
Bolt Pretension:
• Applies a pretension load to a solid cylindrical section or beam using:
– Pretension load (force)
– OR
– Adjustment (length)
• For body loading a local coordinate system is required (preload in z direction).
– Face selection assumes axial direction of cylindrical surface.
• For multistep analyses additional options are available (covered later).

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 . . . Loads
Thermal Condition:  thx   thy   thz   T  Tref 
• Applies a uniform temperature in a structural analysis.
• A reference temperature must be provided (can apply
to all bodies or individuals).

Reference temperature in Environment (e.g. Static Reference temperature can be applied to

Structural), applies to all bodies individual bodies
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 G. Supports
Fixed Support :
• Constraints all degrees of the selected entity:
– Solid bodies: constrains x, y, and z.
– Surface and line bodies: constrains x, y, z, rotx, roty and rotz.
Displacement:
• Allows for imposed translational displacement in x, y, and z (in user-
defined Coordinate System).
• Entering “0” means that the direction is constrained, leaving the
direction blank means the direction is free.

– Elastic Support :
• Applies “flexible” frictionless support to a face.
• Foundation stiffness is the pressure required to produce unit normal
deflection of the foundation.

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 … Supports
Frictionless Support:
• Applies constraints (fixes) in the normal direction on surfaces.
• For solid bodies, this support can be used to apply a structural ‘symmetry’ boundary condition.
• Examples . . . Fixed in radial
direction

Fixed translation out

Free translation in of plane of support
plane of support Free in tangential
and axial directions

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 … Supports
Cylindrical Support:
• Provides individual controls (fixed/free) for axial, radial, or tangential constraints.
• Applied on cylindrical surfaces only.
Radial

Tangential
Example . . . Axial

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 … Supports
Compression Only Support :
• Applies a constraint in the normal compressive direction only.
• Can be used on a cylindrical surface to model a pin, bolt, etc..
• Requires an iterative (nonlinear) solution.

Force

Compression Only
Force

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 … Supports
Simply Supported:
• Can be applied on edge or vertex of surface or line bodies
• Prevents all translations but all rotations are free
Fixed Rotation:
• Can be applied on surface, edge, or vertex of surface or line bodies
• Constrains rotations but translations are free
Translations free
Translation fixed

Rotations fixed
Rotations free

Simply Supported Edge Fixed Rotation Edge

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 H. Load and Support Display
Two display options are available for boundary conditions:
• By default, boundary conditions are displayed using a color scheme relating to the
class of the condition such as loads, supports, displacements, etc. (figure on left).
• Users can toggle on “Random Colors” to assign each boundary condition a unique
color (figure on right).

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 I. Supports vs Contacts
Contacts are used to define the interaction between two represented bodies on an assembly
model.
Supports are used to define the interaction between a body and the environment (ground for
example)

Supports will define interaction Contact will be defined at bodies’

with the environment interfaces
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 J. Solving the Model
To solve the model click on the “Solve” button on the Standard Toolbar.
• Two processors used if present (default).
• To set the number of processors use, “Tools > Solve Process Settings”.

Note : By default, Mechanical use two processors. In order to run faster your models, it is possible to define more CPUs to use
for a solve. This feature is available using a specific license (HPC).

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 K. Workshop 7.1
• Workshop 7.1 – Structural Analysis With Contact
• Goal:
– A five part assembly representing an impeller type pump is analyzed with
a 100N load on the belt.

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 L. Results and Postprocessing
Numerous structural results are available:
• Directional and total deformation.
• Components, principal, or invariants of stresses and strains.
• Contact output.
• Reaction forces.
• More . . . .

In Mechanical, results may be requested before or after solving.

• If you solve a model then request results afterwards, click on the “Solve” button, and the results
will be retrieved (the results file is re-read).
• You can also right click the Solution branch or a new result item and “Evaluate All Results”.
• A new solution is not required.

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
Contour and vector plots are usually shown on the deformed geometry.
Use the Context Toolbar to change settings.
Results can be scoped to various geometry and FE entities as well as named
selections. (note these controls are covered in a later chapter).

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
The deformation of the model can be plotted:
• Total deformation is a scalar quantity:
U total  U x2  U y2  U z2

• The x, y, and z components of deformation can be

requested under “Directional”, in global or local coordinates.
• Vector plots of deformation are available (see below).

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
Stresses and strains:
• Stresses and (elastic) strains have six components
(x, y, z, xy, yz, xz) while thermal strains have three components (x, y, z)
• For stresses and strains, components can be requested under “Normal” (x, y, z) and “Shear”
(xy, yz, xz). For thermal strains, (x, y, z) components are under “Thermal.”
• Principal stresses are always arranged such that s1 > s2 > s3
• Intensity is defined as the largest of the absolute values
– s1 - s2, s2 - s3 or s3 - s1

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
Stress Tool:
Calculates safety factors based on several material failure theories
(4):
• Ductile Theories:
– Maximum Equivalent Stress
– Maximum Shear Stress
• Brittle Theories:
– Mohr-Coulomb Stress
– Maximum Tensile Stress
• Safety factor, safety margin and stress ratio can be plotted.
• User specified failure criteria can be entered.

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
In addition to the standard result items one can insert “user defined” results.
These results can include mathematical expressions and can be combinations of multiple result items.
Define in 2 ways:
• Select “User Defined Result” from the solution context menu

• OR - From the Solution Worksheet highlight result > RMB > Create User Defined Result.

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
Details allow an expression using various basic math operations
as well as square root, absolute value, exponent, etc..
User defined results can be labeled with a user “Identifier”.
Result legend contains identifier and expression.

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
Reaction forces at constraints or contacts can be obtained using
a “Reaction Probe”.
Probes can be inserted manually (like other results) or
constraints/contacts can be drag and dropped onto the Solution
branch as a shortcut.

Drag and Drop

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 . . . Results and Postprocessing
After a static structural solve, you have to check results. A check consists of verify the static equilibrium:

Fapplied = Freaction
Reaction probes have to be used to calculate static equilibrium.
Simple example : Fapplied : Acceleration : Fy=m*a => Fy=6.08 N
Freaction :

Drag and Drop

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 M. Linear vs Non Linear solve
In a linear analysis, the matrix equation [K]{x}={F} is solved in one iteration. That means the model
stiffness does not change during solve : [K] is constant.

A non linear solve allow stiffness changes and uses an iterative process to solve the problem.
In a static structural analysis, ANSYS runs a non linear solve automatically when the model contains :

- Non linear material laws : Plasticity, Creep, Gasket, Viscoelasticity …

- Non linear contact : Frictionless, Rough, Frictional
- Large deflection turned « ON»
- Compression only support
- Joints F F KT
- Bolt pretension
- Compression only or tension only Spring K

u u
LINEAR NON LINEAR

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 N. Workshop 7.2
• Workshop 7.2 – Using Beam Connections
– In the flange model shown we will use Mechanical’s beam connection
feature to simulate bolted fasteners in the model.

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 O. APPENDIX
• Analysis Settings : Restart controls
• Nodal Load and Supports
• Results and Postprocessing

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 Analysis Settings : Restart controls
The “Restart Controls” section of the analysis settings
configures how ANSYS produces restart points throughout a
solve.

This is very handy for nonlinear analysis as a converged

solution is not guaranteed, and the user has to occasionally
adjust the solver setting from a particular intermediate
stage of the solve.

For linear static analysis, by default no restart points are

created.

This is covered in more detail in the Introduction to

Structural Nonlinearity course.

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 Nodal Loads and Supports
Certain loads and supports can be applied directly to the nodes.
Nodal Loads:
• Must be applied to nodal named selections.
• Load directions depend on the orientation of the node.
Note : for example it could be useful in case of restart when a load must be added after
a full solve

Each node has an associated local “nodal” coordinate

system. By default these systems are aligned with the
global Cartesian system but can be reoriented into a local
system for loading purposes.

It is with respect to these nodal coordinate systems that

the X, Y, Z components of FE loads are defined.

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 . . . Nodal Loads and Supports
To apply a nodal load, after choosing the type of load from the
“Direct FE” menu the load details allow choice of named selection and
magnitude.

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 . . . Nodal Loads and Supports
To change a nodal load direction the node’s orientation
must be changed using a local coordinate system.

Choose “Nodal Orientation” from the Direct FE menu:

• Pick the nodal named selection in the details
from a drop down list.
• Pick the coordinate system to reference from a
drop down list.

Note: a “Nodal Orientation” branch

will be placed in the tree’s
environment branch.

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 . . . Nodal Loads and Supports
Notes on nodal boundary conditions:
• FE Rotation applies only when surface or line geometry
is present (rotational DOF).

Since Direct FE loads are often applied to multiple nodes there is a

control for how the load is distributed.
• Divide Load by Nodes (default):
• Yes: divides the magnitude by the number of
nodes and applies equal loads to each (F/Num to
each node).
• No: applies the full load magnitude to each node
(F applied to each node).
• Using the example at right choosing “No” results in a total
load of (10 N * 12 Nodes = 120 N).

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 Results and Postprocessing
Contact results are requested via a “Contact Tool” under the Solution branch.

Contact regions can be selected in the

graphics window or using a Worksheet.

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