FEA Lecture 6
FEA Lecture 6
FEA Lecture 6
APPLIED FINITE
ELEMENT
FUNDAMENTALS OF MODELING
(SOLUTIONS & POSTPROCESSING)
Main Menu > Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options/ Sol’n Controls
Body loads can be generated internally or externally as the result of a physical field acting within the domain expressed
volumetrically
Menu paths:
Main Menu > Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural/Thermal > ‘Boundary Conditions/Body Loads’
Initial conditions canbe specified only when the Analysis Type is selected as Transient
Main Menu > Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Initial Condit’n
Solution in Single and Multiple Load Steps
• there are cases in which the loads are time-dependent, and the
solution is achieved in multiple steps
• Different load steps must be used if the loading on the structure
changes abruptly. The use of load steps also becomes necessary if
the response of the structure at specific points in time is desired.
• The following steps are used in order to use multiple load step solution
method:
• 1. Apply the initial conditions as explained in Sect. 5.2.3.
• 2. Apply the boundary conditions appropriate for the first load
step.
• 3. Specify time-related parameters: This is performed by using the
following
• menu path:
• Main Menu > Solution > Load Step Opts > Time/Frequenc > Time
—Time Step
• at end of load step (TIME) and the time step size (DELTIM), which is optional.
• Choose between whether the loads are applied in a stepped or ramped manner
• (KBC). If the Automatic Time Stepping is OFF, then the user must specify the time
• step size. If the time step size is not specified and the Automatic Time Stepping is
• set as Prog Chosen (stands for program chosen), then ANSYS turns the Automatic
• Time Stepping ON. If the time step size is specified and the Automatic Time Stepping
• is ON, ANSYS starts the solution with the specified time step size and modifies it
• based on the convergence.
• 4. Write Load Step file: Load steps are written to Load Step Files by using the
• following menu path:
• Main Menu >Solution > Load Step Opts > Write LS File
• file number (LSNUM) and hit OK. This file is stored in the Working Directory and
• contains all the solution options, the time, and time-related parameters, as well as
• the boundary conditions.
• 5. Repeat steps 2–4 for the remainder of the load steps.
• 6. Initiate solution from Load Step files: Once all of the load step files are written,
• the solution is initiated by using the following menu path:
• Main Menu > Solution > Solve > From LS Files
• which brings up the Solve Load Step Files dialog box. Enter the starting and ending
• load step file numbers (LSMIN and LSMAX) and hit OK.
Failure to Obtain Solution
There are two common reasons why ANSYS fails to provide a solution:
• Failed convergence
• Singular coefficient matrix
• every finite element solution involves the solution of a system of equations with a known
coefficient matrix (stiffness), an unknown degree of freedom vector, and a known right-hand-
side (force) vector.
• The most common reasons why the coefficient matrix becomes singular are
• instability in the structure due to lack of constraints in static structural analyses.
• Material properties that are physically impossible , e.g. negative Young’s modulus