TP 3 – FINITE ELEMENTS MODELING WITH
NASTRAN
ANALYSIS OF A SOLID LUG UNDER BENDING
Introduction to 3D meshing
3D volume modeling
3-dimensional finite elements allow to model a massive structure (or a massive part of a structure),
without any assumption on the stress field: it is three-dimensional elasticity.
There are several forms of volume elements: hexahedra, prisms and tetrahedra.
As with the 1D or 2D elements, the volume elements can be of the first degree (with rectilinear edges) or of
higher degree. It is important to know that the elements of the first degree are generally too stiff and
require a significant refinement of the mesh to give a numerically satisfactory solution. In contrast, third-
degree components are generally too expensive in CPU time. The elements of the second degree are
therefore a good balance between precision and cost of calculation.
The volume calculation being more expensive than the surface or 1D calculation, it is only to be used
when the studied geometries cannot be modeled in a simplified way
Exercise
The objective of this exercise is to verify the dimensioning of a three-dimensional part stressed in
Bending.
Data :
Either the following mechanical part:
Material : Steel
E = 210 000 MPa
ν = 0.3
ρ=7800kg/m3
σR0.2=235 MPa
Loading :
You are asked to check the sizing of the part for the static load to which it is subjected.
Embedding of this surface
Part I : Create lug geometry
1. Réglage de base
Dans le menu Preferences /Geometry, check :
• Geometry Representation :
ü Exportable to Neutral File
ü Import to Parametrized Solid
• Solid Origin location :
ü Patran 2 Convention
2. Create a point belonging to the inner circle
3. Use this point to create 4 curves that define the upper half of the inner circle
4. Create a cylindrical coordinate system
Note: the initial Cartesian coordinate system is called Coord 0 and the new cylindrical coordinate
system is called Coord 1.
5. Create the quarter of the outer circle by translation in the cylindrical coordinate system of
curves 1 and 2 of the inner circle
6. Create the surface 1 which defines the upper half rectangular of the lug:
Then click on this command :
7. Create surfaces 2 and 3 from two curves
8. Create the surface 4 from two curves
Select segment and arc
4 to create the surface
9. Create from a curve and two points the surface 5
10. Create solids from 1 to 5 by extruding all surfaces
11. Make the symmetry of the solids obtained
12. Finish the rectangular part of the piece by translating the associated solids
13. Create the rest of the model by translating the cylindrical part with holes
Final form of the model
Part II : Meshing
The mesh must be fine at the bottom of the hole where the load is applied.
Definition of the mesh density at the hole level:
You will specify the number of elements and their variable sizes on an edge of a geometric entity.
The L2 / L1 symbol represents the relationship between the length of the last element and the length of the
first element along the entity. The direction of the edges is represented by arrows that appear on the model
when you enter the Create / mesh Seed / One Way Bias menu.
Then mesh the part with 0.5 hexahedral 3D elements.
Note: do not forget to do "Equivalence" to eliminate the duplicates and connect the solids.
Part III : Definition of boundary conditions and loading
1. Creation of the clamped boundary condition
Definition of the clamped boundary:
T1=0, T2=0, T3=0 : blocked translations
R1=0, R2=0, R3=0 : blocked rotations
2. Application of the clamped boundary condition:
Select all surfaces of
this face
Click on this icon to
select surfaces
3. Creation of the load
a. Creation of the Fy function
b. Load definition
c. Loading application
Part IV : Material definition
Create an isotropic material named steel
Part V : Application of properties
1. Select 3D Solid and define poperty set name
2. select the appropriate material (steel)
3. Apply the properties
Part VI : Analysis and results
Start the analysis and access the Results.
Displacement Stress
Part VII : Comparison with other meshes
Carry out the same study, but this time using TET4 (Isomesh) elements then TET10 (Isomesh). Keep the mesh
density parameters from the previous study (even"Mesh seed").
Perform the same study, but this time using a much finer mesh with hexahedral elements.
Part VIII : Other loading : axial pressure
The aim of this part of study is to test the resistance of the piece to an axial pressure: p(θ)=700cos(θ).
T
a. Creation of p(θ) function
b. Loading definition
c. Loading pplication
Questions:
Describe your meshes (Type of elements, number of elements on each circumference and general
size, total number of elements, total number of nodes).
Give the maximum value of Von Mises stress for the bending case. Does the piece seem correctly
sized for this loading?
Give the maximum value of Von Mises stress for the pressure case. Does the piece seem correctly
sized for this loading?
How do you explain the difference between the linear model (TET4) and the second degree model
(TET10)?
Study the influence of the density of the mesh on your results (convergence study).